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Men’s Preview:
It’s US Open time as the years final Slam gets underway tonight in New York. Juan Martin Del Potro is the defending champion but unfortunately due to injury will not be defending his title. Roger Federer is once again favourite to claim success which would mark his 6th US Open and 17th Slam overall. This year we’ve seen the dominance of Nadal and Federer continue and should one of them win it’ll be the third time in the past five years in which they have together swept the Slams.
Rafaal Nadal is the tournament’s top seed and will be looking to claim the lone major which has eluded him throughout his career. He came into the hard court swing full of confidence but losses to Murray in Toronto and Baghdatis in Cincinnati must have been of some concern. Often overlooked is the fact that he’s come close the past two years with consecutive SF appearances but each time ran into a hot player. He couldn’t have asked for a better draw, Gabashvili can be dangerous but not likely to really threaten; in the second it’s Istomin who is coming off a R/U showing in New Haven while in the third it’ll most likely be Kohlschreiber or Gilles Simon. He should have a free passage through to the Quarters as the bracket immediately below is no cause for concern. His QF clash will either be against Gulbis, Nalbandian, Ferrer or Verdasco. Gulbis is always a threat but I’m unsure whether he’s got the consistency to reach the final 8, Ferrer is a former SF’ist here so must be a chance while Verdasco is terribly out of form. On this group Nalbandian is the one who has the form but I’ll pick Ferrer to set up a clash with Rafa. While not his usual dominant self on these courts, Nadal has still proven to be very difficult to beat. On their day Gulbis and Verdasco could challenge but I seriously question whether they’ve got it in them to come through so many tough matches. Nadal to set up a SF clash with Murray.
Roger Federer is a six time champion at NY and narrowly missed number 6 last year. After doubts were creeping in following disappointing showings in Paris and London he responded with a R/U performance in Toronto and a win in Cincinnati. It only took a red hot Del Potro to stop him in 2009 and with the Argentine missing and no one outside of Murray really stepping up in the hard court swing to this point; I have a tough time seeing anyone beating him. Dabul first, Berrer or Beck to follow, Hewitt in the third, a very easy start for Federer. In the fourth it should be either Melzer or JCF with neither bringing strong HC form into the event. It’s the Quarters where he should face his first legitimate test in Soderling who knocked him off at the French and tested him in last year’s US Open. If he survives this it should all but cement his spot in the final as potential SF opponents Djokovic and Roddick both have their own issues which should prevent them from seriously challenging.
Andy Murray finally broke through for his first title in 2010 with a strong week in Toronto where he defeated Nadal and Federer in back to back matches. Cincinnati wasn’t as kind but he’ll take enough confidence into this tournament to believe he’s a big chance for his maiden GS title. He’s always maintained that he feels the US Open is his best chance at winning a Slam and now appears as good a time as any. He’s got two easy matches to kick off his campaign with a possible match-up with Wawrinka in the third. American Sam Querrey will be desperate to at the very least match his 3R showing from a year ago and if he plays to his potential he could set up a nice rematch of the Wimbledon 4R, with this time Sam receiving the parochial support. Murray’s class should see him through to set up an outstanding QF clash against Tomas Berdych. I try to avoid being sucked into the Murray hype but it was hard not to be impressed in Toronto. His serving seemed to have extra bite, he played attacking tennis when it was required, and I see him beating Nadal to once again give himself a chance for a first GS.
Novak Djokovic’s 20-5 W/L ratio at the US Open is actually his best at all the Slams and the 3rd seed and former finalist seems to have flown under the radar. All the talk, and rightfully so, is focussing on the chances of Nadal, Federer and Murray and barely a word is reserved for Novak. He’s proven that he performs his best when he’s the underdog and perhaps this tournament will be another example. There’s talk about his tough draw, but I don’t see it as such a difficult one. Countryman Troicki first, probably Petzschner second with the unthreatening Monaco his seeded 3R opponent. In the fourth he’ll likely face one of the two recent bolters in Fish or Baghdatis but if that goes five as you’d expect, will they have in them to back it up and beat Djokovic? Novak’s lead-in form was good, not great, and with his service yips and occasional struggle with the heat an early exit is somewhat conceivable, but I think the earliest he falls is in the Quarters to Roddick.
