All the top seeds looked convincing on Day Three of the 2009 U.S. Open. Rafael Nadal was particularly impressive in his 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 domination of France’s Richard Gasquet. Nadal sported 7 aces, no double faults and committed just 10 unforced errors. Spectators saw no evidence of the knee injury that sidelined the Spanish star from Wimbledon. Rafa looked his dominant self and will face German Nicolas Kiefer in Round Two. Nadal has never won the US Open.

Roger Federer was tested by another German, Simon Gruel, in a tight three set match at prime time. As usual, Federer did what he had to do to pull out a 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 win. The top seed will next face a challenge from long-time rival and 2001 U.S. Open Champion, Australian Lleyton Hewitt. Hewitt was impressive on Wednesday in defeating Juan Ignacio Chela in straight sets. A battle–tested veteran, Hewitt will give Federer everything he has in Round Three.

Fourth seeded Novak Djokovic showed no mercy in his 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic. Djokovic looked every bit as impressive as Nadal with 9 aces, no double faults and just 7 unforced errors. As in other Grand Slam early rounds, Djokovic’s play was nearly flawless. His consistent play will be a challenge to all comers.

Sixth seeded Juan Martin Del Potro defeated Argentine countryman Juan Monaco 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in a less impressive manner. Del Potro uncharacteristically committed 25 unforced errors but appeared to be treating the match as a tune-up. Del Potro has the reputation of playing down to his opponent’s level of play. That dangerous mindset was in evidence on Wednesday.

American Jesse Levine, who was impressive at Wimbledon, continued his strong play with a dominant 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 win over Russia’s Teimuraz Gabashvili. The 21 year old left-hander shows no signs of nerves and will next face 16th seeded Croatian veteran Marin Cilic. The New York fans were extremely enthusiastic about Levine’s performance and just might distract the hard serving Cilic.

Of the 64 players left, Djokovic, Roddick and Nadal have looked especially impressive and have shown the eye of the tiger. Top-seeded Federer is rounding into form and 2nd seed Murray will be in action on Thursday. At Flushing Meadows, it is game on!

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!