USO: Rafael Nadal First-Round Press Conference

Q. Do you prefer to have a night like tonight to start a tournament: a very difficult match to get under your belt? Or would you rather play for an hour and 10 minutes and get it over with?

RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer play one hour and 10 minutes. Win easier, no? Everybody wants win easier. That’s no excuse about that, no?

I think that no one wins easy, no? Roger did last night. Djokovic, very tough match today. Soderling five sets win yesterday.

So no one match is easy, especially in a big tournaments, no? The pressure’s there. You play against players that they don’t have much to lose, so they play aggressive. This is difficult to stop.

I had a difficult match, but I think I did play well.

Q. Did you feel like you played well other than the serve? Were you happy with all the parts of your game?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, my serve worked very well tonight. There have been a few aspects. The concentration was high all the time. The forehand is working well. The backhand is not that bad that I had last weeks. So improves a little bit. Just remains a little bit of this confidence to have a little bit more, you know, to improve a little bit that level, to go to the next step.

That’s the only thing for me, to remain, to play with a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more calm. The basic things I think are in the really right way.

Q. You said on court you know you have to serve well to win here. Have you been working on that a lot this summer?

RAFAEL NADAL: All my life I worked a lot on my serve (smiling). Not this summer, no; all my life.

Q. When you go out in a first-round match against a guy who could be dangerous, do you say, I don’t want to play too crazy because maybe I can get into a bad situation, so maybe I’ll play a little more safe and see what happens?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, is difficult go first round and play crazy and play aggressive and play like if you are playing the final, no, because you need this confidence during all the tournament to play like you do in one final, no?

So you go on court. I know Gabashvili very well. You go on court knowing he gonna play aggressive. He gonna go for the big shots. So I just tried before the match to think that I have to play regular all the time. I have to be very focused on my serve and I gonna have chances on the return in a few moments, no?

If I gonna be well with my serve, on the return for sure I gonna have my chances. I had, and I had a few terrible mistakes with the breakpoints. So I went for two tiebreaks. Is important for the confidence. I played well the two tiebreaks, I think.

Q. You were hitting 130 miles an hour on your serve. Is there a change on your serve, or it had to do with the conditions or what?

RAFAEL NADAL: And wait. Wait for the next one, I going for 135 (smiling).

No, I am trying to serve a little bit more like Wimbledon because the ball here is very soft. Is not getting a lot of topspin. I try to play a little bit more flat. And for that reason, I am serving faster, I think. That’s it.

Q. Talk about playing Istomin. He’s played pretty well the last few weeks.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he’s playing well. He had a very good tournament in New Haven. Yeah, sure is difficult opponent, good player. I played against him in the second round of Queen’s. I had a very difficult match, 7-6 in the third — 7-5 in the third.

Well, is really close than the match of today, I think. But he plays a little bit more calm than Gabashvili. So, I don’t know, I just have to keep playing like I did today, a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more confidence. That’s it.

Q. Are you as comfortable at this Grand Slam as you are at the others?

RAFAEL NADAL: Is the more difficult for me, especially I think because the ball. The ball is the more difficult thing for me because the ball I think is more easy to play that ball for the players when they have the flat shots, no? That’s much easier for them than for the topspin players. That’s the only thing.

But I won Olympics with this ball. I won in Beijing in 2005 with this ball. I can do it.

Q. You’re about ready to unveil your new, big, flat forehand?

RAFAEL NADAL: That’s almost impossible. The thing is play with topspin, but play very aggressive all the time, play with very high rhythm. That’s the way.

Q. There’s a doubles player here who is playing with a two?handled racquet.

RAFAEL NADAL: I met him.

Q. Does that strike you as crazy?

RAFAEL NADAL: For me, yes (smiling). For me, yes. For me is no reason to play like this, yeah. Is add the complication on the game, you know.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

US Open 2010 Issue 2: 31 August

by: Tom Cochrane

Play is underway in the 2010 US Open and, while the majority of the women’s seeds in action on Day 1 progressed comfortably to the second round, it was a different story for several of the men’s seeds who were forced to go the distance.

Day 1 Recap

Roger Federer’s campaign for a sixth US Open crown got off to a smooth start on Day 1, the Swiss maestro producing a straight sets win over Argentina’s Brian Dabul. Andy Roddick enjoyed his birthday at Flushing Meadows, also advancing in straight sets, but former champion Lleyton Hewitt ended a scratchy North American summer in dismal fashion, going down in 5 sets to the dangerous Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu. Seeds Soderling, Melzer, Monfils and Montanes were also forced to deciding fifth sets, but each managed to eke out a victory.

