The year’s first Grand Slam event, the Australian Open, made Sania Mirza the toast of the nation. Now comes the fourth and last one of 2005, the US Open, and Sania is keen to build on all that she has achieved over the past several months. She is not in the reckoning for the crown, not by a long shot, but a win or two on the big stage can give further boost to her career and ranking.In less than a year, she has become a very confident player, with an aggressive approach. Sania has realised that she can beat the best in the world if she plays to her potential.
With travelling coach John Farrington by her side, Sania would be itching to scalp a few big names in the tournament beginning on August 29.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes are the other Indians expected to make an impact. But they have won laurels before, and big wins by them do not surprise fans any more. Mahesh is upbeat after winning the Wimbledon mixed doubles crown with Mary Pierce, his first Grand Slam title in about three years and eighth in all.
In men’s doubles, Mahesh is confident of clicking with Martin Damm. Though the pair lost in the quarterfinal at Cincinnati recently, Mahesh and his partner are good enough to spring a surprise or two.
Leander may not have regained his old magic touch, but he and Nenad Zimonjic are a formidable pair in men’s doubles.
Another Indian, 22-year-old Shikha Uberoi, who has earned the privilege to play under the Tricolour, will figure in the qualifying event along with her sister Neha, who has earned a wild card.
Shikha came into the limelight last year when she entered the second round of the US Open, but she has done little of note since then, though her ranking has improved from 260-odd to 125.
Coming on to the favourites, world No. 1 Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters are emerging as the front-runners in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
Belgian Clijsters became a strong contender when she pipped Justine Henin-Hardenne in the Rogers Cup in Toronto with another fine display on hardcourt. She has now won five of her six WTA titles in 2005 on hardcourt, and is determined to give her best shot to capture her first Grand Slam title at the US Open.
Maria Sharapova, the Siberia-born Russian now domiciled in the USA, has climbed to the top but she hasn’t had a major win after winning the Wimbledon last year.
Though the 18-year-old entered the semifinals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, she hasn’t been able to live up to her potential. But the fact that she has dethroned Lindsay Davenport from the No. 1 spot puts her in a league of her own. She should capitalise on this numero-uno status to make a mark at Flushing Meadows.
Defending champion Roger Federer’s title victory over Andy Roddick in Cincinnati has improved his record to 54 wins and three losses this season, and 138 wins and nine losses in the past two years, with 20 titles and 28 straight wins on hardcourts; an 18-match consecutive winning streak, and the seventh longest uninterrupted stay atop the ATP list — 81 weeks. His last defeat was at the hands of Rafael Nadal at the French Open on June 3, and he last lost a final in 2003 at Gastaad against Jiri Novak.
Federer has fond memories of last year’s US Open when he became the first player in the Open era to win his first four Grand Slam finals, defeating 2001 US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets.
Federer has the all-round game to rise above the rest. He has the making of the best-ever tennis champion and it is no surprise that he looks the firm favourite to clinch the men’s crown this time too.
Roddick, despite effecting a drastic make-over in his game with a better serve and volley, improved staying power and agile net play, has not got the better of Federer, who continues to rule men’s tennis on virtually all surfaces. Roddick beat Hewitt for only the second time in eight matches to reach the final at Cincinnati, only to run into the Federer Express.
The Swiss player has allowed Roddick, whose lone Grand Slam victory had come in the 2003 US Open, just one victory in 10 meetings, winning the last five, including the last two Wimbledon finals. But after Federer, the favourite is definitely Roddick, who has a record of 49-10 this season, with four titles to his credit.
Australian Open champion Marat Safin is struggling with a torn ligament on his left knee. He hoped that rest and treatment would make him recover, but it was not to be, and he was knocked out in 56 minutes by wild card Robby Ginepri at Cincinnati.
No matter who the winners are, the US Open is likely to live up to its “Big is beautiful” image. It has the biggest prize money in tennis and the largest canvas. The massive spectator turnout is an added asset. It is surely the grandest of the four Grand Slams.
