|
|
 |
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Breaking down the U.S. Open draw
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim peers into his crystal ball to reveal the fate of the top 16 men's and women's seeds for the U.S. Open. Scroll down to see the first-round matches you shouldn't miss, some darkhorse candidates to advance to Week 2, and his championship predictions. MEN'S REPORT | Women's Report 1. Gustavo Kuerten: The $64,000 real question: How healthy is his rib cage? If it's healed in the past week, he could win the whole shebang. (Remember, though, he didn't get out of second round at the three previous hard-court Slams.) 2. Andre Agassi: Plenty have gone broke underestimating the mercurial Agassi, who can regain his form in an instant. But the pendulum's on a decided downswing. After winning in L.A. -- beating Guga and Pete Sampras en route to the title -- he changed into a frustrated ball-spritzer who lost to Ivan Ljubicic, Gaston Gaudio and Sjeng Schalken. Plus, his nemesis, Francisco Clavet, lurks in Round 2.
4. Lleyton Hewitt: An innocuous draw greets last year's semifinalist. His possible quarterfinal showdown against Juan Carlos Ferrero will be one to watch. 5. Juan Carlos Ferrero: Underrated hard-court player is positioned, unfortunately for him, in "sleepers corner." If he survives dangerous floaters like Wayne Ferreira, Tommy Robredo and/or Todd Martin, look out. 6. Patrick Rafter: The Will Rogers of tennis could ride off into the sunset, after serve-and-volleying his way to a third U.S. Open crown. 7. Yevgeny Kafelnikov: Usually saves his best stuff -- and strongest efforts -- for Slams. Now on the downside of his career, he ought to have plenty of time to ponder tennis' shortcomings. 8. Sebastien Grosjean: Has disappeared a bit after reaching Roland Garros semis. Ought to re-emerge to some extent, but grinning Greg Rusedski could give him fits in Round 3. 9. Tim Henman: Overdue for success in Queens and has been playing well on hard courts. He won't win, but he could make the semis. 10. Pete Sampras: The romantic wishes that he could salvage a dismal, if not outright embarrassing, year here. He won't lose early to the likes of Julien Boutter or Edwin Kempes. But he won't survive in Rafter's quadrant, either. 11. Alex Corretja: Have you seen his hard-court record lately? Good thing there's not surface-specific seeding here, too. If he beats Jerome Golmard in Round 2, it will be an achievement. 12. Arnaud Clément: Beat Agassi and reached quarters last year. Could replicate that feat this year, but faces giant-killer Galo Blanco in Round 1. 13. Roger Federer: A big-time talent. But the abductor injury that has sidelined him since Wimbledon is a concern. 14. Thomas Johansson: Two-time quarterfinalist is a dark horse. 15. Goran Ivanisevic: Your guess is as good as his. 16. Tommy Haas: Underachiever will do his usual a-few-wins-and-out pas de deux. LOWER SEEDS WORTH WATCHING 18. Andy Roddick: Believe the hype.
DANGEROUS FLOATERS Max Mirnyi
FIRST-ROUND MATCHES TO WATCH
Clément vs. Galo Blanco Tommy Robredo vs. Olivier Rochus: To the uninitiated, it will look like the juniors draw started early. Fabrice Santoro vs. Magnus Larsson: Two of the quirkier styles on tour. Jan-Michael Gambill vs. Cédric Pioline: Former finalist may be playing last U.S. Open. PREDICTIONS Semifinals: Kuerten vs. Hewitt; Johansson vs.Rafter
Click here to send a question to Jon Wertheim's Tennis Mailbag.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
