First Look at the 2009 US Open Main Draw

After eight months of exciting tennis around the globe, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is headed to New York City for the season’s last major tournament.

Aaress Lawless previews the upcoming action at Flushing Meadows and takes a first look at the players to watch during the 2009 US Open.

The Contenders

Serena Williams (2)
Serena Williams has already bagged two of the three majors this year and is rolling into Flushing Meadows rested and ready. She posted a few mediocre results during the US Open Series, but it will not surprise anyone if she saved her best tennis for when it matters most.

Serena, along with her sister Venus, is in the second half of the draw, and on paper, it looks like the weakest. That being said, Serena’s biggest competition might be her big sister. At Wimbledon, Serena dethroned Venus as the queen of the grass, and Venus just might return the favor by beating Serena on her own best surface for a shot at the title.
Prediction: Semifinalist

Venus Williams (3)
Since she won back-to-back titles eight years ago in Flushing Meadows, Venus has never won another hard-court major title.

The road back to the US Open final might take her in the path of Kim Clijsters, another woman who has tasted victory in Flushing Meadows. Kim and Venus are old friends and rivals, and ironically, Kim defeated Venus in the quarterfinals during her last appearance along the way to victory.

If both Williamses reach the semifinals, it will be winner take all. If Venus gets past a rejuvenated and still dangerous Kim Clijsters, and possibly Victoria Azarenka in the quarters, I like her chances of bringing home her first non-Wimbledon major trophy since 2001.
Prediction: Champion

Elena Dementieva (4)
Does Elena Dementieva have a Grand Slam title buried deep within her? I believe that the Olympic gold medalist has everything in her arsenal for a major title pursuit. Will it happen this year?

Elena will likely get another shot at a major final, but is she playing well enough to beat Venus or Serena in a Grand Slam final? That has not been done since Maria Sharapova beat Serena in the final of Wimbledon in 2004.
Prediction: Runner-Up

Jelena Jankovic (5)
The New York crowd fell in love with Jelena last year and the congenial Serbian is quickly charming her way into the hearts of Americans.

Her performance both during—and after—the final last year won her a new host of fans, and Jankovic is currently playing well enough to post another solid finish at the tournament. I’m not convinced she’ll go all the way to the final again, but she’ll likely reach the semifinals.
Prediction: Semifinalist

Other Players to Watch

Dinara Safina (1)
It is not often that you would give the world number one an outside chance to win, but that is exactly the position Dinara Safina is in right now. The headlines have been unmerciful to the top seed, one even declaring her as “desperate” to win a major.

While I do not think she is ready to be classified as desperate, I do think her chances are getting fewer. The Williams sisters are back playing their best tennis, Kim Clijsters could be a major factor next season, not to mention that the Belgian press is reporting that Justine Henin is rethinking her retirement decision.

Safina’s draw is not impossible, but it is going to be difficult. Alisa Kleybanova reached the semifinals last week in Toronto and could easily threaten Safina with a third round upset. If Dinara makes it to the quarters, she could set herself up with a rematch against Jelena Jankovic, who beat her only weeks ago in the Cincinnati final.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (6)
It has been a solid season for Svetlana Kuznetsova as she won her second career Grand Slam title in June at the French Open.

Kuznetsova won her first title on the courts of Flushing Meadows and I like her chances of having another good run this season. With the one-slam-wonder monkey off her back, one hopes Sveta can begin playing with more confidence and consistency—two things sadly in short supply before Paris.

Victoria Azarenka (8)
If the Williams sisters tumble early, look for Victoria Azarenka to make the most of the opportunity and play her way into the semifinals—-or beyond.

Azarenka has been biding her time for a big breakthrough at a major and don’t forget, she did beat Serena earlier this year in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Maria Sharapova (29)
Maria managed to get a coveted seeding position in the draw, but that still did not save her from the possibility of facing Dementieva in the third round. Sharapova has had a long road to recovery, but must have been pleased with her finalist finish at the Rogers Cup where she lost to Dementieva in two sets.

One thing I noticed during the final was that although Sharapova’s old shot-making skills have returned, her physical stamina is still missing. She looked tired and sluggish against Dementieva, something that we never saw before her shoulder surgery. Fortunately, at Flushing Meadows, unlike at Premier tournaments, Sharapova should have a day off to rest her shoulder after each match.

Kim Clijsters
The feel good story of the year has arrived in New York City. Kim Clijsters was a fan favorite during the first part of her career, and now with her one year-old baby girl in her arms and two years of absence, Clijsters is even more beloved.

Expect Kim to relish the feeling of being back under the lights of the Open, and I would not be surprised to see her reach the second week. Her US Open Series results were very promising, and if she does decide to stick around for 2010, she could be a legitimate threat in Australia.

On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 US Open presented by Grand Slam Tennis Tours will begin on Monday, August 31!