Women's Third Round US Open Tennis
Tough Matches and Potential Upsets Spice Up Day Five
Of the 32 matches remaining in the Women's Singles Draw, 10 capture attention for various reasons, particularly for their competitive promise and upset potential.
Any talk of the drama in the third round of the US Open must revolve around the Williams sisters, since drama trails them like bad extensions. Serena plays Vera Zvonareva, who was having a good season before a hand/wrist injury in April. She struggled in her first match back in the Open but seemed to find form in her second. Serena should win in straights, but which Serena will show up is always a question. Adding a bit of doubt, Zvonareva won the last time these two played in 2006.
Venus Should be Victorious
Venus will bash balls with No.21 Alona Bondarenko who has been inconsistent. Bondarenko should pose little threat to Venus, unless the double-faulting, forehand-spraying Venus shows up, in which case Bondarenko has a remote chance.
The Upset List
Heading the upset potential list is No.4 Svetlana Kuznetsova versus No.31 Anabel Medina Garrigues. Although Medina Garrigues hasn’t done well since her Strasbourg title in May and a round of 16 showing at the French in June, don’t be at all surprised if she takes down Kuznetsova in three. Although Medina Garrigues has not beaten her in three attempts, Kuznetsova is as vulnerable as any of the top seeds as I mentioned in the preview.
Szavay Could Spill Petrova
No.7 Nadia Petrova, who faces unseeded Hungarian Agnes Szavay, is very vulnerable as well. If Szavay’s back, which caused her to retire in the Pilot Penn final, holds up, she could be poised for an upset. Petrova appears to be rounding into form since Wimbledon, but I doubt that her game has solidified enough to make her a lock against Szavay.
Martina Hingis' Fate Hinges on Fitness
Martina Hingis’ 16th-seeding should also be threatened by unseeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Azarenka hasn’t been consistent all year but has had some impressive wins against higher ranked players. Hingis’ game and body is just not up to the pounding of the modern women’s game.
Peer a Potential Winner over Vaidisova
A few of the feistier third-round battles ought to be No. 11 Nicole Vaidisova versus No.18 Shahar Peer, No.10 Marion Bartoli against No.20 Lucie Safarova, unseeded Tamira Paszek against No.11 Patty Schnyder, and No.6 Anna Chakvetadze versus No.26 Sania Mirza. Peer is a true warrior and Vaidisova has been known to struggle closing out matches, so in addition to a tough tussle, we could have an upset here.
Chakvetadze and Mirza
Seventeen-year-old Paszek started coming of age in May, and reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon. She could give Schnyder some trouble, but chances are that Schnyder’s consistency will prevail. Bartoli and Safarova have never played, and this will be a slugfest. Either player could emerge with a victory here despite the disparity in seeding. Chakvetadze should mangle Mirza in straight sets, but the Indian superstar has groundstrokes as big as Chakvetadze’s and has been playing well.
AhSha Rolle's Last Chapter of A Cinderella Story?
Last but not lease is the story of unseeded Ahsha Rolle trying to keep her Cinderella story alive versus No.15 seed Dinara Safina. Despite tremendous talent, Safina is prone to wild days on court, and if she doesn’t bring her “A” game, Rolle may continue to keep the clock from striking 12. Chances are, Safina will, uh, roll in this one.
Sharapova, Henin, Jankovic & Ivanovic Should Cruise
Of course, we must at least peek at the favorites other than the Williams sisters. Henin plays a qualifier who has beaten no one higher than No.95. Jankovic plays a 17-year-old qualifier, Alize Cornet of France, who is seeking to make a name for herself, and move up the rankings (currently No.96). Ivanovic will play doubles specialist Victoria Dushevina, ranked 58 in the world, and Sharapova will play the No.30 seed Agnieszka Radwanska. All should move forward to round four where the marquee match-ups will begin. Stay tuned…
