Rafael Nadal has clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking.

Few players carry the burden Andy Murray does. His home country both cares about tennis and has been hapless at producing tennis champions.

Jurgen Melzer is the oldest and shortest player in the mix and seems to have at best a Cinderella story chance at taking the crown.

Exactly one year has passed since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal last played each other on the tennis court.

My guess is that in those honest moments before falling to sleep most of the top eight seeds would prefer a different draw. Regardless, I think the player who benefits from an upset or two will be the player to watch on the final weekend.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will meet for a 14 time tomorrow in the final of Basel.

Rafael Nadal goes three sets in a win over James Blake while Serena gets undressed for the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

Dinara Safina doesn’t have to worry anymore, Serena Williams is returning to the No. 1 ranking!

Just for fun, I am trying something different. As the 2009 hard court season heads toward the finish line, I came up with some hypothetical matches between former U.S. Open champions.

Sean Randall breaks down another epic Wimbledon final.

Sean Randall handicaps the men’s final from the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.

If the Williams sisters were to retire with Davenport as of this writing, the U.S. would have no women in the Top 40, and three players in the Top 100 (including the 30+ Jill Craybas, and Ashley Harkleroad who is pregnant). In other words, by the time the Williams retire, U.S. women’s tennis will virtually retire with them.

There’s an age-old saying in the financial markets that the “trend is your friend.”

Indeed, Rafael Nadal fans, go ahead and pop that champagne, can things get any better?

It may not have come in his preferred event, but in his third try Roger Federer finally has his Olympic gold medal.