As we enter the last Grand Slam of the year, the big four have been somewhat reduced to the big three but I reckon that the man who has fallen to number seven seed will still get the biggest cheers. Roger Federer will start the US Open on Monday at his lowest seeding in over a decade.
The fact of the matter is that he has had a disappointing time since his shock exit from Wimbledon, and since he is 32, questions about whether he has an 18th Grand Slam in him will be the talking point. I personally think that he can still beat anyone in the circuit if he plays his brand of intelligent tennis. However, it is at Wimbledon he has his best chance and, while he loves the drama and warmth of New York, he would really have to produce some vintage stuff to make it to the top four.
Each of the top three have a very good chance over the next week. Rafael Nadal has had a remarkable run to the tournament with an impressive win at Cincinnati and looks close to the best he has been on hard courts. He seems fit and is running down balls with the speed that suggests he is confident about his knees. Novak Djokovic is someone who always leaves his best for the Grand Slams. This is a surface he enjoys and he played a great final last year against defending champion Andy Murray. My only concern is that he seems to lose his way against Murray, which happened in New York last year and at Wimbledon this year. They meet each other in the semis here, and chances are that if Novak gets past that he will feel that he can beat all-comers.
Which brings us to the defending champion, who now plays without any of the burdens that weighed him down last year at this time. He now has two Grand Slams, including a Wimbledon, and that itself should help him free up a little. True, he has not had a stellar run-up to the tournament, but he is at the prime of his game and would be confident of producing the goods on the big stage.
The draw has come in for some discussion with Rafael and Federer set to face each other at the quarters. However, we must not get ahead of ourselves – we had similar concerns at Wimbledon and neither gentleman lasted out until the quarters. There are many contenders lurking in the draw, including former champion Juan Martin del Potro. However, I will stick my neck out and say one of the top three, who have split the three Grand Slams of the year so far, will double their count of titles for the year.
I will certainly not stick out my neck as far as the women’s side is concerned because there has been a lot of action on that side. The most upsetting news is that Maria Sharapova will be missing the tournament with a bad shoulder. She really has had a bad week first with her name-change controversy and then the withdrawal. For me, she is always a contender when she is in the draw, but in her absence Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams are the overwhelming favourites. There has been a lot happening in the women’s side with the recent retirement of Marion Bartoli, who retired after winning at Wimbledon. The third seed Agnieska Radwanska is also a player to watch out for because she uses her head against the power of her bigger opponents. The women’s title is a more open competition and anyone who has a good fortnight can actually win the title. I will also keep an eye out for my compatriots Angelique Gerber and the mercurial Sabine Lisicki, who on her day can win against anybody.
- Gameplan