US Open [Men] 2026 - Grand Slam

[El Dude]

Yes. Almost half of the "overrratedness" (if the world did not exist before, it exists now) of Kyrgios and Monfils.

Yep. At least with those guys, though, you see the upside. Tiafoe is only an underachiever if we over-hype American prospects and expect them all to be really good. He's done fine, given his skill-set, imo. Kyrgios and Monfils both had the talent to be more. I know some here think that Kyrgios' talent is overstated, but I veer towards him being an underachiever who could have won some big titles. Monfils is probably more of casualty of playing alongside the Big Four. He's more talented than half the Masters winners of the 1990s to early 2000s (Pavel and Portas, anyone?).

For instance, here's a fun fact about Monfils: In his first 15 losses in big title QFs or higher, 14 of them were to one of the Big Four (the other is Soderling). He's 12-30 in big event QF+ matches, and 2-18 vs the Big Four (his only wins being against Murray and Federer, both Paris 2010 when he lost to Soderling in the final).

 

[the AntiPusher]

None of them, even Khachanov, are individually suprising - but as a group, there's no Sincaraz, no Novak. And some of the more talented "other guys" aren't there - Fils, Jodar, Draper, Rune, etc. Just a weird group, and not very sexy as a Slam SF.

Its the first weekend of NFL football.. I doubt very seriously if I will be watching the finals

 

[don_fabio]

The only one that's really a surprise is KK.

Considering the form, then yes, but if I'm not mistaken he reached SF of a slam before. Maybe it was in RG. Considering the current field of players ranked 5-20, he is of similar quality. Might even trouble Zverev more than some other guys.

 

[El Dude]

Considering the form, then yes, but if I'm not mistaken he reached SF of a slam before. Maybe it was in RG. Considering the current field of players ranked 5-20, he is of similar quality. Might even trouble Zverev more than some other guys.

Two: USO 2022, AO 2023.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Considering the form, then yes, but if I'm not mistaken he reached SF of a slam before. Maybe it was in RG. Considering the current field of players ranked 5-20, he is of similar quality. Might even trouble Zverev more than some other guys.

As @kskate2 says " KK is just a ball basher.. If Sascha struggles with him. It needs to be another asterisk if he wins the title

 

[El Dude]

Its the first weekend of NFL football.. I doubt very seriously if I will be watching the finals

I don't follow the NFL as closely as my #1 favorite, tennis, or #2 baseball. But I do enjoy watching games, especially during the playoffs. Really hoping that Josh Allen finally gets the Bills over the line, but...

 

[mrzz]

Yep. At least with those guys, though, you see the upside. Tiafoe is only an underachiever if we over-hype American prospects and expect them all to be really good. He's done fine, given his skill-set, imo. Kyrgios and Monfils both had the talent to be more. I know some here think that Kyrgios' talent is overstated, but I veer towards him being an underachiever who could have won some big titles. Monfils is probably more of casualty of playing alongside the Big Four. He's more talented than half the Masters winners of the 1990s to early 2000s (Pavel and Portas, anyone?).

For instance, here's a fun fact about Monfils: In his first 15 losses in big title QFs or higher, 14 of them were to one of the Big Four (the other is Soderling). He's 12-30 in big event QF+ matches, and 2-18 vs the Big Four (his only wins being against Murray and Federer, both Paris 2010 when he lost to Soderling in the final).

I was being an ass in my comment. I knew that this is a point which we agree to disagree: it isprecisely that (talent) that I think they lack. Mind it, in some sense I like them both. Kyrgios is intelligent (super-villain like inteligence, but still), and Monfils is extemely likeable, let alone a super-athlete with (still) amazing physical abilities. Anyway, we have beaten this drum a lot through the years already.

But, if you apply to them exactly the same logic you applied to Tiafoe a few posts ago, you would get basically the same results.

 

[El Dude]

I was being an ass in my comment. I knew that this is a point which we agree to disagree: it isprecisely that (talent) that I think they lack. Mind it, in some sense I like them both. Kyrgios is intelligent (super-villain like inteligence, but still), and Monfils is extemely likeable, let alone a super-athlete with (still) amazing physical abilities. Anyway, we have beaten this drum a lot through the years already.

