US Open 2013: The Rich Get Richer

via bettor.com

Congratulations to both Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, 2013 US Open singles champions.  For Serena, it's Major #17.  For Rafa, #13.  For both, a place in the all-time pantheon is quite secure.  Both of my initial picks, Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic, lost in the finals.

via Wikipedia

Serena has the inside track for the year-end #1 ranking on the women's side.  On the men's, Rafa still has some work to do.  While he has 2 Slam titles on the year to Novak's 1, Djokovic was at least a semifinalist at all 4 Majors.  Rafa's never been one to finish the year strongly, either.  We shall see...

US Open 2013: Middle Sunday

via bethubb

Philipp Kohlschreiber (22nd seed, Germany) is what is known in tennis circles as a dangerous floater.  Never one to challenge for Major titles, he's still the guy nobody wants to have to play.  He's a scrappy right-handed grinder who fears no one.  The giant killer resume is quite respectable.  In recent years, he took out Andy Roddick in the third round of the 2008 Australian Open and Novak Djokovic in the third of the 2009 French.  In fact, he's the last player to beat Djokovic before the quarterfinals of a Slam.  He certainly has John Isner's number - at least on the big stage - having taken the towering American out of the US Open both this year and last.

Kohlschreiber is now 29 years young and still going strong, having reached the finals of three tournaments this year.  He won the doubles title in Doha with countryman Christopher Kas.  Next up, he faces the hottest player in tennis: Rafael Nadal (2nd, Spain).  He actually has one victory over Nadal (Halle 2012) but has lost to the Spaniard nine times.  I would say Kohlschreiber has a better chance of derailing the dream Federer/Nadal quarterfinal than Tommy Robredo (19th, Spain) does but that's not saying much.  Robredo has never beaten Fed (7th, Switzerland) in 10 tries.  The best weapon Kohlschreiber has is force of will and no one's ever going to beat Rafa at that game.

US Open 2013: My Picks

It's been a crazy summer in tennis.  Legends won in Paris.  Legends lost early in London while a national hero finally claimed the prize.  Per usual, the dramas which have been building over the course of the tennis year all near climax as the US Open begins.  Neither of my picks is especially daring this time, though neither is even the odds-on favorite. 

My Men's Pick: Novak Djokovic (1st seed, Serbia)

via Khelnama

Generally speaking, Novak Djokovic is the world's best hardcourt player.  He is nowhere near the sure thing Nadal is on clay or Federer once was on grass but he is the top gun on the surface.  However, an unexpected storyline has emerged this summer as Nadal has gone on a tear, claiming the titles in both Montreal and Cincinnati, beating Djokovic in the semis of the former.  It will be a barn-burner of a final if they both make it.  While he's not the player he once was, I still think that if both men show up in top form, Nadal wins.  But the question with Nadal at this stage of his career and his season is always how well the knees will hold up.  I think Djokovic takes the prize this time.  For the record, I'd love to be wrong on this one.


My Women's Pick: Victoria Azarenka (2nd, Belarus)

via wallfive

As always, the top-seeded Serena Williams is unstoppable if she plays her best.  But age is cruel in tennis and with 32 right around the corner, Serena can't summon her best as dependably as she once could.  Azarenka, last year's losing finalist, is her biggest threat.  She is one of very few women on tour with even a chance at matching Serena's power.  Azarenka has won two Australian Opens so far.  I say she adds the US Open to her Majors tally this year.