Tennis

Who Is the New Favorite to Win the US Open Now That Novak Djokovic Is Disqualified?

Jack Dougherty Sports Editor

Updated16 Sep 2020

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Novak Djokovic entered the 2020 US Open as the prohibitive favorite to win his 17th career Grand Slam. With Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal both not in the field to challenge him, Djokovic had a clear path to another title at Flushing Meadows.

But Djokovic threw his chances away by inadvertently hitting a line judge in the neck with a tennis ball. He was promptly disqualified from the tournament after his temper tantrum, which opens the door to numerous players seeking their first Grand Slam. So, who takes Djokovic's place as the new favorite to win the US Open?

Novak Djokovic was the huge US Open favorite before getting disqualified

It's rare to see a tennis player at close to even odds to win a Grand Slam title. It's almost unfathomable to see a player with minus odds to win one, which is exactly where Djokovic found himself before the 2020 US Open.

Djokovic, who's been the most dominant player in the world for years, entered the US Open as a -130 favorite to win his 17th Grand Slam. Even with no value whatsoever, Djokovic was nearly every expert's pick to take home the title.

Djokovic was cruising along just fine into the Round of 16, but he ran into the only opponent who could take him out — himself. The No. 1 seed ripped a ball to the back wall and accidentally hit a line judge in the neck, sending her to the ground in shock and pain.

Moments later, Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open. His opponent, Pablo Carreno Busta, will move on to the quarterfinals instead.

The ‘Big Three' run of 13 straight Grand Slams has officially ended

https://twitter.com/TennisChanneli/status/1300121529028542470

Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal make up a dominant threesome in professional tennis. The trio has collectively won the last 13 Grand Slam titles, but that streak has officially come to an end.

With Djokovic disqualified from the US Open, he obviously won't have a chance to win his 17th Grand Slam. Meanwhile, Federer and Nadal both pulled out of the tournament before it even started.

The ‘Big Three' run is finally over, but who will be the one to end it?

Daniil Medvedev is the new favorite to win the US Open

With, Djokovic out of the fold, the 12 players remaining have to love their chances to steal a Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open. Djokovic was expected to roll over the competition en route to another championship, but now it's an even playing field.

Russian Daniil Medvedev vaults to the top of the odds board as the new favorite. He stands at +188 after opening at +600 prior to the tournament. Medvedev reached the final of last year's US Open, but he fell to Nadal in five sets.

This year, he won't have to deal with any of the ‘Big Three.' If there was ever a time for him to win his first major, it would be now.

Check out the full US Open odds here: