Dark horses are back in consideration with the recent slump in form of Novak Djokovic and defeat for Andy Murray at Cincinatti open. We look at top 5 players who can be a potential threat for the reigning champion Novak Djokovic and can foil Andy Murray’s bid for winning US open for the second time.

• Dark horse no. 1: Juan martin Del Potro

Juan martin Del Potro, also known as ‘The tower of Tandil’, is back with a bang after a long injury layoff. He won a silver medal at the recently concluded Rio olympics. His olympic journey has been nothing short of spectacular. En route his journey to the final, Del Potro produced the major shock of the tournament and the year by defeating top seeded Novak Djokovic in the first round. Later he defeated Nadal in the semis and gave Andy Murray a run for his money in the final that lasted over 4 hours.

After being sidelined for a long time due to injuries on both his wrists, Del potro has steadily improved his conditioning and match fitness. He has also proved his capability to win on big stage when he pulled off a miracle win against Roger Federer back in 2009 at the US open itself. He has got a blistering serve and overpowering forehand, and on his day, is a mighty tough opponent to beat. Certainly one of the dark horses and a big force to overcome.

About the author

Sarang Bargale