Analysis
Five Matches to Watch on Day 5 of the US Open
by Ben Rothenberg on Sep 3, 2010 1:32 AM EDT
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1. Andy Murray (GBR)[4] v. Dustin Brown (JAM) -- Though he speaks German and spends much of his time in Germany and the rest of Europe, Dustin Brown has gained a lot of attention for flying the Jamaican flag, putting a country previously only known for sprinters and bobsledders (I can hardly describe how much I love Cool Runnings) on the tennis map. Those who have watched him play (of which I am not one, yet) say that he's an extremely entertaining guy to watch, what with the flashy shotmaking and the dreadlocks. Andy Murray rolled in his first round match against Lukas Lacko, but it would be nice to see him get more of a challenge against someone who should be a fun opponent.
2. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) v. John Isner (USA)[18] -- John Isner's gimpy left ankle held up extremely well against the un-threatening Frederico Gil in the first round, but Marco Chiudinelli is a far more imposing opponent. Chiudinelli made a surprising run to the third round of this tournament last year, and is an aggressive player who will be much tougher for Isner to break than Gil was. Isner does have the added benefit of more time to recover from the ankle injury he suffered in Cincinnati, an injury that should become less and less of an issue as this tournament progresses. But if he's not 100%, he could easily go out today.
3. Virginie Razzano (FRA) v. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) -- Two of the bigger names of the unseeded ranks meet on Louis Armstrong Stadium for a spot in the fourth round against the winner of Petra Kvitova vs. Kim Clijsters. On recent form, Ivanovic should definitely be the favorite in this match, with her dominant win over Zheng Jie on Day 3 and run to the semifinals of Cincinnati. But Razzano is a tricky opponent who puts an incredible amount of spin on her groundstrokes, and could give the flat-hitting, margin-less Ivanovic trouble, especially if the approaching winds of Hurricane Earl play a role.
4. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[6] v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)[29] -- After shutting down the Melanie Oudin hype machine, Alona Bondarenko faces another diminutive but emotive player in the third round, French Open champion Francesca Schiavone. Schiavone had struggled mightily between her French Open win and Montreal, but she seemed to get back on track at that tournament and has looked sharp early this week. Both of these two can always be counted on for long rallies and multiple emotional outbursts each match, so bring popcorn.
5. Gilles Simon (FRA) v. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)[29] -- This might be the best match-up on Court 13 this entire tournament. Both Simon and Kohlschreiber are slight guys with big games, flashy shotmaking, and impressive speed. There will definitely be some highlight reel stuff coming off this one. I just hope enough people watch to let everyone else know how awesome it was.
Five Matches to Watch on Day 4 of the US Open
by Ben Rothenberg on Sep 2, 2010 6:26 AM EDT
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1. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[4] v. Mirjana Lucic (CRO) [Q] -- Jelena Jankovic has struggled mightily since injuring her ankle in Slovenia this July, losing consecutive matches to players outside the top 50 (Akgul Amanmuradova and Iveta Benesova) in Cincinnati and Montreal. She stumbled through her first round match as well, barely surviving #96 Simona Halep 7-5 in the third set. It would make for quite the story if Mirjana Lucic could become the one to capitalize on Jankovic's poor form at this US Open. Lucic fell off the map after an out-of-nowhere run eleven years ago to the semifinals of Wimbledon 1999, with abuse from her father cited as the reason for her departure from the sport. But she has been working the comeback trail slowly and steadily, playing the challenger circuit and qualifying for this US Open, at which she has already won one main draw match. If she can beat Jankovic, it will almost undoubtedly be the feel-good story of the first week. Not for Jankovic, though...
2. Aravane Rezai (FRA)[18] v. Beatrice Capra (USA) [WC] -- Melanie Oudin fell in the second round yesterday, making it clear that she won't repeat and be this year's Melanie Oudin. My original pick to be this year's Melanie Oudin was Coco Vandeweghe, but she only managed one game during her first round loss to Sabine Lisicki. Now, the only remaining candidate to fill Oudin's motto-adorned shoes is Beatrice Capra, a Maryland 18 year-old who won the USTA Wild Card Playoff. Rezai is an incredibly flashy, hot-and-cold player who has been decidedly cold since winning the biggest title of her career this May in Madrid. Capra definitely has a chance to make some big noise on the Grandstand, which is decidedly the place to be Thursday.
3. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)[6] v. Richard Gasquet (FRA) -- Two big names with stylish games (but without major results to speak of this year) meet on the Grandstand in what should be an incredibly entertaining contest. Richard Gasquet has always been unpredictable, but he did recently beat Mikhail Youzhny in Cincinnati, so he should be given a fairly solid chance against Davydenko. The two are in a section of the draw that could have met Andy Roddick in the fourth round, so his exit should brighten the spirits of both. Definitely a match to tune in for.
4. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) v. Andrea Petkovic (GER) -- Two of the biggest personalities in tennis meet late Thursday on the grandstand to battle for a spot in the third round. Mattek-Sands, who makes her noise with ridiculous fashions, is back to playing the sort of tennis she was before she got married, strong form that was especially evident during a narrow loss to Kim Clijsters two weeks ago in Montreal. Noted tweeter Andrea Petkovic, who despite a career high ranking of #33 has never made it to the third round of a grand slam, upset Nadia Petrova Tuesday in a third set tiebreak win that was celebrated (how else) with dancing.
5. Kei Nishikori (JPN) [Q] v. Marin Cilic (CRO)[11] -- Nishikori and Cilic have both made it to the second week of this tournament already in their young careers, and this battle out on Court 13 will be a fun battle between the flashy shotmaking of Nishikori and the steady power of Cilic. Whoever wins this match is almost guaranteed to beat the winner of Albert Montanes-Carsten Ball in the third round, so the stakes are pretty high today.
Five Matches to Watch on Day 3 of the US Open
by Ben Rothenberg on Sep 1, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
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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.
Five Matches to Watch on Day 2 of the US Open
by Ben Rothenberg on Aug 31, 2010 4:42 AM EDT
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Here are my picks for the five best matches on the slate for Tuesday's Day 2 action at the US Open:
1. Viktor Troicki (SRB) v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3] -- Two incredibly talented Serbs meet early than I'm sure they'd like to in this first round match on Arthur Ashe Stadium Tuesday afternoon. Troicki has the type of game that could trouble and even beat Djokovic, but it's hard to imagine that he has the killer instinct required to pull off what would be a massive upset. The tennis should be real nice quality stuff, but I'll be watching to see the exact moment when Troicki folds, more than anything.
2. Jarmila Groth (AUS) v. Maria Sharapova (RUS)[14] -- This is easily the toughest first round match in the women's draw, and might wind up being one of the toughest matches of the entire first week. Maria Sharapova had a strong summer, making the finals in Stanford and Cincinnati. She tweaked her ankle in the Cincinnati final, an injury that forced her out of Montreal and could limit some of her mobility against Groth. But this match won't be about mobility. This match will be about smacking the cover off the ball on every shot, and managing to keep the ball inside the lines while doing so. Jarmila "Jarka" Groth has had one of the sharpest rises on the WTA Tour this year, coming out of nowhere to make the second week at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Groth and Sharapova played in World Team Tennis in July, in a first-to-five set that Groth won 5-0. This one should be awesome.
3. Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) v. Na Li (CHN)[8] -- Two 2009 US Open quarterfinalists meet in the first round in 2010, with huge caches of ranking points to defend on the line. Li should be the heavy favorite, but it will be interesting to see what role Bondarenko's considerable desperation plays. Bondarenko pulled off a big upset on Armstrong in the first round last year, beating Ana Ivanovic in a third set tiebreak. Can she recapture some of that magic? I say no, but this one should be interesting none the less.
4. Kristof Vliegen (BEL) v. James Blake (USA) [WC] -- Could this be James Blake's final match at the US Open? At a grand slam? In his career? Those "ifs" are a lot more interesting than the match itself, which should be a sloppy affair between two players who are playing far off their peak abilities at the moment.
5. Coco Vandeweghe (USA) [WC] v. Sabine Lisicki (GER) -- If Coco Vandeweghe goes on a big run on this tournament--and she very well could--this is where it will begin. Lisicki has been a complete mess lately, and should be ripe for the picking for the absurdly powerful young American. Vandeweghe could well become this year's Oudin, but with a game that's decidedly more brutal and a personality that's decidedly more driven.
US Open Men's Singles Preview (Second Quarter)
by Ben Rothenberg on Aug 31, 2010 3:52 AM EDT
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This last of the eight previews here at The Daily Forehand for this 2010 US Open is of the second fourth of the men's singles draw, the Andy Murray Quarter.
