COVER STORY: SEPTEMBER 2007 |
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MEN
ROGER FEDERER: Looking to become the first man to go back-to-back-to-back-to-back (yes, that’s four times) at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. This year should be his most difficult, as he took two losses on U.S. hard courts to Guillermo Canas in the spring, and Rafael Nadal’s level has risen significantly. Still, until someone actually shows they can match the Swiss’ fifth gear in Flushing, Roger is the prohibitive favorite.
RAFAEL NADAL: For the second year, the Spaniard nearly had a premature off-clay breakout Slam fiesta at Wimbledon, but missed a negotiable forehand on break point in the fifth and then Fed ran over him. He’s beaten Roger on hard courts before and put a large hard court notch in his belt by winning Indian Wells. He must serve well, attack with his forehand and not get pushed too far behind the baseline like he was last year in his loss to Mikhail Youzhny. It’s put-up time for Rafa at non-dirt major.
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ANDY RODDICK: If A-Rod can’t win another Slam here, it’s possible he might not be able to anywhere. His teeth-gnashing, tough-guy routine meshes perfectly with gritty NYC, just like his coach Jimmy Connors’ in-your-grill attitude once did. But so many things have to go right for Andy to win his first Slam since ‘03, including fantastic serving, solid returning and clean transitions to the net. Most importantly, he doesn’t want to see Federer until the final, and if he does, he wants to confront a Swiss maestro who has been beaten up along the way.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The Serbian male flavor of the year is a tremendous all-around competitor who can spank it from the back, play steady, boom serves and bully returns. He showed by winning Miami that he has an A-level hard-court game and displayed tremendous heart in going deep at the French and Wimbledon. This could be his chance for a major breakthrough.
JAMES BLAKE: Last year, Blake came into the Open on a roll and hurt Fed for a decent stretch during a four-set loss in the quarters. This year, the 27-year-old American has been struggling, failing to have won a title since early January. Maybe he’ll perform better as a sizeable underdog, because that’s what he is. The J-Block will be out in force again shouting him on, so he’s sure to put on some inspiring performances. But he had better rediscover his serve and consistency in his ground game or a first week upset is possible.
MARCOS BAGDHATIS: He’s rapidly become one of the most enigmatic players on the tour, brilliant some days and wayward on others. He has the speed and shotmaking capabilities to go deep, but due to fleeting confidence, is also vulnerable to an early upset.
LLEYTON HEWITT: A mediocre year in many ways as this active dad and husband isn’t grinding like he used to, but the former champ is absolutely nails in New York, going deep every year. Unless he gets an awful draw, the Aussie is a second week lock.
NICOLAY DAVYDENKO: If the ATP doesn’t clear his name in the gambling scandal prior to the USO, forget about his chances of a return to the semis. He’s a terrific hard-court player who combines an intelligent mix of offense and defense, but the scandal almost certainly will devastate him emotionally.
RICHARD GASQUET: For the first time in his closely followed career, the French sensation managed to show consistent brilliance at Wimbledon, where he upset Roddick in the quarters. The size of lungs and heart are still a little in question, but there’s no doubt that he has the arsenal to hurt anyone.
GUILLERMO CANAS: Not a great run after his incredible play at Indian Wells and Miami, but the Argentine loves to lope on hard courts, and is sure to try to stick it to the USO for banning him from the grounds for his doping offense.
RADEK STEPANEK: He’s been out-playing his fiancée, Martina Hingis, this summer, winning L.A., nearly taking Roddick out in Washington and making a push in Montreal. The veteran Czech may not look entertaining at first glance, but what other player is willing to do The Worm after a title run?
Other notables: Young Czech Tomas Berdych has been due for breakout for two years...Does anyone know what happened to Ivan Ljubcic’s top-five game? Maybe he’ll rediscover it here... Andy Murray’s wrist injury was much worse than expected and he can’t be counted on to do much damage...Tommy Haas should give it his all in his last true shot at the second week...Mikhail Youzhny showed in his upset of Rafa last year that his one-handed backhand is worth watching...Which of the three young Americans do you like to win a few matches? Sam Querrey, Donald Young or the 6-foot-9 service bomber John Isner? We’ll take Querrey, who is a little more seasoned, but positive results by Young and Isner this summer have given U.S. fans reason to hope.
