US Open's Dignity Flushed Away

ANDY Roddick has expressed that he believes a players’ union would help prevent the problems that have marred this year’s US Open from happening in the future.

The 21^st seed feels that players themselves should have a greater say in what goes on at tournaments.

Flushing Meadows has been the scene of a shambolic week of re-scheduling as a result of heavy rain and inadequate solutions.

No covers (because they don’t look nice) and a lack of communication with players meant that the downpours caused havoc and have meant that the bottom half of the men’s draw will stay behind the top half.

But it was not so much the scheduling that upset the players, after all, we cannot prevent the rain, but more so the lack of opinion that players have felt entitled to voicing.

Luckily for Flushing Meadows, the sheer quality of the talent displayed and some great on-court battles have saved the tournament from being a disaster.

When interviewed during one of the many rain delays, Rafa Nadal expressed his concern at the lack of “protection” he felt the players received, and also called for players to have greater say in scheduling.

"The problem is not the organisation of the US Open. It’s that we don't have enough power in these kind of tournaments. That's what has to change very soon. I think everybody agrees that these things have to change."

He went on, “we need to have the right representation in these tournaments.”

Roddick, who’s 4^th round match against David Ferrer was moved to court 13 (with no provison for lie call changes) due to the players deeming Armstrong court unplayable, said that “Until we unite as one voice, then we're not going to get what we want.”

He also stated that he would happily front a players’ union in order to prevent future problems.

These claims of an unsatisfactory running of the tournament come just after players were also made to feel unsafe after organisers declared soaked courts fit to play.

Nadal, a victim of the rain, accused officials of putting profits before player safety.

Rafa was angry at being made to start his 4^th round match in very damp conditions and vented his frustration at tournament Referee Brian Earley. It is reported that, as he walked past Earley while leaving the court, he said, “It’s the same old story, all you ever care about is money.”

He later described Grand Slams as a “show”, feeling as a player that he is “part of that show...they’re just working for that, not for us.”

“I understand that the fans are there, but the players are important too, and we didn’t feel protected”, he added.

Roddick believes that "talent wins negotiations", and I will be surprised if officials and event organisers are able to ignore the voice of talent for much longer.

Djokovic could finally run out of fuel.

Aside from the huge positives of Novak Djokovic's record year, there is one obvious downside to reaching the final of every tournament: he has played so many more matches than his rivals.

Reaching almost anaerobic activity in the scorching American sun and 70% humidity is enough to drain even the fittest of athletes of all energy. So add to that the punishing hard court surfaces of Montreal and Cincinnati and you begin to understand what the players on tour put themselves through. Your unseeded players will escape will just a brief exposure to this sporting cauldron, playing maybe a couple of matches, a couple of sets, and watching on as those who progress continue to brave the elements.

Such is the irony of success, that those who play the best tennis and advance through these American tournaments are the ones who suffer the most. Granted, sitting in a freezing ice bath after a first round exit, your name barely recognised in the tennis world, is an unpleasant experience, but it's easy work compared to the job of a world number one who has no time to rest.

Even at the top end of the rankings, those who believe themselves to be equal to Novak Djokovic have had it easier than the Serb in the warm up to Flushing Meadows. As well as being the last major of a physically draining season, the US Open is also the third hard-court tournament on the trot. Feet will be frayed, ankles will be in agony and knees will be knackered. For a title hopeful like Murray or Djokovic, these physical punishments will be relentless as, in a maybe not so ideal world, they will play game after game, set after set, match after match. With each game, set and match taking a little more out of the tank.

Having played an extra four matches than his rivals ahead of the US Open, it is no surprise that Djokovic is feeling the physical affects. His troubled shoulder shouldn't be a problem for much longer, but rather the non-stop tennis and continuous finals in which Novak has played is sure to take its toll as the final tournament of the season progresses into its second week.

Yes, Federer is struggling with form, but form is temporary, and he only needs a couple of wins to regain what he's been missing. Nadal can relate to the Serb in that he too is struggling physically, but he has had time to recover having exited Cincinnati at the quarter final stage. Andy Murray is the one who can take advantage of any slip up by Djokovic. He will be his ever-fired up self at Flushing Meadows, enjoying the fast courts and thriving in the buzz of New York, and could pounce on any signs of fatigue evident in Novak. For me, Murray now has the best chance of his career to make his permanent mark in the rankings. If the Scott can get some wins under his belt over the next couple of weeks, then Federer should be looking over his shoulder, wary of his no.3 spot.