Second Quarter:
Andy Murray GBR (4) v Lukas Lacko SVK
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo ESP v Dustin Brown JAM
Juan Ignacio Chela ARG v Yen-Hsun Lu TPE
Mikhail Kukushkin KAZ v Stanislas Wawrinka SUI (25)
An incredibly routine opening week has lined itself up for 2010 US Open Series winner Andy Murray. Lukas Lacko and Dustin Brown are flashy players who could make things interesting for a few moments, but I would be surprised to see either take a set off Murray. Wawrinka should make it through to the third round to face Murray, a match in which Wawrinka will do things well, but Murray will do all of them just a bit better. The real issue for Murray is coming out of the blocks and laying an egg early, the way he did last year against Paul Capdeville in the second round and then again in the fourth round against Marin Cilic (who was more effectively able to scramble Murray's egg). If he shows losses of focus early on in this tournament, it could be a sign that he's going to do it again against tougher opposition. But if he doesn't, he probably won't. Funny how that works. Predicted Round of 16er: Andy Murray
Sam Querrey USA (20) v Bradley Klahn USA [WC]
Marcel Granollers ESP v Andreas Seppi ITA
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez ESP v Lukasz Kubot POL
Potito Starace ITA v Nicolas Almagro ESP (14)
2009 US Open Series champion Sam Querrey has won titles on all four surfaces this year already, but I think most would agree that his favorite is this one. The fast hard courts of New York play into his game perfectly, and he has the game to beat anyone on this surface, a fact he proved in Los Angeles this year with a win in the finals there against Andy Murray. The questions with Querrey are about his self-belief and endurance at grand slams. For all his titles at smaller tournaments (six in total), Querrey is yet to make it to the quarterfinals of a grand slam. Murray in the fourth round will be a tough ask, but Querrey should at least make it to that round, one would think. He might start off lazily against Bradley Klahn, but by the time he meets Almagro he should be firing on all cylinders and feeding off the crowd well. Predicted Round of 16er: Sam Querrey
Mikhail Youzhny RUS (12) v Andrey Golubev KAZ
Dudi Sela ISR v Xavier Malisse BEL
Jack Sock USA [WC] v Marco Chiudinelli SUI
Frederico Gil POR v John Isner USA (18)
This is exactly the easy draw the hobbled John Isner needed to play his way into this tournament, as an ankle injury he suffered in Cincinnati looms over his participation in the tournament. Gil will prolong points (as much as is ever possible against Isner), but he should get through him and Chiudinelli with relative ease if he does enter. But it will all come crashing down against Mikhail Youzhny (or perhaps Xavier Malisse if the resurgent Belgian pulls off that upset), who would have been a tough out for Isner had he been 100%, and will be nearly impossible if he isn't. It's still not entirely clear whether or not Isner will even take the court at this tournament, but I have to think his early opening rounds make him slightly more gung-ho about risking further injury for this event, the biggest event on his calendar. Predicted Round of 16: Mikhail Youzhny
Radek Stepanek CZE (28) v Julien Benneteau FRA
Tommy Robredo ESP v Lukas Rosol CZE [Q]
Victor Hanescu ROU v Carlos Berlocq ARG
Michael Llodra FRA v Tomas Berdych CZE (7)
This is a real loaded section of the draw, floater-wise. Victor Hanescu was seeded at Wimbledon, and Michael Llodra (#35), Julien Benneteau (#37), and Tommy Robredo (#41) didn't miss being seeded at this tournament by huge margins. The seeds in this section share membership on the Czech Davis Cup team, but aside from that their careers could not be more different at this moment. Stepanek has struggled mightily , whereas Berdych has been incredibly solid since Indian Wells or so, an upswing in form that brought him to the semifinals of the French Open and the final of Wimbledon. Llodra is a tough early test for him, but I think he'll be able to make it through that match, Berlocq, and an eventual third round contest with the winner of Benneteau-Robredo. Predicted Round of 16er: Tomas Berdych
US Open Women's Singles Predictions (Second Quarter)
by Ben Rothenberg on Aug 31, 2010 2:35 AM EDT
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The final section of the 2010 US Open Women's Singles Draw for us to preview is the second fourth, the Jelena Jankovic Quarter.
