The 136th Open starts Monday on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows, New York, just outside of the City. ESPN2 and ESPN will televise.

ESPN will have the women’s final on Saturday, Sept. 10th, @ 4 PM ET/ 3 PM CT. The men’s final will air on ESPN, Sunday, September 11th, not the best day, but can honor the victims of the tragedy in 2001, @ 4PM ET/3 PM CT.

There is a roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium now, so they won’t have to suspend play in the finals for either the men’s or the women’s. The men’s final has been suspended the last four years for a day. 

Both the men’s and the women’s look very interesting this year. I see something different happening on both sides in 2016. Here are my predictions:

Men’s 

Novak Djokovic has battled a wrist injury and some confidence problems since he lost to Sam Querry in the third round at Wimbledon. and in the first round at the Rio Olympics.

There are some vets who have re-emerged. Marin Cilic, the 2014 US. Open champion, won at Cincinnati two weeks ago beating Andy Murray in straight sets on hard courts in the Queen City. He looked strong. I will add that Murray had won Wimbledon and had just won the gold medal at Rio, on hard courts, so there was probably some fatigue on Murray’s end entering that finals match with Cilic. But the 27 year old Cilic, from Bosnia, looked super in winning the title in Cincy. Juan Martin del Potro has reemerged making it to the finals of the Olympics before losing to Murray. The 27 year old Argentinian is looking like he’s got his form back from when he won the Open in 2009. I see Djoker as vulnerable. And I’ve got a darkhorse whom I’ve always believed in. So here are the predictions:

Semifinals

Cilic over Milos Raonic.

I see Cilic defeating Djoker in the quarters.

Murray over del Potro

Finals

Murray over Cilic in a war: 4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4

I’m going with the 29 year old from Great Britain, born in Glasgow, Scotland and  now living in London, to capture his fourth slam and his 2nd U.S. Open title. He won the U.S. in 2012 and has Wimbledon titles in 2013 and 2016. He also won the gold at Rio three weeks ago. Very bullish on Andy.

Ivan Lendl is back as his coach this year and Murray is 130-30 with Lendl coaching him and has three Slams under Lendl. The 56 year old Czech Republic native, who now lives in Vero Beach, Florida, was an eight time grand slam winner, and has been the difference in Andy’s performance, particularly this year. 

Champion

Andy Murray

Darkhorse

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

I see this 31 year old stud from Le Mans, France having a shot. He’s such a great athlete, and he plays well on the fast surfaces. Jo-Willie reached the semis at the French in 2013 and 2015, and the semis at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2012. He reached the quarters last year here. I see Jo Willie having a great shot to possibly go the distance. He’s so much fun to watch. I highly recommend watching Jo-Willie compete. Always have liked the Frenchman.

Women’s

Semis

Karolina Pliskova over Serena

Loved the way Karolina won the Cincy tournament crushing Garbine Muguruza in the semis, and Angelique Kerber in the finals. She’s a very strong, powerful player with a super serve and intense ground strokes, so I’m going to take the upset pick here.

Angelique Kerber over Monica Puig

Puig, the 22 year old from Puerto Rico, shocked everybody by winning the gold in Rio beating Kerber in the finals but I like Kerber, the 28 year old West German, to come back here and beat Puig in the semis. 

Finals

Pliskova over Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 7-5

Just like the 24 year old from the Czech Republic to keep her momentum going on the hard courts. She was so strong at Cincy, and that confidence from winning there two weeks ago will carry her to the title at Flushing Meadows. The interesting thing is that Kerber will overtake Serena at No.1 in the world by making the finals and Serena losing in the semis to Pliskova. 

Champion

Karolina Pliskova

Darkhorse

Simona Halep

The 24 year old from Romania has come close a lot and reached the semis last year here. So I like her chances to go deep and possibly get it done, though I’m picking Pliskova.