American harcourt season begins

US Open Series got under way this week!

The US Open Series is the six-week summer tennis "season" linking 10 ATP Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments together. The Series leads to the US Open. It is often referred to as the U.S. or North American hard court season. Points are accumulated and distributed (see below) based on a player's success in the designated summer hard court tournaments. The winner of the US Open Series receives more money depending on his success in the US Open. For example, in 2007 Federer won the US Open series and went on to win the US Open, winning $1.4 million plus the US Open Series bonus of $1 million, bringing his prize winning total to $2.4 million. Lot of money and definitely an incentive to play and do well.

Round ATP Masters 1000
Champion 100
Finalist 70
Semifinalist 45
Quarterfinalist 25
Round of 16 15

ATP World Tour 500

Champion 70
Finalist 45
Semifinalist 25
Quarterfinalist 15
Round of 16 N/A

Robby Genepri started off the summer hardcourt season with a win in Indianapolis. He won an All-American final against the up and coming Sam Querrey. Side note (Querrey has gotten a set off of Nadal on both hardcourt and claycourt before. Not a win, but a couple sets.

Nonetheless, neither one of these guys will win the US Open Series or US Open. The winner of the US Open Series will be one of the hard hittas such as Murray, DelPotro, Roddick, Nadal, Federer, Soderling, Djokovic, Verdasco, and Tsonga.

HOWEVA, Federer just had twins with his wife and has practically no points to defend because he did so poorly last year. Fed has nothing to lose and not terribly much to play for. If he plays it helps his ranking and if he doesn't play he doesn't lose much and is spending time with his newborns and his wife. Fed should probably play less and less to preserve his body. That being said, I don't expect Fed to play.

Rafa, on the otherhand is coming off knee problems, HAS to have some doubt, hardcourt is definitely his worst surface and the hardest on his body, and he has a boucou of points to defend. He has everything to lose. Infact, Murray could pass Rafa and Fed this fall depending on his success. That being said, I expect Rafa to get to the quarterfinals in both tournaments which is pretty darn good.

Then we have Andy Murray. Murray is as polarizing as they come, but I don't get why. Well I kind of do. He is somewhat petulant and has a look of "I don't give a you know what." But, his game is great. His fitness is unparalleled. And, he is crazy young. He turned pro in 2005 and is only 22. Expect Murray to be #2 on the US Open Series leaderboard at the start of the USOpen.

Finally, there is Andy Roddick. Roddick's game benefits from the hardcourts, he is rested, and he will probably play more tournaments than the other big name players.

Nole is talented, but he is falling off and due to lose to a rando.

DelPotro has a million points to defend from last year and may be approaching burn out for the year.

Verdasco, has a really good lefty baseline game that is very well suited for the American hardcourts.

Tsonga is very good, but has issues with consistency and a slight injury proneness.

Soderling, is hot and is starting to prove that the Nadal defeat was absolutely NOT a fluke.

Sporty nation, I don't know what will happen in the next 6 weeks and 10 tournaments, but I do not we are all in for some great tennis and storylines. The US Open is right around the corner! Get ready. This is my Minority Report.