Australian Open Day 5: Match of the Day

Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Bernard Tomic

A night session match on Rod Laver Court that should attract a lot of attention. 

Both are playing some of their best tennis and both are looking to make a long run in the event.

Dolgopolov is 3-0 against Tomic, including two wins in 2011.

Most observers think Dolgopolov's game frustrates the big Aussie and I agree.  Dologopolov neutralizes Tomic's strengths and with the courts playing a little slower, the Aussie will have his hands full.

I like Dologopolv in 5 sets.

Australian Open Day 3: Match of the Day

John Isner vs. David Nalbandian

This should be quite a fight on Margaret Court Arena Wednesday afternoon.

Isner is seeded 16th and is looking to keep moving up near the top-10.  Nalbandian has seen his ranking slide all the way down to No. 87.

The positives for Nalbandain include he is 2-0 in his career against the big American and it is early in the year, so The Argentine is relatively fresh.  One of his wins against Inser was back in 2010 when Isner was forced to retire in the first set during the Cincinnati event.

Isner will need to serve big and try and keep the points short.  If he does he should win in 4 sets.

U.S. Open Match to Watch: Day 8

The day session on Ashe for Labor Day will feature quite a match between the #1 American, Mardy Fish and a guy who loves this kind of big match in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

This match should be very even.

Believe it or not, these two have never played before.  Both are trying to get through the draw since it has opened up a bit.

Fish has been very consistent this summer and Tsonga has had some big wins in 2011.  It should be entertaining, heart-wrenching and the crowd will be into it.

Look for Fish to take advantage of his supurb conditioning and win in 5.

Mardy Fish

U.S. Open Match to Watch: Day 2

A good day of tennis on Monday should be followed up with an even better day of play on Tuesday.

We'll go over to the women's draw for Tuesday's match to watch.

It wil be on Louis Armstrong as the second match on.

This could be a war:

Galina Voskoboeva(KAZ)    vs.      Francesca Schiavone(ITA)[7]

Voskoboeva is really a player to watch. She's tall, she well coached and she plays hard.  She had a great run in Canada this summer and any top player that goes up against her should be on upset alert.

Schiavone isa warrior and a thinker on the court.  Hard is not her best surface and that will turn this into a close three-setter.  I still like Schiavone, the Italian to pull it out 7-5 in the third.

Francesca Schiavone

U.S. Open Match to Watch: Day 1

Couldn't pick just one match to highlight for day 1, so how about two choices.

Ryan Harrison vs. Marin Cilic

and

Grigor Dimitrov vs. Gael Monfils

If you are on the U.S. Open grounds tomorrow, you can't go wrong with either of these matches.

Harrison and Cilic will be playing on Louis Armstrong Stadium at 11:00.  Harrison, the young American has had a productive summer.  Harrison is up to #66 on the ATP computer and he could even be higher if a few points would've gone his direction in L.A.  Cilic has kind of hit a plateau with his game and his ranking.  He has big-time talent and should play well on hard courts.

I like Harrison getting the New York crowd behind him and fighting hard to a 4-set victory.

At 5pm on Louis Armstrong, another rising young player, Grigor Dimitrov will take on the popular French player Gael Monfils.  Monfils wil be airborne for some shots, sliding for others, and running down every shot.  Dimitrov reminds many of a young Roger Federer, but needs work on his backhand.  I like Monfils in 4 entertaining sets.

Ryan HarrisonGrigor Dimitrov