Games Review Blog

Juan Martin del Potro. Many forget to mention del Potro when speaking of top contenders, but his potential on the hard court is undeniable. Del Potro won 23 straight matches last summer, capturing four tournament victories in a row leading straight up to the 2008 US Open, besting any teenager in tennis history except for Rafael Nadal.

Del Potro reached the quarterfinals at least year’s open, but was stopped short by Andy Murray in a four set nailbiter. Murray went on to advance to the finals. This is all an indication that an improving Del Potro can’t be overlooked at this year’s tournament.

Andy Roddick. As American tennis lives in a dark state, Andy Roddick is the only true glimmer of hope at each and every grand slam vent. Until recently, the field of contenders was literally owned by Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, but some regression on Djokovic’s part, a Nadal injury, and some vulnerability on Roger Federer’s part have paved the way for players like Roddick.

On top of this all, Roddick made an exceptional run at Wimbledon earlier this summer, playing some of the best tennis of his career and nearly denying Roger Federer of his record-breaking 15th grand slam victory in a match that was just about as close as they get. Roddick’s fitness is better than it’s ever been, and the fact that he was the last person to win a US Open before Federer began his streak (amazingly, this was 6 years ago in 2003) means that Andy Roddick cannot be counted out.

Andy Murray: Last year’s finalist, and the world’s number 3 ranked player. A spot long held by Novak Djokovic, Murray has broken serious ground with his emergence into the top 3, and his defeat of Rafael Nadal at last year’s US Open semifinal goes to show that Andy Murray has a legitimate shot to break through to the finals again this year. However, Murray was easily defeated by Roger Federer at last year’s final (straight sets), so he may need to show some marked improvement in order to stand a chance should he break through once again this year. At just 22 years of age, his game is still improving, so this is very well possible.

Rafael Nadal. After the 2009 Australian Open, Rafael Nadal looked like the best player in the world in the eyes of most. Having won 3 of the last 4 grand slams at the time (all by defeating Roger Federer in the finals of each), it was hard to argue that Federer was better than Nadal. He seemed unstoppable going into the 2009 French Open, but his record-breaking clay court streak came to a halt with a shocking loss to Robyn Soderling. Injuries played a major role in this, and may be a hindrance to Nadal’s chances at the open.

The US Open is the only slam he’s yet to win, and you can bank on the fact that he’ll be hungry for it. Much of his success will rest upon his health, as the hard court surface at Flushing Meadows will test his knees to the fullest. Still, Nadal hasn’t exactly been successful at the US Open, never making it past the semifinals (which had never even happened until last year). Can a well-rested Nadal bounce back from injury and reclaim his place as the best tennis player in the world? We’ll see.

Roger Federer: Ah, the king. The newly anointed king of tennis won his record-breaking 15th grand slam at Wimbledon in 2009. With some help from an injured Rafael Nadal, perhaps the only player who arguably has Federer’s number, the road was easier for Federer…but still an extremely challenging one given Federer’s struggles in 2008, an increasingly competitive field, and his age of 28. Despite all this, what is most impressive is that Federer has won each of the last five US Opens since Roddick won in 2003. To win five straight Grand Slams positions Federer as the obvious favorite at this year’s US Open. For his sake, let’s just hope he doesn’t meet Nadal in the finals.

Regardless of the outcome, this year’s US Open is sure to be as exciting as any before. Enjoy those two weeks, as some great tennis is an incredible way to cap off the summer.