US Open draws!

Yes, time for some craaaaazzeee predictions!

The men

first quarter: don't see many problems for Djokovic here. 4th round against Gasquet might be good, QF should be against Monfils or Berdych. I'm going with Bird-itch.

The only other notable name in that quarter is Dolgopolov, and he might take a set of Djokovic in the third round, but I don't see him or anyone else doing an upset in this quarter.

second quarter: another brilliant draw for Federer *rolls eyes* I'm not that worried about the early rounds - Tomic might be a problem, but he's just as likely to lose in the first round. Same with Cilic. Federer really should reach the quarterfinal, but that means a match against Tsonga or Fish. Since that 1/8th of the draw has 5, yes, FIVE qualifiers in it, a Tsonga/Fish 4th round is pretty much a given. Unless Verdasco or Llodra suddenly decide to win more than 2 matches in a row.

third quarter: quite a few yummy seeds here. Soderling, Del Potro, Simon, Wawrinka, and Murray. Isner-Baghdatis is a first round, might be good. Del Potro-Simon is a possible 3rd round, but otherwise I can't see any big upsets here. I'm expecting a Del Potro - Söderling and Wawrinka - Murray 4th round, and I'm going with a Murray - Del Potro quarterfinal.

fourth quarter: the one with Nadal. And some other people. Should be a Ferrer-Nadal QF, unless one of the peasants decide to surprise Nadal (not impossible, with his recent lack of self-confidence). Ljubicic or Nalbandian might face him in the third round, if they believe in their chances it might be a 5 setter...but I still expect Nadal to reach the semis.

So, the quarterfinals:

Djokovic-Berdych
Federer-Fish
Murray-Del Potro
Nadal-Ferrer

semis:

Federer-Djokovic
Nadal-Murray

final:

Murray-Djokovic

winner:

Murray

Yeah that's right. Although I'm really not ruling out Nadal, I get the feeling the winner of the US Open will come from the Nadal-Murray match. If it is a Federer-Djokovic semi, I expect another 5-setter, which will leave either man tired for the final (blame this stupid "Super Saturday" thing, ugh). I know a lot of people doubt Nadal's current mental strenght, but at slams he's a different person. Doesn't mean he's invincible, but still.

As for Federer...no, I can't see him winning this, he'll probably have a tough QF, and an even tougher semi, and I just can't see him play 3 great matches in a row. I want him to win, otherwise this will be the first year since 2002 where he hasn't won a slam! End of an era. Unless he suprises everyone here.

As for Djokovic, I get the feeling he'll either win here, or lose in the semi or the final, and then goes on to win the WTF.

Women

Do I really have to do the quarter by quarter analysis, even if we know it's going to be a S.Williams vs. Sharapova final? Heh.

Okay fine. First quarter: Wozniacki might already get Kuznetsova or Hantuchova in round 4. She'll no doubt fluke-win again, but Petkovic will not be that easy. Petko will have to get past Li Na first, but I'm still going with a Petkovic - Wozniacki QF.

Second quarter: a more interesting quarter, with Azarenka, Serena Williams, Schiavone, Ivanovic and Jankovic in it. Azarenka-S.Williams might be a 3rd round, but I don't think Serena is going to have any trouble with her. 4th round should be Williams-Ivanovic. Other 4th round should be Jankovic-Schiavone, I'm going with Jankovic winning that match. So, a Jankovic-Williams QF.

Third quarter: Wimbledon winner Kvitova on one side, Wimbledon runner-up Sharapova on the other side. Bring it on! There are some dangerous floaters in this quarter, but I'm still going with a Kvitova-Sharapova QF, and Maria taking revenge for her Wimbledon loss.

Fourth quarter: probably the most open quarter. Bartoli-Zvonareva would be the logical QF choices, but this quarter also has Venus Williams, Petrova, Lisicki, Stosur and Cibulkova. Zvonareva - V.Williams and Stosur-Bartoli are likely 4th round matches, so let's say...a Zvonareva-Stosur QF?

semis:

Serena Williams -Petkovic

Sharapova - Zvonareva

final:

Serena Williams - Sharapova

winner:

Sharapova. No wait, Serena. On second thought...Sharapova. Maybe. I don't know. Okay, you know what? Sharapova. There.

Anything else? No. Bye.