America’s Devin Britton may be the best collegiate player in the land, but he received a rare lesson yesterday from the best tennis player to ever grace the courts. Roger Federer did his thing in an 88-minute 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 taming of the NCAA Champion.

Federer shook off the cobwebs and let his supporters see just enough before exiting in anticipation of his second round match with Juan Ignacio Chela. Once Britton got his feet underneath him, he played to his potential and will doubtless be back a more experienced and less nervous opponent.

In the last match of the day, fifth seeded Andy Roddick stormed past German Bjorn Phau 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Roddick showed the fitness and form that have led to his revitalization. Roddick looks to be a tough out in this event and with his huge fan base pushing hard, watch out for the upsets.

German Tommy Haas thrives on early match drama. He racked up another tense four set first round win with a stirring 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2 win over Alejandro Falla. Haas looked tentative and will need steadier play to overcome his second round opponent Robert Kendrick of the U.S.

Kendrick played well in London but was more impressive on Monday. The hard serving youngster was never threatened en route to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Arguello Martin Vassallo. Look for Kendrick to surprise the 20th seeded Haas.

Lleyton Hewitt played hard in a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Thiago Alves. Hewitt seems poised for a third round battle with Federer and looks forward to a better showing than in London.

Meanwhile, American James Blake seemed tentative at times but held on to win a 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 match with Hidalgo Ruben Ramirez. Seeded 21st, Blake has not had his best year. New York fans are hoping some hometown cooking will settle his woeful serve.

Eight seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia worked his way past Dieter Kindlmann of Germany with a hard earned 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 triumph. Davydenko looks to have a relatively easy path to the quarters.

Many of the game’s biggest names take the court on Tuesday. So far, no upsets at the U.S. Open.

The planet’s best tennis player sits in his rightful place atop the 2009 U.S. Open Draw.  Roger Federer will endure some disappointment at this U.S. Open, but it will not diminish the status of the tennis Master of the Universe.

With 15 Grand Slam Championships including two of three in 2009 and with 5 consecutive U.S. Open titles to his credit, nobody would dare dispute this seeding.  Switzerland’s Roger Federer is the best tennis professional to have ever played the game.  He serves the game, his fans and his opponents well.

With that said, it still looks like too bumpy a road to the title in 2009.  Beginning in the third round, there are some familiar names that could pose serious problems for the 2009 French Open and Wimbledon champion.  Australian  Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 Champion, never goes away quietly and should be Federer’s third round opponent while either crowd favorite American James Blake or Spain’s Tommy Robredo loom as fourth round opponents.

In the quarters, Federer can look forward to Sweden’s Robin Soderling, whose big serve is well suited for New York or Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who is rapidly climbing the rankings.

Federer may be the top seed, but that is no ordinary bracket.  In fact, Roger may have a more difficult time reaching the semis than in any other event this year.

Should Roger escape the quarters, there will be some hungry talent across the net for the semis.  Either the fourth seed, Novak Djokovic or the fifth seed, Andy Roddick will be waiting.

Djokovic’s biggest tests will come from Russian Igor Andreev (3rd round) and German Phillip Kohlschreiber or Czechoslvakia’s Radek Stepanek(4th round) in a bracket that looks decidedly less imposing than Federer’s.

Homestanding and Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick will have legions of fans trying to push him past German Tommy Haas, Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.  Roddick’s new mindset and improved play make him a hard out for anyone.  Expect Roddick to reach the semis and then watch out.

The unlikely third seed is Spain’s enigmatic Rafael Nadal.  Nadal has never won the Open and has only accomplished the semis once.  His court demeanor does not bode well with the New York crowds, who will once again be all over his act.  Nadal has a relatively smooth path to the semis with Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez and France’s Jo Wilfried Tsonga providing the steepest challenges.  Of late, neither Gonzalez nor Tsonga have been especially successful on the large stage.  Nadal will only have himself to blame if he does not reach the semis.

Second seeded Andy Murray has a tougher road to the semis.  Sixth seeded Juan Martin De Potro looms as a likely quarterfinal matchup.  There will be some business to do for Murray to get that far.  Croatian Ivo Karlovic and Switzerland’s Stanislaus Wawrinka or Marin Cilic could present challenges to the unpredictable Murray.

Murray is always the most difficult player to assess.  Loaded with superstar talent, one must question the Brit’s will to win.  Something always seems to happen to the flamboyant star.  Perhaps the Scotsman will fare better on this side of the pond.  His profile shows that Murray seems to wilt under the media focus.  Unfortunately, Murray’s career is marked with dynamic wins in meaningless matches.  When he reaches center stage, he seems to alter his game plan and play outside his superior talent level.

We think Del Potro will overcome Murray and meet Nadal in the semis.  We also see Federer stumbling to Davydenko who will fend of challenges to reach the semis.

Roddick will ride the crowd past Djokovic and storm past Davydenko to reach the finals again.  Nadal will fall to Del Potro who will claim the eventual title in a five set thriller.  However, if Del Potro goes into one of his inexplicable lackluster periods, Roddick will seize the moment and never look back.  Del Potro rallies to win the Open.  You heard it here!