WHO IS TO WIN?

As New York gears up for the fourth grand slam of the year and the world awaits in anticipation, Bayo Salau writes on the preview of the US open, stats around players that could be in the running for yet another milestone in the 133^rd edition of the US open.

     It’s hard to believe, but we are just days from the final grand slam of 2013 kicking off. And if this most recent draw is any indication, the slam season might have saved the best for the last.

On the men’s court, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could meet in the quarters again. All eyes will be on those two longtime elites to live up their end of the bargain this time.

Last year’s finalist, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, the winner of the 2012 edition also poised for another meeting in the semi finals. But have you ponder on who the cap of this edition would fit?

After winning his first grand slam last year, reached the Australian open final though lost to Novak Djokovic at the start of 2013, he was forced to skip the Roland Garros owing to injury. Andy Murray cam e back stronger to storm into the record books by clinching Britain’s first grand slam in 77years.

Beside his grand slam success, his scintillating performance form on hard court surface makes him a strong favourite, and will be looking forward to avenge his Cincinnati masters defeat in the hands of Micheal Llodra, once the opening fixture of the round resumes.

For Rafael Nadal, It’s unfortunate that despite such an impressive return from a seven moth injury, one of the most memorable moments of the Spaniard season was being ousted by Steve Darvis in the first round of Wimbledon. That said the undisputed  ‘king of clay’ who have gone to clinch the French open title number eight this year, is on track to claim the same accolade when flushing meadows gets under way.

He goes into the hard court event with back-back trophy in Montreal and Cincinnati as one reason to believe he can despite not too convincing records on the surface,  with one hard court surface title- the US open to boast of amongst twelve to have been won by him.

It may also be true that the tournament is not his best of his 12 grand slams title, but it’s a case of write him off at your own peril.

    While Novak Djokovic who can’t be ruled out of the hard court tournament owing to his form books;but one thing for sure is that a repeat of last year’s final won’t be seen . The Serbian plays Briton’s Andy Murray in the Semi finals if only they both scale the hurdles before then. The world number one opens his campaign to Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis. Another notable name to participate is Roger Federer and it will be the first time the Big Swiss won’t be in the top four seed since 2002.

   Meanwhile the women’s side may yet again see a big star missed out as Russia Maria Sharapova misses out due to injury but won’t deny us the excitement we crave as her replacement Agnieska Radwanska, comes in with lots to prove this term. More importantly, she shoots to 3^rd spot with Sara Errani up to the all-important No 4 spot.

However, most of the focus will be on Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka to see if they can both get to the final. Despite defeat to Azarenka in the Cincinnati final, Williams is, as ever in devastating form going into the US open and is pretty safe for the title.

Terrifyingly for her opponents, she has only lost five matches this year and has taken three out of  the last five grand slams. Even though on the downside the hardcourt has not been friend to her as four of those five defeats came on the surface. It’s  a surprise to many that loses have come on this type of court normally her best – but nonetheless there’s no doubting just how hungry she will be for the title.

Again the one major contender, Victoria Azarenka push this time won’t be ordinary as there could not have been a better preparation going into a grand slam than the way she took apart the American in Cincinnati few days before.

Such is Azarenka’s position ahead of flushing meadows, the Belarusian can, and should, be feeling like anything is possible in NYC. But would you in any way want to doubt her credentials? Absolutely not, as she started the year with the defence of her Australian open crown which she followed with same feat in Qatar. Though the following period was marred by an ankle injury but looked to have recovered from by the time the French open came calling. The world no 2 reached the final four at Roland Garros and forced to withdraw in the second round of Wimbledon –a retirement that ended her run of of four consecutive grand slams semi-finals.

Yet to win the US open, but she gave it her best shot by getting to the final where she lost to Serena Williams and this term she would have built her confidence with couple of wins over the American recently especially the last which was the Cincinnnati masters days back. There’s absolutely no reason the Belarusian can’t go one better.

    Others poised for triumph could come in mould of Agnieska Radwanska who after winning two hardcourt tournaments went all blazing and ready to rumble against her adversaries but instead she fumbled playing against them in the course of the season. The question now is can she upset the apple carts after Sharapova’s withdrawal?

So far she is not been able to deal with the top five ranked player in the women’s tour since March 2012. A record she will not like to be told or read about. Worse still is the record against likely last four or final opponents Williams and Azarenka is a combined 0-13. Do not also rule out the likes of Li Na, Sera Errani, and Czech Petra Kvitova.

Also if you are wondering where Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli is, she decided (somewhat out of the blue) to retire after defeat in Cincinnati.