US Open 2011 Draw: Which Superstar Has Easiest Road to the Finals?

The US Open is the last Grand Slam Tournament of the Tennis calendar year. It's the second oldest Slam, four years younger than Wimbledon.

For as long as the tournament has been held, it has always had its share of top seeds who have had easy paths towards the semifinals.

So much that it has been questioned whether the draw is rigged.

That is a bold statement to make, but sometimes you just have to question that. I am not one of those people, I just question why on earth would you seed Serena Williams 28th?

I could understand not seeding Venus. Let's rethink that, up to certain point.

I automatically discarded the quarters where the Williams are, as easy paths to the semifinals or finals. When they are at their best—and Serena is looking like she is—they get to the finals and play each other.

At the very least, it is not an easy draw. But there are still some easy paths to at least the semis for some players.

Let's clarify that, in the following list, there are a couple of players, who I picked as possible players who can exit unexpectedly, before reaching the semis.

So this list does not reflect whether they will reach the finals, but rather, the path they have, that on paper would look like a fairly easy one, towards at least the semis.

Let's take a look at it.

- Carlos Torres

Andy Murray

Andy Murray is the fourth-seeded player in the Men's Singles Draw, and the fourth-ranked player in the ATP World Rankings.

He has fewer than 2000 points between him and Roger Federer for third, and a draw where he can easily make it to at least the semifinals. By most accounts, he should be in the finals on his side of the draw.

The high seed on his draw is sixth-seeded Robin Soderling who has been struggling with injuries and is not in top form. Soderling has Juan Martin Del Potro in the third round, so those two will even off.

Murray leads all head-to-head matches with his possible significant opponents, including 5-0 over Feliciano López, 5-1 over Del Potro and 7-1 over Gilles Simon.

His big possible challenge is Rafael Nadal in the semis.

Caroline Wozniacki

The top-ranked female player in the world is also the top seed in the Women's Draw.

Caroline Wozniacki, on paper should get to the semifinals at least. Two women stand out on her quarter of the draw: Daniela Hantuchova and Li Na.

The main reason for that is because Hantuchova surprised her in the French Open and Li has beaten her three out of four times.

But those two players are having problems of their own and that is why, at least at first sight, Wozniacki should make it to the semis, where quite possibly she will face Serena Williams—whom she has never beaten.

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, the top player in the world, really has an easy path, at least to the semifinals, where many expect him to face Roger Federer.

At this point his toughest opponent is his sore right shoulder. He is almost down a break on that match.

Novak's record against the highest seeds in his quarter are 8-0 against seventh seed Gael Monfils, 7-1 against ninth seed Tomas Berdych, and 6-1 against 13th seed Richard Gasquet.

He is 2-0 against Rafael Nadal's conqueror at the Rogers Cup, Ivan Dodig, and he has not played against Alexandr Dolgopolov yet. 

The only two men with a winning record against Nole, are Ivo Karlovic and Fernando González, who play each other in the first round. Nole is 1-2 against them, but he has not played Karlovic since 2008 and Gonzalez since 2006.

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova is the third seed in the Women's Draw. In her quarter, she has plenty of opportunity to build on her recent win in Cincinnati.

Her record against her possible opponents in that quarter is 2-0 vs. Julia Goerges, 3-1 vs. Shuai Peng, 2-1 vs. Flavia Pennetta—who beat Sharapova last time out—and 7-1 against Agnieszka Radwanska.

Her biggest challenge should come from Petra Kvitova—who beat her in the Wimbledon Final—and against whom she is 1-1, but she is not playing at the level she was in London.

In the semis should be either Vera Zvonareva, and she is 7-3 against her, or Venus Williams, with whom she has the only losing record against an opponent in her half at 3-5.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal may be struggling to find his form, but he has by far the easiest path to the finals of any player, male or female.

The top seed in his draw is fifth seed and compatriot David Ferrer, who is playing in just his second tournament off his broken finger injury. Many expect him out early. Even if he makes it, Nadal is 14-4 against him.

All of the seeds in his quarter should not beat him. But then again, neither should have Ivan Dodig when they played recently.

Whichever way you look at it, just like for Djokovic, his shoulder is his main opponent, for Rafa is his actual winning form. If he doesn't find it, then is a wide-open draw for whomever beats him.

Otherwise, it should be a clear path to the semis at least, against Andy Murray.