Two grueling weeks at Flushing Meadows can test anyone’s mettle. The persistent media, the aches, the pains and 128 talented athletes all seeking the same prize makes for a tense environment. Now, throw in some good old-fashioned New York heckling, packed venues and an unexpected heat wave and this U.S. Open has all the characteristics of a marathon survival of the fittest contest. That’s pretty much what we have come to expect from Grand Slam Tennis events.

This year’s men’s championship has more questions than usual. Will Rafa play hard or are his knees limiting his mobility? Will Andy Murray, the heir apparent to the throne, self-destruct yet again? Which Fernando Verdasco will show up? Can Novak Djokovic stay focused for seven matches? Will James Blake disappoint the home crowd? Will Juan Martin Del Potro play tough or remain Mr. Nice Guy? Can the King of Tennis capture his third Grand Slam of the year? Can any American win this tournament? What about Robert Kendrick? Can Andy Roddick come all the way back?

Somewhere in that list of questions is the answer to the championship. On U.S. sports shows and even on the financial network CNBC, James Blake and Andy Roddick made the rounds last week. At best, Blake was unimpressive. On the other hand, one must admire Roddick.

The 6’2” 195 pound powerhouse from Nebraska likes to perform at the Open. After all, he won his only Grand Slam here in 2003 when he achieved his number 1 ranking. In his nine Open appearances, Roddick has reached the quarters seven times. He was runner-up in 2006. New York likes Andy and Andy likes New York.

New York especially likes Andy this year. He is the only American with a legitimate shot at the crown. He is riding a wave of success with his finals appearance at Wimbledon where he went toe-to-toe with King Roger losing serve just once in five sets.

With more than $12 million in career earnings and some hefty endorsements, Andy Roddick no longer plays for money. He plays to achieve his potential, his rightful place at the top of the tennis world.

Andy Roddick is one of the great tennis players of the generation. What he has accomplished this year, at age 27, is quite remarkable and very admirable. At the end of the 2008 season, Andy Roddick looked in the mirror, saw his 3rd round exit at Melbourne, his 2nd round stumble at Wimbledon and his quarterfinal fall at the Open and knew something had to happen. Andy Roddick had to re-invent himself or get out of the game that would either eat him up or take him to new heights.

Andy Roddick’s moment of truth had arrived. Staring him ion the face was the need to expand has game, get a firm grip, on his emotions and develop better-scripted game plans. Andy Roddick needed change. He needed to become known as a tennis player, not just a serve and volley specialist. The transformation would not be easy. The change would have to be physical as well as psychological.

The man set about his task. He has succeeded. He began the year with a semi-final appearance in Melbourne. He reached the 4th round in Paris where the red clay has never been his surface. His runner-up at Wimbledon signaled just how far Andy has come. Andy has not had an embarrassing Grand Slam loss in 2009 and he has registered a host of successes.

As impressive as his record is, his long-awaited maturity has shown through. His mental game is together. He knows who he is, what he can do and what he must do to win. He enters each match prepared, in shape and ready to battle. If opponents blink, Andy will step right up. That makes him dangerous.

Andy Roddick can win this U.S. Open. He will be tested. He will meet France’s Marc Gicquel in the second round and Victor Hanescu in round three. Round four could very well find Roddick playing another comeback kid in Fernando Verdasco. These are matches Andy Roddick should win. Verdasco presents a challenge but he may have his own issues with the likes of Robert Kendrick and Tommy Haas in his bracket.

Roddick would then face 4th seed Novak Djokovic in the quarters. Djokovic does not do well with players like Roddick, who refuse to go away and who are willing to slug it out for five sets and five grueling hours. Djokovic wants to get on with it. If Roddick keeps Djokovic on the court, he will be off for a semifinal pairing with the King. Perhaps, he will not lose a service game this time.

After watching the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon, tennis enthusiasts must be asking how can it be! Dinara Safina seeded atop the U.S. Open? Remarkable! Tournament directors, wake up! Dinara just does not cut it as a number one seed. If you know New York, you know these fans will announce and perhaps even celebrate her shortcomings in no time at all. After all, they do not call it the Bronx Cheer for no reason.

To make matters worse, professional crybaby Jelena Jankovic is seeded fifth. Granted she helped to launch American Melanie Oudin to stardom and we all appreciate that but how that qualifies the year’s most disappointing player as a fifth seed is beyond intelligence. Watch for theatrical injury timeouts and other Jankovic stall tactics as her most sincere effort to stay center stage.

If Dinara or Jelena pull their crybaby antics in New York, they are in for a surprise. These crowds expect champions to perform, not act. Safina and Jankovic at the top of the Women’s draw give the whole tournament a suspicious look. The sooner they are gone, they self-destruct, the better the event will be.

The way this draw is orchestrated, the one seed should meet the five seed in the quarters. Good luck. Not going to happen. Jankovic can stumble anywhere along a relatively easy path and Safina can beat herself against any player in the world.

Fortunately, there is a working girl in that top bracket. This may be Ana Ivanovic’s best opportunity to make a semifinal this year. The pretty Serb needs a win to get back in the tennis and fashion top 10. She has been working hard on that feeble serve and she just may reap some dividends. Look for Ana to survive in a war of attrition and reach the semis after knocking off Jankovic in the fourth round and Safina in the quarters.

In the bottom of the upper bracket, the tournament’s eventual winner resides. Her name is Elena Dementieva. She was one step, one serve away from winning Wimbledon. Elena is one of the few players that can stay with the two seed and the world’s best female player, Serena Williams.

Elena possesses the foot speed and the athleticism to reach the finals. Her bracket offers very stiff competition. In the second round, she will most likely meet crowd favorite and Wimbledon quarterfinalist, 17-year old Melanie Oudin. In the second round! Now, that is a tough draw!

Fellow Russian Maria Sharapova should, be waiting in the third round. Wow! The tournament brain trust did not make this bracket easy! In the bottom of the bracket Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, a finalist in Paris, and tenacious Agnes Szavay look anxious for a shot at Elena. Yikes! There is more talent in this bracket than anywhere else in the tournament.

Listen up Dinara! The world’s best female tennis player is positioned at the bottom of the draw. American Serena Williams who stormed past Safina in Melbourne and breezed through Wimbledon may be seeded second but she has the crowd and the surface in her favor along with more game than anyone in the field. She will have an interesting final match with Elena and women’s tennis could sure benefit from a memorable finals. We still expect Elena’s tough bracket and easy semifinal pairing to play in her favor and carry her to victory.

Serena will have to overcome the likes of always-tough Aussie Samantha Stosur, Daniela Hantuchoya and the ferocious Russian Vera Zvonareva to reach the semis. Serena will ride her loyal and boisterous fans to victory.

Serena’s little but older sister Venus is seeded third. She has a tough path to the semis and a rematch of the Wimbledon finals. Kala Kanepi, Anabel Garrigues Medina and Marion Bartoli are waiting in the wings. However, the real threat will come from 8th seed, Victoria Azarenka. If the hard-hitting Azarenka has improved her speed and conditioning just a bit, she should eek out a win over Venus and square away with Serena in the semis. Serena will win, but this one will be tough and a lot more difficult than Elena’s semifinal pairing against Safina.

Elena we are counting on you. The door is open. Walk on through and claim your rightful spot. Hail to Elena Dementieva, the 2009 U.S. Open Women’s Champion to be!

Following is the complete list of the women’s ranking

1. Dinara Safina, Russia
2. Serena Williams, United States
3. Venus Williams, United States
4. Elena Dementieva, Russia
5. Jelena Jankovic, Serbia
6. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia
7. Vera Zvonareva, Russia
8. Victoria Azarenka, Belarus
9. Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark
10. Flavia Pennetta, Italy
11. Ana Ivanovic, Serbia
12. Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland
13. Nadia Petrova, Russia
14. Marion Bartoli, France
15. Samantha Stosur, Australia
16. Virginie Razzano, France
17. Amelie Mauresmo, France
18. Na Li, China
19. Patty Schnyder, Switzerland
20. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spain
21. Jie Zheng, China
22. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovak Republic
23. Sabine Lisicki, Germany
24. Sorana Cirstea, Romania
25. Kaia Kanepi, Estonia
26. Francesca Schiavone, Italy
27. Alisa Kleybanova, Russia
28. Sybille Bammer, Austria
29. Maria Sharapova, Russia
30. Alona Bondarenko, Ukraine
31. Elena Vesnina, Russia
32. Agnes Szavay, Hungary