Fans and onlookers are anxiously awaiting a return to form by Roger Federer. Simon Bruty/SI Jon Wertheim's Mailbag Jon Wertheim will answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag every Wednesday. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Jon Wertheim on Twitter

I love Federer. I am not trying to make excuses for the year because, in some ways, I like the new drama. However, Michael Wilbon, a great writer but not the best at tennis, says he is done. No mas! My question is this; as you've alluded to his "tiredness and fatigue" I think much of it has to do with his extended schedule. Aside from the new high-profile endorsement commitments, I look at: mono, the battle of the surfaces, the clash of times ( 3 matches etc. ) and the impact that had on training. Thoughts? Last thing: How soon would he be capable of reclaiming No. 1?
-- John Allen, Baltimore

• First, my read on Federer is that there is a deep division between the tennis media and the general sports media. The tennis media -- out of respect for Federer's game but also the way he's conducted himself through the years -- has been generally even-handed, charitable even, in assessing his swoon. The results "are what they are." Clearly he's enduring a rough year. In the Slams and mandatory events, he is winless in 2008. But I think the overwhelming sentiment is that he still has some Majors left in him.

The general sports media -- predisposed as it is to disliking dominance -- has been gleeful in declaring Federer is cooked, his era has ended, he may as well retire but he's consigned to hacking. This is an easy storyline: The king loses his muse and is irreparably damaged. And many have run with it. But I think you have to be crazy to assert that he's done winning. He may not win three Majors each year. He may not even win two. But to toe tag an entire career based on eight months of substandard results (which still include two Grand Slams finals and Olympic gold in doubles)? That's just nuts, especially in a sport where one need only get hot for seven matches and catch a break or two and suddenly you're back on top.

As the U.S. Open kicked off today, "What's up with Federer?" has been a popular conversation topic. As much as he's downplayed the suggestion, this is a critical event for him. He either salvages his year and says "not so fast" to all those career obit writers. Or he turns in his first Slamless season since 2002 and officially makes this a year to forget. The analysis cuts a swath from "he needs a new racket" to "he still hasn't recovered from mono" to "IMG is running him ragged." While there's probably some truth to each, I wonder how much of this simply owes to the natural arc of an athlete. A career is not a straight trajectory. It's an arc that, at some juncture hits a high-point and then begins an inevitable decline. At some point George Clooney starts to lose his looks a bit. That doesn't mean he's suddenly a troll.

Whoa. I just noticed Serena Williams is only 300 points out of the top spot, a place she hasn't been near in ages. Is it mathematically possible for her to get to No. 1 at the U.S. Open? And if not then, certainly by the end of the year? Though she'd state otherwise, she has to be aware of this - talk about incentive.
-- Steven Gerard, Brooklyn, N.Y.

• There are six players -- Serena among them -- who can conceivably snatch the top ranking this week. This speaks to what crazy times these are in the women's game. But the top ranking is "been there, done that" territory for Serena. Suffice to say it's no longer a source of her motivation.

Jon, interesting, the WTA tour rankings this week with the top 10 represented by just 3 countries: Serbia (2), USA (2) and Russia (6). Care to wager which player from this group becomes dominant in 2009 ? Also, Dementieva winning the U.S. Open ? Seriously ? I think Safina has a better shot.
-- Omotayo Okusanya, Jersey City, N.J.

• Good point. At a time when the sport has never been more global, there are only three countries represented in the top 10. I don't think anyone dominates next year, but a healthy Sharapova is my top choice.

You and the rest of the free world love Fabrice Santoro's game. Since his game is so unique and loved by so many, do you think he should be voted into the Tennis Hall of Fame (and I mean the singles wing, not the doubles)?
-- Shaun Chooi, Dallas, TX

• Sure. As it stands, he's only one major title away from meeting the induction criteria. At a minimum, maybe we can formalize what is already custom and mandate that every year he gets to play a night session match at the U.S. Open.

What is your opinion on all of the gymnastics drama. The gymnasts drama makes tennis' issues look like a drop in the bucket. Also, someone should get Bela Karolyi to try to do general sports commentating. His passion is a breath of fresh air for stale Olympic commentary.
-- George Tehan, Auburn

• "She did it! She did it! Jankovic -- I love it! What a fighter! What a fighter! -- Jankovic heet da feerst serve in da box!"

Today you mentioned things to do at the U.S. Open. You might want to check out the Charles Soule Band while at the Center. They are an up-and-coming jazz group and play the 25th, 30th, 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th. They played last year to good reviews. And, yes, Charlie is my son. Thanks.
-- Jim Soule, Grand Rapids, MI

• Thanks.

Shots, Miscellany

• David Berman of Honolulu is the winner of our second Prince racket in the "Random encounters with a pro tennis player" contest. He writes:

"In January 2002, I was a volunteer at a men's challenger event in Waikoloa, Hawaii. I was the assistant to the tournament director, and it was my job to literally run around all day solving and resolving the myriad problems constantly popping up. After many days of constant hustle, I developed nasty sciatic pain in my butt and cascading down my right leg, which reduced my much needed hustle to a painful hobble.

In desperate need of relief, I saw no choice but to ask the tournament trainer for some advice, or if I was really lucky, for some treatment. I knocked on his door, which he opened only a couple of inches to see what I wanted. He listened sympathetically to my problem, but explained that he was in the middle of treating a player and couldn't help me until later. At which point I heard a now familiar voice in the background say, "That's OK, I don't mind if you give him a few minutes."

When the trainer opened the door to let me in, I saw the voice belonged to James Blake, who was sprawled out on the table in the middle of a massage. James hopped off the table, and the trainer walked me through a few stretches to help the royal pain in my butt. I appreciated the trainer's help, but much more so I was blown away by James' easy willingness to interrupt his massage for my benefit. James was the top seed at the tournament. He would have been so within his rights to finish his massage without regard to my insignificant problem. Instead, he took time out so I could get some help. I went back to running errands, and James went on to win the tournament. I have been following his pro career and rooting for him ever since.

• The USTA announced that 2008 U.S. Open tickets are selling at a record pace, with more than 660,000 tickets sold and distributed -- a new record for ticket sales prior to the start of the tournament. The USTA expects attendance for the 2008 U.S. Open to surpass the all-time record of 715,587 set in 2007.

• Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS) announced that an all-new tennis video game is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver under the EA Sports brand. The EA Sports tennis franchise will be available first for the Wii in 2009, followed by other platforms, and it will be the first EA Sports game that uses Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the Wii Remote that will give players a new level of accuracy and responsiveness.

• Look for an HBO Real Sports segment on the Davydenko match-fixing scandal.

• The Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md., has been named the beneficiary of Jamfest 2008. The event, to be held in Manhattan on Friday, Sept. 5, at The Crowne Plaza Times Square, promises to be the premier late-night destination for tennis pros and enthusiasts alike. Jamfest will fully capture the excitement of the U.S. Open, featuring cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a battle of the bands competition. Highlighting the show will be appearances by the Bryan Bros. Band, The Jensen Brothers Band, and The Johnny Smyth Band. The three bands feature some of the biggest names in the game -- Bob and Mike Bryan, Luke and Murphy Jensen and John McEnroe.

• Sania Mirza was a late pull-out with a wrist injury. But otherwise it was a rough event for lucky losers. Motivated no doubt in part by the $18,500 purse for a first-round loss, most eligible players made it onto the court even if they were a bit dinged up.

• Tommy Haas is back with Thomas Hogstedt.

• Nice to see longtime reader Eric Kao get some love.

• Long Lost Siblings: Fernando Verdasco and Cristiano Ronaldo