The official kickoff of the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, the U.S. Open, is today — minus America’s not-so-sweetheart, but dominant world No. 1, Serena Williams. She’s out due to a foot injury that led to surgery just after she claimed the Wimbledon title a month ago. The announcement of her absence was a shocker, because since 1975 no women’s world No. 1 — especially with Serena’s reputation for focusing only on Grand Slam play — has missed a tourney of the U.S. Open’s caliber. There was much speculation about whether or not she was faking an injury to avoid wasting her time with less-important tournament play, only to turn up well at the U.S. Open. Her critics were silenced by her regretful choice to pull out of the big one.
To add to the buzz, it was at last year’s U.S. Open that Serena earned the ire of many tennis fans and professionals. After boiling over due to a tight game with last year’s U.S. Open champion, Kim Clijsters, and an untimely foot fault line call, Serena threatened to shove a tennis ball down the responsible line judge’s throat, accompanied by a few now legendary expletives. She was ultimately fined the largest fine in the history of the sport, 92k, but she and big sister Venus went on to win the doubles title. This year, Venus will go it alone.
Venus Williams is world No. 4 and is seeded No. 3 in the tournament. There isn’t much buzz surrounding her, though, despite her being a two-time champion at the New York tournament. That could relieve her of just enough pressure to stage a surprise win, especially with the would-be clear favorite, Serena, out of the way. In fact, it’s been documented that whenever Venus plays a tournament minus Serena’s menacing presence, she either wins it or at least makes the final. Even though there’s no hype, the tournament is possibly on her racket if she brings her A-game and injuries don‘t beset her.
Other streaks of color representing the US at this year’s Open are hometown favorite and wild card, James Blake, a ’05 and ’06 quarter-finalist, but has struggled lately and Donald Young, who’s been buzzed about for several years, but fails to make good on the attention. Though not American, French competitor Gaël Monfils is deserved of an honorable mention. His on-court antics and superior agility make him a sure crowd pleaser.
The tournament officially runs from Aug. 28–Sept. 13 and ro will be front and center.
