US Open 2020: Your form guide for the men's singles in New York

This year's men's singles event at the US Open will have an unfamiliar look to it.

That's because two of the world's 'Big Three' stars are not taking part.

When the Coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of many sporting events around the globe, including this year's Wimbledon, Roger Federer decided to have surgery on a knee, effectively ending his season.

More recently, Rafa Nadal confirmed that he will not be travelling to New York, citing his concerns over Covid-19.

Together with Novak Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have been the dominant force in men's tennis for more than a dozen years, claiming the last 13 Slams between them.

The absence of Federer and Nadal gives every other competitor a huge opportunity to land a first major title. Statistically, their chances have improved by 66%, although Djokovic will still start as the strong favourite having already hit the ground running at the Western & Southern Open.

Check out the latest betting for the men's singles championship in New York

Djokovic is a hard court specialist, with 11 of his 17 Slam titles to date being on this surface.

Although it is difficult to assess the form of his younger rivals - because the ATP Tour season has only just resumed following a break of five months - few of the Big Three's potential heirs have covered themselves in glory at the on-going Western & Southern Open.

Novak's challengers

Only Stefanos Tsitsipas made it as far as the semi-finals, with Dominic Thiem - the world No 3 from Austria - suffering a 6-2 6-1 defeat to Filip Krajinovic in his opening match.

Perhaps, with the action at Flushing Meadows now switching from three sets to five, all this will change, but a lack of match fitness will certainly affect players in different ways.

Although Canadian Milos Raonic can no longer be considered one of the game's up-and-coming stars, the Wimbledon runner-up from 2016 is certainly a threat.

The 29-year-old has suffered a string of injuries in recent years but has still reached the quarter-finals in three of his last five Slams, and will fancy his chances in a tournament lacking both Federer and Nadal.

Murray's Slam appearance

One other name 'from the past' to mention is that of Andy Murray who enjoyed a morale-boosting victory over world No 7 Alexander Zverev at the Western & Southern Open.

Although Murray would do well to reach the last 16 or last eight at the US Open, the omens appear to be good regarding his immediate future - even though he is unlikely to rediscover his form of old. His stamina over five sets is yet to be tested.

Between the 2008 US Open and 2017 French Open, Murray reached 21 Grand Slam semi-finals, 11 finals and registered three titles.

As of yet, none of the 'young pretenders' are achieving anywhere near this level of consistency.

Thiem may have reached three of the last eight Slam finals, but he has also suffered an identical number of first round defeats during the same period.

The rest are struggling to post successive quarter-finals, which makes Djokovic the overwhelming favourite to claim his fourth US Open crown, and 18th Grand Slam in all.

Click here to view 10-year form at US Open

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive