Now that the drama of Wimbledon has passed, it’s now on to the grueling hard court season that some players look forward to while others dread. As always, there’s a few things to look for as the men start things off in Indianapolis while the women head to L.A.
The Return of Nadal
Rafael Nadal has said he hopes to return to the tour in Montreal. As all of the top players will be there, it will certainly be an interesting test to see how his knees are doing and how the others players react. Wouldn’t he want to test the knees at a smaller tourney like L.A. first? And how will he cope with the wear and tear as the season goes on?
Kim Clisters – And baby makes Two
Kim Clisters, former U.S. Open champion, is making a return to the tour after giving birth to a baby last year. She’ll probably get a wildcard to the Open, but the hard courts will make an excellent test to see if she’s still got the game. I think she does and with some hard work could easily see her back in the top ten.
Players to Watch
Some players to watch on both tour include Caroline Wozniacki and Elena Dementieva who should have tons of confidence after her semi appearance at the big W. On the men’s side, it will be interesting to see how Andy Roddick plays after his emotional loss to Federer. If he can play as well on the cement and perhaps win a tournament, then he’s got to be given a good shot to win the Open. Also look out for Tommy Haas who’s having his best year ever. He’s definitely now a darkhorse in any tourney he enters.
Adjusting the Net 