Tym Glaser, Associate Sport Editor

HEY, GUYS, allow me to let you in on a likkle secret.

While we are awash in post-Olympic euphoria and good, ole Gustav's unpleasant visit to our shores, there's a kinda big tennis tournament going on up north called the US Open.

Yeah, really, I kid you not. The world's second most famous racquet event is well underway at Flushing Meadows in New York.

Nothing exciting

Fret not though, my friends, because nothing too exciting has happened in the opening week and all the main contenders, except top women's seed Ana Ivanovic, have cruised along with a minimum of fuss.

Ivanovic, who has done next to nothing since her victory at the French Open, got bounced in the second round by unheralded French woman Julie Coin in three sets.

However, her departure hardly throws the women's draw wide open as the only people regarding her as the favourite were those doing the seedings.

It would appear to be, like Wimbledon, an all-Williams show but they are destined to meet in the quarter-finals ... thanks, again, seeding guys.

Venus won that final clash in London and may just have the edge over li'l sis, Serena, but both have ordinary records of late at their home slam.

Victorious

Serena, the No. 4 seed, hasn't reached the final since 2002, when she won it all, and No. 7 seeded Venus hasn't won a major off grass since the year before.

Still, one of the siblings should emerge victorious because you just can't trust the women's field, which is also without injured Maria Sharapova.

Marat Safin's little sister, Dinara Safina, has been one of the more consistent female players this year but, 'like brother, like sister', she seems to have more trouble battling herself than her opponents.Ditto for Serb No. 2 seed Jelena Jankovic who's been known to cuss her mother, coaching staff and anyone within their vicinity during matches.

Olympic champion Elena Dementieva, she of the erratic serve, and 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova deserve consideration but it appears the winner will come from the Williamses quarter-final act. I'll go with Serena but with no great conviction.

The men's title hunt looks a straight battle between the three best players on the planet, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, former world No. 1 Roger Federer and potential No. 1 in waiting Novak Djokovic - the Nos 1, 2 and 3 seeds respectively.

Dangerous floater David Nalbandian, improving Andy Murray and one-trick pony Andy Roddick should go deep in the draw but they don't have the all-round class and mental strength of the 'Big Three'.

Back-to-back

I'd love to pick Serb Djokovic to add to the hardcourt title he won in Melbourne this year but he is destined to meet 'Not-so-Jolly' Roger in the semis before most likely taking on Rafa in the finale.

That's a mighty tough back-to-back ask.

Of course, it's equally as difficult for Federer who gets his last opportunity to win a Slam title this year and salvage something from a season which has also seen him lose his mantle as world's best player.

Meanwhile, Spanish bull Nadal just keeps mowing down opponents and claiming title after title with his relentless style of play. With two Slams (French Open and Wimbledon) and Olympic gold already stashed away for the year, Nadal could complete one of the greatest seasons of all time by claiming the US crown next Sunday.

I'm not betting against him.Later ...

Feedback: tym.glaser@gleanerjm.com