Nadal won't defend US Open title because of wrist

Rafael Nadal of Spain attends a news conference after being defeated by Nick Kyrgios of Australia in their men's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, July 1, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

With Nadal sidelined, five-time US Open champion Federer joins Djokovic as a favorite in New York - even if there are questions about them.

Federer turned 33 this month, and it's been more than two years since he won one of his record 17 Grand Slam titles. But he is coming off a runner-up finish at Wimbledon last month and a hard-court title at the Cincinnati Masters on Sunday.

After beating David Ferrer 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Sunday, Federer declared: "My game's exactly where I want it to be."

Djokovic won Wimbledon to take the No 1 ranking from Nadal, but had a rough time on hard courts, losing his second match in both Toronto and Cincinnati.

Still, Djokovic will be seeded No 1 at the US Open, and the third-ranked Federer is expected to rise one seeding spot to No 2, so they could meet only in the final. The draw is Thursday.

Federer reached six consecutive finals at Flushing Meadows from 2004-09, but hasn't been that far since, losing in the semifinals in 2010 and 2011, the quarterfinals in 2012, and the fourth round a year ago, when he was dealing with a bothersome back.

Nadal won his second US Open championship in 2013, part of a run of reaching the final in each of his last three appearances. He beat Djokovic to win the titles in 2010 and last year, and lost to Djokovic in 2011.

The one question about Nadal over the years has been his durability, on account of a hard-charging, play-each-point-as-if-it's-your-last style.

He did not enter the US Open in 2012, part of an extended absence because of a problem with his left knee.

And this will be the second time Nadal chose to not attempt a defense of a major title: A year after winning Wimbledon in 2008, he missed that tournament with knee tendinitis.