Will the Real Top Seeds Please Stand Up
 
September 1, 2011 -- Ask anybody who will win the women's singles final. Bet your tally proclaims the most votes for Serena Williams. On the men's side of things, the same question overwhelmingly would put Novak Djokovic at the top of the list. There's really no question here. He's won an unprecedented nine titles that includes two Grand Slams and a record-setting five Master 1000 titles.
 
The reality of the draws usually don't alter our emotional involvement on the question of who might win the U. S. Open. Serena Williams is seeded #28, which is shockingly low for a woman who holds 13 Grand Slam titles. So far at this Open, she's blasted opponents off the court left and right. Today she defeated Michaella Krajicek, former Wimbledon title-holder Richard Krajicek's little sister, in a shake over an hour, 60 61. It was the tenth time at a major that she only dropped one game, according to the WTA.
 
Rafael Nadal is the defending champion at Flushing Meadows, which has been lost to some extent in the hubbub and expectations that surround Djokovic. However, Nadal has lost to Djokovic in five finals this year, an upheaval close to 7 on Rafa's Richter scale. According to Nadal this has been his main problem -- he didn't win one of those finals.
 
During a press conference this spring, Roger Federer alluded that Novak might be taking up some space in the Spaniard's head. It happens. Federer knows the struggle of permanently shooing away a rival's past effects from his mind. Federer is 8 and 17 against Nadal. The lopsided head-to-head record stings like lemon juice on an open wound, if you look at their French Open final competitions. Federer again lost to Nadal this year at Roland Garros. But it was Federer who handed Djokovic his only 'real' loss of the year in the semifinals of the same tournament. Otherwise, the Serbian slayer might be licking his lips in anticipation of closing in on a genuine, calendar-year Grand Slam. (Note: Andy Murray defeated Djokovic in the Cincinnati final after he retired in the second set down 0-3.)
 
Given Nadal's results since January, his loss in the first round of Rogers Cup in Montreal wasn't such a monumental upset although Ivan Dodig, the victor, was an unlikely person to do the upsetting.
 
Here's where Nadal probably picks up more votes ... likability. His international image, personality, and character could out-strip Novak's -- just look at the endorsements from international businesses. And why else would Novak's team, or entourage, have plans to improve his recognition and appeal to American audiences, according to a NYTimes article by Karen Crouse, "The Next Makeover for a New No. 1 Is in Marketing"?
 
The announcement of his initiative with UNICEF, which came a couple days ago, was certainly a cog in the wheel of repositioning Djokovic. The announcement came with a pre-announcement, like a carrot dangled in the media's face. A few goofy Tweets bet Novak was perhaps getting married, withdrawing, pregnant, or running for president of Serbia ... or the world. Nope ... like Roger and Rafael, Novak's getting into the charity game. Makes one feel soft inside.
 
Before entering any court ring, Nadal always tells the commentator in the tunnel, "I will try my very best." He does, too. He thrives on competition and secretly cherishes the wins. We'll wait to see if he can pull off a repeat win. The final is September 11.
 
On the other hand, Serena Williams just has too much game for most close contenders. Kim Clijsters isn't at the Open. Wimbledon Ladies Champion Petra Kvitova lost in round one. Francesca Schiavone has an unconventional game and mind that fires up under pressure. But the power from Williams could quickly douse the Francesca flames. If Maria Sharapova controls her serve and unforced errors, she could give Williams a tussle.
 
But after her win today, Williams became the chatter. People are picking her to go all the way. They were before the two weeks began, let's face it, but now more fingers are pointing in her direction. Caroline Wozniacki may be the best backboard out there, have a mind for fighting, and be dating the hottest and youngest golfer in the world -- Rory McIlroy -- but once Williams pokes her head into next week she will shift into fifth gear.
 
This is the first U. S Open Serena has played since her ejection from the semifinals in 2009 against Kim Clijsters and her foot surgery, which kept her out of the 2010 competition. Serena's tirade toward a line official, after being called for a foot fault on match point during the semifinal, cost her $80,000 and a 2-year parole, of sorts, leveled by the USTA.
 
Serena's image went all which ways immediately following the incident. She was booed off the court. But later a group showed solidarity with Serena. They thought she was some sort of woman for her profanity, in front of 22,000 people and the world via television and whatnot.
 
Before Williams stepped on Arthur Ashe this week for her first match against Serbian upstart Bohana Jovanovski, the press asked her about the incident. "I just remember I lost, and that was that. I got really popular. A lot of people were telling me they thought I was super cool, that they'd never seen me so intense. So, yeah, it was awesome."
 
Another reporter posed a question, and Serena was visibly annoyed. She said it was old news. Do we have to go through this again? That was two years ago.
 
Interpret her comments to your suiting, but her words, along with her attitude that day in the press room made for a bad couple -- a singularly revealing moment that showed the depth of Serena's sincerity toward the incident, the woman she affronted that night, and her promises to curtail the outbursts.
 
Can she play unrestrained tennis? No doubt. Would she make a good ambassador for world peace. Probably. However, her image was duly damaged that night in 2009 and some additional conciliatory behavior just might win her more votes when people contemplate the question -- who will win the 2011 U. S. Open singles trophies.
 

 

 
[3] Roger Federer (SUI) {red shirt} d Dudi Sela (ISR) 63 62 62
 

 
 
[28] Serena Williams {red and black dress} (USA) d Michaella Krajicek (NED) 60 61