Five Matches to Watch on Day 3 of the US Open

1. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v. Zheng Jie (CHN)[21] -- This match being placed on Ashe is vaguely ridiculous, considering that neither player is American, in the top 20, or has ever made the quarterfinals of this tournament before.  But it is an undeniably interesting match up, a puncher vs. counter-puncher battle between two players with something of a history.  Zheng upset Ivanovic at Wimbledon 2008 when Ivanovic had just become #1 in the world, a loss that started Ivanovic's fall from the top of the sport.  Ivanovic was the more impressive of the two in their respective first rounds at this US Open, dropping only five games to Ekaterina Makarova compared to the two tiebreaks Zheng needed to take out Timea Bacsinszky.  I think Ivanovic will win, but it could be a long one.

2. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) v. Andy Roddick (USA)[9] -- This is a real, real tough draw for Roddick in the second round.  Janko Tipsarevic had a very strong US Open Series, making the semifinals in Los Angeles and the quarterfinals in Washington.  Roddick made the semifinals in Cincinnati, but has otherwise struggled since his title this spring in Miami.  Tipsarevic beat Roddick at Wimbledon 2008, during one of the worst slumps of Roddick's career.  He has the game to do it again, for sure, but I see the partisan setting being a difference-maker in Roddick's favor.

3. Melanie Oudin (USA) v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)[29] -- Melanie Oudin faces a tough challenge out on Louis Armstrong against Alona Bondarenko, in what will be Oudin's first time playing on that court.  Bondarenko is a counter-puncher who probably won't produce the sort of errors that Oudin relied on during her 2009 march in New York.  But Oudin is definitely the mentally tougher of the two, and it's by no means an unwinnable match for the young American.  It will primarily be a matter of how both handle the occasion, which I expect Oudin to due better if things get tight.

4. Frederico Gil (POR) v. John Isner (USA)[18] -- How is John Isner's much discussed ankle? Will he be able to finish (or even start) this match? All those questions will be answered pretty quickly.  If he loses, it will be because of his ankle.  If he wins a tight one, it will be in spite of the ankle.  If he wins easy, his ankle is fine.  The early going will definitely be telling, because I have to imagine that adrenaline will take over by halfway through the first set.

5. Marion Bartoli (FRA)[13] v. Virginie Razzano (FRA) -- This match out on Court 13 is mostly notable because of the past dramatics between the two.  In their last meeting, the semifinals of Eastbourne in 2009, Bartoli refused to shake Razzano's hand after retiring from the match with injury.  There could definitely be some more fireworks in this one, especially if things aren't going Bartoli's way again.