Preview of Day Two at the US Open
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Aug 27, 2007 | Print |
A trio of former US Open champions will be headlining day two at the US Open, including defending titlist Maria Sharapova.
In addition to Sharapova, 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova will be in action, along with 1997 winner Martina Hingis.
The second half of Martina Hingis’ 2007 season has been far from stellar and it will be interesting to see if the former champion can shrug off her tough summer in hopes of turning her season around. Not only has Hingis’ season been one of her worst professionally in the past several years, but she recently ended her engagement to the ATP Tour’s Radek Stepanek.
That emotional complication, coupled with her recent back and hip injuries, could translate into an early round upset. She will be playing her first round match against Mathilde Johansson. Last season, another Frenchwoman - Virginie Razzano - shocked Hingis with a second round upset.
Nicole Vaidisova will be returning to the Tour for the first time on Tuesday since contracting mononucleosis after Wimbledon. The Czech teenager has yet to build upon her semifinal finish at the Australian Open in January, but with the second half of the draw vulnerable to an upset, Vaidisova may get her chance to duplicate her Melbourne run. She will launch her pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam against Russian Alla Kudryavtseva.
The night session will feature the 2007 debut of defending champion Maria Sharapova competing in her first round match against Roberta Vinci.
Maria Sharapova is most vulnerable during the first two rounds of a Grand Slam, and if the Italian can play her best, she may be able to give Sharapova a tough match. Sharapova is still adjusting to her new service motion and a key factor in the match may be the Russian’s often shaky service game.
Other matches to follow on Tuesday include 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Klara Zakopalova, Sania Mirza vs. Kaia Kanepi, and Daniela Hantuchova vs. Julia Vakulenko.
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