US Open Tennis 2012 Draw: Superstars with the Easiest Road to a Title
The 2012 U.S. Open will bring an end to what has been a very dramatic and exciting Grand Slam season for the ATP and WTA Tours. The draws for both the male and female sides have been released, with plenty of interesting potential matchups to ponder.
As things stand right now, it is easy to sit back and look at the draws on both sides to figure out who has the easiest road to the championship.
Here are the top players who have the easiest road to a U.S. Open Championship based on who they could be matched up with.
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These two are lumped together because one of them is the top seed on the men's side and the other is easily the best female player right now.
Federer's greatest test likely wouldn't come until he gets to the semifinals against Andy Murray, which would make for an amazing match but one worthy of the finals. Still, there are going to be things that leave you puzzled.
Before he gets to that match, Federer won't have to take on a ranked player until the third round at the earliest, depending on what happens to Mardy Fish and Gilles Simon in the first two rounds.
Tomas Berdych, who Federer has already picked apart in straight sets, is his toughest test on his bracket.
Williams, on the other hand, really has no match right now. The only female player that can stop her is herself. If she gets behind early, she might just take her foot off the gas.
She did have a setback at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open last week against Angelique Kerber, but that actually gives me more confidence in her. She will be well-rested and focused like she was during the Olympics and Wimbledon.
Perhaps even more than Federer, Djokovic feels like a lock to at least make the Open Finals. He has the luxury of being able to avoid Federer and Murray on his side of the bracket.
With Nadal already out due to injuries, when you put Djokovic on a side that doesn't have Federer or Murray, you are basically inviting him to the finals.
David Ferrer is the only obstacle standing in Djokovic's way. You never want to say that something is guaranteed, but Djokovic is as close as you can get.
The No. 1 seed on the women's side does have the luxury of not playing on Williams' side of the bracket.
However, she will potentially have to contend with Maria Sharapova in the semifinals. Azarenka is 2-1 against Sharapova this season, though she did lose their last matchup in straight sets at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Just looking at her bracket, I don't see her having too many problems at least making it out of there. Samantha Stosur and Na Li have the talent to trip her up, though Azarenka has had success against the latter with a 2-0 record this year.
For a complete look at the 2012 U.S. Open Draw, click here.
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