Rising star Marin Cilic demonstrated his undoubted class with a near-flawless display on Day 1, while Nikolay Davydenko had an easier than expected match against local hope Michael Russell, dispatching the American in straight sets. Taylor Dent restored some American pride by defeating Alejandro Falla, while Janko Tipsarevic saw off the talented Olivier Rochus in a torrid 4 set tussle.

In the women’s tournament, Kim Clijsters started her title defence in positive fashion with a comfortable win over Greta Arn. Melanie Oudin, last year’s US Open golden girl, joined Clijsters in the round of 64 with a 6-3 6-0 victory over Olga Savchuk. Other winners on Day 1 were French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, sixteenth seed Shahar Peer, Daniela Hantuchova, who overcame former world number one Dinara Safina, and Sam Stosur, who came from behind to defeat Elena Vesnina in 3 sets. There was better news for another former world number one in Anna Ivanovic, who saw off Ekaterina Makarova.

Third seed Venus Williams was rarely troubled in her opening match and is on course for a third round rematch against her apparent nemesis, Tsvetana Pironkova. Pironkova, who defeated Williams in this year’s Wimbledon championships and also at the Australian Open a few years back, had a 6-3 6-4 win over Renata Voracova. And finally, a salute to Sally Peers, an Aussie qualifier who made her Grand Slam main draw debut at Flushing Meadows on Day 1. Peers made the most of her first match on tennis’ biggest stage, annihilating Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-0 6-1. Now that’s what I call a debut.

Matches of the Day – Day 2

1. Viktor Troicki vs. Novak Djokovic

After beating Roger Federer en route to capturing his one and only Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park in 2008, it’s fair to say that Novak Djokovic’s career has stalled somewhat, although the Serb is a remarkably consistent performer on the ATP Tour who is always near the mark at Grand Slams.

While Djokovic no doubt harbours great ambitions of adding more Grand Slams to his Australian Open triumph, more often than not he has found it hard to match Federer and Nadal at the pointy ends of the Grand Slams. Additionally, rising stars such as Murray, Soderling, Cilic and Berdych have stepped up in recent majors, thus lengthening the list of true Grand Slam contenders.

In this year’s US Open Djokovic has been placed in a tough quarter of the draw, and the tough matches begin with this opener against his compatriot Troicki. Troicki is a good all-court player who has steadily improved over the past few years. Early on in his career I think Troicki would have been overawed playing against his high-profile countryman, but I think Troicki is now a more mature and experienced professional. Look for Djokovic to attempt to gain the ascendancy early; the third seed doesn’t want a gruelling encounter in his first round match. I don’t think it will be as easy a match as Djokovic would like, but I think his class will eventually enable him to prevail. Djokovic in 4.

2. Jarmila Groth vs. Maria Sharapova

There are very few players on the WTA Tour who can claim that they have made the round of 16 at both the French Open and Wimbledon this year, but Jarmila Groth is one of them. The naturalised Aussie has improved her game enormously in the last 12 months and has a sufficiently powerful serve and groundstrokes to trouble the best of them in the women’s game. But for some nerves and some poor decision-making under pressure, Groth could have beaten Venus Williams in their clash at Wimbledon.

Judging by Sharapova’s comments going into this encounter, the Russian is fully aware of Groth’s development and accordingly is wary of the threat she poses. I expect Groth to come out swinging and take the match right up to Sharapova, but I think Sharapova’s greater experience and good recent form will see her prevail. Sharapova in 2.

3. Marcos Baghdatis vs. Arnaud Clement

After a couple of years in the tennis wilderness battling fitness, form and confidence, the super-popular Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis has been enjoying a resurgence in his tennis career this year, having compiled a very healthy 35-20 win-loss record for the year to date and returning to the world’s top 20. Baghdatis is very much a confidence player, but when fit and full of confidence he is one of the purest ball-strikers in the men’s game. The sixteenth seed likes playing on the US hard courts, which are high-bouncing and fast-paced, and I consider him to be very capable of making deep run at this tournament.

French veteran Arnaud Clement is a former Australian Open finalist and top 10 player who, despite being past his best, can still pose plenty of problems for the world’s best due to his immense talent, his quick pace around the court and his strong competitive nature. Baghdatis will need to be switched on mentally for this one, and not let his concentration lapse – something he has been guilty of doing in the past. But if Baghdatis can focus and play his natural game, I expect him to come out on top. Baghdatis in 4.

4. Kristof Vliegen vs. James Blake

Make no mistake, the world of professional tennis is an utterly ruthless one; it’s a sport enjoyed by millions of people who hail from just about every nation on the planet. Everyone wants to make the big time, to enjoy the spoils of fame and fortune that accompany success on the big stage. Unfortunately, there are only so many players who are able to make it to the top, and even then it’s a mighty hard task to stay there.

