Who will win the US Open?
Rafael Nadal: The Good: He is the #1 seed, and he's had by far the best year of any player. The Bad: Almost all of his success has been on clay and grass, and all his titles came in the Euro-natural surface swing. My Prediction: Semifinals for the 3rd straight year.
Roger Federer: The Good: Had the best back-to-back tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati of any player with a final and win, respectively. Working with Paul Annacone seems to be paying dividends already. The Bad: Looked thoroughly mortal before the last two weeks after bowing out at the quarterfinals at the French Open and Wimbledon. AO win is virtually irrelevant at this point. My Prediction: Champion--just when you think he's down and out, Roger comes back and wins another slam.
Novak Djokovic: The Good: Looked somewhat promising in the second and third sets against Federer in Toronto before losing a close one. Made the Wimbledon semifinals, through some benefit of an easy draw. The Bad: I don't know how he's ranked #3, he hasn't won a title this year, he's had all sorts of injury problems including breathing, which showed its ugly face again against Roddick in Cincinnati. Hasn't beaten a top 10 player this year, including a total blowout against Berdych in the Wimbledon semis and an utter choke against Melzer in the French Open quarters. Hasn't strung together many good matches in a row. My Prediction: Round of 16.
Andy Murray: The Good: The now coachless Murray looked the best I've seen him in Toronto on his way to a title. He played good aggressive tennis, especially against Federer in the final. The Bad: It seems like Toronto may have been an anomaly as Murray reverted to his passive style the week after in Cincinnati. He also played passively in Los Angeles, Wimbledon, need I go back further? That won't win him a slam title, and I have doubts as to whether he'll keep going for his shots when he needs to, see: USO '08 and AO '10 finals. My Prediction: Final--heck, who else is gonna do it?
Robin Soderling: The Good: Made the French Open final for a second straight year and better results all around. The Bad: The North American hardcourts are probably a bit quick for the Swede's taste. He doesn't have enough time to prepare for his shots. He also hasn't really beaten anyone good since the French. My Prediction: Quarterfinals.
Nikolay Davydenko: The Good: Was on an absolute tear before the Australian Open and up until he played Federer in the quarters there. Seems to be getting at least a little better after coming back from his injury with a respectable quarterfinal in Cincinnati. The Bad: The wrist injury really took his momentum away, and he takes awhile to start up again. Hasn't done anything until Cincy last week. My Prediction: 3rd round.
Tomas Berdych: The Good: 2010 has really been his breakout year. He started with a final in Miami, then a Semi at the French and a Final at Wimbledon. Should've beaten Federer in Toronto as well. The Bad: Didn't have great warm-up tournaments for the USO, and he should've closed that match against Fed out after serving for it. Was lackluster in the Wimbledon final. My Prediction: Quarterfinals.
Fernando Verdasco: The Good: Had a good clay season including a win in Barcelona and a final in Monte Carlo until losing to Almagro in the French Round of 16. The Bad: Nothing since then. No form to speak of and no results to show of late. My Prediction: 3rd Round.
Andy Roddick: The Good: Good week in Cincinnati, getting to the semifinals before blowing a set and a break lead and losing to the in-form Mardy Fish. Won Miami and made the finals in Indian Wells earlier so he can definitely still play on this surface. The Bad: Nothing since Miami until last week. Lost to Yen-Hsun Lu in the Wimbledon Round of 16, when he really had the draw to make the final there. Mono has taken his stamina away until lately, though he might have finally gotten the match play he needed. My Prediction: Carried to the Semifinals by the crowd.
Others (in order of ranking): Marcos Baghdatis has been off and on, but he beat Nadal in Cincy. Sam Querrey is second in 2010 titles with 4 and beat Murray this summer. Mardy Fish has been playing great after dropping 30 pounds in the last year. David Nalbandian was great in Washington, and had respectable weeks in the Masters events, losing to Murray and Djokovic. I'll take Fish and Nalby for my other 2 Quarterfinalists.