I will successfully defend a non-clay court title for the first time in my life at the US open.

Well, that is the dream anyway.

August 23rd, 2011 at 12:39 pm

Lots of Rafa fans here in Puerta Vallarta.

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:03 pm

Wish I were one of them.

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:45 pm

Nole is the fav, BUT it depends on his shoulder injury really. Reading alot of reports that are creating doubts over whether he shall be fine for the tourny or not. Even though I support rafa this is unfortunate for nole and bad timing. He’s the best player this year, but moreso for me he’s looked a complete hardcourt player. It will be a shame if he’s less than a 100%. Things are lookin good for Murray though- big 3 with various issues, could this be his year?

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:51 pm

@Anna

U would like it here ;),even if it means u have to be a Rafa fan.

August 23rd, 2011 at 2:00 pm

correct me if im wrong but i thought serena lost to bartoli at wimbledon not kvitova,anyway i think serena will win it hands down,its a shame kim will be missing as i think she was the only one who could stand toe to toe with serena.on the mens side it goes without saying nole is the one to beat,i hope he makes a full recovery in time,i dont know why but i cant put my finger on it,but ive got a bad feeling somehow that all is not well with nole,i really hope im wrong though.

August 23rd, 2011 at 2:18 pm

I agree that Nole’s shoulder is a big concern. He just had a full month off. So either its a returning injury that couldn’t completely heal in a month last time (not good), or a new injury that came on with less than two weeks playing- and a GS is two weeks playing (also not good).
Hope he’s alright, he really deserves the chance to compete.
Don’t really see how Murray’s odds are equal to Roger’s, but there’s probably a lot more Brit homers than Swiss.
Ordering looks good to me, except I don’t think Gasquet is in quite the no-chance level of Isner or Cilic.

Realistically, I would cut off the contenders list at Tsonga, and even that, with he, JMDP and FIsh as long shots is probably generous. Muzza in the middle. The Nole injury concerns at least allow us to imagine Rafa and Fed as having solid chances. Can’t wait! Spill one for Milos.

August 23rd, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Wow, Fed’s record here is impressive to see again. Two losses in 7 years…

August 23rd, 2011 at 2:22 pm

I hate it that no official news are coming from the djokovic side. I guess they won’t say anything to avoid showing a potential weakness to his rivals, but I’d like to know what’s happening with him regardless. I was devastated when he lost the final last year and I want revenge. :)

August 23rd, 2011 at 2:39 pm

I think rafa has a great chance if he can toughen up himself mentally. And how can he do that- I might have just found the answer on my TwitterLine:
INSIGHT INTO NADAL’S MIND AND HIS BATTLE AGAINST DJOKOVIC:
http://bit.ly/nFnutP

Very Nice article!

August 23rd, 2011 at 6:38 pm

Serena lost to Bartoli not Kvitova…I believe Serena is the favorite..Lord knows Wozniacki will not not win a grand slam until she change her game…not this year… GO SERENA!!!!!!

August 23rd, 2011 at 7:14 pm

Just hope Nole can recover for the USO and get to the final.

August 23rd, 2011 at 10:02 pm

Serena, will win the USO, barring any injuries. Dunno, but I’m not at all impressed with Kvitova. She comes across as being unfit, and can easily fade when faced with an opponent who gets her moving, but looks can be deceiving.

August 23rd, 2011 at 10:48 pm

rep sar dont get me wrong,i like nole and hope hes fit to play,however i wouldnt get carried away,i would just be greatfull hes there to compete,and just take it one game at a time,and not to think any further than that,i dont think even he will be taking anything for granted.

August 24th, 2011 at 1:49 pm

Hey alison, who do you support?

August 24th, 2011 at 7:10 pm

faye pelzer: read yours really quickly and thought you’d written Wozniaki would not win a slam until she changes her “name.” lol, thought I, that’s a radical suggestion ;)

August 25th, 2011 at 1:40 am

SI.com mailbag suggests Novak has a “double” in football player Nelson Oliveria. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on his name if you want to see a picture. The hair is similar anyhow.

Didn’t know Serena’s withdrawal from Cincy was after her first match, but I guess Wertheim received some letters about it.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_wertheim/08/24/serena.roddick.mailbag/

August 25th, 2011 at 2:57 am

Raja could steal one if djokovic isnt healthy, I still think this is feds best chance to win a major in this stage of his career rather than wimby

August 25th, 2011 at 5:15 am

And LOL at roddicks having better odds than isner, gasquet, and monfils. those guys might actually make it to the second week of the tournament. I give roddick three rounds max.

August 25th, 2011 at 5:18 am

rep nina,i love them all,but i have to say without a shadow of a doubt,that rafas my favourite,however thats not to say that i dont have a lot of respect for what rogers done in the past,and may continue to do in the future only time will tell,or that i dont respect what noles doing now,which beggars belief,i am a british girl and hope our andy may also give the top trio something to think about in the future,and turn the top trio into the fab four,it would also be great to see delpo make an impression again in the future,then we would be talking about the famous five,ive always loved rafa theres just something about him,something different just my opinion,although i do agree with everyone else that nole is the one to beat and the absolute favourite to win the us open,from what i can gather i dont belive there is any lasting damage to nole either which is good news,good luck to all the guys may the best man win.

