So Zvonareva makes a second consecutive women's final unexciting. Not too much else I will comment on for the women's tournament as I do not know too much about it. But I think it is interesting that Sharapova ran into Henin at FO, S. Williams at Wimby, and Wozniacki at USO. I don't enjoy Wozniacki too much myself but I would have much preferred a Clijsters Wozniacki rematch to the junk that we got.
As for the men's game, I am not sure where Federer goes from here. If Nadal can serve like this at the Australian and USO, I don't see Federer winning another slam or reclaiming his #1 ranking, for that matter. The best he can hope for is that his side of the bracket crumbles (sort of like for Nadal at this USO) and that he can have a chance in the semi / Final. With Djokovic, Murray, and Del Po down this year, this year was the perfect opportunity to get some more slams (granted he did win the Aussie), but Federer has to be disappointed this year. If those 3 return to form next year, Federer would probably struggle to stay a top 5 player let alone contend another major Final.
USO conclussions:
Huge positives for Nadal and Djokovic regardless of final. Nadal proved (with his serve) that he will be able to compete at the USO for years to come while hopefully this is a sign of a Djokovic resurgence.
Good showings for Youzhny, Wawrinka, Verdasco (who was in a slight funk)
Disappointments: Berdych, Cilic, Davydenko, Roddick, Murray, Nalbandian (to an extent, albeit an unsurprising one considering his career). Querrey to an extent as well. He had an excellent opportunity to make the Semis and he didn't step up.
Promising: Gasquet, Monfils, Nishikori, Berankis, Harrison
Somehow in my USO challenge bracket I predicted the Monfils Gasquet R16 more out of hope than anything, but it happened. Hopefully both players will get on track and return to top 10 form. As for the last three, hopefully they will continue to be on the rise.
This year just seems like a down year for the top of men's tennis outside of Nadal. Injuries to Del Po and Davydenko, funks for Murray and Djokovic, and Federer finally loses in the Quarterfinals. Good to see Soderling and Berdych play relatively well this year but I can only hope that next year there will be a lot more competitiveness and in form tennis at the top of the game.
As for the men's game, I am not sure where Federer goes from here. If Nadal can serve like this at the Australian and USO, I don't see Federer winning another slam or reclaiming his #1 ranking, for that matter. The best he can hope for is that his side of the bracket crumbles (sort of like for Nadal at this USO) and that he can have a chance in the semi / Final. With Djokovic, Murray, and Del Po down this year, this year was the perfect opportunity to get some more slams (granted he did win the Aussie), but Federer has to be disappointed this year. If those 3 return to form next year, Federer would probably struggle to stay a top 5 player let alone contend another major Final.
USO conclussions:
Huge positives for Nadal and Djokovic regardless of final. Nadal proved (with his serve) that he will be able to compete at the USO for years to come while hopefully this is a sign of a Djokovic resurgence.
Good showings for Youzhny, Wawrinka, Verdasco (who was in a slight funk)
Disappointments: Berdych, Cilic, Davydenko, Roddick, Murray, Nalbandian (to an extent, albeit an unsurprising one considering his career). Querrey to an extent as well. He had an excellent opportunity to make the Semis and he didn't step up.
Promising: Gasquet, Monfils, Nishikori, Berankis, Harrison
Somehow in my USO challenge bracket I predicted the Monfils Gasquet R16 more out of hope than anything, but it happened. Hopefully both players will get on track and return to top 10 form. As for the last three, hopefully they will continue to be on the rise.
This year just seems like a down year for the top of men's tennis outside of Nadal. Injuries to Del Po and Davydenko, funks for Murray and Djokovic, and Federer finally loses in the Quarterfinals. Good to see Soderling and Berdych play relatively well this year but I can only hope that next year there will be a lot more competitiveness and in form tennis at the top of the game.
