With the European clay- and grasscourt swing now behind us, the ATP and WTA Tours move to the American hardcourt season.
Starting with the Atlanta Tennis Championships, tennis fans will be treated to a glut of tournaments throughout the coming months, culminating with the US Open at Flushing Meadows, which gets underway on 30 August.
For players, the next few weeks are an opportunity to fine tune their game ahead of the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year. Neither the ATP nor WTA Tours have played an outdoor hardcourt tournament since March’s Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, so it also presents a chance for many to regain their touch on the surface.
Federer in a spin?
When Roger Federer emphatically won the Australian Open in January he was No.1 in the world and seemingly set for another magnificent year. Just six months later, the 28 year old has slipped to No.3 and has failed to win a title since hoisting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup aloft at Rod Laver Arena.
Many tennis fans might argue that Federer is not at the top of his game, but the Swiss champ has been faced with an onslaught of challengers looking to wrest the mantle from his grasp. Players such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro,despite missing most of 2010 through injury, are not just passing threats, but genuine contenders for each and every tournament that is played.
Adjustments for Nadal
Nadal, who was Federer’s conqueror for the coveted top ranking has stepped up a gear in 2010. Although the Spaniard has been absolutely flying on clay and grass, questions are being asked how the 24 year old will adjust to the hard stuff in the second half of the year.
Somewhat of a chink was exposed in Nadal’s armour when he was forced to retire during his Australian Open quarterfinal against Andy Murray on Australia Day this year. Trailing 3-6 6-7(2) 0-3, the Spaniard withdrew from action, citing his troublesome knee as the problem. This is not the first time Nadal’s knee has forced him to retire from a tournament as lingering tendinitis has been a recurring issue for Rafa.
Despite this setback, the Nadal quelled speculation that injury was slowing him down, reaching semifinals at Indian Wells and Miami the next month on his way to a 16-4 hardcourt record so far this year. With renewed confidence and a few weeks off after Wimbledon, we can expect to see Nadal close to his very best.
After recently losing his No.1 ranking, Federer will be hell-bent on returning to the top. In fact, the Swiss is usually at his best when he is under pressure to lift his performance. His hardcourt record this year stands at 13-3, but it was a superb 30-6 in 2009 thanks to an impressive run in the back half of the year. Never count Fed-Ex out, because he’ll only come back harder when he’s knocked down.
The defending champion
Federer’s conqueror in last year’s US Open final is one of the tour’s hottest up and comers. That’s why it was such a shame to see Juan Martin Del Potro’s entire season placed in jeopardy due to a wrist injury. Instead of opting for surgery, the Argentine spent three months waiting for it to heal naturally, but it was to no avail. Eventually the US Open champ opted to go under the knife and, as a result, has not played since his fourth round defeat at the Australian Open.
Del Potro currently occupies a protected ranking of No.7, mainly due to the stellar season he put together in 2009. His hardcourt record was an ATP-leading 31-6, which included titles at Flushing Meadows and Washington DC, as well as runner-up finishes in Montreal and at the ATP Championships in London.
He was considered for selection in Argentina’s recent Davis Cup tie against Russia, but was not quite ready to make a comeback. All going well, Del Potro will be able to return to competition in the coming weeks and gradually build up to what most would consider an unlikely US Open title defence.
Should the Argentine spend more time on the sidelines, he would be the second Grand Slam champion within two years who was unable to return and have a chance at defending his title. The other was Nadal after he missed Wimbledon in 2009 and, in hindsight, the chance of a rare three-peat.
Prior to Nadal, the last time a Grand Slam champion did not return to the field the next year was Pete Sampras after he retired following his 2002 US Open victory.
Roddick's chance
One player who can never be discounted on the hard courts is Andy Roddick. Although many would argue that the American’s best is probably behind him, Roddick continues to serve up timely reminders that he can beat anyone on his day.
Despite almost slipping out of the top 10, Roddick is 20-2 on outdoor hard courts this year. His only two losses came in the final at Indian Wells and the quarterfinal of the Australian Open. Other than that, the 27 year old has been perfect with titles in Brisbane and Miami.
Since rising to world No.2 following Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic seems to have justified his new ranking with straight sets wins for Serbia in its crucial Davis Cup tie against arch rival Croatia.
The 23 year old compiled a 38-9 record in hard court events last year, which was more wins on the surface than anyone else on the tour including Federer, Nadal, Murray and Del Potro.
Djokovic showed signs of physical discomfort throughout his run to the Wimbledon semifinals, but will definitely be among the main contenders in the US. The Serb reached the final at Flushing Meadows in 2007 (losing to Federer in three sets), but has reached the semifinals the past two years.
In fact, Djokovic has run into a Swiss roadblock the past three years as Federer ousted him from the US Open 2007–2009 inclusive. Will the draw smile upon Novak, or will the former Australian Open champ finally be able to exploit Federer’s slump should they meet in Arthur Ashe Stadium? Only time will tell.
Britain’s hopes of a long-awaited Grand Slam victory, rest as usual on the shoulders of Andy Murray. After coming close in the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open, the Scot had to settle for second place. Like Djokovic, Murray’s nemesis on both occasions was Federer.
Murray was almost unstoppable on hard courts last season, going an impressive 32-5. Although his early 2010 record of 10-4 might not have him on track to better those 2009 numbers, Murray is certainly capable of doing some damage on this leg of the ATP Tour.
The beauty of tennis is that a tournament can be won by a top-ranked favourite, or it can be won by an outsider bolting from the blue.
While admittedly this doesn’t happen too often in Grand Slams (Federer and Nadal have won 24 of the past 29 Grand Slams), we all love the romance and adventure when a surprise candidate puts a strong run together deep in to the second week.
But we also need to remember that the next few weeks aren’t all about the US Open. While players are all seeking to build up to this important juncture at the end of August, there are plenty of opportunities to shine and win titles in the next month.
Will playing on home soil inspire one of Sam Querrey or John Isner?
Perhaps Gael Mofils or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can break through for France?
Can Jurgen Melzer take the next step and win his first title for the year?
What about Lleyton Hewitt? Can the Australian win again in the US?
Do veterans such as Juan Carlos Ferrero or Ivan Ljubicic have what it takes?
All of these questions and more will be answered in the coming weeks. So sit back, strap yourself in and get ready for an action-packed month of American hardcourt tennis and, of course, the US Open beginning 30 August.
ATP Top 10 (as of July 13) and hardcourt record over the past two years:
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 16-4 & 35-7
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 11-3 & 38-9
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 13-3 & 30-6
4. Andy Murray (GBR) 10-4 & 32-5
5. Robin Soderling (SWE) 8-4 & 17-10
6. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 11-3 & 16-6
7. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 3-1 & 31-6
8. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 12-5 & 17-11
9. Andy Roddick (USA) 20-2 & 25-10
10. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 7-3 & 28-9
Upcoming events
Atlanta Tennis Championships
19 July, Atlanta (Hard)
ATP 250 – USD$531,000
Farmers Classic
26 July, Los Angeles
ATP 250 – USD$619,500
Legg Mason Tennis Classic
1 August, Washington DC (Hard)
ATP 500 – USD$1,165,500
Rogers Cup
9 August, Toronto (Hard)
ATP 1000 – $2,430,000
Western & Southern Financial Group Masters
15 August, Cincinnati (Hard)
ATP 1000 – USD$2,430,000
Pilot Pen Tennis
22 August, New Haven (Hard)
ATP 250 – USD$663,750
US Open
30 August, New York (Hard)
Grand Slam – USD$TBD
