Mardy Fish v Malek Jaziri – US Open 2011 live

You can bet on the US Open live in-play at bet365(credit: mirsasha)
Live Tennis Staff - 1 Sep 2011
Home favourite Mardy Fish is on Louis Armstrong Court again against qualifier Malek Jaziri.

Fish is about as confident as he’s ever been going into the US Open and he crushed Germany’s Tobias Kamke 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 on Monday. The American is at the peak of his powers and knows he has one of the best all-round games in men’s tennis.

All eyes are on him as the top ranked American yet Fish is going into the unknown as he’s never really been seen as a serious contender before.

“Certainly different pressure than I’ve ever felt. But it’s a great feeling,” he told the media. “It’s hard to say I expect to see myself in the second Saturday of the US Open because I’ve never done that before,” he said. “I’ve been close once, but I’d like to get there now. I really feel like I belong there. I can get there. If I were to pick a tournament, a Grand Slam that I could [win], it would be this one.”

Fish’s first big test may come against the powerful South African Kevin Anderson in round three but Jaziri should not test him today.

The Tunisian qualifier is enjoying his own Indian summer, hitting a career best ranking of 181 and reaching the main draw of a slam for the first time. He knocked out an out of sorts Thiemo De Bakker earlier in the week and will be loving his shot at the big time on a stadium court. Can he get a set ?  Probably not.

Novak Djokovic v Carlos Berlocq – US Open 2011 live

You can bet on the US Open live in-play at bet365
Live Tennis Staff - 1 Sep 2011
Novak Djokovic is unlikely to have too many problems tonight against Carlos Berlocq at the US Open.

Such is the form that Djokovic is in, most of his concerns so far at the US Open have come off-court. In between training sessions, he’s been shooting modeling campaigns for watchmaker Audemars Piquet and his beloved poodle Pierre has managed to make it through customs to join him at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic was crushed when UK officials refused to allow his dog to join him during Wimbledon.

Apart from that, Djokovic has been getting a little irritable about all the questions he’s copping over his reported use of the space-age style hyperbaric recovery chamber. Dubbed tennis’ version of the Orgasmatron, it has helped Djokovic keep in peak condition this season but he’s become strangely cagey on the subject and snapped that he ‘didn’t want any more questions about it’ after his first round win.    

He should face few problems on court tonight against Argentine Berlocq who has a poor 8-15 win-loss record in 2011. He’s never been past the second round in New York and it’ll be one of the biggest shocks in history if he makes it through tonight.

Djokovic will already have half an eye on a potential third round meeting with Nikolay Davydenko which will cause him much more concern.

Maria Sharapova v Flavia Pennetta U.S Open match preview

Sharapova defeated Anastasia Yakimova in round two.(credit: Wikimedia)
Live Tennis Staff - 1 Sep 2011
Maria Sharapova will bid to continue her U.S Open run on Friday when she meets Flavia Pennetta in round three

Despite having struggled in her tournament opener against Heather Watson, Maria Sharapova was in blistering form on Wednesday against Anastasia Yakimova of Belarus. The former world No. 1 needed just an hour and ten minutes to earn her berth in round three, and the rest of the field here will be well aware that she’s in contention to win the title.

Sharapova’s attacking game was incisive enough to cut through a Yakimova defence that was more stubborn than the scoreline would suggest. The underdog hit just six unforced errors, and Sharapova could have ended up in trouble had she not managed to take her chances.

Next up for the Russian will be Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta stormed through to the third round with a 6-0, 6-3 thrashing of Romina Oprandi, and she’ll be aiming to continue playing with confidence. Whilst she won her last match against Sharapova (Los Angeles, 2009), it’s unlikely that Pennetta will be allowed to control the pace of this upcoming contest.

Sharapova will be the favourite here, and on current form she should have the edge on Friday. Pennetta is good enough to make this a very tough clash though, and it will be interesting to see who ends up earning a place in the fourth round.

Sabine Lisicki v Irina Falconi U.S Open match preview

Lisicki has handed a walkover in round two.(credit: Wikimedia)
Live Tennis Staff - 1 Sep 2011
Sabine Lisicki will continue in New York with a third round clash against Irina Falconi

Sabine Lisicki had been scheduled to meet Venus Williams this week in the second round of the U.S Open, but she escaped the threat of the former world No. 1 as Venus was sadly forced to withdraw due to illness. The German will now be aiming to make the most of her opportunity to succeed here in Flushing Meadows, and there’s a good chance that she’ll feature in
week two.

Lisicki won the WTA Dallas title last week, and her displays throughout the season have been worthy of praise. She’s climbed the WTA rankings with little trouble, and demonstrated plenty of nerve in major competitions. The world No. 18 began here with an assured 6-3, 6-3 dismissal of Alona Bondarenko, and it will be fascinating to see just how far she can go.

The next matchup for Lisicki will be a third round showdown against Irina Falconi of America. Falconi is ranked just inside the top eighty, but might not be such an outsider with the backing of the home crowd on Friday. Even so, she’s got a mountain to climb here, and Lisicki should have enough firepower to leave the court as the victor.

Vera Zvonareva v Anabel Medina Garrigues U.S Open match preview

Zvonareva will be aiming for a more comfortable victory on Friday.(credit: Wikimedia)
Live Tennis Staff - 1 Sep 2011
Vera Zvonareva faces a tricky third round clash at the U.S Open on Friday against Anabel Medina Garrigues

Vera Zvonareva didn’t have everything her own way on Wednesday against Kateryna Bondarenko, but managed to eventually prevail with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory. The second seed will be aiming to step up her game in a big way after this close contest, as she could do without another matchup that lasts for more than two hours.

The Russian should still be considered as a title contender though, and we may see much more of what she’s capable of in round three, where she’ll take on Anabel Medina Garrigues. Medina Garrigues was involved in a lengthy three-setter in round one, but she was on song in round two against Laura Robson. The Spaniard defeated Robson comfortably in straight sets (6-2, 6-3).

Zvonareva currently holds a 3-1 head to head record against Medina Garrigues, and all three of her wins were easily wrapped up in two sets. She had to retire in her most recent contest against Medina Garrigues, and was trailing 6-3, 3-0 when she left the court.

The pairing haven’t met competitively since 2008 though, so it’s not easy to assess how Friday’s matchup will pan out. Zvonareva is considered the favourite, but she may have to dig deep to achieve another win against the world No. 33 here in New York.