US Open to start as planned after storm

(CNN) -- The US Open is scheduled to start Monday, a day after Hurricane Irene spared New York from its full fury as it rampaged across the region. Crews worked overnight to clean up debris at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. &quot;The crew was hard at work drying courts, replacing the banners on light posts that welcome fans into the gates and getting the television booth outside Ashe hooked up for the first telecast Monday,&quot; the US Open said. The road to the championship remains wide open for the women after a stomach injury caused two-time defending champion Kim Clijsters to pull out of the tournament. For the men, analysts say it will come down to the big three: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. Here's a look at what to expect in the tournament. <a href="http://www.cheapstraightenersghd2011.com/"><strong>cheap ghd</strong></a> The Women The women's side got a little more intriguing after an announcement that both Serena and Venus Williams would play. The sisters have been dealing with injuries, and have been playing sporadically recently. Their sporadic games have led to low rankings for the sisters, with Serena seeded at 28 while Venus is unseeded. &quot;Serena is a superstar. To be here in New York and have Serena back on the court healthy and playing incredibly well, will be exciting for fans for the next two weeks,&quot; said Stacey Allaster, head of the Women's Tennis Association. Another player to watch is Caroline Wozniacki, who is looking to justify her number one ranking. The 21-year-old's ranking has come under fire because she has never won a Grand Slam event. Serena Williams has a good chance of winning the tournament, said Luke Jensen, a former tennis professional and ESPN analyst. &quot;Some can say it is wide open because Clijsters has dropped out, but really it is Serena's to lose,&quot; Jensen told CNN. &quot;The best player that ever played <a href="http://www.canadagoosecoat-discount.com"><strong>canada goose coat</strong></a> the game is Serena Williams. You could bring back Martina (Navratilova), Billie Jean King, Chris (Evert) ... It does not matter. She has a power game that no one ever played before. Somebody has to step up and take this from Serena. Maybe Venus can. I'd like to see Wozniacki do well.&quot;The Men Analysts say the US Open title will go to one of the top three players, highlighting Novak Djokovic's great year. Djokovic, the number-one rated player, has won the <a href="http://www.ghdforsalediscount.com/ghd-new-wave-limited-p-5732.html"><strong>cordless straighteners</strong></a> Australian Open and Wimbledon, and boasts a stunning 57-2 record in matches this year. Rafael Nadal, the No. 2 player, will be defending his 2010 US Open Championship and should be gunning for Djokovic, whom he has failed to beat in five matches this year. &quot;He's playing very solid,. What he's doing is something very difficult to repeat,&quot; Nadal told reporters last week. &quot;He's only lost two matches during the year. For everybody, it is surprising, but for me it is no surprise that Djokovic is No. 1.&quot; Roger Federer, the No. 3 player, is always dangerous even though his play has faltered a little this year. &quot;I think it comes down to the big three,&quot; Jensen said. &quot;Now someone like (Andy) Murray could slip in there, but it should be the big three. Nadal is in a very interesting position because Djokovic has his number with the two handed backhand down the line. But really those others, those in JV locker room need to step up and say to themselves I want to play Varsity.&quot;