US Open 2021 Contenders and their Rackets (Men’s)
As the final Major of the year approaches, we’re taking a look at the top three US Open contenders on the men’s side and their weapons of choice.
The US Open is a hard tournament to win. With sweltering conditions, manic atmospheres and late-night matches, even the ‘Big 3’ haven’t managed to dominate this tournament as they do the others. Now with Nadal and Federer out of this year’s Open, it’s become the people vs Novak Djokovic. Here at All Things Tennis, we’re breaking down who we see as the ‘Big 3’ of the US Open 2021.
- Novak Djokovic – Head Graphene 360+ Speed Pro Novak Special Edition
There’s no doubt that the biggest story of this year’s US Open centres around Novak Djokovic. Will he do what no other male player has ever done in the open era and complete the calendar slam? Novak is certainly in poll position. He’ll be fresh as he heads to New York having skipped the entire US hardcourt swing in favour of rest after his Olympic heartbreak in Tokyo. Djokovic has experience on his side at the Majors these days, especially with Nadal and Federer out of the picture, so the young guns nipping at his heels will have to step up like never before if he’s to be denied the calendar slam.
Novak will of course be using his trusty Head Speed Pro in New York this year. Designed to aid fast racket-head speed and help players switch direction at ease, the Speed Pro has served Novak incredibly well at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Like Roland Garros, the US Open has been a less successful major for Novak throughout his career. The Speed Pro is control oriented and doesn’t provide much free power, so the high bouncing courts of New York can cause Novak problems. But when he’s playing well; nothing can stop him.
- Daniil Medvedev – Tecnifibre T-Fight 305 RS
Toronto champion Daniil Medvedev has come alive during this year’s American hard-court swing. He seems to love the conditions in North America, and they do play into his game. The high bouncing, reactive hard courts in the US allow Daniil to play well behind the baseline where he grinds down and outmanoeuvres his opponents. Daniil announced himself to the world at the US open in 2019 where he went toe to toe with Nadal in the Final. Medvedev is a big match player and he’ll be Djokovic’s biggest concern this year in New York.
Medvedev’s racket, the Tecnifibre T-Fight 305 RS, allows him to generate fast racket-head speed whilst remaining stable enough for precision hitting from the baseline.
- Alexander Zverev – Head Graphene 360+ Gravity Pro (2021)
Olympic gold medallist and Cincinnati champion Alexander Zverev is heading into the US Open with more confidence than ever before. He’s also recently done something that very few players have managed to this year, beat Novak Djokovic. Zverev raised his game in Tokyo to dispatch a fatigued Djokovic in three sets, a potential career defining win for Sascha. Zverev has been playing much more aggressively lately and hitting his spots on serve; it’s a deadly combination given he also returns incredibly well. Zverev has become more consistent at the majors over the past two years but never manages to find his A-game at the right moments. He’s not quite mastered the art of five-set tennis as of yet, but with his confidence sky high, Zverev will like his chances this year in New York…
The Head Gravity Pro is Zverev’s racket of choice and it’s seriously versatile. As more professional players find success with the Gravity line, its retail popularity continues to grow. The Gravity Pro is a control-oriented frame with excellent feel and its large sweet-spot makes it suitable for a wide range of players.
So, you can expect to see these three players at the business end of the tournament in New York. The big question is, can anybody stop Novak Djokovic from achieving the calendar slam and cementing himself in the history books as the greatest player of all time?
Written by Aron Dochard
