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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...

U.S. Open Men's Preview: Top Favorites

by Long John Silver (Senior Writer)

15

649 reads

Preview/Prediction

August 23, 2008


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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15 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Rob York 10 months ago

    I agree with you that Djokovic is the favorite. He's playing a lot more confidently than Federer these days and Rafa's body probably can't take seven matches on this surface. This is Djoker's chance to show that he learned his lesson at Wimbledon and will show up ready from the first match.

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    • Long John Silver 10 months ago

      yeah, wimbledon was sort of a rough call for him though rob, Marat round 2 is actually brutal - so dont hold it against him

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    • Rob York 10 months ago

      Yeah, Ino one wants to draw Marat in rd 2. Still, Djoker went down kind of meekly in that match, and he has a history of not playing especially well in the early rounds of majors (see Stepanek at last year's Open, Patience at last year's Roland Garros and Amer Delic at last year's Wimbledon). This year, he came to Wimbly expecting to play himself into form as usual and got burnt.

      I think he'll be ready this time.

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    • Long John Silver 10 months ago

      i think he is ready to0

      but on any day, playing federer is a 50-50 call ... no one can sure he'll put it past rodge

      rodge can indeed plays lights out tennis if he wants to - any time any day

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  2. aditi anshu 10 months ago

    yeah me too agree that novak is favourite to win us open 2008 and martin is doing very well i will not be surprised if he will clinch the us open 2008.

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  3. Andrew McNair 10 months ago

    Old Andy is growing on you I see :)

    I have to go with Fed as that is who I really want to win. I know Murray won't...not this year at least ;)

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    • Long John Silver 10 months ago

      i was wondering about ya mate - on where you were, i knew you wud like this one

      yeah - AM has grown on me, it would ve been unfair to not discuss him when am speaking USO 2008

      yeah - he is as hot as hotcakes right now - he is playin brilliant

      if Rafa has a bad day - who knows, its back to sting's goodl ol' tune

      'An Englishman in New York'

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    • Andrew McNair 10 months ago

      I have to play it down...we all know what happens when Scotland get too excited....we fall flat on our fair faces!

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    • Long John Silver 10 months ago

      i agree ...

      olymps was a big let down - but NY should bode well for AM

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  4. Jordan Schwartz 10 months ago

    We have the same final four with Rafa, Fed, Djokovic and Murray, and the same final, but I see Rafa over Djok in the final. Good article.

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    • Long John Silver 10 months ago

      really ? interesting ...

      i think De-Joker will pull through (partially because when he reaches the final, he would already have the confidence of beating FED)

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  5. aditi anshu 10 months ago

    yeah he really needs some time but amazing performance by young Argentine. yeah novak is my fav too for us open 2008.

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