US Open Tennis Predictions
US Open Tennis Predictions ~ Federer has form & pedigree to win in champion's absence
There was a time - as recently as two years ago to be more precise - when fancying anyone not named Roger Federer for the US Open would be considered a mild form of insanity. Whilst the force of nature that is Rafael Nadal had matched and even surpassed the Swiss legend on the green courts of SW19 by then, Federer remained without peer on the hard courts of Flushing Meadow. That finally changed twelve months ago when the big Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro outmuscled the five-time champion in the final, winning 6-2 in the deciding set.
Unfortunately, Del Potro has experienced a season beset with injury and will not be able to launch a defence of his title. And so the only player to defeat Federer in New York in the last six years is missing which makes arguments against him winning this time somewhat difficult. In addition to this undoubted pedigree, Federer has the form of the field, winning the star-spangled Cincinnati Masters yet again in the traditional final warm-up for all the contenders. Britain's Andy Murray has eyed the US Open as his best chance of winning a Grand Slam for some time, finishing runner-up two years ago. However, he was clearly outclassed by Federer in that final and, although the 16-time Grand Slam winner is in decline, Murray's form doesn't warrant a reversal, particularly over five sets. The Scot beat Federer to win the Toronto Masters the week before Cincinnati but, having also defeated Nadal in the semi, the effort seemed to have got to him and he struggled to beat Ernests Gulbis before bowing out to the in-form Mardy Fish in Ohio. He is again seeded to meet Nadal at the semi-final stage and to beat him and then go on to win the final is a tall order. He may have to wait for Federer to decline further or retire before he seals his Grand Slam. The claims of world number one Rafael Nadal can, of course, not be ignored. His booming ground strokes, lightning court coverage and never-say-die attitude have made him into one of the all-time greats. He has won the last two Grand Slams - the French Open and Wimbledon - with great ease and style. However, he is not quite the same player on the hard courts of America and still awaits his first final appearance at Flushing Meadow. Should they both proceed, the Majorcan's projected semi with Murray is almost too close to call and could draw the sting from the eventual finalist.
US Open Tennis Predictions:
Federer(
World number three Novak Djokovic is clearly over-priced at
Chris Harcus
28th August 2010
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