So here we are, the Olympics Tennis culminated in the then-world No. 1 and 2 going gold for Switzerland and Spain…and the enchanted streets of New York welcome you with open arms on Monday for the U.S. Open 2008.
The Olympics did play havoc with this year's North American summer hard court series, and if this was indeed the ‘Greatest Road Trip in Sports’ (as advertised), I would much rather take a cruise. The women’s field is shot with injuries (is Jankovic even a real No. 1?); I think the least unhealthy will win.
I actually do like MA-SHA (Sharapova) and am personally disappointed that she will not rock up to play in NY. She is a true competitor at heart, adds so much glamour and exhilaration to the ‘The Open’ (as we call in the States) that I will definitely miss her. Yeah, also a side note, MA-SHA is no Kournikova, MA-SHA can actually hit a tennis ball around.
I love New York, love Manhattan and its unique energy inside, after seven years in the states; Manhattan and Palo Alto (Northern California) are two of my absolute favorites. They are chalk and cheese…Palo Alto is much more laid back, but just as captivating and romantic. A month or so before, I captured what NY can bring to ‘The Open’ just by virtue of its essence.
So, let’s talk tennis…and this year is more open than the previous years. These are my top picks for the open this year (not in any particular order):
Rafa Nadal: Felicitacion Rafa, for the world No. 1 ranking. An Olympic Gold, Roland Garros and Wimbledon and the current world No. 1 by toppling Federer…and winning in New York would be the icing on the perfect chocolate year cake.
Nadal has to play the hunted now, as opposed to the past three years of playing hunter; it is indeed much different. Exhaustion can possibly play a factor, for he has played non-stop through the year.
What do I think? I am going to give Rafa the second Sunday spot (final), but not the entire open. If indeed he proves me wrong and takes the open…would any of you take my challenge that the annual Sports Illustrated award is still going to a certain American swimmer, and not to Rafa?
Roger Federer: Went Gold in the Olympics again and was genuinely thrilled at the result. A mediocre year (yes, I’ll repeat the disclaimer: only by his standards) and he has a chance to salvage a slam by going Gold in New York again.
However, I still maintain he is running on fumes, and the little annoying voice of self-doubt has crept in somewhere deep inside the Fed’s mind.
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