Ana Ivanovic v Sloane Stephens U.S Open match

Live Tennis Staff - 3 Sep 2011
Ana Ivanovic will face the challenge of Sloane Stephens tonight in the third round of the U.S Open


Ana Ivanovic had been scheduled for a tough second round clash against Petra Cetkovska in the second round of this year’s U.S Open, but was handed a walkover victory before play could begin. The former world No. 1 will now continue her campaign in New York with a third round contest against young American Sloane Stephens.

As the sixteenth seed, Ivanovic has a good opportunity to work her way into the second week of this competition, and she may well be on course for her third career fourth round appearance here. She’s never gotten beyond round four though, despite having the ability to be a serious challenger in hard court slams.

Ivanovic can expect Stephens to give it her all tonight, and it doesn’t look like the Serb will necessarily enjoy an easy match against the world No. 106. Stephens has relished playing in front of a home crowd here, and she should be in an optimistic mood following her 6-1, 7-6(4) win against No. 23 seed Shahar Peer. If the American is at her best, this could be a fascinating clash.

Vera Zvonareva v Sabine Lisicki U.S Open match preview

Live Tennis Staff - 3 Sep 2011
Vera Zvonareva and Sabine Lisicki will meet on Sunday for a n eagerly awaited fourth round showdown at the U.S Open

Zvonareva has a 3-0 head to head record against Lisicki.(credit: Wikimedia)

Vera Zvonareva was involved in a third round dogfight in New York this week against Anabel Medina Garrigues, but pulled through in straight sets (6-4, 7-5) after two gruelling hours. Zvonareva made more unforced errors than the Spaniard, though her more aggressive approach ultimately paid off in the end.

The second seed will now take on Sabine Lisicki of Germany for a place in the quarter-finals. Lisicki is looking like a serious threat at the moment, and she only needed 52 minutes to complete her 6-0, 6-1 dismissal of Irina Falconi in round three. The German took all six of her opportunities to break Falconi’s serve, and she doesn’t seem to be fazed by the prestige of this tournament.

Zvonareva won all three of her previous meetings against Lisicki, though she’s had to work hard for every win. She’s edged past Lisicki twice this year in straight sets, and this doesn’t make her a clear favourite by any means. Lisicki should be very competitive on Sunday, and the world No. 2 is going to need to be in top form.

Monica Niculescu v Angelique Kerber U.S Open match preview

Niculescu has a 1-0 match record against Kerber.(credit: Wikimedia)
Live Tennis Staff - 3 Sep 2011

Monica Niculescu and Angelique Kerber are both unseeded in this year’s U.S Open, and neither of them were expected to remain in the draw for week two. That said, both players have excelled in the opening three rounds, and one of them will be taking part in the quarter-finals here in Flushing Meadows.

Monica Niculesca and Angelique Kerber are scheduled to meet on Sunday for an unexpected fourth round clash at the U.S Open

Results have unfolded favourably for Niculescu and Kerber, though Kerber was forced into producing one of the upsets of the tournament to dismiss Agnieszka Radwanska in round two (6-3, 4-6, 6-3). Niculescu and Kerber both booked their place in round four with comfortable straight set victories, and form doesn’t seem to be an issue for either of them.

Following a sole success in 2008, Niculescu has a 1-0 head to head record against Kerber. Even so, this 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 result could easily have gone in Kerber’s favour, and the Romanian won’t be expecting an easy matchup here. These two underdogs will be eager to rise to the occasion, and the fans in New York should be in for a treat on Sunday.

Andy Murray v Feliciano Lopez - US Open 2011 live

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Live Tennis Staff - 3 Sep 2011

Murray knows he's extremely lucky to still be in the competition after finding himself two sets down on Friday against an inspired Robin Haase. Murray looked listless and he appeared lost for answers to Haase's hitting but the Dutchman's fitness failed him and the fourth seed was able to pull through 6-2, 6-0, 6-4.

Andy Murray has a tough task against Feliciano Lopez on day seven of the 2011 US Open.

He will need to raise his game to stay in the competition against the experienced Lopez who has been enjoying a superb season, reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals and inspiring Spain to a thrilling Davis Cup win over the United States.

"I'm going to need to play better on Sunday or I'll be going home," Murray said. "You know, you can't come through four or five matches like that.  You know, I'm going to need to play better, for sure.  Physically I'm good.  I feel fine.  No pain or aches or anything.  So that's a huge positive."

The good news for Murray is that he loves playing left-handers largely because their favourite lines of attack lead right into his strength - the double-handed backhand. He has a great record against Lopez, winning all five of their career matches and 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 at Wimbledon earlier this year.    

"Well, I think I have to play aggressive, no?  If you want to beat one of these players on the top four, you have to be aggressive and you have to really go for it," Lopez said. "I mean, I'm not going to beat Andy playing from the baseline and waiting for him to miss.  I have to be really aggressive, to play my game, and to believe.  This is what I have to do, I think."

Shuai Peng v Flavia Pennetta U.S Open match preview

Pennetta has a 4-0 match record against Peng.(credit: Wikimedia)
Live Tennis Staff - 3 Sep 2011

Shuai Peng isn’t amongst the immediate title contenders in this year’s U.S Open, but she might have an outside chance of clinching the title given the way that the tournament has unfolded so far. The thirteenth seed doesn’t have any easy matches ahead of her, but following the early exit of Maria Sharapova she stands out as one of the most capable players in

Shuai Peng faces a tough fourth round contest at the U.S Open on Sunday against Flavia Pennetta

her section of the draw.

Peng’s fourth round opponent will be No. 26 seed Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta was involved in a tense three-setter against Maria Sharapova in round three, and eventually caused a major upset by ousting the former world No. 1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Pennetta will surely be fatigued after this lengthy contest, but she should be feeling very confident about her ability to extend her stay here.

Pennetta has been engaged in some close fought battles against Peng in the past, but she currently holds a 4-0 head to head record against her. The last meeting between the pairing took place in 2008, and the last three of their matches went into three sets. We could be in for another thriller here in New York, and the margin of victory might be very small.