US Open Tennis 2012 Predictions: Projecting When Journey Will End for Top Stars

The 2012 U.S. Open is set to begin this Monday from Flushing Meadows, N.Y. But before the action heats up too much, why not make some bold predictions for the year's final Grand Slam?

With so many stars set to shine and one notable talent, Rafael Nadal, sitting this one out with a bum knee, this year's U.S. Open promises to be unpredictable. 

Regardless, we'll give it a shot. 

Here I project when the journey will end for each of the top tennis stars at the 2012 U.S. Open. 

Roger Federer

Roger Federer has won five times at the U.S. Open, and will be looking for an Open Era record sixth title this summer. Still, Fed hasn't won it all in Queens since 2008, and is only getting older at age 31. Sure, his summer at the All England Club was an impressive one, but the U.S. Open demands two weeks of great tennis on the demanding hard court.

As the No. 1 seed, I like Fed to reach the semis with ease. Then he should be able to overcome Andy Murray in the semifinal to reach the final. There though, I see Fed falling short to a rising talent. A run to the final of the U.S. Open is hardly a failure, but it would be tough to swallow for the 17-time Grand Slam champ. 

Andy Murray

The reigning Olympic gold medalist, Andy Murray made the semifinal at the U.S. Open in 2011 and that's where his journey will end this summer. The No. 3 seed will have to face the top-seeded Roger Federer in the semis, barring an unforeseen upset of course.

Although the Scotsman had the last laugh against Fed at the London Games, he won't have enough in the arsenal to get past the 17-time Grand Slam champion on the famed hard courts of Queens.

Novak Djokovic

The defending men's champion has a favorable draw this year. With Rafael Nadal out of the tournament, Djokovic won't have to face any of the Big Four until the final. That's the reason why I expect Djokovic to make the Final and then win it all over Federer this summer.

Djokovic has to be motivated after a below average summer by his standards and he prefers hard courts. With that in mind, you'd have to be crazy to pick against The Djoker this September. 

Maria Sharapova 

The Russian powerhouse hasn't been past the fourth round at the U.S. Open since she won the tournament for the first time in 2006. With that said, I don't expect Sharapova to get past the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.

If she can make it to the semis, she'll have to deal with Victoria Azarenka, the same player that defeated her in the 2012 Aussie Open final last January. 

Serena Williams

The American star has had an incredible summer to say the least. She won Wimbledon and then followed it up with an Olympic gold medal victory in London a month later. The three-time U.S. Open champion hasn't won in Queens since 2008, though, and that doesn't bode well for her hopes of winning this year, especially at age 30.

Williams will reach the final, but the two weeks of grueling tennis will take its toll on her and she'll come up short in the Final to a much younger challenger. 

Victoria Azarenka

The No. 1 seed on the women's side has failed to follow up on her dominating 2012 Australian Open win earlier this year, but will certainly be in store for some success at the first hard court Grand Slam since the Aussie Open last January.

After a summer of clay and grass court tournaments, Azarenka will be rejuvenated playing on the traditional tennis surface at Flushing Meadows. With that said, I expect the 23-year-old Belarus native to shine all the way to the final, ultimately winning the women's singles title to cap off a sensational 2012 campaign.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more reaction and analysis on the 2012 U.S. Open this summer.