US Open Betting / Barry Millns / 10 August 2010 /

Rafael Nadal set Spain's summer of sporting success going with his Wimbledon win and he can round it off with a triumph on the hard courts of the US Open, says Sky Sports commentator Barry Millns

Three weeks away from the US Open the world's leading players are now back in action building up for the last major of the season. For the past few years Roger Federer, [3.95] to win this time, has always gone to New York as the favourite but now it is Rafael Nadal at [3.7] who leads the way, hoping to complete his grand slam collection.

With five French Open titles, two Wimbledons and one Australian Open to his name, the 24-year-old Spaniard is already halfway towards equalling Federer's record haul of 16 of the games biggest prizes. A number of factors now suggest that Nadal is better placed than he has ever been before to conquer the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

Since he last competed on the surface Nadal has been almost perfect, winning 31 of his last 32 matches, picking up five titles in his last six events and regaining the world's no.1 ranking. By comparison in the same period Federer, who has just turned 29, has lost six of his last 24 matches, failed to win a single title and dropped off the top of the rankings down to no.3 for the first time since 2003.

It would be very wrong to write off Federer's chances, his runner-up finish last year in New York to Juan Martin Del Potro having followed five successive titles there. But since this January's triumph over Andy Murray ([6.8]) to win another Australian Open, the shine has definitely gone off his game, something he'll be hoping newly appointed coach Paul Annacone can help him to rectify.

The other most important factor for Nadal, though, aside from his great form and confidence, is his level of fitness. Last year his troublesome knees plagued much of his season and although he made a second successive semi-final at the US Open his bid there was also undermined by an abdominal strain sustained in Montreal.

But after undergoing more preventative treatment on his knees following his latest Wimbledon success, Rafa is raring to go again, so much so that he is also going to play doubles this week in Toronto alongside world no.2 Novak Djokovic, [17.5].

"I am feeling confident with my body," declared Nadal. "I am not thinking of my body, I am thinking about tennis. I am in perfect condition."

A few weeks ago it was suggested Nadal might skip Toronto and only play in Cincinnati prior to the Open to give himself more rest and put less stress on his body beforehand. But, as great as he is, Rafa also knows he needs matches under his belt to regain supreme sharpness and he doesn't want to risk losing early in Cincy and then being under-prepared for his most arduous fortnight in the calendar.

Time will tell if he has got the balance right.

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