In different ways, the stories of Vliegen and Blake illustrate this cold hard reality. Vliegen reached a high of 30 in the world rankings in October 2006, with the future seeming to look bright for the young Belgian. Alas, he now languishes at number 321 in the world rankings and sports an abysmal 1-8 win-loss record for the year to date. Blake, a former world number 4 in the twilight of his career, has also plummeted in the world rankings. The American is now ranked 111 in the world, his decline exacerbated by a combination of injuries and inconsistent form.

It’s tough to predict the winner of this encounter, with neither player exactly high on confidence, but this could well be Blake’s last US Open and no doubt the crowd is eager to witness one last stand from the popular American. Blake in 4.

5. Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Kimiko Date Krumm

After a poor start to the season, former French Open and US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has worked hard to turn around her form. Flushing Meadows holds fond memories for the eleventh seed and, with Justine Henin and Serena Williams out of the tournament due to injury, Kuznetsova will consider herself to be a legitimate contender for this year’s title.

But in order to make a run at this year’s US Open, Kuznetsova first has to overcome a tricky first round opponent in Kimiko Date Krumm. Soon to turn 40, Date Krumm appears to be enjoying her tennis after rejoining the WTA Tour following her initial “retirement” and, as she demonstrated in her French Open win over Dinara Safina, the wily veteran is capable of causing an upset. The bookmakers have Date Krumm as a rank outsider at around $12, but I sense the match will be closer than they predict. Kuznetsova in 3.

That’s it for today. Enjoy the tennis and I’ll be back with another serve tomorrow.

Report: Nadal’s Richard Mille Watch Allegedly Stolen in Toronto

Rumors have been circulating that Rafael Nadal’s $525,000 Richard Mille 027 Tourbillon watch was stolen during the Toronto event in Canada.

Nadal was not seen wearing the watch during the following Cincinnati tournament, but did sport the expensive timepiece during the recent Nike Primetime Knockout Event in New York.

Nadal has yet to comment on whether or not his watch was stolen.

Federer-Nadal Will Head ATP Player Council

The top two players in the world will once again head the ATP World Tour player council for the following year. Roger Federer was re-elected as the President, while Rafael Nadal will serve as the Vice President. Other players on the council will include Fernando Gonzalez, Sam Querrey, and Jarrko Nieminen.

Official Nike Photo Gallery and Kit Availability for Nadal and Federer’s US Open Apparel and Shoes

With the US Open starting on Monday, Nike Sports has released high resolution pictures of both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s day and night session kits  on their Facebook page.

All of the below apparel and footwear can be purchased through our sponsor TennisWarehouse.com, by clicking the link at the right side of the page.

Enjoy.

Nadal and Federer’s US Open apparel and shoes.

US Open 2010 Issue 1: 30 August

by: Tom Cochrane

Greetings and welcome to Day 1 of the 2010 US Open Championships and the beginning of 2 weeks of coverage of the year’s final Grand Slam, courtesy of The Satellite Serve.

Coming to you daily during this year’s tournament, The Satellite Serve is back with predictions, opinions and analysis in relation to all the action from Flushing Meadows. As usual, the Day 1 column showcases my overall tournament predictions as well as taking a look at the day’s feature matches.

*Tournament predictions – Men’s Singles*

With Juan Martin Del Potro unable to defend the US Open title that he won in such spectacular fashion last year, the majority of bookmakers have installed Roger Federer as the favorite to win this year’s tournament. Given Federer’s form at Flushing Meadows, it’s easy to see why. The Swiss star claimed 5 consecutive US Open crowns from 2004 to 2008, before coming up short against Del Potro in last year’s epic 5 setter.

While I predict that Federer will claim a sixth US Open title this year, it’s far from a certainty. His quarter-final defeats in Paris and London, coupled with Rafael Nadal’s European Grand Slam double and subsequent return to the world number one ranking, prompted many a critic to declare that Federer’s era of dominance was officially over.

To my mind, that’s not quite right. Back troubles plagued Federer in London, troubles which seem to have subsided during the North American hard court circuit. And Soderling and Berdych, his respective conquerors at the French Open and Wimbledon, had to play exemplary tennis in order to beat him. But at the same time, it’s probably fair to say that the chasing pack has gained significant ground on Federer, meaning that future Grand Slams will be hard-earned.

