2010 U.S. Open, Week 2: Federer, Nadal, Wozniacki, Clijsters All Still In Play

Checking in with our 2010 U.S. Open Top 20 after a fine week of tennis at Flushing Meadows.

1. Andy Roddick (USA)

Seed: 9

What's Happened: After cruising through Round 1, downed in the second round by Janko Tipsarevic, in a match that will be remembered more for temper tantrums than tennis. 

What's Next: Fielding hosts of questions about his legacy and endless will-he-or-won't-he retire pieces. And being comforted by Brooklyn Decker, so that's something to live for.

2. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
Seed: 1

What's Happened: A historically dominant buzzsaw run through the field to the round of 16, with apparently very little effort. Oh, and she dispatched American Chelsey Gullickson in the first round, but Bethanie Mattek-Sands and and Meghann Shaugnessy knocked off the Danes in second-round doubles, so there you go, nationalists.
What's Next: A date with Maria Sharapova, who wouldn't have worried many opponents as skilled as Wozniacki heading into the tournament, but who's been playing well all week -- and who's already beaten the top seed twice in her career. 

3. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
Seed: 2

What's Happened: Fed-Fed do what he do, which is mow down a series of hapless-looking victims without ever dropping more than four games in a set. 

What's Next: A should-be tuneup match against Austria's Jurgen Melzer in the round of 16 and a slow climb up the draw to Rafael Nadal. Are you ready for an easily pre-ordained remaaaatch??

4. Kim Clijsters (Belgium)

Seed: 2 

What's Happened: Most recently, she's put a stop to the would-be comeback of Ana Ivanovic, and made it look easy (6-2, 6-1). Needed one 7-5 set against Greta Arn in the first round and hasn't been seriously challenged since.  

What's Next: See above, re: impending foregone-conclusion title rematch. Neither Clijsters nor Wozniacki has shown a sign of faltering thus far at Flushing Meadows, and Clijsters is already through to the quarters, where she'll meet No. 5 Samantha Stosur of Australia.

5. Venus Williams (USA)

Seed: 3 

What's Happened: Two tiebreaker sets in four matches and a lot of ill-advised "wardrobe malfunction" jokes from the production booth.

What's Next: Also through to the final eight, Williams' next hurdle is No. 6 Francesca Schiavone.

6. Melanie Oudin (USA)

Seed: N/A 

What's Happened: After a promising first-round victory, was dispatched in straight sets by No. 29 Alona Bondarenko. Her doubles partner, Ryan Harrison, also got off to a fast start but fell in the second round.

What's Next: Brainstorming her next footwear buzzword.

7. Lleyton Hewitt (Australia)

Seed: 32 

What's Happened: This one stung. The brahsome pride of Australia and scourge of quiet tennis matches everywhere went down hard on the tourney's very first day.

8. Gael Monfils (France)

Seed: 17 

What's Happened: Through to the round of 16, professional tennis' best active hairdo beat Andy Roddick's U.S. Open nemesis Janko Tipsarevic in a five-set third-round match.

What's Next: A familiar face at last: Countryman Richard Gasquet awaits.

9. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Seed: 3 

What's Happened: Oh, y'know, nothing much -- just fisticuffs in the stands and internationally-televised anatomy lessons. About what you'd expect out of the tournament's premiere funnyman. 

What's Next: Mardy Fish, who's been making quite a run through the ranks here -- but who has also never beaten Djokovic.

10. Robin Söderling (Sweden)

Seed: 5 

What's Happened: A nice little run with only one match lasting longer than three sets. American Taylor Dent has been Söderling's highest-profile victim thus far. 

What's Next: Should Söderling get past No. 21 Albert Montanes of Spain, he can't relax: The other big name remaining in his immediate draw is Federer.

11. John Isner (USA)
Seed: 18 

What's Happened: Knocked out in the third round by No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny. America's remaining hopes are Sam Querrey and Mardy Fish. Go figure.


12. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
Seed: 4
What's Happened: The first of the top five men to crack, Murray battled several injuries and suffered a third-round defeat at the hands of No. 25 Stanislas Wawrinka.


13. Sam Querrey (USA)

Seed: 20 

What's Happened: Well, looky here! A relatively easy draw has put Querrey through to the round of sixteen, and he hasn't had to go to four sets since the first round, making him relatively fresh. 

What's Next: Andy Murray's ouster Wawrinka stands between Querrey and the quarters. C'mon, Sam! Give us the alliterative headline we so crave and deserve!

14. Francesca Schiavone (Italy)
Seed: 6
What's Happened: Apart from playing fine tennis, Schiavone has served as the women's answer to Djokovic's interview antics. 

What's Next: She'll face Venus Williams in a highly-anticipated quarters match.

15. Maria Sharapova (Russia)

Seed: 14 

What's Happened: Most lately, a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of American Beatrice Capra.

What's Next: Wozniacki stands between Sharapova and a quarterfinals berth. Will it all end here?

16. Dinara Safina (Russia)

Seed: N/A 

What's Happened: An ignominious exit for the former top seed by way of No. 24 Daniela Hantuchova.

17. Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)

Seed: 4 

What's Happened: Another embarrassment for the eastern Euros: Jankovic fell in straight sets to No. 31 Kaia Kanepi.


18. Elena Dementieva (Russia)
Seed: 12 

What's Happened: This is the cursed portion of our top 20, yes: Dementieva fell to Australia's Samantha Stosur in a three-set fourth-round match that ended in a 7-2 tiebreaker.


19. James Blake (USA)

Seed: N/A 

What's Happened: Blake was having a good run! And then he met Djokovic in the third round! Happens to the best of us, buddy. (So long, headband.)

20. Rafael Nadal (Spain)

Seed: 1 

What's Happened: Not much excitement, frankly. After two tiebreaker sets to open the tourney in exasperating fashion, Nadal has settled down to his usual dominant hum. 

What's Next: He'll face compatriot Feliciano Lopez for passage to the quarterfinals.

LATE HONORARY REPLACEMENT ADDITIONS TO THE TOP 20: Tommy Robredo of Spain and Andrea Petkovic of Germany, the only unseeded players remaining in either round of 16.

And Mardy Fish! Look at Mardy Fish go! Go, Fish! You're America's svelte-r sweetheart now. Be careful with our hearts. And be careful against Djokovic.

NON-BINDING SOON-TO-LOOK-EXTREMELY FOOLISH PREDICTION: Still sticking with what works, and right now, that's Federer and Wozniacki.

Follow along with the US Open at SB Nation's The Daily Forehand.