Men's and Women's Players to Watch

As the 2008 US Open approaches, here are some key players to keep an eye on. The official draw ceremony is Thursday, August 21 and play begins Monday, August 25.
 
Men

Roger Federer – Putting him on the list is a no-brainer as the four-time defending champion. But it has not been a great 2008 for the Swiss, as he will soon lose his long-time hold on the No. l world ranking to Rafael Nadal and also lost both the French Open and his five-year reign at Wimbledon to the Spaniard. Still, he has made at least the semifinals in each of the Grand Slams this year so we might see the great Swiss win the season’s last major.
 
Rafael Nadal – Based on his outbreak season, one could argue the new world No. 1 is the favorite this year. However, the hardcourts in New York have not been kind to Nadal in his career – as he has never advanced past the quarterfinals and lost in the fourth round to buddy David Ferrer in 2008. But the Spaniard has proved this year he is a threat on all surfaces as he won his first major outside the clay in Paris with a five-set instant classic win at Wimbledon.
 
Novak Djokovic – The 2007 US Open finalist started the year with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and followed it up with two Masters Series titles in the next four months. However, the world No. 3 has not won a title since Rome in May and had a disappointing second round loss at Wimbledon to former US Open champion Marat Safin and lost to Nadal in the semifinals at Roland Garros.
 
Andy Roddick – It has been a difficult spring and summer season for the 2003 US Open champion. The American, who last reached the US Open final in 2006, has been battling a shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from Roland Garros and he has not played much this summer after a second round loss at Wimbledon. But if there is a tournament where Roddick has the chance to bounce back, it is in Flushing, where the fast courts perfectly suit his power-game.
 
James Blake – The US Open has been the American’s most successful Grand Slam in his career, reaching the quarterfinals in both 2005 and 2006 before a tough five-set loss to Tommy Haas in the fourth round last year. He reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open earlier this year (losing to Federer) – and is still looking for his first title of 2008 - but lost in the second round at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
 
Andy Murray – Murray is coming off a great summer, where he reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in his native Great Britain and upset in the final Djokovic to win the Masters Series event in Cincinnati, to reach a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world. The Scot has not fared too well in his career in Flushing Meadows, with a third round loss in 2007 and his best showing a fourth round appearance in 2006. But look for him to potentially make some noise if he continues his great streak of late.
 
Marat Safin – The Russian, who won the US Open title in 2000, is one of just four former champions in the draw, joining Federer, Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt. Also a former world No. 1, Safin made a splash at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals, where he fell to Federer but lost in the second round of both Roland Garros and the Australian Open. Which Safin will show up at the US Open?
 
Women

Dinara Safina – Safina enters the US Open as arguably the best player on the WTA Tour this year and has been taking down everyone in sight as she worked her way up to a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world and reached her first career Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. She clinched the Olympus US Open Series women’s title by winning the Rogers Cup and she also won the title at the East West Bank Classic and will now compete for double the prize money at the US Open. Should she win the women’s singles title in New York, she would earn $2.5 million – the largest payout in tennis history.
 
Ana Ivanovic – After nipping at the top last year, Ivanovic broke through in 2008, winning her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros and reaching the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career. She also reached the final at the Australian Open, falling to Maria Sharapova, who is out of the US Open with a shoulder injury. The US Open has been the talented Serb’s least successful major to date, having never advanced past a fourth round showing in 2007. Could 2008 finally be her year?
 
Jelena Jankovic – Jankovic is still in search of her first Grand Slam title and in fact, is still looking to even reach her first Grand Slam final. However, that has not stopped her from ascending to the top of the rankings as she recently took over the No. 1 spot from Ivanovic for the first time in her career. The Serb has had a consistent season, reaching the semifinals at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros and has reached the quarterfinals and semifinals at the 2007 and 2006 US Open, respectively.
 
Venus Williams – It has been an on-and-off season for Williams, who started the year with a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open, missed time in April with illness and then suffered a disappointing third round loss at Roland Garros. However, she bounced back with a sensational performance at the All-England Club, winning her fifth Wimbledon title. She has since been sidelined with a knee injury much of the summer leading up to the Olympics. A two-time US Open champion, Venus will be looking to win her first title in Flushing since 2001.
 
Serena Williams – Serena was having a good season before a knee injury slowed her as well this summer during the Olympus US Open Series. After losing in the third round at Roland Garros, she had a great Wimbledon, reaching the final where she fell to older sister Venus and has won three titles in 2008. Like Venus, Serena is also a two-time US Open champion, with her last title coming in 2002. She will be looking to improve in Flushing this year, having not advanced past the quarterfinals since her ’02 championship run.
 
Svetlana Kuznetsova – The Russian is still looking for her first title in 2008 and suffered a disappointing first round loss at the Olympics to Li Na but the US Open has been Kuzentsova’s most successful Grand Slam. She was a surprise US Open champion in 2004 for her first and only Grand Slam title to date and also reached the final in 2007, falling to the now-retired Justine Henin.
 
Lindsay Davenport – It is now ten years since Davenport won her first Grand Slam title at the 1998 US Open, which remains her only US Open title. The American made a return to the tour this year after taking off much of 2007 to have her first child. However, after a successful start to the season, Davenport has been slowed since Wimbledon with an ailing knee that forced her out of competition until the Olympics, where she could only play doubles. If her knee is feeling better, Davenport could be a large factor in potentially her last US Open.

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