Second Quarter:
Jelena Jankovic SRB (4) v Simona Halep ROU
Alicia Molik AUS v Mirjana Lucic CRO [Q]
Chanelle Scheepers RSA v Akgul Amanmuradova UZB [Q]
Alize Cornet FRA v Kaia Kanepi EST (31)
This is a real odd part of the draw to work out. The player of these eight who comes into this event playing the most formidable tennis is a qualifier, Akgul Amanmuradova. Amanmuradova (a recent TDF interviewee), made the quarterfinals of the huge WTA event in Cincinnati a couple weeks ago, a run that included a win over top-seeded Jelena Jankovic. That loss was one of the several iffy defeats Jankovic has suffered since retiring in back to back tournaments (Wimbledon and Portoroz), so she comes into this tournament devoid of the confidence that should be expected of a top four seed. But Jankovic has always played well in New York, and I think she'll be able to use her easy first two rounds (Simona Halep is far more famous for her breast reduction surgery than for her tennis) to get ready for a tough test from either Kanepi or Amanmuradova (I picked Amanmuradova to make it through to the third round in large part because her first round is much easier). Predicted Round of 16er: Jelena Jankovic
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP (22) v Jamie Hampton USA [WC]
Kirsten Flipkens BEL v Patty Schnyder SUI
Romina Oprandi ITA v Julia Goerges GER
Alla Kudryavtseva RUS v Yanina Wickmayer BEL (15)
It's pretty easy to put 2009 US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer through to the fourth round, but I have little idea what to do with the rest of this mess. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez is easily the most talented WTA player currently ranked outside the top twenty, as proven by her storm to the title in Rome this spring. But an injury at the French Open completely derailed her season, and her play has yet to recover. The problem is, there isn't anyone up in her nook of the draw I can trust to beat even a gimpy MJMS, though I put my faith in Patty Schnyder for lack of better options. Kirsten Flipkens could also make it through to the third round without turning many heads, but she's been out with injury for too long for me to trust her immediately. Predicted Round of 16er: Yanina Wickmayer
Agnieszka Radwanska POL (9) v Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP
Shuai Peng CHN v Shelby Rogers USA [WC]
Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA v Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP
Andrea Petkovic GER v Nadia Petrova RUS (17)
After a stretch time where she seemed more occupied with married life than tennis, Bethanie Mattek-Sands is back to playing the type of tennis she had before adding the hyphen. It's a shame for her to face her frequent doubles partner Nadia Petrova in the second round, because she could have made a nice run with a better set up. Petrova should make it through to the third round where she'll face Agnieszka Radwanska in what will be a great contrast in styles. I think Radwanska will make it through, but I don't have any particular rationale behind that call. Predicted Round of 16er: Agnieszka Radwanska
Alexandra Dulgheru ROU (25) v Julie Coin FRA
Sofia Arvidsson SWE v Sorana Cirstea ROU
Coco Vandeweghe USA [WC] v Sabine Lisicki GER
Zuzana Kucova SVK [Q] v Vera Zvonareva RUS (7)
I could see any of the four women in the top part of this octet coming through to the third round. Dulgheru is the seed, Coin made the third round of this tournament in 2008 (a run highlighted by an upset of top-seeded Ana Ivanovic), Arvidsson just made the finals of the big challenger in The Bronx, and Cirstea has the most raw talent of the four. I think Arvidsson's recent form counts for the most, so I'll take her to make it to an eventual third round match up with Vera Zvonareva. I have Zvonareva making it through to the fourth round (the same round where she had a meltdown against Flavia Pennetta last year in an excellent night match), but she will have to really work for it against enormously powerful American wild card Coco Vandeweghe. Vandeweghe actually upset Zvonareva in San Diego earlier this summer, a result which I think actually bodes well for Zvonareva, in that it will prevent her from being caught off-guard again. But Coco could just as well make it through Zvonareva again, and if she does there's absolutely no reason she couldn't become the Melanie Oudin of 2010 with this draw. Predicted Round of 16er: Vera Zvonareva
US Open Men's Singles Predictions (First Quarter)
by Ben Rothenberg on Aug 31, 2010 1:50 AM EDT
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Before they get underway on Day 2 action, here is my preview of the top of the 2010 Men's Singles Draw, the Rafael Nadal Quarter.
