This year's U.S. Open kicks off Aug. 29th, and it's going to bring a series of compelling storylines and perhaps more mystery as to who will eventually hoist the shining silver trophy than in many years past.
It's worth taking a closer look at the players who are likely to play on as the field dwindles.
The world's No. 1 player, Novak Djokovic, is coming off a disheartening first-round loss in Olympic play to Juan Martin del Potro. Meanwhile, No. 2-ranked Andy Murray comes into play on a threatening tear.
Murray knocked off four top-15 players en route to his second Wimbledon title in July, and then he claimed the men's singles gold medal in Rio de Janeiro for an encore.
Roger Federer, ranked No. 3, will compete desperately for his first singles title of 2016 at the age of 35. Another 30-plus former U.S. Open champion, Rafael Nadal arrives in New York on little rest after playing at the Olympics in Rio and the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
Lastly, I would be remiss to leave out Canadian Milos Raonic, who has been battling with the best of them as of late. All eyes will be on these guys as play gets underway next week.
Rafael Nadal
While Nadal probably couldn't be pegged as old in any other walk of life, 30 years of age for a tennis star equates to more clicks on the odometer than would be preferred. Does that mean Nadal can't regain some of the magic of his stellar career in New York? Of course not, but his toughest competitors might just have his number.
Nadal performed impressively in Rio, making the semifinals before falling to Del Potro in a third-set tiebreaker (all matches besides the final were contested in a best-of-three format). With little time in between, Nadal competed in Cincinnati, where he suffered a third-round loss to Borna Coric.
Kamakshi Tandon of Tennis.com reported that despite his exhaustion, Nadal expects to be ready for the U.S. Open.
"I think I need to recover emotionally, physically, and especially, I need to give some rest to the wrist, the arm, to everything," Nadal said.
Nadal withdrew from the French Open earlier this year because of a left wrist injury.
Prediction: Quarterfinals
Milos Raonic
Raonic is just 25 years old and stands at a towering 6'5". On Saturday, Murray handed Raonic a straight-sets loss in Cincinnati, winning both sets 6-3. However, Raonic played well enough to prove he is knocking on the door of tennis' elite group, and the loss shouldn't take away from his recent body of work.
That loss came in the semifinals, and Raonic also failed to defeat Murray at Wimbledon this year. In the Wimbledon semifinals, though, Raonic took care of Federer, which is no easy task.
That was Raonic's first appearance in a Grand Slam final, so on one side of the coin, we shouldn't overreact and crown him as the sport's next phenom. On the other side, however, perhaps his future is, in fact, brighter.
Either way, this U.S. Open will not be remembered in history as his coming-out party.
Prediction: Semifinals
Roger Federer
Federer did not compete at the Olympics, but he did put together a relatively encouraging performance at Wimbledon, where he lost to Raonic in the semifinals after five thrilling sets.
Federer has a decorated career at the U.S. Open, a tournament that he has won five times, although his last tournament crown there came in 2008. Still, he was able to make the final just a year ago, which was something he hadn't done since 2009.
There is no doubting that Federer is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but even with all his accolades at the U.S. Open, fresher legs will prevail.
Prediction: Semifinals
Andy Murray
Based on momentum, Murray should be the favorite to win his second U.S. Open. Additionally, Bleacher Report's Jeremy Eckstein noted Murray is hot on Djokovic's tail to become the world's top-ranked player.
It might even be misguided to bet against Murray, considering his last singles loss came in the French Open final (to, you guessed it, Djokovic). There is hardly any way to criticize Murray's success at Wimbledon and in Rio. However, if one is trying to poke holes in his victories, he or she might note that Murray did not face Djokovic, Federer or Nadal in either of those events.
Having said that, the only person who can likely stop Murray is the man with whom he is developing a rivalry: Djokovic.
Prediction: Final
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic's 2016 singles record is an astounding 51-4, but he looked shaky at the Olympics. While Del Potro sent him packing in straight sets, it's important to remember that both sets went to tiebreakers.
More noteworthy, though, is that Djokovic is the top-ranked player in the world, and as the old saying goes, "Winners win." He proved that just a year ago, when he claimed the U.S. Open title. In last year's tournament, Djokovic needed five sets only once, and he dispatched Federer in four in the final.
I'm not letting Djokovic's woes in Rio cloud my judgment. Look for the Djoker to reclaim his perch at the top.
Prediction: Champion