A lot of players on Day 3 will be up against their own countryman/woman which may add an extra drop of drama. Or not. Gael Monfils faces Jeremy Chardy which could be close depending on Monfils’s health. Vera Zvonareva will be up against fellow Russian and former top ten player Anna Chakvetadze. Juan Martin Del Potro goes against fellow Argentine Juan Monaco and the list goes on.
American Bethanie Mattek-Sands will get to test out Venus Williams’s knee in the second round. Again with Venus, early rounds in Slams other than Wimbledon have been her undoing lately.
Rafael Nadal will face his friend Richard Gasquet in the first round later this afternoon. I’m surprised this wasn’t the night match along with Clijsters vs. Bartoli (see below). The Serena/Federer card should be a big yawn. Anyway, I’m sure Nadal/Gasquet will have it’s moments but I would be surprised if Nadal doesn’t pull this off in three.
Marat Safin opens his farewell tour against Jurgen Melzer. I actually like Safin in this unless he self-destructs like his little sister almost did yesterday.
Kim Clijsters takes on Marion Bartoli and I like Clijsters in this. Again if she gets past Bartoli then you have to like her against Venus in the fourth round.
And finally Robby Ginepri, who won in Indianapolis, opens up against Andrei Pavel, a 35 year old journeyman from Romania ranked 728.
Adjusting the Net 