Federer barely defeated Nadal on fast plexicushion but was he going to do it on slow Decoturf?
Not to mention that the Swiss stopped being a threat in Flushing Meadow for a long time, so being a favorite at 38 is a bad joke.
Regarding Djokovic, I don't know what his fans think who believe that because he is almost invincible in Australia he is also invincible in the US Open when the evidence shows otherwise: his negative record is finals there is reliable proof that your idol is much more vulnerable in NY than in Melbourne.
Hence his outburst last year for suffering with players like PCB and his correct disqualification for committing an irregular act that violated the rules of the tournament.
I know that it hurts the most ardent fans like you that Nadal is better and more successful than the Serbian in the US Open, and that he did not play the 2012, 2014 and 2020 editions where he could have won a title or two in addition to the 4 that he achieved.