Players Coming and Going at the 2012 U.S. Open
Perhaps it’s the hectic and rigorous schedule, or perhaps it’s the participation of the sport’s top stars in the recent 2012 London Olympics, but this year’s men’s and women’s field at the 2012 U.S. Open will see some new faces and the absence of some regulars from the main draw. To date on the men’s side of the main draw, four top players find themselves on the sidelines, including world number three-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain; 41st-ranked Gael Monfils of France; Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina, currently ranked 117th in the world; and 66th-ranked Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.
Shuffling into the main draw as a result of these injuries and withdrawals are some new faces to the Open in the men’s singles bracket: Benjamin Becker of Germany, currently ranked 90th in the world; American Robby Ginepri, currently ranked 234th in the world; another American, world number 98 Rajeev Ram; Belgium’s Olivier Rochus, the world’s 106th-ranked men’s singles player; and Romanian Adrian Ungur, who moves from the alternates to main draw list.
On the women’s side of the draw, the list currently missing this year’s U.S. Open includes world number 16th-ranked Vera Zvonareva of Russia; Italian and WTA Tour number 18-ranked Flavia Pennetta; Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova, currently ranked 48th in the world; Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi, world number 15; and Great Britain’s Elena Baltacha, currently sitting at 104th in the world.
Moving into the main draw as a result of these withdrawals and wild cards are Hungary’s Greta Arn (currently ranked 122nd in the world); Sweden’s Johanna Larsson, world’s 76th ranked; Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, ranked 96th in the world; and world number 85, Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan.
Keep in mind, this list of withdrawals may grow as this week, the ATP Tour makes a stop in North Carolina at the Winston-Salem Open and the women play in both the New Haven Open and Texas Tennis Open.
The 2012 U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament is currently underway and main draw in the men’s and women’s brackets begins next Monday, Aug. 27 at the USTA Billie Jean KIng National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