But, if you apply to them exactly the same logic you applied to Tiafoe a few posts ago, you would get basically the same results.

I dunno, I've just seen a level of play from Kyrgios--particularly against the Big Three--that I haven't from most other players, except the true elite. If he had been more focused, I think he could have at least been a Zverev/Medvedev type. Monfils...part of his mystique is his athleticism and sheer charisma. I'm not as wowed by his ability as some, in terms of tennis talent.

A guy I used to love watching was Aleksandr Dolgopolov. I think he was more unusual than highly talented, but he just had a fun way of playing the time - one of the more unique players I've seen.

 

[Fiero425]

I dunno, I've just seen a level of play from Kyrgios--particularly against the Big Three--that I haven't from most other players, except the true elite. If he had been more focused, I think he could have at least been a Zverev/Medvedev type. Monfils...part of his mystique is his athleticism and sheer charisma. I'm not as wowed by his ability as some, in terms of tennis talent.

A guy I used to love watching was Aleksandr Dolgopolov. I think he was more unusual than highly talented, but he just had a fun way of playing the time - one of the more unique players I've seen.

I recall Alek-Dolgo quite well! Just a level below, but like "a Hewitt," he was quick & made you work for it! He softened up Novak in his Super Yr. of 2015, taking him to the limit at the Cincy Open SF! Federer didn't have much resistance from the future GOAT!

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Its the first weekend of NFL football.. I doubt very seriously if I will be watching the finals

I'll never understand why they moved the US Open final time to 2 pm ET. That time interferes with the 1 pm ET slate of games. The 2024 final was the lowest rated US Open final, and it had an American player.

It needs to be moved back to the traditional 4 pm ET starting time, after the 1 pm ET games, so the final can get as many viewers as possible.

 

[Fiero425]

I'll never understand why they moved the US Open final time to 2 pm ET. That time interferes with the 1 pm ET slate of games. The 2024 final was the lowest rated US Open final, and it had an American player.

It needs to be moved back to the traditional 4 pm ET starting time, after the 1 pm ET games, so the final can get as many viewers as possible.

It probably has a lot to do w/ the length of matches these days! They're getting progressively longer! Even w/ the clock, it's not unusual for BO5 matches going 3-4 hours; longer when this humid! People are probably toweling off after an ACE! I used to see that w/ Lendl & Clerc; "going to the towel" after every pt. m/b 44 yrs. ago! The ABC Network probably didn't want their Sunday Nite TV line-up over-ridden by a boring tennis match! I really won't GAF who's in the final! I'll be watching NFL Football like most of America!

 

[the AntiPusher]

I'll never understand why they moved the US Open final time to 2 pm ET. That time interferes with the 1 pm ET slate of games. The 2024 final was the lowest rated US Open final, and it had an American player.

It needs to be moved back to the traditional 4 pm ET starting time, after the 1 pm ET games, so the final can get as many viewers as possible.

Tennis cash cows were Federer, the William Sisters, Nadal and Djokovic .. that's almost 30 years of viewership..

 

[El Dude]

Honestly, very few Americans give two shits about tennis. I think I read its the 6th most popular spectator sport in the US. American football is by far the top sport (40+%), followed by basketball, baseball and soccer (all around 8-10%), then hockey (4%), tennis (3%), golf, motorsports, wrestling, boxing, MMA, volleyball, etc. To be honest, I was kind of surprised golf isn't more popular, and even MMA.

The sports landscape has changed somewhat. Soccer has become much more popular and is vying with baseball and basketball, though I don't know if this will dim somewhat between World Cups.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

What about @MargaretMcAleer and your bald headed step child Zed.. he knows how to win a title with an asterisk ..jajaja

Behave
Yes he knows how to win, he has only defeated 2 Top Ten players so far this year....lets move on shall we and had a very favorable draw
Lets see how he fares when Alcaraz and Sinner are fit and healthy
It was a USO GS that many would rather forget.......including moi