US Open Tennis 2011: Power Ranking the Best Players of 2011 US Open

Monday signals the start of the 130th edition of the US Open. Opening day is where all the hype and expectation is at their peak, as we finally see the much anticipated tournament action.

It also features some of the big seeds going against mainly little known opponents. When you go to Arthur Ashe Stadium, it is like going to the old Colosseum in Rome and see the gladiators fight.

The nerves sometimes get to the big names, and their opponent’s confidence grows and we may get an upset win.

But most of the time, the higher seeds will get through to the other round displaying their abilities and overwhelming their overmatched opponents much to the delight of the full capacity crowd.

I visualize the players when match point comes, asking with their thumbs whether they should finish it or keep the match going. The crowd most of the time responds to finish it with an amazing winner.

Opening day is important to us because we finally get the Grand Slam tennis we crave. And this year we have the best players—with the exception of Kim Clijsters—active looking to capture the year’s final Slam.

Having all the top players in the draw, is a good exercise to go outside the actual seeding by the US Open tournament committee and do our own ranking.

It will surely make for an interesting debate, just like the actual ones already have.

Let’s take a look at my view on this year’s top players.

Women's No. 5: Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka is the fifth ranked player by the WTA. Her record for the year is 41-13 with two titles, the Sony Ericsson on hard courts and the Andalucia Tennis Experience on clay.

Very gifted and talented, she has all the tools to become a Slam champion. She is 22 years old, and is starting to consistently get deep runs in the tournaments.

The mental aspect of her game is still improving, but once she puts all those pieces together, she will be one of the two top players in the world.

When she is at her best—like she was at the Sony Ericsson—she can beat anybody.

After the third round, she steamrolled over Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva and Maria Sharapova on her way to the title.

She suffered a right hand strain in Toronto and has not played since losing in the semifinals there to Serena Williams.

But her biggest challenge will come in the third round, when she will face Serena Williams.

Men's No. 5: Juan Martin Del Potro

Juan Martin Del Potro is currently ranked 18th in the world by the ATP. His record this year is 38-12 with two titles, the Delray Beach International on hard courts and the Estoril Open on clay.

Del Potro won this tournament back in 2009.

He continued his hot play and reached as high as fourth in the rankings in 2010 before being stopped by a wrist injury. He was off for nine months, which explains his drop in the rankings.

Del Potro is a player that before going down with his injury was on his way to be among the elite players of the world.

He had beaten Federer twice and Nadal three times that year and was the hottest player that summer.

Del Potro seems to be rounding into form again and has all the tools to reach that missed potential he had a couple of years ago.

He is fifth in the Men's this list because he is still not back to top form, but once he does, I'll move him slightly higher.

Women's No. 4: Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki is the WTA's world top ranked player. Her record for the year is 49-12 with five titles.

The biggest question mark on her resume is that she has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament. But that should not undermine all her accomplishments so far.

In a way, she reminds me of the PGA's top ranked golfer, Luke Donald. Both are very talented, and most of all, a model of consistency.

But the people keep questioning when will she will win one of the Big Four—just like the questioning on Donald.

Her only final in a Slam was back in 2009 when she lost to Kim Clijsters 7-5, 6-3 here in the US Open.

To me, at this point, she is still behind my top three female players on this list. But it's just a matter of time before she gets her first Slam and starts winning more.

Men's No. 4: Andy Murray

Andy Murray is currently ranked fourth by the ATP. His record this year is 34-10 with two titles, the Cincinnati Open on hard courts and the AEGON Championships on grass.

The 24-year-old Brit has yet to win a Grand Slam title. His record against the top three players ahead of him in the rankings is: 4-6 vs Novak Djokovic, 4-12 vs Rafael Nadal and 8-6 against Roger Federer.

He is also 0-3 in Grand Slams finals, 0-2 vs Federer and 0-1 vs Djokovic.

As you can see, he has yet to win a Grand Slam. He has just not been able to produce better results than Djokovic, Nadal and Federer.

The main consensus is that Murray has all the talent to eventually break through and win a Slam. He is right behind the big three in my list, even if he wins the US Open this year—but it won't be for long.

Women's No. 3: Venus Williams

Venus Williams is ranked 36th by the WTA. She has barely played this year due to a hip injury and a viral illness suffered three weeks ago. Her record this year stands at 7-3 with no titles.

The 31-year-old won the US Open in back-to-back years. But that was 10 years ago in 2000-2001.

I understand that it could be argued that she is ranked too high on this list, especially with so many talented younger players being at a top level consistently.

