Hong Kong – The U.S. Open kicks off next week as the biggest names in world tennis descend on Flushing Meadows, New York, for the fourth and final Grand Slam of 2014. Eurosport will again offer LIVE, comprehensive coverage of the event, bringing elite Grand Slam tennis to 16 Asia-Pacific markets.
The tournament promises to offer two weeks of thrilling hard court tennis in front of a noisy and colourful New York crowd that is as much an entertainment spectacle as it is a global sporting event.
Crowd favourite Roger Federer who recently overcame David Ferrer to win his sixth Cincinnati title, is enjoying a successful hard court season, and will arrive in New York primed to re-claim his U.S. Open crown for the first time since 2008. In order to do so, he will have to overcome consistent Serbian Novak Djokovic, who has made the final on the last four occasions. While young guns Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov both present strong cases worth considering as they both attempt to secure a maiden grand slam victory.
Defending champion and world number one Serena Williams, who has won more titles this season than anyone on the WTA Tour will be hungry to finish the year with at least one grand slam, however faces stiff competition from the 2012/13 finalist Victoria Azarenka, and seasoned rival Maria Sharapova.
Injury to key players has been a talking point in the lead up to this year’s tournament as defending champion Rafael Nadal has succumbed to a right wrist injury that has kept him sidelined for several weeks. The Spaniard has been ruled out of the tournament and will be missing from the field for the second time in three years.
Another high-profile withdrawal is that of two-time grand slam champion Li Na. A semi-finalist last year the world number three has been forced to miss this year’s edition due to a lingering knee injury, posting a message to her fans on Facebook of her disappointment.
“Since March, I have been struggling with my knee and it is just not where I need it to be in order to play at the highest level,” she said.
“My medical team has advised me that I need to take some time off to rest my knee so it heals.”
“I look forward to getting back on the court this fall in Wuhan and Beijing.”
Despite the absentees the tournament promises to provide a thrilling spectacle and allowing any player the opportunity to claim the coveted U.S. Open title. Comprehensive coverage of the U.S. Open on Eurosport begins LIVE at 11.45pm HKT on August 25.