New York has never been a particularly happy hunting ground for Rafael Nadal, whose form on the hard courts in recent weeks has been solid but not spectacular. While some pundits attribute Nadal’s relatively poor performances at the US Open (the Spaniard has won each of the other 3 Grand Slams but has yet to progress past the semi-finals in New York) to the speed of court, I think that argument falls down on the basis of Nadal’s status as a dual Wimbledon champion, given that grass is the quickest of all surfaces. I think Nadal’s New York “failures” (if one can use such a term), are explained by the Spaniard generally being exhausted by this stage of the season.

This year, Nadal has some tricky players lurking in his quarter of the draw, including Verdasco and Nalbandian, but I think he will make the semi-finals. Andy Murray is right at home on the North American hard courts and I expect him to avenge his Wimbledon loss to Nadal by beating the world number one to make the final. Unfortunately for Murray, I think the capturing of his maiden Grand Slam will again be delayed due to the big match tennis of Roger Federer.

As far as outside bets go, I think Djokovic’s quarter is packed with talent and, with the Serb in erratic form of late, a semi-final run could come from Mardy Fish or Marcos Baghdatis, each of whom has been in good recent form. Big-serving American Sam Querrey could also cause some trouble, as could Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych.

*Winner:* Roger Federer

*Finalist: *Andy Murray

*Other Major Contenders:* Nadal, Djokovic, Soderling

*Outside Chance:* Fish, Nalbandian, Querrey

*Tournament predictions – Women’s Singles*

With Serena Williams and Justine Henin out of the tournament due to injury, I consider that there are only 3 legitimate contenders for the women’s title in New York. After last year’s Flushing Meadows fairytale, defending champion Kim Clijsters will again be a major threat, while multiple Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has the talent, the desire and the steely resolve to go all the way. And, of course, Venus Williams will be eager to make up for Serena’s absence and has the experience and the firepower to claim another US Open crown.

While Caroline Wozniacki is seeded number one in Serena Williams’ absence, I doubt that the Dane will make a serious impact on this year’s tournament. It’s true that she played extremely good tennis to make the final last year, but I sense that the added media attention and weight of expectation that comes with being top seed at a Grand Slam will be a burden on Wozniacki’s shoulders. Another problem is the fact that she is drawn in the same quarter as Maria Sharapova.

After some lengthy periods out of the game with injury issues, it’s taken a while for Sharapova to get back to the level of tennis that she is capable of producing. But creditable performances in Paris (where she lost to Henin in 3 sets) and London (where she went down to Serena in a tight match) have laid the foundation for Sharapova to make a push back into the top echelon of women’s tennis. The Russian loves playing in New York, has won the tournament before and is back in good form. Clijsters also loves playing in New York and should overcome Venus Williams to make the final, but this year I sense it will be a Russian fairytale that is played out on the courts of Flushing Meadows.

My dark horses for the women’s tournament are the ever-consistent Russians, Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova, who can match it with the best of them on the WTA Tour, Yanina Wickmayer, who seems ready to emerge from the shadows of compatriots Clijsters and Henin, and the volatile but powerful Victoria Azarenka.

*Winner:* Maria Sharapova

*Finalist:* Kim Clijsters

*Other Major Contenders:* Wozniacki, Venus Williams, Dementieva

*Outside Chance:* Wickmayer, Azarenka, Petrova

*Matches of the Day – Day 1*

*1. Daniela Hantuchova vs. Dinara Safina*

Although it’s been a thoroughly disappointing season for Dinara Safina, whose injury and form woes have conspired to see her drop out of the list of seeds for this year’s US Open, the Russian should draw some inspiration from her first round opponent’s efforts over the years. Hantuchova rocketed into the world’s top 10 before a lack of consistency saw her tumble down the rankings. She’s now a fitter and a more consistent player and is seeded in this year’s tournament as a result.

At her best, I’d say that Safina would have too much firepower for Hantuchova, but tennis is very much a mental sport, and Safina is very much a confidence player. I don’t think Safina is high on confidence at present, and I expect Hantuchova to take full advantage. Hantuchova in 3.

*2. Lleyton Hewitt vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu*

After beating Federer for the title in Halle prior to Wimbledon, Lleyton Hewitt went to the All England Club with high hopes but, after easily accounting for Gael Monfils, the Aussie suffered a frustrating loss at the hands of Novak Djokovic. Hewitt’s form has been patchy since then, with injury problems and the departure of his coach for personal reasons combining to give him a decidedly unsettled preparation for this year’s US Open.

Mathieu was a super-talented junior who has never quite made it at open level, although the Frenchman is a very solid ATP Tour player. Mathieu often plays his best tennis against the best players; his biggest difficulty revolves around efficiently dispatching players who have significantly less talent than he does. Consequently, I expect Mathieu to play at a high level in this clash and push Hewitt all the way. I think the plucky Aussie will eventually prevail, but it won’t be easy. Hewitt in 4.

