For a change, Federer has something to prove at U.S. Open
"For tennis," said Nadal, "the Slams are more important. For sportsmen, the Olympics are more important." These days there's nothing unimportant for Rafa, who overtook Federer after Roger spent a record 237 consecutive weeks ranked No. 1.
Elena Dementieva won the Olympic gold in women's singles over another Russian, Dinara Safina. They are the fifth and sixth women's seeds in the U.S. Open, respectively. Just behind one Williams, Serena, just ahead of another, older sister Venus, once again Wimbledon champion.
No Maria Sharapova, who won the Open two years ago. Out with a bad shoulder, another injury to another overworked female star. No Justine Henin, 2007 Open champion, out forever, having retired. But as Brett Favre showed us, forever doesn't last as long as it once did.
The tournament's great unknown is teenager Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina. He's down at the No. 17 seed. If that means anything. What means a great deal is Del Potro has won his past four tournaments, his past 19 matches, a streak second only to Nadal's 32 in a row.
"I don't understand what I have done," was Del Potro's observation. What he has done is become another character in the Open scenario.
"My dream is to win the U.S. Open," said Del Potro. "It's the biggest tournament for me."
He doesn't figure to win it this year. But as we've learned the past few months, you never know.