WOMEN
VENUS WILLIAMS: If her right knee injury isn’t serious (and it shouldn’t be), Venus will enter the U.S. Open as the favorite for the first time since ‘01, when she won her second title. She has ratcheted up her serve and her forehand again and her backhand has always been smooth. Should she win this crown, she’ll have won seven Slams, just one short of Serena and one more than Henin. Wouldn’t that make things interesting in the next couple of years.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: If the 20-year-old can manage to deal with the pain in her shoulder and cut loose on her first serves against the other elite players, she’ll make a strong push to defend her crown. She can hang with anyone off the ground, but often doesn’t get enough serves back in play. If she can dominate from the first ball, she could salvage what has been a very trying year.
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JUSTINE HENIN: Took the most surprising loss of her career to Marion Bartoli in the Wimby semis, just when it looked like she might be able to win the one Slam title that has eluded her. Then she took a long hiatus to recover mentally. She’ll be fresh, but her confidence has been shaken. But with one spectacular win and a re-ignition of the fire in her belly and the Belgian could go all the way again.
JELENA JANKOVIC: It’s high time for the personable and chatty Serb to step up and reach a Slam final. She’s as fast as anyone, can find the corners with her groundies and has little fear of the big occasion. But can she keep her mind from wandering in seven straight matches? She has yet to prove it.
ANA IVANOVIC: The 19-year-old made a terrific recovery after her French Open final-round meltdown against Henin, reaching the Wimbledon semis with a ligament tear in her knee. She has the size, power and variety to beat up anyone on a great day. New York may be a little too zany for this sweet-as-cherry-pie teen, but she believes she belongs with the elite now, which is half the battle at majors.
SERENA WILLIAMS: As usual, a big question mark. Looked like the favorite entering Wimbledon and then fell prey to another injury, this time a torn-up left thumb and will likely be weaker off her backhand side. But Serena can never be counted out and it’s great she entered New Haven. Still, at the moment, signs point to a quarterfinal exit.
ANNA CHAVETADZE: The early sensation during the U.S. Open Series, this quick, smart and driven Russian may not be the tallest girl on the block, but she’s chopped down plenty of big women with her soft hands. The 20-year-old still may need a year of seasoning mentally, but none of the favorites want to see Ms. I-Need-to-be-Perfect in good form in the quarters.
NADIA PETROVA: She’s trying to discover who she is off court so that she can become more comfortable with her personality on court. The Russian still has Slam-winning potential, but says she can’t be called a great player until she bags a major. Now there’s a realist and one who had enough spunk to take down the mighty U.S. in Fed Cup.
ELENA DEMENTIEVA: The one-time finalist is in love with hard courts and likes nothing better than for the big swingers to try to hit through her. She’s not the type that others want to lock arms with in a three-setter, because her legs rarely go out form under her.
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: The ‘04 champ disappeared after Wimbledon with an injury, and given that she likes a lot of matches, she can’t be up amongst the top five. But she rarely loses early, and if she can get her heavily topspinned forehand raging, she could cause serious damage.
SANIA MIRZA: Surprise here? Not really. The Indian sensation has arguably the biggest forehand in the game, has improved her fitness and took down plenty of sizeable scalps this summer. She’s more than capable of a second-week charge.
Other notables: Martina Hingis is still struggling with injuries and confidence, but has the know how to reach the second week...When Patty Schnyder is cutting up her slice serve and nailing her lefty forehand, she still looks like a-top 10 player...Marion Bartoli has a serious case of the post-Wimbledon blues...Daniela Hantuchova is always there in mind and spirit, but her limitations are obvious... Shahar Peer has lost some spunk and a load of self-belief... Sybille Bammer’s five-year-old daughter, Tina, will enter Kindergarten later this month and her folks would love to send her off with the bumper sticker “My Mom was a Second-Week Honor Student at the USO”... Nicole Vaidisova is recovering from mono, so won’t be much of a factor...Amelie Mauresmo took the U.S. Open Series off and may not play at all...Sadly, the U.S. doesn’t have any serious back-up singers, but Laura Granville, Meilen Tu, Vania King and Madison Brengle would all love to get noticed.
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