Are you ready?

Normally around this time a year, it’s football that comes to mind when fans are propositioned with this question. The MLB pennant races are heating up and NFL training camps are winding down. Yet, somewhere between Barry Bonds assault on baseball immortality and Fantasy Football frenzy is the U.S. Open, tennis’ final major, and parity has certainly reared its ugly head into this year’s tennis season.

Usually, tennis is dominated by one individual with plenty of able and supremely talented players attempting to knock the King or Queen off the mountain. Up until now, Roger Federer has been doing his best Superman impersonation, with his only blemish by way of ahem…his…weakness: clay. Yet, Rafael Nadal, Federer’s Lex Luthor, was a leg injury away from ending the Switzerland Superman’s reign over the men’s division at Wimbledon. And if that wasn’t enough, Wimbledon also marked the return of Venus Williams. Williams had been hampered by an assortment of injuries to her leg, but for the first time this season, she was completely healthy.  So tennis fans need to grab some popcorn and get ready for the season finale; which should contain plenty of twist endings.

Has Nadal finally arrived to the party?

For the last three years fans have waited for Nadal to take his uncanny ability to make Federer seem human on clay and adapt it to the other surfaces. At this year’s Wimbledon, Nadal was very close, but just like the comic books, good trumped evil. Not to say Nadal is an evil person, but in this story, he is the antagonist. While Federer continues his relentless quest for tennis immortality, Nadal continues to put a crimp in his plans. Yet, like any protagonist, Federer refuses to allow Nadal’s meddlesome tactics to deter him. Nadal and Federer’s battle is almost given since…

There’s No Home Court Advantage

For the past few years, none of the male American tennis players have been able to hold serve on their home soil. While Andy Roddick and James Blake are good, they’re only NCAA Football I-AA good, while Nadal and Federer are tennis’ Notre Dame and Southern Cal. Mr. Blake and the other A-Rod are good for a few runs to the final, but never bet the farm on either one. Even though Roddick is ranked higher than Blake, Blake is beginning to eclipse his fellow American. Blake has been what Roddick has not, consistent. Roddick has not been the same since winning the U.S. Open in 2003. Since then, Roddick has exhibited erratic behavior on the court. Some matches, Roddick unleashes his powerful 150-plus mph serve, and other matches he implodes with unforced error after error. However, luckily for Americans and the dynamic duo…

Guess who’s coming to dinner?

The Williams Sisters are healthy, and they are hungry. Venus and Serena Williams have once again synced their bio rhythms. This dynamic duo is at its best when their health and passion are in accord with one another. Often ribbed by their contemporaries in the last few years, because tennis was not a top priority; the duo got healthy and appears to have decided to cement their legacy. Serena, armed with earth-shattering ground strokes, won this year’s Australian Open. Meanwhile, Venus, armed with a powerful serve that has buckled more knees than Barry Zito’s curve, became the lowest ranking seed ever to win Wimbledon this year. Venus and Serena seem primed to pick up their sibling rivalry where they left off, but…

Has the playing field leveled?

A lot has changed since the Williams’ mini-domination in the early 2000s. After, Venus and Serena left; their younger constituents adapted to the new playing style. For decades Women’s tennis players were distinguished by two playing styles: power or grace. While Chris Evert’s grace led to championship match berths, Martina Navrátilová’s power led to more wins in those championship matches. Naturally, young tennis pros began to evolve into perfect blends of grace and power; a la Steffi Graf. However, evolution only seemed to take a breather during Venus and Serena’s dominance. The Williams’ sisters were so dominant that their championship matches were often a family affair. Yet, gone are the days of Martina Hingis’ crafty volley game or Lindsey Davenport’s long, calculated baseline game; instead, fans have been introduced to Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin’s all-around games. Henin, the world’s No. 1, has an arsenal that contains an array of shots including the elusive one-handed back hand, a shot usually reserved for men’s tennis because of the difficulty in controlling its location. On the other hand, Sharapova’s style can be best compared to a five-tool baseball player; she can volley, serve, and backhand with the best of them.

Whether Nadal can overtake Federer, Blake and Roddick benefit from home cooking, Venus and Serena party like it is 2001, or Henin and Sharapova usher in a new era, this year’s U.S. Open should be pretty exciting.