US Open 2010...The Tennis One (a.k.a. The Better One)

The US Open is one of America's more exciting sporting events.  A bracket that 128 players, meaning the champion has to defeat 7 others in the sweltering New York heat during late August and early September.  This year's US Open features one big time watch, Rafael Nadal trying to obtain his career Grand Slam.  Nadal carries in momentum after winning the last two majors, but as always, people are trying to dethrone the world's number one.  What does this year's tournament hold?  Here is my preview:

The Favorite: Roger Federer...the greatest player of the past decade, and maybe of all-time, won the Aussie Open on hard courts this year in straight sets.  He may be getting older, but he proved with a recent win in Cincinnati that he still has something left.  He is still (probably) the better hard court player (this year) between himself and Nadal.

The Dark Horse: Andy Roddick...He has tried to compete competitively at the level he was once at for so long.  He now gets an opportunity to play on what is probably his best surface.  He has a great draw, even with #3 Novak Djokovic in his quarter....Roddick beat Djokovic on a hard surface in Cincinnati.

The Cinderella: John Isner...he has become the new hope for American tennis with Roddick's slow deterioration.  He may not have as much natural ability, but he proved at Wimbledon in his marathon match he has the heart.  Plus, on the hard courts, he has the big serve.

The Quarterfinals: #1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. #10 David Ferrer (ESP)...#2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. #10 Marin Čilić (CRO)...#9 Andy Roddick (USA) def. #3 Novak Djokovic (SRB)...#4 Andy Murray (GBR) def #18 John Isner (USA)


The Semi Finals: #1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. #4 Andy Murray (ENG)....Murray and Nadal were suspected to be the two best players entering this season.  Federer silenced the critics a little with his win in Australia, but Nadal has since brought those critics back to life.  If Murray wants to finally vanquish his own nay sayers in Good Ol' England, he will need to defeat the man with all the momentum and currently the best player in the world...but he won't, bloody hell!

#2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. #9 Andy Roddick (USA)...The Federer-Nadal rivalry has become the grandest in tennis, simply because they are so good and always meet in the finals of majors, but the Federer-Roddick rivalry may have more fuel on its fire.  Roddick and Federer both claim mutual respect, but so do the players from Duke-North Carolina or Yankees-Red Sox (I don't mean to belabor)  Roddick has always been critical of Federer, including his remarks after their great match in the 2009 which included two tie breakers (both won by Rogah!) and a 16-14 final set.  Roddick will, unfortunately, fail to decimate the demons within and Federer will smugly move to the finals...a must watch match here.

AND THE WINNER IS:
Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Roger Federer (SUI)...Rafa gets the nod because Federer is yet to prove he can beat the younger, quicker, more athletic Spaniard.  Federer won this years Aussie Open...against Andy Murray.  Nadal beat Federer on grass (2008, Wimbledon) and Hard Courts (2008 Aussie), finally he will prove he can win in America...oh, this match is, undoubtedly, a 5-set match.