Who is ready for the US Open this year?

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Based on performances in Cincinnati last week ending yesterday, it seems that Roger Federer is readier than ever, the Williams duo ain’t nor is Dinara Safina, or Maria, the screamer. Certainly there is reason to doubt that Rafy Nadal will do much better than the quarters again.

For me there are three weeks of engrossing pro tennis action, the Australian in Jan, Wimbledon in late July and the US Open in last Aug and early Sep. So I look forward to next Monday for the start of tennis action in NYC.

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Federer and Nadal get bounced from Rogers Cup ATP tourney in Montreal

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I think that the Rogers Cup is living up to its rep of being a venue for up and coming tennis pros. The two top guys have been put down. I saw Nadal on TV the other night and he looked shaky, especially when he was getting ready to serve. And he didn’t seem so ready to chase down every ball. I guess the condition of his knees gives him a reason to throttle his power game.

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Nadal, Djokovic and Federer are back and in Montreal for the Rogers Cup

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It does seem peculiar that they should all choose this tournament to make their return to pro tennis. On the evidence of their two first games I would say that Roger Federer is ready to play but Nadal looks shaky. Rafy is the defending champion.

My own impression is that he will not repeat and his chances for the US Open don’t impress me!

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A year ago it was Raf and Roger. Now it’s Raf, Roger or Andy

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This quote from an NY Times article explains what has happened in Grand Slam Tennis matches:

Rafael Nadal is no longer the only hobgoblin in Roger Federer’s closet. Andy Murray has taken up residence after extending his winning streak over Federer, the former master of men’s tennis, to four consecutive matches.

. . .

Federer sat atop the world rankings for a record 237 consecutive weeks until his inability to beat Nadal bumped him to No. 2 in August. Nadal is 13-6 against Federer. But Murray is now 6-2, including those four consecutive victories since October. The assumption that Nadal and Federer will play for the championship of any important tournament no longer seems inevitable.

But Julian Barnes has written “There is nothing to be frightened of“. So take heart Roger, you are human  and you can be beaten on any given day, after all.

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Roger Federer loses again to Andy Murray in the Qatar Open

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Read ‘em and weep, Roger’s fandom!

Andy Murray is currently ranked fourth in the world
In-form Andy Murray has played down his tag as one of the favourites for the forthcoming Australian Open.
The 21-year-old has had a superb start to the year, defending his Qatar Open crown a week after beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in Abu Dhabi.

Go get ‘em Andy!

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Wow, the ‘09 Tennis season starts with a bang!

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Here’s the headline:

Nadal in shock defeat to Monfils

World number one Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Qatar Open after a straight sets defeat to France’s Gael Monfils.

The fifth seed had never won a set in three previous meetings with Nadal, but dominated from the start to cruise home 6-4 6-4 and make the semi-finals.

And the article goes on to predict a hot meeting between a reviving Federer and a healthy defending champ, Andy Murray. But knocking Rafy out should give Monfils some credibility in the struggle he has to find a consistent winning game of tennis. But ‘09 should offer lots of very competitive and great tennis!

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Raf Nadal is not in Shanghai for the year end Masters Cup and now this

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He will not play for Spain in the Davis Cup!

Raf’s style of play is catching up with him and this is not a good sign for Men’s ATP Tour. But Andy Murray, Djokovic and del Potro will make hay while Nadal and Federer and Nadal seem to be unable to dominate in the way that Federer has over the past 5 some years.

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Raf Nadal will miss the last two tournaments of 2008

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I guess winning early cost a lot of his physical health and match readiness.

From AP:

MADRID, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal pulled out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai on Monday, citing fatigue after a long season and the need to prepare for the Davis Cup final.

The world’s top-ranked player made the announcement on his Web site, describing his withdrawal as “one of the most difficult decisions in my career.”

Nadal, who won two Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold medal this year as he supplanted Roger Federer at No. 1, said he was physically rundown.

Roger Federer won the US Open, but is he back to winning form?

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I watched most of the quarters, semis and all the final today. Roger’s play was impressive and most important he won handily in 3 straight sets. But I believe that Andy Murray had is best Open tennis behind him today, especially when he beat Rafa Nadal.

The game is much more competitive today than it was even a year ago. Raf Nadal can win most of the time. Djokovic, Del Proto, Muller and most of all Andy Murray can beat Federer or Nadal some of the time.

So it will be interesting to see how Roger works his way through to win his 14th+ Grand Slam title. Lots of good tennis ahead!

In case you are interested Roger is still #2 in ATP ratings and Andy Murray is #4, while Rafa Nadal is still #1.

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Nadal will be #1 but not this week, nor next!

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MASON, Ohio (AP) — Rafael Nadal doesn’t mind the wait.

Weary from two months of nonstop winning, Nadal got run around the court Saturday and, ultimately, bounced from the Cincinnati Masters one step shy of another title match. Instead, Novak Djokovic reached the final with a 6-1, 7-5 victory that only delayed the inevitable atop the world rankings.

In two weeks, the 22-year-old Spaniard automatically will move up a spot to No. 1.

≠≠≠

Now it’s up to Roger to show if he has the competitive stomach/desire to bring his game and world ranking back up.

Next stop Beijing Olympics!

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