U.S Open 2013 Day 3: Matches to look out for
Venus Williams
A great deal of tennis has been played in the past two days at the National Tennis Center. Now we move into the third day of the U.S Open.
Defending champion, Andy Murray, will finally begin his title defence today against Michael Llodra of France at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Also in action is the women’s defending champion Serena William, who will be face-off against Galina Voskoboeva in her second round match.
Here are some of the matches to look out for on day three.
Venus Williams vs Jie Zheng:
The former World No.1, Venus Williams will take on Jie Zheng of China in her second round match at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Venus, who won her first match 6-1, 6-2 against Kristen Flipkens will expect a tricky match against her 56th ranked Jie Zheng.
The Former Grand Slam champion has played just seven tournaments this year coming into the US Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has won just one tour-level match since making the semi finals of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. in April, mainly due to her struggles with a back injury.
Jie Zheng won her first match of this year’s US Open against Kiki Bertens 6-1, 6-3. But her recent record isn’t much impressive either, losing out in the very first round of the Wimbledon and recently-concluded Cincinnati Masters.
The pair has met just once before, that too way back in 2004 Miami Masters in which Venus won 6-4, 6-4.
Angelique Kerber vs Eugenie Bouchard:
The German World No.8, Angelique Kerber will be up against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in their round two encounter.
Kerber broke into the top 10 of the ATP tennis ranks in 2012 but has failed to keep up her tempo this year, having suffered a series of tough loses. The German started her US Open in a convincing fashion with a 6-1, 6-1 win against Lucie Hradecka. But she is up against a very tough opponent in Bouchard.
Eugenie Bouchard was earmarked as one to watch out for after she won the Wimbledon Juniors title last year. She has been having a very good year so far, having beaten Ana Ivanovic at Wimbledon and pushing Serena to three sets in Cincinnati. She has a solid game and is better than Kerber with her offensive game.
The pair is meeting for the first time in their career.
Lleyton Hewitt vs Brian Baker:
Another exciting match on day three will be between Brian Baker and the player-in-form Lleyton Hewitt at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Baker is making a Grand Slam return after a knee injury sustained at the Australian Open, which ruled him out for most of the year. .
Hewitt has had a strong season behind him coming to the US open, having reached the finals of Newport ATP tournament earlier this year. He will be much prepared to take on Brian Baker in what is set to be a must watch game.
Radek Stepanek vs Stanislas Wawrinka:
The World No. 10, S. Wawrinka, will take on Stepanek at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Stepanek has always remained a thorn in the flesh for Wawrinka. Stepanek enjoys an unbeaten 5-0 record against her opponent and he will be hoping to maintain his stranglehold over the Swiss no. 2.
Wawrinka has had a forgettable year so far, losing in the first round of Wimbledon, and his warm up for the final Grand Slam has been further hampered by a first round loss in the Montreal Masters and a second round loss at Cincinnati Masters.
Stepanek also is running through a rough patch. He hasn’t been able to go past the third round in any of the recently concluded events.
Both of them will try to put their poor run of form behind them and try to concentrate on their game at hand.