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The 2010 U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows is upon us. Last year, Melanie Oudin made a miracle run to the quarters while Serena Williams took a bizarre exit after a foot fault in the semis sparked a tantrum directed at the line judge. Well, this year Serena's on the sideline for a foot injury and the same line judge is back on the court. The irony there is a whole different story, so we'll get right to the FanHouse tennis team's U.S. Open predictions. Sleeper picks to watch, stars who could struggle, and of course, our winner picks.
DARK HORSE
Sounds ridiculous to call one of the best players of all time a dark horse, but no one takes Venus Williams seriously as a major threat anymore. She's 30 and hasn't been able to consistently string together enough good matches since spring. But she has a great draw and lots of support. Andy Roddick has a great, great draw. His first big-boy opponent is Novak Djokovic. Roddick owns him. Don't think Roddick will win, but the semis are realistic.
-- Greg Couch
Elena Dementieva on the women's side. Motivated in the big tournaments, likes New York. For the men, David Nalbadian looks like he has some fight left.
-- Chris Botta
Look for Roddick to advance into the semifinals. He has not been there since 2006 at the U.S. Open. 17th-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia will make an appearance in the semifinals for the first time at the U.S. Open.
-- Hal Spivack
She hasn't played since Wimbledon, but the hard courts of the U.S. Open are perfectly suited for Venus Williams. She'll also be fighting hard for the Williams' name since sister Serena can't play. On the men's side, Mardy Fish has slimmed down and in injury free for the first time in a while. His success since Wimbledon has been fantastic and it could continue for the next two weeks.
-- Knox Bardeen
It's hard to call Mardy Fish a dark horse after he has won two events since Wimbledon and just lost to Roger Federer in the Cincinnati final. The American is playing spectacular tennis on the hard court and he'll continue that in Flushing.
-- Chris Sesno
EXPECTED DISAPPOINTMENT
Melanie Oudin will be expected to have another run like last year. Can't see her getting past the second round. John Isner has a lot of attention now, and normally no one would want to play him. But a bum ankle will slow him down too much.
-- Couch
By Labor Day, 18th-seeded American John Isner will still be most remembered this season for his 70-68 marathon at Wimbledon. Maria Sharapova has become a popular pick. I'm not buying.
-- Botta
Sixth-seeded and French Open champion Francesca Schiavone will be ousted early. Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych will be lucky to get out of his quarter.
-- Spivack
Isner is a fan favorite, but no one wants to see him suffer like he will at the Open. Torn ligaments in his ankle will bring his tennis game back to the level of the later portions of his marathon match at Wimbledon. But this time the pain will be self-inflicted, and Isner will be ousted quickly. Jalena Jankovic has been bothered by injuries all through the hard-court season and anyone looking at her to perform as she's seeded will be in for a disappointment.
-- Bardeen
Andy Roddick fell out of the top 10 of the rankings for two weeks in August, the first time he's been ranked in double digits since August 2006. He doesn't look like he's ready to hang up the racket, but it also doesn't look like he's ready to pick up another win at the U.S. Open.
-- Sesno
MEN'S FINALISTS
Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer. No reason to stop picking these guys now. Both are vulnerable to the big, flat-hitting guys, though, such as Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych.
-- Couch
-- Botta
Andy Murray vs. Federer. Nadal has not shown enough this summer and has a much tougher quarter than Murray does.
-- Spivack
Federer vs. Murray in the "who needs a coach?" final. Both have been playing extremely well in the U.S. Open Series.
-- Bardeen
Federer will ride his momentum from Cincinnati into the U.S. Open semifinals, while Murray will pester his way through a relatively light quarter. The U.S. Open will feature a rematch of the Australian Open final, let's just hope it's more of an exciting match.
-- Sesno
MEN'S WINNER
Nadal. He has been a little shaky on the hard courts this summer while Federer has been solid. But Nadal has spent the entire year altering his game and schedule to be at his best here. Confidence will grow over two weeks.
-- Couch
Nadal. It's his time. This could be a wonderful story as he seizes the final notch in his career Slam.
-- Botta
Federer claims his 17th major over Murray in a rematch of the 2008 U.S. Open final.
-- Spivack
Federer adds to the Grand Slam trophy case this year. Murray is good enough to win a Grand Slam event, but shouldn't it be Wimbledon where he wins his first?
-- Bardeen
Murray will put up a good fight against Federer, especially with the confidence boost from beating Nadal and Federer in back-to-back matches in Toronto. But it won't be enough this time around, and Federer will win his 17th Grand Slam title.
-- Sesno
WOMEN'S FINALISTS
Kim Clijsters vs. Maria Sharapova. The only two women not named Serena Williams who are both ready and don't have a habit of choking or giving up.-- Couch
Caroline Wozniacki vs. Victoria Azarenka: She'll likely need to beat Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters to get there, but Azarenka is ready for her breakout on American soil. Maybe Wozniacki -- who should sail until at least the semis -- and Azarenka will not make for a glitzy Saturday night final. However, with Serena Williams out, it's time for some new faces to shine.
-- Botta
Sharapova vs. Clijsters. Sharapova has been solid all summer and is getting better. She has never lost to Wozniacki before.
-- Spivack
Sharapova and Clijsters have been dominating over the last six weeks and they even met in the finals of the Cincinnati Masters event. They'll meet again in Flushing.
-- Bardeen
Wozniacki vs. Venus Williams. Wozniacki just won in the Pilot Pen in New Haven, and if she can get by Sharapova in her quarter she has a clear shot to the final. Williams has a much easier quarter and should cruise to the semis and battle into the final.
-- Sesno
WOMEN'S WINNER
Sharapova. Without the draw of Serena, tournament officials and the networks are praying I'm right.
-- Couch
Wozniacki. She's playing as well as any woman on the tour. Some believe Wozniacki may burn out because she has played so much this summer. The Dane can rest in two weeks after she has won the Open.
-- Botta
Kim Clijsters will defend her title at Flushing Meadows and claim her third U.S. Open championship.
-- Spivack
There aren't too many big-game players better than Sharapova and she'll avenge her loss to Clijsters a few weeks back. She gets herself up for the majors and 2010 will be her return to grace.
-- Bardeen
Wozniacki says her active summer will give her an edge and momentum into the U.S. Open. Tennis is a mental game, if she believes it, so do I. Plus Venus hasn't played a match since Wimbledon and the hard court could take a toll on her banged-up body.
-- Sesno
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