*3. Samantha Stosur vs. Elena Vesnina*

After the bittersweet experience of reaching the French Open final and losing to Francesca Schiavone, Sam Stosur came back to earth with a thud in London, getting bundled out in the opening round (although it must be said that her opponent, Kaia Kanepi, did go on to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals).

Despite some recent problems with her arm, Stosur insists she is fit and ready to make a deep run in the year’s final Grand Slam. Vesnina is one of the myriad of Russians inhabiting the top 100 in the women’s world rankings and will be no pushover for Stosur. But if Stosur can get her big serve and her powerful forehand working, she should be too classy for Vesnina. Stosur in 2.

*4. Janko Tipsarevic vs. Olivier Rochus*

Although it could be argued that Janko Tipsarevic possesses just as much talent as his compatriot Novak Djokovic, it’s clear from his record over the past few years that he has nowhere near the same level of consistency. Even within matches, Tipsarevic has a habit of alternating between hot and cold.

Olivier Rochus, on the other hand, is a crafty little player who has managed to eke out a decent career despite being shorter and less powerful than the majority of players on the ATP Tour. There’s no doubt in my mind that this match will feature plenty of ebbs and flows, but I figure Rochus will be the more consistent and steady player, attributes which are important down the home straight. Rochus in 5.

*5. Nikolay Davydenko vs. Michael Russell*

Davydenko has been back on the ATP Tour for several months now, after a prolonged layoff due to injury, but I’m yet to be convinced that the sixth seed is back anywhere near his best form, which yields the sort of tennis that saw him beat Roger Federer late last year.

Russell is the quintessential tennis journeyman, having been on the ATP Tour since 1998 but having had limited success during that time. Aside from a surprise fourth round appearance at the French Open in 2001, he has yet to progress past the second round of a Grand Slam. Nonetheless, Russell is a valiant competitor and no doubt he senses that Davydenko is much more vulnerable than usual. With the crowd sure to provide the local player with a massive boost, I think Russell has a decent shot of winning this. Davydenko’s talents should get him through, but stranger things have happened. Davydenko in 5.

That’s it for today. Enjoy the tennis and I’ll be back with another serve tomorrow.

Lil Wayne Picks Nadal and Clijsters to Win in New York

Rap star Lil Wayne recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming US Open with SI.com.

In the articulate letter written to Sports Illustrated, Wayne discussed his admiration for the sport, while vividly discussing his backing of top seed Rafael Nadal for the title.

Wayne also ended his letter with a shut out to Belgium Kim Clijsters.

To read the full letter by Lil Wayne, click the link below.

Letter.

Federer to Play Nadal in Zürich

Roger Federer told his fans on Facebook today that he will face off against Rafael Nadal in a charity match in Zürich, Switzerland.

The contest, which will take place on December 21, will be called “The Match for Africa.”

Money raised from the event will go toward the Roger Federer Foundation. A promo video of the event can be found below.

Enjoy.

US Open 2010: Men’s and Women’s Draw Preview and Analysis

US Open—New York

The challenges of playing two weeks of New York City tennis can become daunting at best. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center remains nestled away in the heart of Queens, while traveling to and from the event is unlike any other tournament stop throughout the season. Although the seven train will take you right to the doorstep of all the action, the players, pundits and fans alike must be willing to deal with the hustle and bustle that only the Big Apple can provide. Rowdy crowds, and expensive french fries become overshadowed by the 40 arches of Grand Slam chaos. With a story to be told on every court and at every food and retail booth on-site, this year’s Open could be one of the most memorable.

Although defending men’s champ Juan Martin del Potro won’t be present because of a persistent wrist injury, and women’s top seed Serena Williams remains sidelined by a freak foot accident, the 256 men and women who have completed the singles fields will be eager to step up, and steal the overpowering spotlight of the year’s final Major.

While Rafael Nadal continues to claw his way toward his first title in New York, Caroline Wozniacki will attempt to prove that she’s worthy of the top seed, and that her finals appearance of a year ago was no fluke. Roger Federer will be adamant on continuing the steam that he created during the summer hard-court swing, and defending champ Kim Clijsters wants nothing more than to stand on the champions podium (once again) with her daughter Jada on the final Sunday.

In search of their first Slam titles, Andy Murray and Jelena Jankovic will be hot the heels of the naysayers, while attempting to prove that their hard-court games stack up against the best players in the world. Fan favorites such and Fernando Verdasco and Elena Dementieva have struggled in recent months, but their baseline proficiency will be feared throughout the fortnight.

