Comments on: U.S. Open – Who’s Hot, Who’s Not http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/1631 Unique Tennis Perspectives Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:32:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JacksonvilleDude http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/1631/comment-page-1/#comment-525 JacksonvilleDude Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:17:59 +0000 http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/?p=1631#comment-525 This will be the most wide-open Slam we've had in years. In all previous slams there were either one or two clear cut favorites: Federer and/or Nadal. Nadal is definitely the favorite at this year's U.S. Open, but I am not sure he's going to win it. Firstly because he's played a lot of tennis up to this point, and he has an extremely physical, effortful game as it is. Secondly, hard courts are his least favorite surfaces and there are several players who are confident enough against him to challenge him on that surface. And thirdly - and this is interesting, if nothing else: According to Greg Sharko, almost no one has ever won the first grand slam they played *after* becoming number 1. Federer is at the point where more and more players are getting confident when they play him. That doesn't bode well in the long term for Federer: once the fear factor diminishes, it never really comes back anywhere as strong as before. It's tough to really pick a clear-cut favorite or set of favorites at this year's U.S. Open, which makes it all the more exciting for all of us. This will be the most wide-open Slam we’ve had in years. In all previous slams there were either one or two clear cut favorites: Federer and/or Nadal. Nadal is definitely the favorite at this year’s U.S. Open, but I am not sure he’s going to win it. Firstly because he’s played a lot of tennis up to this point, and he has an extremely physical, effortful game as it is. Secondly, hard courts are his least favorite surfaces and there are several players who are confident enough against him to challenge him on that surface.

And thirdly – and this is interesting, if nothing else: According to Greg Sharko, almost no one has ever won the first grand slam they played *after* becoming number 1.

Federer is at the point where more and more players are getting confident when they play him. That doesn’t bode well in the long term for Federer: once the fear factor diminishes, it never really comes back anywhere as strong as before.

It’s tough to really pick a clear-cut favorite or set of favorites at this year’s U.S. Open, which makes it all the more exciting for all of us.

]]> By: Beverly http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/1631/comment-page-1/#comment-520 Beverly Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:18:39 +0000 http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/?p=1631#comment-520 <em>Roger Federer could either fall off from the chase of Rafael Nadal or keep it real interesting.</em> Wow! What a predication. Federer will either win or he'll lose! Roger Federer could either fall off from the chase of Rafael Nadal or keep it real interesting.

Wow! What a predication. Federer will either win or he’ll lose!

]]> By: shannon http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/1631/comment-page-1/#comment-511 shannon Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:06:02 +0000 http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/?p=1631#comment-511 LOVE these predictions! I think they're right on. Federer--champ and he'll play Djokovic in the final. Fingers crossed. LOVE these predictions! I think they’re right on. Federer–champ and he’ll play Djokovic in the final. Fingers crossed.

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