Once the remaining two sections of previews are done (the second quarters of both the men's and women's singles draws), I'll put up my entire draws, with some reference links for easier navigation.
First Quarter:
Rafael Nadal ESP (1) v Teymuraz Gabashvili RUS
Maximo Gonzalez ARG v Denis Istomin UZB
Gilles Simon FRA v Donald Young USA [WC]
Tobias Kamke GER v Philipp Kohlschreiber GER (29)
This is a real nice section of the draw for Rafael Nadal to use to play himself into form. He'll get to feel a pretty good deal of power from Gabashvili, but with little enough consistency so as not to scare him. Then recent New Haven finalist Denis Istomin will arrive and be a steadier test, but one who also isn't a real threat to beat Nadal. Then Nadal will get a different look from the winner of the Kohlschreiber-Simon match (I pick Simon), who will get a lot more balls back and not generate quite as much pace on his own. It should all serve as a very nice primer for Nadal's US Open. The match against Simon, which will likely be a day match during CBS's weekend coverage, could be a real good one. Predicted Round of 16er: Rafael Nadal
Feliciano Lopez ESP (23) v Santiago Giraldo COL
Rainer Schuettler GER v Benoit Paire FRA [Q]
Sergiy Stakhovsky UKR v Peter Luczak AUS
Ryan Harrison USA [Q] v Ivan Ljubicic CRO (15)
There's a big disparity in this section between the "have"s and the "have-nots." Seeds Feliciano Lopez and Ivan Ljubicic, as well as Sergiy Stakhovsky, are the "have"s, while the rest are left to wait until they are eliminated by one of those three. Santiago Giraldo has an enormous forehand and should be able to hang with Lopez, but his results have been lagging of late. Lopez should make it through that match and the winner of Schuettler-Paire pretty straightforwardly, even if Paire is a decidedly unstraightforward player (as recently documented by Foot Fault). I wouldn't be surprised to see young and consistently improving American Ryan Harrison take a set or two off of Ljubicic, but I think the big, bald Croat is going to make it through that match before he bows out to Stakhovsky. Lopez-Stakhovsky could go either way, but I think eventually Stakhovsky's heavy recent schedule will get the better of him. Predicted Round of 16er: Feliciano Lopez
David Ferrer ESP (10) v Alexandr Dolgopolov UKR
Benjamin Becker GER v Daniel Brands GER
Jarkko Nieminen FIN v Daniel Gimeno-Traver ESP
Jeremy Chardy FRA v Ernests Gulbis LAT (24)
The four best players in this section will be two by the time the second round arrives, thanks to the brutal draws assigned to Dolgopolov and Chardy. I don't see either pulling off the upset, but it's impossible to know with Gulbis. That said, I have renewed faith in the enigmatic Latvian's heart and desire to improve since talking to him in Cincinnati. He's at a career high ranking, and really pushed Andy Murray in a Cincinnati match that Gulbis eventually lost in a third set tiebreak. If he and Ferrer do make it to the third round as I expect, that match should be a good one. Ultimately, I think this explosive surface helps Gulbis more, so I'll take him to make it to the second week. Predicted Round of 16er: Ernests Gulbis
David Nalbandian ARG (31) v Rik de Voest RSA [Q]
Florent Serra FRA v Florian Mayer GER
Pere Riba ESP v Adrian Mannarino FRA [Q]
Fabio Fognini ITA v Fernando Verdasco ESP (8)
This section is nothing but the seeds, but man those are two tough seeds. When Nalbandian and Verdasco clash in the third round, it could well be one of the best matches of the tournament. Nalbandian played incredibly well in Washington, winning his first tournament back from injury in utterly dominant fashion. He cooled slightly since, getting stopped in straight sets by Murray and Djokovic in Toronto and Cincinnati, respectively. Fernando Verdasco isn't playing particularly inspired ball at the moment, though he still has much more recent slam experience than Nalbandian, and vastly superior endurance. Question marks surround Nalbandian's fitness, as always, but I think he is simply the more talented player. Sometimes that matters. Predicted Round of 16er: David Nalbandian
US Open Women's Singles Predictions (Fourth Quarter)
by Ben Rothenberg on Aug 30, 2010 5:15 AM EDT
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A preview of the bottom fourth of the 2010 US Open Women's Singles draw, the Kim Clijsters Quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
Samantha Stosur AUS (5) v Elena Vesnina RUS
Bojana Jovanovski SRB v Anastasia Rodionova AUS
Sara Errani ITA v Tathiana Garbin ITA
