1. Another Unhappy Ending for Ivanovic
Life has not been the same for Ana Ivanovic ever since she won the French Open last year. The congenial star’s tennis game has gone AWOL and yesterday she crashed out in yet another early round match. What will it take for Ivanovic to return to her old form? Listen to Ana’s thoughts on the subject at BBC Sport.
2. Dani’s Diary
Prince player Daniela Hantuchova is jotting down her adventures in New York City on Facebook during the US Open fortnight. Daniela, who uses the Prince OZONE SEVEN, is scheduled to play her second round match against Timea Bacsinszky on Court 11 later this evening.
3. Dinara What’s Her Name
Richard Williams agrees that the current world number one is a terrific player, although he is not quite certain of her name.
Williams, who has not said much about the controversy regarding the top spot over the past few months, sparked debate by singing Dinara’s praises to the Observer, even though he couldn’t remember her name.
4. Legend’s Ball
Don’t miss a chance to attend the social event of the tennis season! Guests attending the 29th annual Legends Ball on September 11th at Cipriani (42nd Street in New York City) will rub elbows with tennis royalty, honor the greats of the game and have the opportunity to support the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum by participating in a live and silent auction.
5. Head Back to School at the US Open
Do you know how tennis balls are made? Or why they are yellow? Check out the Wilson Science Lab online for answers to these questions and more!
6. Gentlemen First
Tradition will step aside on Wednesday night as the Open begins to alternate between men’s and women’s matches for the opening act of the night sessions. Serena Williams will play Melinda Czink following the ATP World Tour match between Roger Federer and Simon Greul.
7. Close Only Counts in Horseshoes
Olivia Rogowska came tantalizingly close to scoring one of the biggest upsets in US Open history on Tuesday. The top seed has never faltered in the first round during the Open Era, but Dinara Safina flirted with disaster in her opening match yesterday. Experience won the day—and the match—as after over two hours of play, eleven double faults and forty-eight unforced errors, Safina reached the second round.
8. Double Duty
Women’s doubles springs into action on the courts of Flushing Meadows today. Top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber will play Huber’s compatriots Asia Mohammed and Christina McHale in their first match. Keep an eye on the eighth seeded team of Nadia Petrova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. They have posted some excellent results this season and could be a significant threat for the title.
9. Tweet Monitors
Tennis’s integrity and anti-corruption officials have a new culprit lined up in their watchdog sights—Twitter. Warning signs have been posted throughout the player areas reminding players that insider information can be easily transmitted through the social networking service.
10. Wednesday’s Matches of the Day
Two of the biggest matches of the day will feature former US Open champions, although they each reached the second round in contrasting forms. Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters will return to play on Wednesday as Williams faces another American, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, while Clijsters is up against fourteenth seed Marion Bartoli. Both matches could be tight, especially the All-American encounter on Arthur Ashe.
On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 US Open is brought to you by Grand Slam Tennis Tours.