But you just have to look at her history and see why, even after her battle with injuries and illness, she consistently has been one of the top female players in the world.

Take, for example, last May. While playing through a knee injury, she reached the second spot in the rankings just behind her sister Serena.

She then played the French Open and Wimbledon not being totally healthy, and reached the quarters in Wimbledon.

She missed the rest of the tournaments before playing in the US Open, where she reached the semis for the seventh time, losing to eventual champion Kim Clijsters.

This is very similar to what she is trying to accomplish this year, and to me, she is just below my top two female players in this list.

Men's No. 3: Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is the world's top ranked player. He is having a monster season rarely equaled in history. He is 57-2 with nine titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

He can become just the 12th male player to win three Grand Slam tournaments in the same year.

Right now, Nole is the man. I have said before that his time to carry the torch is now. But that doesn't mean he is atop of my power rankings—yet.

I have to give Novak his due. I think his rise to the top is legit and he will keep the top spot going forward.

He has beaten Rafael Nadal five times this year—on every surface, except a kitchen floor— and Roger Federer three times.

But I will place him above Nadal and Federer, after he wins the US Open. That is something he has yet to accomplish—three Slams in a year—that Rafa and Roger have already done.

He should make it to the semis without breaking too much sweat. Then we'll see what destiny has in store for him.

As long as his shoulder holds on, he should be the favorite to win the US Open.

Women's No. 2: Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova is the WTA's fourth ranked player. Her record this year is 39-10 with two titles, the Cincinnati Open and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

Sharapova won the US Open back in 2006 when she finished the year as the WTA's second ranked female player.

Unfortunately, the following years, shoulder injures hindered her from reaching her full potential. She dropped to as low as 18 in the WTA year ending rankings last year.

But she seems to be finally healthy and is quickly regaining that championship form that she showed before the injuries.

After winning in Rome, she reached the semis at Roland Garros and finals in Wimbledon.

When Maria is in top form, I consider her just a notch below my top female player in this list.

Men's No. 2: Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is ranked second in the world by the ATP. His record this year is 53-10 with a modest three tournaments wins, the French Open, along with the Monte Carlo Masters and the Open Sabadell Atlantico—all on clay.

Rafa is the Defending Champion here at the US Open. His record against Novak Djokovic is 16-12—losing the last five this year—and 18-8 against Roger Federer.

Federer seems to be on the twilight of his career, and Rafa has owned him, even on hard courts where he is 5-2 against Roger.

Why is Nadal below Roger on this list?

All that tells me is that head-to-head, Rafa has been the best player. All-around of Rafa's 10 Grand Slams, we have seven French Opens, and one for each Australian, Wimbledon and US Open.

Roger is completely the opposite. Six Wimbledons, five US Opens, four Australian Opens and one French Open Slam.

You have to measure by the overall success. Otherwise, it would be like boxing, where you just prepare and play against your next-in line opponent.

You can't eclipse the sunlight with your hand; you can only block some of it, but the light will still shine around it.

And in the case of putting Roger below, he is trying to do the same thing. But his overall performance, results and ability will shine around it.

Women's No. 1: Serena Williams

Serena Williams is the 29th ranked player by the WTA. Her record this year is 16-2 with two titles, the Rogers Cup and the Bank of the West Classic.

The reason for such a low seed is that she missed most of the year while recovering from a cut on her foot and a life threatening blood clot.

She rolled through the US Open Series, showing she had reached her top form once again. Now she is eligible for a $1 million bonus if she wins the US Open.

We know how motivated she will be.

There is no question she is still a dominating force in women's tennis. If Serena is healthy—which at this point would be her only question mark—she is the favorite win any tournament.

She has a winning record against all the players in the draw that have face her.

A three-time champ here, there is no question she should be the top female player in this list. All that we have to do is check her record.

Men's No. 1: Roger Federer

Roger Federer is ranked third in the world by the ATP. His record this year is 42-11 with only one tournament win, the Qatar Exxon-Mobile Open.

After you read the Rafael Nadal slide, there is not much else to add as to why Roger is at the top of this list.

He has 67 career titles, with the record 16 Grand Slams.

At 30 years old, if someone knows how to win here, that is Federer. It's true he is on the downside of his career, but he says he is still hungry to win.

When Federer is focused and wants to win a title, he goes all out for the win. It's like a shark smelling blood in the water.

He is still one of the great shot-makers of all time and has the most experience of playing at a high level than any other player in this draw—and that includes Rafael Nadal.

At least for this moment, he still deserves the deference of being atop of this list.