US Open 2014: Turning back the sands of time...it feels like 2012 all over again!

Federer and Serena’s competition battling issues

The parallels with two seasons ago don’t just stop with Federer and Serena. Djokovic faced Nadal at the French Open and Federer at Wimbledon that year too. Nadal, after having beaten Federer to make the final of the Australian Open, had to endure disappointment once again much like in ‘12. He overcame Djokovic in the title clash at the French Open this year and even faced the same opponent in the second round at Wimbledon as in ‘12 in the form of Lukas Rosol. Though he won that match, he went on to lose in the fourth round to Nick Kyrgios and has not been seen on a tennis court ever since... (for the umpteenth time) just as in 2012.

Novak Djokovic reacts during a match against Tommy Robredo at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio

The competition has also been on uneven footing of late with them struggling to put together consistent results. The world number one on the men’s side has been on an emotional high in his personal life since the professional high of winning Wimbledon. Dealing with married life and the prospect of being a father, he hasn’t exactly been in the right headspace since with early losses in Canada and Cincinnati and in his own words has said that tennis is no longer the number one priority in his life. Injury meanwhile has once again sidelined the man from Manacor, Federer’s nemesis-in-chief throughout his career, Nadal. He will not be around to defend his trophy from last year. Federer’s fellow countryman and Australian Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka has found it a struggle since scaling impossible peaks early in the season. 2012 champion Murray is still working his way back to his best after battling injury and loss of form for a good part of the last one year.

It’s been a similar story on the women’s side. Serena battling a broken heart, young upstarts and indifferent form has still managed to win five titles. Former world number one Victoria Azarenka has fallen off the radar spectacularly and been missing from the fight at the top. China’s Li Na, who has been a problem for Serena when playing well, has pulled out of the event altogether. Sharapova despite being the leader in the Road to Singapore standings has rarely troubled Serena whenever they’ve met. Simona Halep and Eugenie Bouchard have come on strong this season, but still look a little light to trouble the American. Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has the game to beat Serena, but she has failed to perform consistently and has struggled at the US Open historically. She is coming in though on the back of victory at New Haven this time around.

What’s to stop Roger and Serena?

All the signs may be promising for the two 30+ pros, but the Slams are a very different challenge to the other events as Serena and Federer have found out this year. For Federer, the Slams are a step up from a best of three to a best of five setting and with it come it’s own physical and mental demands. Sudden lapses in concentration still dot Federer’s game and they are costlier in the majors. Also, the Slams are two week ordeals. Having said that, barring the French Open blip, he has performed well in the other Slams and at Flushing Meadows this year, with a favourable draw and good recent form, he should be able to make the final eight at least. But dangers lurk thereafter with a possible road through Grigor Dimitrov, David Ferrer and Djokovic to get his hands on the title.

And as far as opposition from the other half goes, what you cannot ever do is write off Djokovic in a Grand Slam. Yes, the Serb has a tough draw to get past to make a fifth successive final, but he is arguably, the best hardcourt player around and if there is one man who can come through such choppy waters, it is Djokovic. Wawrinka too should be one to contend with because remember, his best showings last year came at the Australian and US Opens. I have a funny feeling he will be keen to do well here at Flushing Meadows.

Serena did win in 2012 and 2013 and will be looking to make it a hat-trick of titles at Flushing Meadows

For Serena, its a question of matchups. There are some players whose games are just perfectly suited to taking down the women’s number one. Part of it involves a good serve and heavy groundstrokes coupled with taking the ball early, which is why Ivanovic was able to beat her in Australia for she served superbly in that match and her forehand was on fire. Muguruza used a similarly explosive game to unseat Serena at Roland Garros and sister Venus too brought out the fireworks in their meeting in Canada a few weeks ago.

Ivanovic is in her quarter and is a potential quarter-final opponent, while Kvitova and Bouchard also lurk in the same half. To add some more pressure, Serena’s number one ranking is under attack from Halep and Kvitova. If Serena were to fall before the quarters and either of them go on to win the title, there would be a change at the top of the rankings. Also, rather interestingly, Serena has not won any Slam more than five times – she’s got five each at Australia, Wimbledon and the US and two at the French.

That’s why while prospects for the two vets do indeed look very good, conquering a Slam is a whole different beast altogether. What is for certain, is that 2014 feels like 2012 all over again and it will be exciting to see how the two seniors go about their business now that they are once again the cynosure of all eyes, more so in Federer’s case. And if the US Open does play out to the script from two years ago, you could have Serena triumph and claim her first Slam of the year, while it would mean a first time winner on the men’s side at the expense of Djokovic in the final. Perhaps Dimitrov? Hey, dreaming never hurt anyone!