 | Slideshow |
 | Record performances Take a look at players who have won and put themselves in the record books at the U.S. Open. NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
Ana Ivanovic
The 19-year-old will be playing only her third U.S. Open, but she comes into the major having given a very strong account of herself at the French Open and at Wimbledon. In Paris she made the final before bowing to Henin, and in London she got to the semifinals before falling to Venus.
She won on the hardcourts in Los Angeles and is clearly a top player on the rise although I'm not sure she's ready yet to win a major. One thing the fifth seed needs to get much better at is being able to adjust her game when things are working well for her in a match. For her to get out of her quarter of the draw she may need wins consecutive wins over Venus and Jankovic.
Other players to watch
Svetlana Kuznetsova is a former U.S. Open champion (2004) whose game has pretty much been stalled since she won her only major. She has huge weapons in a big serve and monstrous forehands and must always be considered dangerous. But she doesn't seem to know how to construct points, and isn't polished as making adjustments during matches.
Sidelined since Wimbledon with mononucleosis, 13th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova returns to the tour at the U.S. Open. The 18-year-old Czech is tall and strong and finished 2006 ranked No. 10. Vaidisova is looking at a potential fourth-round meeting with Sharapova.
Anna Chakvetadze is seeded sixth and is rising fast. She won hardcourt tournaments earlier this summer in Stanford and Cincinnati. She followed that up in San Diego by taking a three-setter from Venus before exiting in the semifinals against Sharapova, who she could meet up with in the quarterfinals in Flushing.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM TENNIS |
 Tennis Section Front |
| Add Tennis headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links