Purav Raja backs Novak Djokovic to lift US Open title, win 25 Grand Slams

The 37-year-old Indian doubles player also spoke on Ankita Raina and the split between Saketh Myneni and Yuki Bhambri.

The last grand slam of the season — US Open 2023 — has begun on a bright note with the opening day registering quite a few upsets. The tournament is scheduled to be played from August 28 to September 10 at the Flushing Meadows in New York. Ahead of the competition, India's doubles player Purav Raja sat down in a round table interaction addressing the media on various topics pertaining to the tournament. Here are the excerpts.

Novak Djokovic's chances at US Open 2023 and the favourites

Serbian Novak Djokovic has won a total of nine grand slam titles in the last five years but none of them have been at the US Open. Djokovic was disqualified for an infamous incident of hitting the line umpire in 2020 and due to Covid related issues in 2022. However, he enters the current edition as the favourite to clinch the title having defeated compatriot and reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final last week.

On Djokovic's chances, Purav Raja said, "I still feel Djokovic is the favourite to win the title. He has not played at the US Open since getting beaten by Daniil Medvedev in 2021. Overall, I would say, he did not have bad US Open tours over the years barring a few incidents. If he wins a title here, then he will be just short of 25 Grand Slam titles and in the upcoming years will become the greatest tennis players of all time.

"The competition wouldn't be easy either as there will be good fight amongst Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, [Stefanos] Tsitsipas and Andy Murray in the men's singles department. In the women's side, I hope it is an American Grand Slam winner finally with Coco Gauff winning the title after Serena Williams who won it way back in 2014."

Women's ball change at US Open 2023

Women's No. 1 Iga Swiatek, alongside several other female tennis players, commissioned to play with the same ball that was being used for men's singles and doubles. Heavier balls which resist for a longer period are used for men's matches. The female players too requested the authorities to provide the same ball that was being used for in men's matches.

The Indian doubles player opined, "I am of the belief that what we (male) can do they (female) can do as well. I would also like to see female players play five sets rather than three sets at Grand Slams and would want everything to be equal. The move to five sets will take time for them to adjust but it isn't that they cannot play as they are getting fitter, stronger and wiser.

"I do not know what impact the new ball change will have on women's body as compared to the lighter one as I have not played with the latter. But overall, I don't see any major difference."

Ankita Raina's progress in the women's circuit

India's top ranked women's singles player Ankita Raina lost in the US Open women's singles final qualifying round and in the process lost an opportunity of becoming the first Indian player to enter singles main draw after 12 years.

"Ankita Raina along with Karman Kaur Thandi have been making good progress in the singles department. What is more important is, how often they deliver consistently at the big stages i.e., the Grand Slams. Earlier we had Somdev, Prajnesh get into the main draw directly but now the players have to play three successive qualifying rounds to make it to the main draw.

"Ankita or any other player, needs to get into the top 100 and directly qualify for the main draw which will be very important going forward in the Grand Slams."

Yuki Bhambri partnering Marcelo Demoliner

India's second-best ranked doubles player Yuki Bhambri will be partnering alongside Brazil's Marcelo Demoliner in the ongoing US Open 2023.

"Demoliner is one of the in-form players this season and is a good friend of mine. He is bordering the top-50 in the world and has a good chance of going deep into the tournament which he hasn't done before at the Grand Slams. I believe Yuki and Demoliner will be a tough team to beat. Although they are not favourites to win the tournament, but they can definitely cause upsets and go deeper in the tournament."

Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni playing with different partners

Saketh Myneni and Yuki Bhambri, from being outside top 200 last year jumped to the top 70s in year and a half's time. The pair won more than five Challenger titles and played three Grand Slams this season. However, Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni will be playing with different partners at the US Open.

"Mahesh and Leander split when they were number one in the world, so we need to be used to it. I just think there is more that goes into doubles which we might not know. The sport works on combined rankings and Yuki after winning the ATP 250 Mallorca Open has entered the top 60s, so if he plays alongside a partner in the top 40s or 50s then there are good chances of him getting into ATP 500 tournaments.

"Unless you play the bigger tournaments it is not possible to rise up. From Yuki's perspective, it is not like Saketh was not good enough to split. We now have Yuki in the main draw and Saketh partnering Aslan Karatsev are in the first alternates spot, so we almost have both playing the Grand Slams.

"In future, if both get into the top 30s then we might see to them play together again. This is purely a business decision rather than a personal decision."