Johanna Larsson SWE v Alisa Kleybanova RUS (28)
This section features two formidable but sputtering seeds, both of whom could conceivably lose in the first round. But I see both Sam Stosur and Alisa Kleybanova making it to the third round, where Stosur's first strike abilities should contrast fascinatingly with Kleybanova's counter-punching. Stosur has never had much success in New York, and the surface could be too fast for her to get around her backhand the way she likes to. But her serve should love this surface, and if her arm is feeling as good as she says it is, the erratic Aussie should be able to pile on aces in Flushing. One player in this section who could sneak through is Anastasia Rodionova, who made the third round of the US Open last year in a run somewhat marred by the bizarre end to her upset of Sabine Lisicki in the second round, with Lisicki collapsing to the ground with an injury on match point. But Stosur can blow any of these others off the court, so I'll stick with the seedings this time. Predicted Round of 16er: Samantha Stosur
Daniela Hantuchova SVK (24) v Dinara Safina RUS
Vania King USA v Christina McHale USA [WC]
Zuzana Ondraskova CZE [Q] v Sybille Bammer AUT
Olga Govortsova BLR v Elena Dementieva RUS (12)
This could be a real fun section. The Hantuchova-Safina match is definitely one to watch, though the result may have been foreshadowed by Safina's recent win over Hantuchova in New Haven. The winner of that match faces the winner of a battle of young Americans between Vania King and Christina McHale, one which I think King should be able to eke out on experience. Surging qualifier Zuzana Ondraskova recently made the semifinal of Budapest and the final of the challenger in Bucharest, and I think she'll be able to beat Bammer for a win that would get her into the top 100 for the first time since 2007. Elena Dementieva will be tested early by hard hitting Olga Govortsova, but should make it through that match all the way to what I predict will be a messy third round match with Dinara Safina. Predicted Round of 16er: Elena Dementieva
Marion Bartoli FRA (13) v Edina Gallovits ROU
Virginie Razzano FRA [WC] v Klara Zakopalova CZE
Ana Ivanovic SRB v Ekaterina Makarova RUS
Timea Bacsinszky SUI v Zheng Jie CHN (21)
This is a seriously loaded octet. Marion Bartoli should make it through Gallovits easily, but then could have her hands full with Zakopalova, who is playing some of the best tennis of her career in these last couple months. Bartoli should get through, but it could be a long one. The bottom half of the section is considerably trickier to predict. Ana Ivanovic had a great run in Cincinnati, but it ended with her turning her ankle in Cincinnati, an injury that kept her out of New Haven. Ivanovic should make it through the slumping Makarova (Ivanovic has recently practiced with southpaws Patty Schnyder and Lucie Safarova in preparation for playing the lefty Makarova), which sets up an intriguing match with Zheng Jie. Ivanovic's biggest strength during her run in Cincinnati was her return, and for all the other strengths in her game, Zheng has one of the worst serves in the top 100. Bartoli-Ivanovic is an intriguing match-up, one which Bartoli won recently in Stanford. I think Bartoli gets through again, but if Ivanovic is playing with a huge amount of confidence by that point it could be a totally different story. Predicted Round of 16er: Marion Bartoli
Petra Kvitova CZE (27) v Lucie Hradecka CZE
Elena Baltacha GBR v Petra Martic CRO
Sally Peers AUS [Q] v Aleksandra Wozniak CAN
Greta Arn HUN v Kim Clijsters BEL (2)
Like fellow surprise Wimbledon 2010 semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova, Petra Kvitova has struggled mightily since leaving London. She has gone 0-5 since her impressive showing, and there's no particular reason to think she'll turn it around in New York. Hradecka is a solid, fairly consistent player who should be able to pull off the mild upset. Kvitova's struggles make this an extremely appetizing part of the draw for Elena Baltacha to be in, and I think she'll be able to capitalize on the soft draw to make the third round of the US Open for the first time. While the top is rather squishy, the bottom of this draw is completely solid with the presence of Kim Clijsters. Clijsters should walk Arn,Wozniak, and Baltacha with considerable ease, a routine first week that the defending champion can't mind in the least. Predicted Round of 16er: Kim Clijsters
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