How will this year’s Grand Slam Champions perform at the US Open
Based on the past two decades how will this year’s Grand Slam champions perform at the US Open
The last tennis Major of the year starts today – the 134th US Open. 411 matches will be played over the coming two weeks. A total of $38,251,760 in prize money will be awarded. The singles champions will each win at least $3,000,000, which is a 15% increase compared to last year.
With Rafael Nadal and Li Na both out due to injury, both the men and women’s events are missing out on a major name. Li Na, Australian Open champion, is having issues with her knee. That the reigning Australian Open champion does not play at the US Open has happened 20% of the time in the last two decades. Rafael Nadal, who won last year’s US Open and is reigning French Open champion, has issues with his wrist. That the champion of Roland Garros does not enter the US Open has happened 3 times in the last 20 years (both men and women), one was Nadal himself in 2012.
Stats on reigning Major Champs at the US Open
Earlier this year Score and Change wrote about the chances of reigning Australian Open champions at all the other Grand Slams. Below an overview of how Grand Slam champions fared at Flushing Meadows over the past two decades.

Infographic: how do reigning Australian Open champions perform at the US Open
Champion @ | Participate | QF | SF | Runner up | Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Open | 80% | 63% | 55% | 38% | 13% |
Roland Garros | 93% | 55% | 45% | 35% | 25% |
Wimbledon | 90% | 70% | 60% | 40% | 35% |
Projected Quarterfinals
The projected quarterfinals after last week’s draw are:
Men:
- Djokovic (Wimbledon champion) – Murray
- Wawrinka (Australian Open champion) – Raonic
- Berdych – Ferrer
- Dimitrov – Federer
Women:
- Serena – Ivanovic
- Kvitova (Wimbledon champion) – Bouchard
- Kerber – Radwanska
- Sharapova (Roland Garros champion) – Halep