The US Open is known for being a really exciting tournament, with their great night sessions and with the great crowd, knowing for making a poor match look like being worth of a million bucks. But this season, the US Open is even more exciting than the usual. We have a new number one in the men's side and with Henin's sudden retirement, we don't know a player in the women's side standing up and being the major favorite to win the tournament.


Just like I said previously, we have a new number one in the men's circuit, Rafael Nadal. However even though he is clearly the best player in the world right now, he has never performed like a true number 1 in this tournament, as he has never done better than quarter finals in here. This is clearly his worst Grand Slam and after the huge amount of tennis he has played lately, it is hard to see him winning in here. However, having in account how he has been playing lately, it's also very hard to see him losing in here, as he has just lost 5 times in the last 6 months. He has a very good draw in here and I don't expect him to have any kind of problem until the quarter finals, where he may have to face crowd favorite James Blake or David Nalbandian, known for being a terrible matchup for Nadal on fast surfaces. Still he is the number one candidate to win in here.

Nadal's main opponent for the win in here is Novak Djokovic, world number three and winner of the Australian Open this season, the only Grand Slam played on hardcourt in 2008 until now. Djokovic has shown several times that he can beat Nadal on a fast surface like this one and after reaching the final last season, he has the game and a great draw to get his second Grand Slam title of his career in here.

Roger Federer, winner of the past four editions of the US Open, is just the third biggest candidate to win in here. Why? His terrible season, with losses everywhere and to players he used to dominate. However Federer hasn't lost in here since 2003 and his Olympic Gold medal in doubles may give him some confidence. His draw isn't bad at all, but it will all come down to his form and his consistence in the baseline.

I don't see another player actually being capable of winning this tournament. Onto the Americans. Roddick and Blake don't seem to be in enough form to actually beat at least two Top 3 players (Roddick would probably need to beat all 3 to win the tournament) and lift the trophy. Former semi-finalist Robby Ginepri seems far from that level and Mardy Fish and the other American players seem to be capable of advancing some rounds, but they will end up losing the first time they face a tough task.

Some other players may be capable of creating some upsets like Del Potro (currently on a 20 match winning streak!), Ferrer, Davydenko, Murray or Wawrinka, but neither seem to be at enough form or have the necessary experience to stay calm on the second week of the competition, against an opponent in theory better than them.


If things seem to be open in the men's draw, things are even more opened in the women's draw, where there about 5/6 players, who can really win this tournament. In my opinion, two players stand a little bit from the others: the Williams sisters. Both Venus and Serena are former winners of this tournament, however neither has reached the final since 2002! They seemed to be clearly the best two players of the circuit in Wimbledon, but in the Olympics, they were prematurely eliminated, which make their performance in here be unpredictable. Still for what they have conquered and with all their experience at this level, I see them as their main contenders in here. However remember they will face each other in the quarter finals, which will make an amazing night session on that day.

Now onto the Serbians Ivanovic and Jankovic, world number one and two of the rankings. Both are injured, however Ivanovic's injury seems to be much more serious and I would be surprised if she goes further than quarter finals in here. Jankovic seems to be a much more serious threat in here, especially with her very easy draw, which should put her facing Dementieva in the semi finals. However Jankovic is knowing for failing at the later stages of Grand Slams.

The Russian armada has two contenders for the title: Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina. With Sharapova injured, it's Olympic champion Dementieva, who has the better chance to win for Russia this tournament. However she has never won a Grand Slam, even though she has more than potential to do it. Safina is having a career season and reached the final of Roland Garros and reached the final of the Olympics, however her serving problems should prevent her from winning her first Grand Slam in here. Russian number one Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is a former winner in here and defending finalist, seems to be out of form to win such a big tournament as this one.

This tournament is so open that some young talents like Radwanska, Azarenka or Wozniacki can make their breakthrough and steal this Grand Slam out of nowhere. On the other side, former winner and current mother Davenport can try to use her experience and great powerful serve and ground strokers to reclaim her superstar status. However a knee injury should prevent her from doing it. Without Henin (retired) and Sharapova (injured) and with some of the main stars of the circuit with small injuries, we can see a major surprise winner in here.Whoever wins this tournament will need to suffer a lot to do it, in open of the most Grand Slams of the decade.