Could there be another Melanie Oudin or John Isner moment at this year’s event; moments that would reign supreme in the hearts of tennis fans for the foreseeable future?

It will be hot, and it will cool down when the second week hits, but what will inevitably be the focus of the largest annually attended sporting event in the world remains the electricity and anticipation of the night matches, the ruckus crowds, and the potential emergence or reestablishment of an upcoming or current star.

Let’s now take a look at each draw, and the respective favorites and dark horse candidates.

Men’s Draw:

Nadal Quarter:

There are no battered knees or torn abdominal muscles to hinder the world’s top ranked player at this year’s event, but Nadal will enter his title bid a tad under rehearsed. Losing before the finals of both hard-court Masters 1000 events this summer, Nadal’s form was anything but clay-esque or even grass-esque on the asphalt.

Beginning his campaign against Teymuraz Gabashvili, Nadal could face Philipp Kohlschreiber in a third-round encounter. I watched Nadal take on Kohlschreiber live at the Rogers Cup, and even though the German led by a set, I never felt that Nadal was in trouble of losing the match. There are a few players on the circuit that can defeat Nadal with a one-handed backhand, and although Kohlschreiber has one of the best backhands in the business, he can get tight when the ball is hit over his shoulder.

Ernests Gulbis lurks at the bottom of this quarter, but an even greater threat to the Spaniard at this point could be No. 31 seed David Nalbandian. Lifting his form after two Davis Cup singles victories, Nalbandian has been on a tear as of late, which was highlighted by capturing the Washington event. The Argentine possesses exactly the type of baseline trickery that can halt Nadal in his tracks, and a deep run by the former top three player is certainly possible.

Fernando Verdasco is the highest seeded player after Nadal in this section, but the muscular Spaniard has seen a drop in form since his tedious clay-court season. Add to the fact that Verdasco recently changed racket companies while recording a 4-6 Tour record since Roland Garros, and the No. 8 seed could be headed for a shorter than expected trip in New York.

Nadal may have trouble winning this event, but his chances of reaching the quarters and potentially facing Nalbandian seem more than likely.

First-round match to watch for: David Ferrer vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Pick: Nadal

Federer Quarter:

Eager to prove that he’s still the man to beat on hard-courts, Federer will begin his New York journey against journeyman Brian Dabul. Sparring with Dabul on countless occasions in the past, Federer won’t show any compassion toward his No. 94 ranked opponent.

Federer’s good fortune in the section would likely take him to the quarterfinal round unscathed, but a potential showdown with No. 5 seed Robin Soderling could bring forth a few interesting dynamics.

A story that got quickly thrown under the rug last year while del Potro won his first title featured Federer’s match against Soderling in the quarterfinals. The Swede played awful in the first two sets, but ended up winning the third set, while forcing a fourth set tiebreak. Soderling’s inability to cope with the wind, coupled with Federer’s great footwork, would end his tournament.

Soderling’s game is vulnerable on a fast hard-court because of the quick bounce and skid of the surface, and he won’t have the luxury of taking roundhouse cuts at his forehand the way he did against Federer at the French Open.

Federer’s slice backhand and eastern return grips are tailor made for the Open, and that should be more than good enough to keep his quarterfinal, and new semifinal streak alive.

Look for Marin Cilic to potentially get hot after a horrible second half of the season, but it’s unlikely that a repeat of his quarterfinal finish of a year ago will be achieved.

Pick: Federer

Djokovic Quarter:

Djokovic surely wasn’t pleased after he mused over his quarter of the draw. Potentially facing two of the more successful players this summer, Djokovic will have more than the heat of the first week to deal with.

Starting off with good friend Viktor Troicki, Djokovic could face the shot-gun serving of German Philipp Petzschner in the second-round. James Blake and Juan Monaco could become potential third-round opponents for the Serb, but neither player has shown any recent form that would indicate an upset.

With the fourth-round well in reach for Djokovic, American Mardy Fish or Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis could be waiting. Both players have had delectable summers on Tour, while finding comfort with the hard-courts under their sneakers. Fish, who will enter New York having won 16 of his past 18 matches since Wimbledon, remains the most dangerous player in the draw ranked outside the top 10. Defeating a who’s who list of ATP stars during the first part of August, Fish could finish off the month in style, and begin September with the tournament of his life.

Baghdatis will also be one to watch in NYC, but his decision to play New Haven last week could leave him fatigued for the early rounds.

Andy Roddick and Nikolay Davydenko will attempt to put recent injury and illness behind them, while smacking their serves and forehands on their favorite surface.

