French Open Week 2

There's no guarantee we see a Nadal vs. Federer final. But really, is anyone up to the challenge? I was happy to see Novak Djokovic playing to win and reaching the semifinals to set up his match against Nadal. Djokovic might be the type of player that men's tennis needs to challenge the two power houses. Everyone else, including former top players like Carlos Moya, look like amateurs against Nadal and Federer. Still, I doubt Djokovic will be able to seriously challenge Nadal in this year's tournament.

On the women's side, the most exciting event of week two was Justine Henin's victory over Serena Williams in the quarters. While Serena could intimidate and outplay most top players even when she's not at the top of her game, she could not do the same to Henin. That match, in my mind, solidifies Henin as the top player in women's tennis today. She has won at least one grand slam in every year since 2003 when she won two. She has reached four other slam finals and looks to add yet another French Open title to her collection. With the retirement of Kim Clijsters, the injuries plaguing the Williams sisters, and the inconsistency of Sharapova, Henin quietly put together an impressive four years of tennis. She should be the heavy favorite going into the finals against first time finalist Ana Ivanovic.

I was surpised that Guillermo Canas put on such a lackluster performance against Nikolay Davydenko. Perhaps he was looking past Davydenko, anticipating another match up with Federer. Canas is one player who managed to discover some flaws with Federer's game, beating him twice this year. Canas and Djokovic have potential to be threats to win in the future, but this year's French Open will be a rematch of the budding rivalry between Nadal and Federer. The match should prove to be a thrilling one.

Roddick makes another early exit

This is my first blog so I'm going to start off with my first sport: tennis.

American favorites struggled and bowed out in the first round of the French Open, again.

It's official, Andy Roddick is not the one to carry on the torch of American tennis left behind by Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Roddick played an uninspired match and often looked confused on the court. His serve fell apart and his forehand was overshadowed by winner after winner from opponent Igor Andreev.

I've never been so sure that Andy Roddick is just a one-hit wonder than after watching this match. Andy looked like Safin on a really bad day, throwing his racket and talking to himself. What's worse is that Andy admits that his mental game is the reason he has not seen more success. While that might be true in the early rounds against supposedly weaker opponents, I don't think Roddick has the tools or skills to win in the later rounds. He has no consistent strategy or play to back up his big serve. And if the serve falls apart, he has no chance.

I think Andy has finally started to realize that his future is not to be mentioned in the same breath as the other American tennis legends. This is Andy's second lack luster year in a row and he has yet to win a tournament in 2007. I know all of the die-hard Andy Roddick fans claim that he still can be the champion that he was expected to be. But at this point, expectations are not enough. Getting to the finals of a slam is not enough, just ask Anna Kournikova. It will take a miracle for Andy to pull an Agassi-like renaissance of a career who's ending was almost prematurely written. But it would be stupid to try to compare the early parts of Roddick's Career with Agassi's. To put it simply, Andy Roddick is not good enough.

Unfortunately for Andy, he doesn't have the looks or appeal to be an icon like Kournikova. And he doesn't have the skill to be a tennis pro with the likes of Igor Andreev. Let the Nadal-Federer rematch happen and as I look for a job for myself, I will look for one for Andy Roddick as well.