2009 U.S. Open Predictions

The U.S. Open starts today so I thought I would take the chance to make some predictions. Feel free to share your own in the comments!

In the men’s tournament, I don’t see anyone but Roger Federer taking this title. He’s currently enjoying a hot streak and he is the only man to ever win the U.S. Open five times in a row (Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras also won the event five times but it wasn’t in succession like Federer). It would definitely secure his place as the dominator of the event if he could win it for a record six years in a row but how hard he has to fight for it will depend on who he faces and what shape they are in.

I am concerned for Rafael Nadal. He has been trying to come back from a knee injury but something tells me he’s not quite ready yet. I know he needs to be playing to build back up to top form but I don’t think he’s in good enough condition to win this event. I could be wrong, of course.

I’d like to see Andy Roddick face Federer again. Roddick turned 27 yesterday and what better way to celebrate than to take home a U.S. Open title as a belated birthday gift?

Serena Williams will be working hard to keep her title and after her disappointing play recently, I’m sure she feels like she’s got something to prove and you know how Serena gets when she’s determined! Serena has three U.S. Open titles (1999, 2002, 2008) and was the runner-up to her sister, Venus, in 2001.

I don’t see Dinara Safina advancing to the final despite ranking No. 1 but I do think that Elena Dementieva could be a possible opponent for Williams. Dementieva won the U.S. Open in 2004 and beat Williams just last weekend in Toronto.

I also don’t anticipate a repeat of the 2001 showdown between the Williams sisters. Venus hasn’t done well at this event since being the runner-up in 2002 and her play, of late, isn’t inspiring me to believe that this year will be any different.