August 25th, 2011 at 6:32 am

Nice one Alison, I also love all the Top 4, though my absolute favorite is Nole. This is funny: you’re a British girl rooting for Rafa and I’m a Spanish girl rooting for Nole. LOL

August 25th, 2011 at 6:54 am

hi nina,yeah its a funny old world,isnt it lol,i like andy murray too,but hes a bit too much of a headcase,too much like me,lol.

August 25th, 2011 at 8:25 am

I think there is something wrong with me as a fan, I love Rafa, will root for him tooth and nail

but,

I don’t really have any desire to read his book because I think he’s kind of boring.

Most of his press conferences are boring. In fact, the only place he isn’t really boring to me is on the tennis court, and there, its total magic. I mean, i think he’s a good person, prob one of the better guys on the tour but he transforms once he comes on court.

I’m more excited about the release of a new chick lit book than Rafa’s. Do I suck as a fan?

August 25th, 2011 at 8:28 am

rep kimberly,no you dont suck as a fan,you are just giving your honest opinion,to like a player doesnt mean to say that you have to be interested in everything about them,personally its the same for me with federer,hes a great guy and a great playerbut ive no desire to read about him or his private life,others may feel differently each to there own.

August 25th, 2011 at 8:49 am

TV, couldn’t have put it better. Djokovic deserves a chance to compete. This is his (historically) his most consistent major. And he’s been unlucky here a lot. An injury now would be terrible timing.

August 25th, 2011 at 9:30 am

@k

There in lies the difference between being a tennis fan and idol worship. Loved your honest post. I liked your observation of how he transforms into magic once on the tennis court. Its no surprise you love the game.

August 25th, 2011 at 9:31 am

Draw will be out in 1 hour, folks! My money is on Nole-Fed, Rafa-Muzz!

August 25th, 2011 at 10:50 am

Draw will be out in 1 hour, folks! My money is on Nole-Fed, Rafa-Muzz!

August 25th, 2011 at 10:50 am

That will be no problem. Muzz is my breakfast. Fed is my lunch.

August 25th, 2011 at 11:11 am

I hope for fun’s sake they put Fed in the same quarter as Tsonga and Berdych. In the same half as Nole. Fed would start crying before the tournament begins.

Back to playstation.

August 25th, 2011 at 11:29 am

I have a feeling they want Rafa-Fed to happen in NY and a semi would be good too…

August 25th, 2011 at 11:57 am

Murray-Nadal
Rog-Nole

Rog-Fish
Rafa-Ferrer
Murra-Soderling
Nole-Monfils

Tough luck for Rog in the quarters!

August 25th, 2011 at 12:32 pm

Rafa – Ferrer? Hahaha

August 25th, 2011 at 12:35 pm

My reaction too: hard to believe he’s still ranked fifth actually.

August 25th, 2011 at 12:36 pm

Novak -Fed again for the 20th consecutive slam… and the fourth consecutive USO

August 25th, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Sorry, Not the 20th consecutive slam. there were a couple of FO’s 2008 and 2010 where Nole and Rafa were in the same half.

August 25th, 2011 at 12:40 pm

Nope, no way the draws are fixed :-P

August 25th, 2011 at 12:42 pm

Ha ha ha, and where is Grendel to comprehend, the even for much less clever people than him, obvious?

Nole-Fed, ha? How surprising!!! It hadn’t happen for years! (But the last five USOs and last 15 times out of 17 overall.)

Disgusted.

August 25th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

TV, says “hard to believe he’s still ranked fifth” – Ferrer has just *become* ranked 5th this past week. He lept over Soda since Robin has been injured and has lost points (more than Ferrer). Actually both Ferrer and Soda are coming off injuries. Then again, many players are! Definitely feel like Monfils and Fish are the more “form” players at the moment. However, Soda can play well on hard and Murray has Delpo in his section too. Ferrer did play great at the beginning of the season, though, and he has beaten Rafa at the USO (07) and the AO (this year), although I believe Rafa was injured at those times.

August 25th, 2011 at 12:56 pm

Does anyone know who has tsonga, berdych?

August 25th, 2011 at 12:59 pm

Brando, It doesn’t matter!!!

Fedal is all that matters. At any cost!

August 25th, 2011 at 1:05 pm

From US Open tweets, i believe Tsonga is a potential fourth rd for Fish

August 25th, 2011 at 1:09 pm

Disgusted.

August 25th, 2011 at 1:10 pm

@ duro: it does matter! Hope federer does not get not get tsonga or berdych. I think their record at USO isn’t great anyhow.

August 25th, 2011 at 1:10 pm

Tsonga is in fish’s half of the draw. That’s good for roger he’s protected from the power players it seems. Only berdych is unaccounted for. Anyone know who has landed the berdman in their section?

