Roger Federer Returns As Defending Champion At US Open

The 2008 US Open
August 25th-Sepember 7th
New York, New York, USA

Roger Federer Returns As Defending Champion At US Open
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Saturday, August 23, 2008 6:15pm CST USA

NEW YORK--(lawntennismag.com) World number two Roger Federer of Switzerland has not won a grand slam tournament in almost one year, where he took his 12th slam at last year's US Open.

Federer returns to the US Open court next Monday as the four time defending champion after taking the title in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Federer had dominated the sport of tennis for years while holding the world number one ranking for a record 237 consecutive

Defending Champion Roger Federer of Switzerland

weeks from February 2, 2004 to August 17. 2008.

But after losses at this year's French Open and Wimbledon finals, Rafael Nadal of Spain ascended into the top ranking. While Nadal has never lost a match on the slower courts at the French Open, Federer has won 28 matches in a row at the US Open and remains the favorite at New York.

And while the men's draw may remain a two man show, the women's field is more open, especially since former champions Venus Williams and Serena Williams of the USA are scheduled to meet each in one quarterfinal. The winner of that quarterfinal should play red hot Dinara Safina of Russia in the semifinals. On the top half of the draw Lindsay Davenport of the USA could capitalize on a favorable draw before meeting Elena Dementieva of Russia or Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in later rounds.

Men's Quarterfinals Picks
Rafael Nadal, Gael Monfils, David Ferrer, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Roger Federer

Men's Semifinals Picks
Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer

Men's Final Pick
Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal

Women's Quarterfinals Picks
Elena Dementieva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Lindsay Davenport, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivonovic, Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Venus Williams

Women's Semifinals Picks
Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, Serena Williams

Women's Final Picks
Serena Williams def. Jelena Jankovic