Roddick showed some life in Cincinnati last week by reaching the semifinals, and he’ll need to be ready to fight for his life during the early rounds. Some have suggested that Roddick’s draw appears easy to start—I would agree with those sentiments through his first two rounds—but a third-round match against Gael Monfils could get complicated, and a fourth-round tussle with Davydenko won’t be a gimme.

Although Roddick does lead Davydenko 5-1 in career head-to-head meetings, he does trail Monfils 4-3. Putting aside previous meetings against either man, I do believe that Roddick’s inability to punish either his forehand or backhand wing won’t allow him to defeat bigger or clean ball strikers.

His serve will only take him so far.

With that being said, I’ve enjoyed watching Fish find his potential after a long haul on Tour, and his time appears to be now or never for a big result. Fish’s road to the semifinals won’t be easy; he’ll have to likely take out Djokovic and Roddick along the way, but the American is playing with a greater sense of urgency these days, and he’s not backing off from bringing his heat on the big points.

Look for Fish to embrace his serve and backhand, along with the New York crowd.

Pick: Fish

Murray Quarter:

The tenacious Scot will once again begin what he hopes is a maiden Grand Slam victory. Reaching the Open final in 2008, Murray has continued to stay in the hard-court conversation for a number of years, but his inability to amp up his game against the heavier hitters has cost him. To Murray’s credit, though, he did show signs of a more potent plan of attack in capturing the Toronto event, while dusting Nadal and Federer in successive straight set matches.

This is Grand Slam action however, and Murray’s innate arsenal of passive play will not work over a two week span.

Beginning his event against talented Slovak player Lukas Lacko, Murray could face either Stanislas Wawrinka or Wimbledon quarterfinalist Yen-Hsun Lu in the third-round. I can’t foresee Murray struggling to reach the fourth-round, where an interesting encounter against Sam Querrey could take place.

Murray did lose to Querrey in the Los Angeles final, and once again succumbed to the pace of a harder hitting opponent. Querrey has shown jitters in the past when playing the bigger events, and there’s no question that it doesn’t get any bigger than the US Open.

Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych resides as the tournament’s No. 7 seed, and it should be noted that hard-courts are indeed his favorite surface. Showing the type of consistency this season that was envisioned for him in his teens, Berdych will be a tough opponent for anyone to face if he’s on.

John Isner remains the wildcard pick in this section, but his bum ankle will likely force him to withdraw.

With Isner not posing a threat for Berdych, I’d say that this section will likely follow the seedings.

If Berdych and Murray do face off, it will be interesting to see if the Scot will step out of his comfort zone and lace his groundstrokes with conviction, or, will he allow Berdych to control the tempo.

Will Murray even have a choice?

Something tells me, though, that Murray will find a way to break down Berdych’s demeanor, and avenge his French Open defeat.

Pick: Murray

Quarterfinals: Nadal vs. Nalbandian; Murray vs. Berdych; Roddick vs. Fish; Federer vs. Soderling

Semifinals: Nadal vs. Murray; Fish vs. Federer

Finals: Murray vs. Federer

Champion: Federer

***

Women’s Draw:

Wozniacki Quarter:

Returning to the site of her first Major final, top seed Wozniacki will have a boat load of stern competitors in her path if she intends on reaching the second weekend.

Beginning with US youngster Chelsey Gullickson, Wozniacki could face either Aravane Rezai or Maria Sharapova in fourth-round action. While Rezai can rival Wozniacki in on-court intensity, former champ Sharapova remains one of the hardest hitters on the circuit.

My concerns for Wozniacki coming into the event stem from her hectic schedule. Playing virtually every week on Tour, the Danish roadrunner is bound to hit the wall at some point. However, Wozinacki has played some stellar tennis as of late, and a potential clash with Sharapova would be a proverbial popcorn match.

Although Sharapova has improved her play this year, her forehand and tight serve could break down against Wozniacki’s backboard game.

Svetlana Kuznetsova will be a name to watch in the section, and her first-round match against Kimiko Date Krumm will pose a difficult challenge. Still, I like the way Kuznetsova manages her game on hard-courts, and her clay-court foundation has always transitioned well in New York.

Na Li remains the highest seed in this section after Wozniacki, and her road to a potential quarterfinal spot appears largely unchallenged. Apart from Kuznetsova in her path, Li should advance past the likes of Anna Chakvetadze, Yaroslava Shvedova, and Maria Kirilenko.

Li did reach the quarterfinals last year—losing to Clijsters—and another final eight run should be achieved by the No. 8 seed.

