Early US Open Favorites

[Clay]

Only a couple of weeks to go before the Open kicks-off. Here are my early favorites, which of course will change when the draw is announced. Top seeds have less of a chance to be upset this year, so if players prone to early losses like Sampras (and Agassi lately) can squeeze through, they won't face a top player until the end of week one. Here are my picks:

Best shot: Kuerten (finding form on the hard courts this summer), Rafter (if he can stay in shape for 2 weeks with that sweating problem), Agassi (still the best hardcourter out there).

Good chance: Hewitt, Sampras, Ferrero, Henman, Roddick, Kafelnikov, Safin (its been a rough year)

Don't count out: Federer (although he gets a little too much credit for his win over Sampras at Wimbledon in my opinion), Gambill, Enqvist, Martin, Rusedski, Ivamisevic (he knows he can still win now).

I know the list is pretty extensive, but if I had to put my money on someone right now, it'd be Rafter. Anyone else have a favorite?

[Marc]

I doubt Ivamisevic will ever win a major again.

I am pulling for Agassi, I want him to win another. Although I think Kuerten is the favorite.

George Soules has a preview: http://www.sports-central.org/columns/calling_shots

[NickHammy]

If Kuerten plays his best, nobody can beat him...I think a Kuerten-Agassi final would be cool. I think Kuerten will win it.
And I'd watch out for Roddick, i think he'll win a big one sometime soon...

[Clay]

I doubt Ivanisevic will ever win a major again

Marc-- It's true, he's a long shot, but I doubted he would ever win a match again, and here he is taking advantage of the summer hard courts and notching victories. It could very well be his last Open and I bet he makes the best of it.

[Ross]

I think Kuerten will win it, shedding the reputation of a clay-court specialist behind him.

[tennis4you]

I certainly agree, Kuerten is my favorite to win it! He is just playing too good right now.

From a previous post about those who have a "good chance" I think you can count out Henman and Kafelnikov. I doubt Henman will ever win a major. He just doesn't have the big weapon...

[Clay]

It's easy to count out Henman, but remember, he came within two rain delays of making a Wimbledon final, has made 3 Wimbledon semis, and this summer has come within match points and a 3rd set tie break on 2 seperate occassions of beating Kuerten, who everyone is touting as the favorite. I havent seen the draw, but he is definitely a player that will benefit from the new 32-player seeding system. We will see how it turns out.

[tennis4you]

True, I agree he will benifit from the 32 seedings. But I have no confidence in his ability. He seems to be playing well right now. I think the top players would have to fall quickly for him to even have a remote chance...

[Clay]

Scott--

Henman has a pretty easy draw into the semis. He is in the talent-rich bottom half of the draw, but in his quarter, he has only Grosjean or Rusedski (potential 4th round opponent) and the mercurial Safin (quarterfinal match if Safin gets that far). Otherwise, as long as his confidence is up, he should do well.

Here are my pics for the Open:

Quarterfinals:
1. Ivanisevic vs. Kafelnikov--Kafelnikov (I have Kuerten losing to Arthurs, but if he can get past that obstacle, he should reach the finals)
2. Hewitt vs. Roddick--Roddick wins
3. Henman vs. Johansson--Henman
4. Rafter vs. Agassi--Rafter (with Sampras losing to Gambill in the 3rd round)

Semifinals:
1. Kafelnikov vs. Roddick with Roddick winning
2. Henman vs. Rafter with Rafter winning

Finals:
Rafter over Roddick; should be one sided unless Roddick serves the lights out.

Anyone else have a guess? It's a tough call with so many former finalists in the same half of the draw. Kuerten and Roddick have a virtual cakewalk in comparison.

[Marc]

Quarterfinals:
1. Ivanisevic vs. Kafelnikov - Kafelnikov
2. Hewitt vs. Roddick - Roddick
3. Henman vs. Johansson - Henman
4. Rafter vs. Agassi - Agassi

Semifinals:
1. Kafelnikov vs. Roddick - Roddick
2. Henman vs. Agassi - Agassi

Finals:
Roddick over Agassi - Young vs. "old", the future versus the present and past. Wish this would happen!

[Marc]

All right everyone, the Open has started. Let's start discussion!

[NickHammy]

Henman looks like a goner, it was 5th set 2-1 when they went to something else. It looked like Henman wasn't playing as well.

[Clay]

Typical loss of concentration for Henman. A little scary though. He's through.

[Marc]

Henman is such a disappointment, IMO... every year, he is predicted to be the hometown boy winning Wimbledon, but he let's everyone down. Come on, Tim! :(

[Clay]

Come on Marc, go easy on Henman. One of the commentators said today--I think it was Pat Cash--that in his opinion, Henman would have won Wimbledon if Pete Sampras (the best Wimbledon player in history) wasn't around. Henman lost to him twice in the semis, then had a bad break this year in the semis versus Ivanisevic (Cash also said Henman would've made the finals this year had rains not postponed play). Elsewhere, though he rarely lives up to his billing. The courts at the Open are playing fast, this year, so he might have a chance. He's got Meligini (a clay courter) next. Shouldn't pose much of a problem, but there's never any telling with Tim.

[Marc]

Despite Hingis' controversial comments in Time Magazine about the Williams Sisters, I can't help but pull for her, something about her makes her my favorite player. :) Anyone hear about her comment?

On the men's side, I'm pulling for Agassi or Sampras.

[tennis4you]

Well, needless to say I am always pulling for Sampras. But needless to say, it is a lost cause...

I too also want Hingis to win. I think she needs a Slam win for some confidence that she can compete against the hard hitters today. But watching Venus play I am not so sure Hingis can make it through. :)

[Marc]

I really like Martina. :o :D

I watched her match today against the unseeded Majorli, the entire thing, and it was a good match. It kept swinging, Marjoli came out and got the first set, then Martina fought back in the second. Back and forth, back and forth.

Martina barely won, but I'm glad she did. You've got to wonder if Majorli was 100%, if she could have won.

[Marc]

Anyone watching this?

I watched Hingis vs. Dolik last night, started off good, but Hingis pulled away. Good for her, having a tough match previously against Majorli.

They were commenting on her coaching situation. With the tens of millions she makes every year, she should hire her own coach, trainer, and anything else that could possibly help her. She is currently coached by her mom, but the analysts think it's time for a change, and she needs to revamp her game to compete with the power hitters today. Thoughts?