When the U.S. Open makes its way to Queens on August 30, the sheer number of competitors can make a tennis fanatic’s head spin faster than a Pete Sampras ace.
In order to truly enjoy the spectacle, it might be wise to fix your focus on a few players than to try to watch every single match on every single court.
Will Kim Clijsters repeat? Who will take the men’s crown with last year’s champ, Juan Martin De Potro out of commission? These and other burning questions will keep onlookers hooked on the action in the August heat.
Two players in particular to keep your focus on are Venus Williams and Roger Federer. Both come to Queens with either injury or general performance questions.
After knee pain forced her to withdraw from her last two tournaments in Cincinnati and Montreal, which are usually mandatory tune-ups for the Open, William expects to play at the U.S. Open.
Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam champion, and a two-time U.S. Open winner. She claimed the title in 2000 and 2001 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows. Currently ranked No. 5 in the world, Williams lost to eventual champion Clijsters in the fourth round at last year’s U.S. Open.
She’s a proven champ and tennis royalty, but it will be interesting to see if Williams can bounce back from last year’s early ouster.
However, her performance on the court is not the only reason to watch Venus at the Open. She has become known for her outrageous and often revealing outfits – with her French Open gear looking more suited for the bedroom than the tennis court.
Her lace corset with flesh-toned shorts had some calling foul, but it also gave non-fans a reason to tune in.
Federer, eye candy for the ladies, lost to De Potro in the finals of the 2009 U.S. Open. Many say that Federer is fading and that Rafael Nadal is the odds-on favorite to win this year’s Open.
Results of years past could place Federer as one of the favorites, but the Swiss hasn’t won anything of note since winning the Australian Open. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back, not only from his loss to Potro last year, but also from his subpar performances this year.
He’s cited injuries as the main reason for his poor showing at this year’s Wimbledon, where he lost to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. However, Federer is not that far removed from winning the French Open and Wimbledon in 2009 – so a victory this year wouldn’t be a total shock, but it would be a surprise.
The 29-year-old is past his prime by tennis standards, so winning the Open this year will be an accomplishment that he will savor that much more.
With age beginning to take its toll on Federer, one must wonder if retirement is just a tournament or two away. If that is the case, the U.S. Open might be one of the tennis world’s last chances to watch this pro in his element.
Don’t forget to visit qns.com for the full U.S. Open event and TV schedule.