I wouldn’t however bet against Wozniacki’s ability to grind through matches. She may not possess the biggest backhand or the the most violent serve in the business, but her game does hold up well under pressure, and that’s what Grand Slam action is all about.

Pick: Wozniacki

Clijsters Quarter:

The defending champ will be riding the good vibe of taking home her second title in New York during her comeback last year. Clijsters does have a year of rhythm coming into the event this time around, and her draw for the most part appears manageable. Starting off against Greta Arn, Clijsters could face either Ana Ivanovic or No. 13 seed Marian Bartoli in the fourth-round. Ivanovic has shown signs of her old self in recent months, but her ball toss and nervous energy remain far too detrimental for a deep march.

Bartoli on the other hand has shown the ability to portray herself as one of the best competitors on Tour. Her ability to close out matches has been questionable in the past, but her desire to prevail has never been in doubt.

Daniela Hantuchova will take on Dinara Safina in the best first-round match in this section, but in terms of challengers to knocking off Clijsters, I’d be more inclined to pick No. 12 seed Elena Dementieva.

Dementieva has been through it all on Tour: Bad serving, better serving, near wins, and devastating losses. To her credit, though, she’s always seemed to handle her career with class, and her finals appearance in 2004 won’t hurt her chances of reaching the second week.

However, Clijsters does hold the key to this event, and her familiarity with Ashe Stadium should help her against an overwhelmed opponent. Although Dementieva won’t get distracted by the Center Court crowd, the zipping forehands and backhands of Clijsters would get her attention early and often.

Pick: Clijsters

Venus Williams Quarter:

Is spite of her sister missing the event with injury, Venus has popped on the radar once again to hopefully recapture her glory days of 2000 and 2001. The 30-year-old American has had a difficult time at the Majors this year, failing to advance past the quarterfinals in three previous attempts. However, apart from her overwhelming success at Wimbledon, the surface at the US Open remains the best for Venus’ blistering serve, and flat ground game.

Beginning her road against Roberta Vinci, Venus could face Tsvetana Pironkova in the third-round (the women who defeated her at Wimbledon this year), with a potential showdown against No. 16 seed Shahar Peer in the round of sixteen.

Barring a forehand meltdown from Venus, she should remain in line for a likely quarterfinal contest against No. 10 seed Victoria Azarenka.

Azarenka did sustain a blister during the Montreal event, but the spunky Bulgarian appears fit, and ready to pounce on a productive New York campaign.

Last year’s tournament sensation Melanie Oudin is also in this section, but if recent results are any indicator, a first-round loss to a qualifier wouldn’t be out of the question.

French Open champ Francesca Schiavone won back-to-back matches for the first time in Montreal since her triumph in Paris, but the hard-courts in North America have never been to her liking.

All in all, Venus was granted a great section to ease into the semifinals, and it would be truly shocking if that result did not take place.

Pick: Venus

Jankovic Quarter:

Needing a pick-me-up performance in a major way, Jankovic will enter New York with the ambition of bettering her 2008 finals result. Finding herself up against Simona Halep in the first-round, Jankovic could face last year’s semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer in the round of 16.

Jankovic has always been a player that embraces the big stage, and she could provide the New York crowd with more than enough sparks if she faces Vera Zvonareva in the quarterfinals.

Zvonareva has held her mettle together this year better than in previous seasons, and that has led her to a top 10 ranking and a finals appearance at Wimbledon. She did play a horrendous match against Wozniacki in the finals of Montreal, but her come-from-behind victory over Clijsters in the quarterfinals proved that her ability to fight, and refrain from destroying anything in her path has improved.

Jankovic remains the favorite in the section, but Zvonareva has proven (for the time being, anyway) that her composed demeanor has translated into sparkling results.

First-round match to watch for: Bethanie Mattek-Sands vs. Anabel Medina Garrigues. The knee-high socks of Mattek-Sands will get you every time.

Pick: Zvonareva

Quarterfinals: Wozniacki vs. Li; Jankovic vs. Zvonareva; Azarenka vs. Venus; Dementieva vs. Clijsters

Semifinals: Wozniacki vs. Zvonareva; Venus vs. Clijsters

Finals: Wozniacki vs. Clijsters

Champion: Clijsters

Nike Primetime Knockout Event Live Streaming

For those of you who can’t make it to Pier 54 this evening for the Nike Primetime Knockout Event in New York City, you can still catch all of the action live on Nike Tennis’ Facebook page.

Featuring Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, and John McEnroe, Nike’s US Open promo event is a must see.

For the live streaming of the Nike Primetime Knockout event beginning at 8 pm EST, click the link below.

Enjoy.

Nike Tennis.

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