Andy Roddick’s had his recent struggles with glandular fever and a lack of quality results, but you get the feeling if he’s ever going to claim another major it could well the Cinderella story in New York. He was a SF’ist in Cincinnati and with only 3R points to defend; he’s likely to be viewing this is a real opportunity to start to claw his way back up the rankings. He opens on Arthur Ashe against Robert which will be a pushing nightmare, followed by Tipsarevic or Rochus, both of which can be tricky but I can’t see an upset. Gael Monfils is the seed in his bracket, a match you wouldn’t want to be stuck at if given a choice. In all likelihood I see Roddick setting up a 4R clash with Davydenko and surprisingly they’ve only met 3 times, but if Roddick’s got this far I’d back him to beat the Russian. Without any real evidence supporting it, I’ve got this gut instinct that Roddick will set up another clash with Federer in the Semi’s.
Other challengers include Berdych and Soderling; Marin Cilic has the draw to at least mount a respectable run, and while his form has been impressive, to me Nalbandian is a real chance of flaming out early. Berdych has a sound draw and should meet Murray in the Quarters and if Murray isn’t prepared to attack he could find himself in a spot of bother. Soderling too has a good draw, although de Bakker continues to improve and a 3R match-up could prove interesting. A few of the more intriguing first round matches are Davydenko/Russell, Gulbis/Chardy and Youzhny/Golubev.
Prediction: Federer def. Murray
For me the winner is only going to come from one of two men; Federer or Murray. I just didn’t see anything in Nadal’s pre-tournament form to suggest his US Open fortunes will change in 2010, and although posting solid results Djokovic seems to be getting further away from a second Slam as each one passes. Heavy hitters claimed Federer at the previous two Slams but for me his record at the US Open is just too good to ignore and any doubt about where his game was at was removed with strong showings at the MS events. I think Murray will again reach the final and should he do so surely he can’t again fall meekly? Everyone’s saying this one is wide open and the winner could come from anywhere, I’d like to see a hectic Slam with surprise finalists but I can’t. Nadal/Murray and Federer/Roddick Semi's.
It’s US Open time as the years final Slam gets underway tonight in New York. Juan Martin Del Potro is the defending champion but unfortunately due to injury will not be defending his title. Roger Federer is once again favourite to claim success which would mark his 6th US Open and 17th Slam overall. This year we’ve seen the dominance of Nadal and Federer continue and should one of them win it’ll be the third time in the past five years in which they have together swept the Slams.
Rafaal Nadal is the tournament’s top seed and will be looking to claim the lone major which has eluded him throughout his career. He came into the hard court swing full of confidence but losses to Murray in Toronto and Baghdatis in Cincinnati must have been of some concern. Often overlooked is the fact that he’s come close the past two years with consecutive SF appearances but each time ran into a hot player. He couldn’t have asked for a better draw, Gabashvili can be dangerous but not likely to really threaten; in the second it’s Istomin who is coming off a R/U showing in New Haven while in the third it’ll most likely be Kohlschreiber or Gilles Simon. He should have a free passage through to the Quarters as the bracket immediately below is no cause for concern. His QF clash will either be against Gulbis, Nalbandian, Ferrer or Verdasco. Gulbis is always a threat but I’m unsure whether he’s got the consistency to reach the final 8, Ferrer is a former SF’ist here so must be a chance while Verdasco is terribly out of form. On this group Nalbandian is the one who has the form but I’ll pick Ferrer to set up a clash with Rafa. While not his usual dominant self on these courts, Nadal has still proven to be very difficult to beat. On their day Gulbis and Verdasco could challenge but I seriously question whether they’ve got it in them to come through so many tough matches. Nadal to set up a SF clash with Murray.
Roger Federer is a six time champion at NY and narrowly missed number 6 last year. After doubts were creeping in following disappointing showings in Paris and London he responded with a R/U performance in Toronto and a win in Cincinnati. It only took a red hot Del Potro to stop him in 2009 and with the Argentine missing and no one outside of Murray really stepping up in the hard court swing to this point; I have a tough time seeing anyone beating him. Dabul first, Berrer or Beck to follow, Hewitt in the third, a very easy start for Federer. In the fourth it should be either Melzer or JCF with neither bringing strong HC form into the event. It’s the Quarters where he should face his first legitimate test in Soderling who knocked him off at the French and tested him in last year’s US Open. If he survives this it should all but cement his spot in the final as potential SF opponents Djokovic and Roddick both have their own issues which should prevent them from seriously challenging.
