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Injuries, Retirements: Call This The U.S. Wide Open

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By BEN WALKER

The Associated Press

Published: August 24, 2008

NEW YORK - Rafael Nadal is faulty at Flushing Meadows, Roger Federer is suddenly shaky. Justine Henin is gone, Maria Sharapova is injured.

Might as well make this the U.S. Wide Open.

The final Grand Slam of the year starts Monday, and this one includes more than its share of wild cards.

"The good thing about tennis this year is that you have many players who are winning some major events," said No. 3 men's seed Novak Djokovic. "It's a bigger competition. It's more attractive for the fans."

The first unknown: How will travel trauma affect the stars coming back from Beijing?

Throw in a bad draw for the Williams sisters, a surprising medals sweep by the Russian women at the Olympics, the breakthrough by Ana Ivanovic and a big streak by Juan Martin del Potro, plus Tampa's James Blake and his rowdy rooters in the J-Block.

Should be plenty to watch during the next two weeks, as matches stretch from before noon to after midnight.

"I know there are some hungry guys ... desperate to make some type of mark," four-time U.S. Open champion John McEnroe said. "I'd say it's pretty unpredictable on the women's side."

The women's draw is especially tricky to pick since Henin retired several months after winning her second U.S. Open last year and Sharapova injured her right shoulder. Sharapova doesn't plan to attend any tennis events, but will be in town for fashion week.

So start this U.S. Open with Nadal and Federer.

Federer has owned Arthur Ashe Stadium in recent years, winning the past four championships. He often treats the New York crowd to something special, be it a sharp black outfit or a behind-the-back, through-the-legs volley.

But his run toward Pete Sampras' record of 14 major titles has stalled this season - he's been shut out, leaving him with 12. Instead, he lost a thrilling, five-set match to Nadal at Wimbledon and fell to his rival at the French Open.

At 27, Federer is no longer unbeatable.

"You don't ever know when you're going to see the beginning of the end," McEnroe said.

Fluent in several languages, Federer understands what others are now saying about him. "I've enjoyed it, talking about it, being compared to the greatest," he said. "It's a nice challenge ... beating the next generation, trying to play for a long time, trying to stay healthy, trying to beat records."

Nadal enters the Open at No. 1, having taken the spot Federer occupied for more than four years. Plus, Nadal is 12-6 lifetime against Federer, including victories in all four meetings this season.

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