August 25th, 2011 at 1:16 pm

Just checked. Berdych best at USO has seen him go to the 4th round- which he has failed to do so for the past 3 years! He hasn’t made the quarter finals at a slam since the aus open this year.

August 25th, 2011 at 1:20 pm

1,2 and 3 have swapped around…and yet it comes out Andy and Rafa, Nole and Fed. Again. How?

August 25th, 2011 at 1:21 pm

Bhagdatis – Isner, Dmitrov-Monfils seems to be some of the more exciting first rounds…

August 25th, 2011 at 1:29 pm

@Brando – Berdych is in the Monfils section.

August 25th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Baggy and Isner are playing right now if you want a preview. ;) Baggy is up 4-2. Also, last night, Roddick pummled Giraldo, 6-1, 6-3; Giraldi is Fed’s first round opponent. Rafa should have no prob with Golubev over five sets, although he can play well. And Murray has a fairly tough opener imo, against Somdev Devvarman.

August 25th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

^ correction, Baggy broke again: he is beating Isner 5-1 as I write.

August 25th, 2011 at 1:33 pm

Strange, the rankings last year were Rafa#1, Fed #2, and Nole # 3, no? This year Nole #1, Rafa #2 and Fed 3. But yet the draw looks very simular. Mr Early, u suck!!! Mix it up will ya? No gonads

August 25th, 2011 at 1:35 pm

Brando, I was not talking about Fed’s chances and tough possible opponents, just about damn gray eminences of this noble sport that pollute it in this disgraceful insatiable way…

They want Fedal in every possible situation there is…

Almighty Money worshipers.

August 25th, 2011 at 1:51 pm

Nole gets a qualie in R1? Those conspiracy theorists (http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2011-08-17/7716.php) may be right after all!

August 25th, 2011 at 1:53 pm

Brando, Berdych would have to win the section with Nole to meet Fed in the semis, and Tsonga would have to beat Fish to meet Fed in the quarters (this latter scenario is not untenable if Tsonga is fit and playing well like in Canada – sorry for the double negative ;)). It would be ironic if Tsonga were to take out Fed again and then lose to Nole in the semis: that’d be three times in a row (well, practically). But all they can do is beat the guys in front of them. Nole beat Fed last year but lost in the final.

I don’t get the match fixing idea, if that is what it is. Let’s say all top four made it to the semis (because it’s feasible that they won’t! Indeed, isn’t it more often than not that they don’t ALL make it to the semis?), who is to say a Fed/Rafa semi and Murray/Nole semi with a Fed/Murray, Murray/Rafa, Fed/Nole or Rafa/Nole final wouldn’t be just as exciting as a Fedal final? So why would “they” fix it for Fedal? Perhaps any of those four matches could be *more* exciting than a Fedal at this point in their careers? Mind you, Fedal have never met in a USO final, so this could be hyped up I suppose. But does it mean Fed would win? I am not so sure. Fedal have played twice this year with Nadal winning 5 out of 6 sets played (Miami and FO). Let’s see where the dust and hardware settle in a few weeks. It’s quite possible the top four won’t even make it to the semis so it won’t matter, in that sense, who is on whose side.

But it does feel like deja vu, :p

August 25th, 2011 at 2:04 pm

This cannot be normal

federer again in the half of djokovic

when was the last time that roger was not in his half

August 25th, 2011 at 2:05 pm

Skeez, gonads, ha?

Exactly. Cohonesless bastards…

But what amazes me most is the people still not getting it!!! How blind one must be!????

Sad sad world. Not a bit of fairness anywhere.

August 25th, 2011 at 2:10 pm

roger and rafa have the potentially earlier trickier draws. let’s see what happens!

August 25th, 2011 at 2:44 pm

@Duro

Same as Cohonesless, ;)

August 25th, 2011 at 3:49 pm

http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracketUsOpenATP/tennisxrocks/default.aspx.

submit atp brackets here!

August 25th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracketUsOpenWTA/tennisxfansforgirltennis/default.aspx.

ladies brackets here if anyone cares

August 25th, 2011 at 4:09 pm

just wondering what does cohonesless mean.

August 25th, 2011 at 4:18 pm

@AH

No Balls. Sorry, we tried to be descreet :)

August 25th, 2011 at 4:23 pm

Without cojones = lacks guts, balls. :)

August 25th, 2011 at 4:29 pm

thanks skeez and nina,im just a humble girl from north yorkshire in england,ive led a very sheltered life you know,lol.

August 25th, 2011 at 4:48 pm

ha ha, its funny nole fans dont like fed. dont worry..tsonga will probably do the work for you.

federer manage to miss berdych but got tsonga @#$%^&???

August 25th, 2011 at 7:37 pm

@ kimmi: I think fish beats tsonga. Fed should avoid the ‘power’ players that he struggles against recently. If he does he should make the semi.

August 25th, 2011 at 9:21 pm