In order for Djokovic to survive the tournament and maintain his best tennis throughout, he needs to get through the first week quickly, playing as few sets as possible, so that he is fresh for the second Monday.

Even with a record year behind him, another Grand Slam win is far from guaranteed for Djokovic. Winning takes its toll, despite bringing so much temporary joy. In the long run, it has a draining physical effect on even the very best winners. Psychologically, he will be in a better place than any other player, but whether his body can take another hard-court battering in the punishing New York sun is still to be seen. I believe in his ability to power through, hence a Djokovic v Murray final is on the cards for me.

Roger and Rafa with cause for concern

Novak Djokovic's formidale year of ballbusting performances and a resulting usurpation of the once dominant Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer has seen the Serb take the world of men's tennis by storm. Despite a disappointing end to the Cincinnati Open against Andy Murray, Djokovic is at the peak of his game and one of the best seasons in tennis history has seen him seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open for the first time.

The Serb will be looking to claim his first championship at Flushing Meadows, where in previous years he has finished runner up to Federer and Nadal on two occasions. Being overshadowed by Roger and Rafa this year is not on the cards for Novak, who will instead be intending to rub salt further in to the wounds of the already deteriorating Swiss and Spaniard.

The once dominant Federer and Nadal have more than just a stimulated Serb to worry about; their recent individual form has raised doubting eyebrows, and they have disappointed themselves with some uncharacteristic performances. Both exited the Cincinnati Open somewhat prematurely at the quarter-final stage to Thomas Berdych and Mardy Fish respectively. With Czech Berdych having beaten Federer twice last year and Fish being a quality hard court player, it wasn't the fact of defeat which was concerning, but more the manner in which they were defeated.

In fairness, throughout Cincinnati Federer showed glimpses of his old self; the fluency and confidence from his heyday seemed at times within close reach, and the unique aura which the man carries with him was still very much present on the court and in the stands. He looked relaxed and revitalised after his third-round exit in Montreal, but fell victim to Berdych's powerful 6'5" serve. Ahead of Flushing Meadows, Federer is "feeling good mentally" and claims that "physically I feel perfect". But if the Swiss is to recapture the form of old which we as fans have become expectant of, then he surely must be expecting to do better than a third-round in Canada and a quarter final in Cincinnati.

At the moment, Federer is giving off the image of a sort of tragic hero; like a once-dominant personality in his sport who is undergoing a slow recovery back to full health. He speaks as if a veteran of tennis trying to find his feet again: "I feel better now than I did in Montreal...so at least I have three more matches under my belt". He seems tired and almost unkeen: "Last week wasn't very good. I thought it was okay." Perhaps these are signs of a gradual decline, a poignant fall from grace for the Swiss hero. Regrettably, I don't believe that Federer will win another major, and a close eye will be kept on him in New York, the tournament which has the potential to determine the rest of his career.

Nadal on the other hand is still very much a player in his prime, no tennis fan can deny that. There is no age concern or doubts about his motivation or drive, but for the Spaniard it is the dreaded case of injury that is currently hindering his progress in reaching his full potential. As one of the most modest, genuine and sporting guys on the world tour, Rafa would be the last person to milk an injury or make excuses, but even he cannot put a drop in form down to anything less than physical discomfort.

A combination of ongoing foot troubles and some run of the mill blistering has caused him to lack the sharpness and pace which has always been a key component to his game. As a result, he has lost that dynamism on the court for which he is so loved. Rafa's trademark sprint to the baseline is now a withheld jog, and this reserved demeanor was evident in his tennis in Cincinnati, full of unforced errors and uncharacteristic sluggishness. Granted,.he has injury to blame, but if he intends on retaining his title at Flushing Meadows in just three days time then he needs to find his intensity again.

Nadal realises that he needs to play "more inside the court, more aggressively", and admits that he is in "far from perfect condition" for New York, but one thing is for certain, "I will try everything", as he always does.

Federer and Nadal will be well aware of the threat in the form of Novak Djokovic, but on a personal level, I will not be surprised if both former champions will be placing priority on rediscovering themselves and re-tuning their own games before dreaming of defeating the world number one. It's make or break for the pair of them: will Feds find his form? Will Rafa be revitalised? Will their professionalism shine through, or will they begin that inevitable fall from grace like so many before them and give way to the fresh faces of men's tennis? Something's got to give, here's hoping it's not these two just yet.