The tennis year doesn't end with the conclusion of the U.S. Open, but the fact that this is the final major of the year means there is a lot at stake for the world's top players.
Among the men, three players have a 2005 Grand Slam title already under their belts: Marat Safin (Australian), Rafael Nadal (French), and Roger Federer (Wimbledon). Should either of the latter two prevail in New York, he'll have a convincing case to be considered #1 for the year, as the pair also have split the entire ATP Masters Series titles between them (Safin would have a less compelling argument, in light of his inconsistency). Add into the mix a trio of former U.S. Open champions who play well on DecoTurf II and have reasonable expectations of contending--Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, and Andy Roddick--and you have the makings of a great tourney. Obviously Federer is the man to beat (and has a great draw) but the Open has produced plenty of surprise results in the past, but it's hard to see anyone outside of these six hoisting the trophy in two weeks time.
On the women's side, you again have three champs in the year's previous majors: Serena Williams (Australian), Justine Henin-Hardenne (French), and Venus Williams (Wimbledon). Amazingly, none of these players in among the top four seeds. Also contending in Flushing Meadows are the two who have traded the #1 ranking back-and-forth the past few weeks--Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova--as well as the woman who has dominated the summer hard-court circuit: Kim Clijsters. This draw will be fun to watch unfold. Among the dark horses: #4 seed Amelie Mauresmo (who always seems to fold her tent when deep in the tournament), last year's champion and finalist, Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva, and Mary Pierce, who is enjoying her best year in some time; hard to envision any of this quartet winning, though.
