Editor's note: On Aug. 17, Ravi Ubha began unveiling the top 10 reasons to watch the 2009 U.S. Open. Check back each weekday until Aug. 28 as we count down to No. 1.
No. 1: Roger's drive for six
Roger Federer got his long-awaited French Open title and passed Pete Sampras on the Grand Slam ladder, so he's taken care of the two big ones in 2009.
But don't think he's finished rewriting history.
If Federer wins in New York, the 28-year-old becomes the first man since Bill Tilden in 1925 to claim six straight U.S. Opens. Only one man, Richard Sears, has won seven straight, beginning his streak when the tournament was first held -- over four days -- in 1881. Back in Sears' time, fields were miniature, and the defending champion received an automatic pass into the final.
Federer is almost an automatic.
Things couldn't be any better for Federer, who rode the goodwill of the New York public to salvage his 2008 season. He became a first-time father to twin girls in July, won the Cincinnati Masters on Sunday and all of a sudden has toppled Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in their most recent encounters. Not long ago, Federer couldn't buy a win against the trio, and he was slumping in March, when news of his impending fatherhood broke.
Don't read much into Federer's loss to up-and-down Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Montreal Masters, blowing a 5-1 lead in the third set, an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration. His win versus Murray in the Cincinnati semis was more telling. Dismantling Murray the way he did has to be a confidence-booster, no matter what the Swiss suggested postmatch. The serve, which suffered early this year due to a back injury, looked rock solid, and Federer moved wonderfully on court, tension nowhere in sight.
"I got the muscle pain out and got used to hitting big serves again," Federer said in the wake of demolishing Djokovic in the Cincinnati final. "I have no back problem and pain, so that allows me again to play freely and focus on the way I want to play and not the way I have to hit the shot. That's a big difference today than a few months ago."
Only two men can realistically stop Federer in New York: Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro, and they landed in the same half. Sure, he's short of match practice, but if Nadal gets to Federer he'll be in good shape. As much as it gave him a pick-me-up, Federer knows Nadal was pooped in the Madrid final, and he hasn't overcome the Spaniard in their past three Grand Slam meetings, all finals. Nadal inflicted heavy mental damage in all three.
Clay isn't Federer's best surface, but neither is it Del Potro's, and the Argentine extended their encounter to five sets at the French Open in June. If Del Potro serves huge himself and the affair doesn't linger, an upset is a possibility. What of Murray, still 4-1 in his past five against Federer? Despite his success on the ATP circuit, the Scot has faltered against more aggressive foes at Grand Slams. Djokovic is nowhere near the player he was early in 2008.
After a few bumps in the road, Federer is back to being Federer.
Top 10 reasons to watch the U.S. Open
• No. 10: "Other" Americans ready for breakthrough
• No. 9: Will Safina validate No. 1 ranking?
• No. 8: Time ripe for del Potro, Azarenka to take next step
• No. 7: Maria and her serving woes
• No. 6: Kimmy's return to the court