Rafael Nadal's Absence Won't Tarnish U.S. Open

When one of the best players in a particular sport finds himself sidelined for a major event, that usually spells doom for those involved. We want to watch the best go head-to-head with the best. If for no other reason we don't want any "what-ifs" when it comes to the legacies of our most celebrated players.

That's all true, but Rafael Nadal's absence from this week's U.S. Open does not feel like a harbinger of bad things to come. Rather, it seems like a door has opened for an exciting moment to occur, and there are plenty of players and outcomes that could make this Open a memorable one.

The first thing to come to mind when discussing Nadal's absence this week is Roger Federer. The 31-year-old Swiss legend is vying for his 18th Grand Slam singles title. Federer, who many thought would have a hard time reclaiming the No. 1 world ranking, seems like he dabbled in the fountain of youth. Between Wimbledon and the London Olympics, he has never looked so spry. It would not be surprising to see him handle any weather complications and back-to-back matches with great aplomb.

Seeing Federer win an 18th title would be tremendous for the sport of tennis. But to do so he would have to overtake Andy Murray. Murray's gold medal win over Federer was impressive unto itself. But it may also give the British star a mental advantage that he has never had against the game's top players.

Momentum is huge, and having beat Federer and longtime nemesis Novak Djokovic recently, we may get to witness the first Grand Slam title for Murray, which in terms of memorable moments, would certainly be up there. Murray, after all, has had his struggles in title matches. But a win this week could erase a lot of that and propel him to a successful run.

Djokovic, meanwhile, has the easiest route to the title game. No pundits can foresee him losing before the final match, so it will be interesting to see if he can get some of his swagger back.

Regardless of the outcome, I think it's safe to say we're in for a treat. Three of the game's biggest stars will be competing for a Grand Slam title, and even without Nadal in the mix, it's safe to say the story lines abound.