Packing the Players Tennis Bags for the US Open

If you have seen the US Open Series television spots over the past several weeks, you have heard the stars of tennis talking about what they plan on bringing to the season’s final Grand Slam. While bling and paparazzi serve a purpose, only the players that bring their A-level game will have a shot at winning the US Open title. Of course, I have no idea of what is actually in their suitcases, but here is a rough guess at what will probably help them score big at the US Open next week.

Amelie Mauresmo
The world’s number one player is bringing her newfound confidence and mental strength, along with the knowledge that no one has been able to stop her when it mattered the most this season. Critics claimed that her victory at Melbourne was a fluke, but Mauresmo more than proved her mettle at Wimbledon. Heading into the tournament, I think she is one of the top players to win the title, and complete her hat trick of Grand Slam titles.

Justine Henin-Hardenne
Justine Henin-Hardenne will have her bags packed with her usual poise and enigmatic personality. She has reached the final at all three prior Grand Slams this season, but two major losses to Amelie Mauresmo has to be preying on her mind. Justine is a fighter, and hates to lose to anyone, especially to her neighbor to the south. With her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters out of contention, Henin-Hardenne will probably be seeded No. 2 with another potential final with Mauresmo looming ahead.

Maria Sharapova
Maria is one of the strongest contenders on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour right now and one of the early favorites to take the title. She will definitely be bringing along the paparazzi and her dad Yuri as coach, and do not expect Maria to check in her fighting spirit at the front gate. The term “one-slam wonder” is quickly becoming associated with the teenager and her best shot of getting rid of the moniker may just be at the US Open next week.

Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva may have the worst serve of the top players, but she will be bringing her all to the courts at the National Tennis Center next week. Dementieva’s game has led her to two Grand Slam finals in the past, and I would love to see the No. 2 Russian advance to at least the semifinals this year. What she lacks in her serve, Dementieva makes up with heart and as an added plus, she is one of the best service returners at the top of tour.

Nadia Petrova
Nadia Petrova needs to bring two things to the US Open; a coach that she is compatible with and renewed confidence. Petrova has been on a see-saw since she won her breakthrough tournament last fall. Four tournament titles this season are quickly becoming overshadowed by her four straight opening round losses.

Svetlana Kuznetsova
Flushing Meadows is the site of Kuznetsova’s greatest triumph, and the affable Russian will be bringing a pair of the fastest and strongest legs on the women’s tour to New York. I love watching Kuznetsova play as she can run down just about any ball sent in her direction. She is comfortable on hard courts and you should never underestimate the chances of a former champion in the main draw.

Patty Schnyder
Schnyder is probably going to be packing her uncompleted book manuscript in her luggage from Switzerland, but her left-handed game is a tricky weapon that often gives her right-handed opponents fits. Patty has never been much of a contender at Grand Slams - her best finish was the semifinal round at the 2004 Australian Open - but she can be a dangerous floater in the round of sixteen and quarterfinals.

Martina Hingis
The Swiss Miss is back at her first US Open in four years, but she just had a disappointing straight sets loss in the final of the Rogers Cup to teenager Ana Ivanovic. Grand Slam wins have not come easy for the Swiss Miss in her comeback, but her second serve is continually improving. With her ever-present coach/mother Melanie Molitor in her box, and current boyfriend ATP-player Radek Stepanek at her side, Martina should at least reach the second week of action.

Lindsay Davenport
Lindsay Davenport is returning to the site of her first major title and nothing would cap the thirty-year old’s career off than to pack the trophy in her suitcase next month. Davenport won the US Open in 1998 and since then she has not lost before reaching the quarterfinal round. She is bringing along her recently rehired coach Adam Peterson, and although she has not commented lately on her possible retirement, an early round loss at the US Open could help push the American stalwart closer to home and life off the tennis tour.

Venus Williams
Venus has been laying extremely low since she lost in the third round of Wimbledon. She is headed to New York with an injured wrist that caused her to miss a couple of tournaments over the past few weeks, but not much is known on the status of the injury. One thing is for certain, Venus will be brining all her bling even if she does fall in the first round.

Serena Williams
Serena considers herself a contender at the US Open, and not one of the other players are thinking about telling her otherwise. Serena is bringing a rusty game to her last chance to set the 2006 stats straight, but you never know how far Serena can go just on guts and sheer will power. She did not play her best tennis at her last event in California, but it was enough to get her back into the top 100.

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