Wonderful Wednesday

Written by: Staff on 1st September 2010

Wonderful Wednesday

Elena Baltacha (GBR) |

Andy Murray versus Lukas Lacko
Day session, Arthur Ashe Stadium

Amidst all the clamour to etch the names of either Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer onto this year’s men’s trophy, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Scottish former finalist. Lacko should not keep him detained too long but we should see signs of whether Murray is ready to bring the form he showed in winning the Masters Series title in Toronto a few weeks back (which included back-to-back wins over Nadal and Federer) to New York. If he can replicate the scorching tennis he played there over the next two weeks then the understudy might just be about to nudge tennis’s two leading men aside.

Andy Roddick versus Janko Tipsarevic (second round)
Night session, Arthur Ashe Stadium

America’s sweetheart versus tennis’ most celebrated eccentric in a match which has every chance of going five sets and has the tantalising whiff of an upset about it. Roddick is not in the best of sorts this year, having been dogged of late by a viral illness that has sapped him of energy. Tipsarevic loves nothing more than the big occasion – his speciality is pushing more fancied players hard at grand slams – and although he has been nursing an injury in recent weeks, he may still fancy making a big night of it.

The Women

Samantha Stosur versus Anastasia Rodionova (second round)
Day Session. Court 11

Australia’s No.1 Stosur is not only one of the stand-out players of the season after her run to the French Open final but she is also something of a poster girl for the sort of sun-drenched athleticism that one associates with the Antipodes. Rodionova is a naturalised Australian but was born in Russia and, in contrast to Stosur’s laid-back friendliness with her fellow pros, Rodionova does not always play nicely with the other kids in the nursery. She is as much as a fighter as she is feisty and that doesn’t always go down well with her opponents.

Elena Baltacha versus Petra Kvitova
Day Session, Court Six

Okay, we’re biased but that’s not going to stop us giving a mention to our www.10sballs.com columnist Bally. Kvitova showed by reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals this year that she has talent and can give the ball a hefty whack. It won’t be an easy match for our girl but Bally has proved with her charge up the rankings this year that she does not scare easily. The reward for Bally would be a certain place in the top 50 and both women have the incentive of possible third round meeting with Kim Clijsters.

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Topics: Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Antipodes, Arthur Ashe, Arthur Ashe Stadium, Athleticism, Clamour, Elena Baltacha, Grand Slams, Janko Tipsarevic, Lacko, Leading Men, Masters Series, Night Session, Poster Girl, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Samantha Stosur, Understudy, Viral Illness