US Open 2020: Mahesh Bhupathi tips Djokovic to claim title in absence of Nadal and Federer

Ex-Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi has picked current World .1 vak Djokovic and .9 Naomi Osaka to win ir respective singles titles at  US Open 2020. Talking to Indian table tennis player Mudit Dani on his show 'In Sportlight', Indian tennis great Mahesh Bhupati revealed that he expects Serbia's vak Djokovic to win this year's US Open Men's singles title in absence of rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nal.

During interview, he also talked about importance of mental training at highest levels of tennis.  eight-time mixed doubles Grand Slam winner expressed need to make tennis more accessible to public in India. in order to promote sport. "In London, you can pay four pounds and play one hour of tennis. That is where we struggle. In sports like cricket or football, you don't need many facilities to play, but in or sports like tennis, table tennis or bminton, you need to be a member of a club, which is challenging. That's why numbers don't work in India," said Bhupathi. 

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vak Djokovic vies for a fourth title at US Open 2020

While Djokovic has said that it would be disrespectful to or players in tournament to assume that he would have an easy victory at US Open, absence of .2 and .4 players will be an undeniable vant. Outside of group of Djokovic, Nal and Federer, kwn as 'Big Three', only Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have been able to win more than one Grand Slam title, tilting odds heavily in favour of Djokovic. Backing up se statistics is fact that Djokovic has enjoyed an undefeated run in 2020. With his round two victory over Kyle Edmund, Djokovic is w 25-0 this year. He will face Germany's J. Struff next. 

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Bhupati's women's singles pick, Naomi Osaka will be looking to win her second US Open title. He first win at tournament came in 2018, when she defeated Serena Williams in  torious final where Williams clashed with umpires and was handed a penalty. Osaka has described memory as "a little bit bittersweet", ding that it wasn't necessarily her happiest memory. 

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India's hopes rest on Sumit Nagal

Rising Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal has become first Indian to proceed to second round of a Grand Slam singles event in seven years, after defeating American, B. Klahn on Tuesday. He will take on second seed Dominic Thiem at Arthur Ashe Stium today to make make an unprecedented bid for round three.

Also Re | Sumit Nagal Thanks Virat Kohli After First-round Men's Singles Win At US Open 2020 

Im credits: US Open Twitter