Andy Murray finally broke through for his first title in 2010 with a strong week in Toronto where he defeated Nadal and Federer in back to back matches. Cincinnati wasn’t as kind but he’ll take enough confidence into this tournament to believe he’s a big chance for his maiden GS title. He’s always maintained that he feels the US Open is his best chance at winning a Slam and now appears as good a time as any. He’s got two easy matches to kick off his campaign with a possible match-up with Wawrinka in the third. American Sam Querrey will be desperate to at the very least match his 3R showing from a year ago and if he plays to his potential he could set up a nice rematch of the Wimbledon 4R, with this time Sam receiving the parochial support. Murray’s class should see him through to set up an outstanding QF clash against Tomas Berdych. I try to avoid being sucked into the Murray hype but it was hard not to be impressed in Toronto. His serving seemed to have extra bite, he played attacking tennis when it was required, and I see him beating Nadal to once again give himself a chance for a first GS.
Novak Djokovic’s 20-5 W/L ratio at the US Open is actually his best at all the Slams and the 3rd seed and former finalist seems to have flown under the radar. All the talk, and rightfully so, is focussing on the chances of Nadal, Federer and Murray and barely a word is reserved for Novak. He’s proven that he performs his best when he’s the underdog and perhaps this tournament will be another example. There’s talk about his tough draw, but I don’t see it as such a difficult one. Countryman Troicki first, probably Petzschner second with the unthreatening Monaco his seeded 3R opponent. In the fourth he’ll likely face one of the two recent bolters in Fish or Baghdatis but if that goes five as you’d expect, will they have in them to back it up and beat Djokovic? Novak’s lead-in form was good, not great, and with his service yips and occasional struggle with the heat an early exit is somewhat conceivable, but I think the earliest he falls is in the Quarters to Roddick.
Andy Roddick’s had his recent struggles with glandular fever and a lack of quality results, but you get the feeling if he’s ever going to claim another major it could well the Cinderella story in New York. He was a SF’ist in Cincinnati and with only 3R points to defend; he’s likely to be viewing this is a real opportunity to start to claw his way back up the rankings. He opens on Arthur Ashe against Robert which will be a pushing nightmare, followed by Tipsarevic or Rochus, both of which can be tricky but I can’t see an upset. Gael Monfils is the seed in his bracket, a match you wouldn’t want to be stuck at if given a choice. In all likelihood I see Roddick setting up a 4R clash with Davydenko and surprisingly they’ve only met 3 times, but if Roddick’s got this far I’d back him to beat the Russian. Without any real evidence supporting it, I’ve got this gut instinct that Roddick will set up another clash with Federer in the Semi’s.
Other challengers include Berdych and Soderling; Marin Cilic has the draw to at least mount a respectable run, and while his form has been impressive, to me Nalbandian is a real chance of flaming out early. Berdych has a sound draw and should meet Murray in the Quarters and if Murray isn’t prepared to attack he could find himself in a spot of bother. Soderling too has a good draw, although de Bakker continues to improve and a 3R match-up could prove interesting. A few of the more intriguing first round matches are Davydenko/Russell, Gulbis/Chardy and Youzhny/Golubev.
Prediction: Federer def. Murray
For me the winner is only going to come from one of two men; Federer or Murray. I just didn’t see anything in Nadal’s pre-tournament form to suggest his US Open fortunes will change in 2010, and although posting solid results Djokovic seems to be getting further away from a second Slam as each one passes. Heavy hitters claimed Federer at the previous two Slams but for me his record at the US Open is just too good to ignore and any doubt about where his game was at was removed with strong showings at the MS events. I think Murray will again reach the final and should he do so surely he can’t again fall meekly? Everyone’s saying this one is wide open and the winner could come from anywhere, I’d like to see a hectic Slam with surprise finalists but I can’t. Nadal/Murray and Federer/Roddick Semi's.
