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  • U.S. Open Series concludes in New Haven with Pilot Pen

    8/18/08 5:57 AM | Ricky Dimon
    - New Haven is the last stop on the “Greatest Road Trip in Sports” this week. It's the last chance for players to fine-tune their games and gain confidence heading into the U.S. Open.

    While this week is somewhat of a calm before the storm--with the storm being next week's U.S. Open--tennis fans should be following the Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven, Connecticut with keen interest. It's the finale of the U.S. Open series and offers one final chance for players to build match toughness and go into New York feeling good about themselves.

    Two questions pertaining to New Haven stand out at the moment. First, will Juan Martin Del Potro play or pull out? Second, will Del Potro win the tournament if he plays?

    The 6'6'' Argentine is coming off back-to-back U.S. Open Series wins in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. His victory over Viktor Troicki on Sunday at the Legg Mason Classic was his 19th consecutive match win and gave him his fourth consecutive title (he won two clay-court events following Wimbledon). Rest could be in Del Potro's best interest with just seven days to go before the season's last Grand Slam, but the 19-year-old has a chance for a huge payday by winning the U.S. Open Series if he plays and does well in New Haven. Tough decision.

    Del Potro is the clear favorite to win it all if he goes to New Haven. With most of the top players taking a breather after the Olympics and resting up for the U.S. Open, No. 13 Fernando Verdasco is the highest-ranked man in the Pilot Penn field. No. 16 Ivo Karlovic, Del Potro (19th), and 23rd-ranked Igor Andreev round out this week's top four seeds.

    Masters Series Canada quarterfinalist Marin Cilic, seeded sixth, and No. 10 seed Simone Bolelli could also contend. American hopefuls include No. 8 seed but slumping Mardy Fish, Robby Ginepri, and John Isner. Fish is in a tough quarter of the draw and is unlikely to make any serious noise, Ginepri's top section is wide open, and Isner will take on Legg Mason semifinalist Igor Kunitsyn with the winner having to face Karlovic in round two.

    Don't put it past Del Potro making it five-for-five if he shows up. Otherwise Karlovic, who reached the final of the Masters Series Cincinnati, has a great chance of serving his way to the title.

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