U.S. Open Match to Watch: Day 6

Someone was going to draw Serena Williams in the 3rd round and it happened to be Victoria Azarenka.

This has the potential to be the match of the tournament on the women's side and it will be at about 3pm on Ashe Stadium Court.

Serena holds the career edge over Azarenka 5-1, including three wins at Grand Slam events.  Serena won the matchup earlier this summer in Toronto, and I like Serena again here in two tough sets.

Here's the tale of the tape:

Serena Williams Pulls Out of Cincinnati Due to Foot

Serena Williams withdrew from the Western & Southern Open with a sore toe on Wednesday and described it as "a blessing in disguise" on the eve of the US Open.

She showed no sign of any toe problem in beating Lucie Hradecka 6-3, 7-6 in the first round on Tuesday. But she did admit to being tired towards the end and was definitely restricted in some of her movement.
Serena has bigger challenges ahead, not the least being returning to Flushing Meadows later this month for

the first time since her semi-final against Kim Clijsters two years ago when she abused a line judge for calling a foot fault against her on what turned out to be the final point of the match as it led to a decisive penalty point against her.

Asked if this injury was a complication of the cut to her foot she suffered after the 2010 Wimbledon tournament, an injury that kept her out for more than a year, she said: "It is but not nearly as extreme. It's just a bit of an aggravation because I think I've been pounding it a lot and playing a lot.

"I felt it a little bit [against Hradecka] and I thought – because I felt it before – OK, this is normal. But I don't think this is a good time for me to take a big chance. I just don't think that would be smart.

"I woke up this morning not feeling excellent and then went to the gym to see how it felt before I hit practice. That definitely didn't sit well. There is a little swelling, so I thought it would be a wise decision. I talked to my dad and I called Venus. She advised that I do what's best for me, which would be to take care of my body.

Serena Williams in action Tuesday in Cincinnati

One Day at the Bank of the West Classic

After 9 days of scorching hot temperatues at the men's  Atlanta Tennis Championships, it was off to one day at the Bank of the West Classic for some women's tennis action.  Let's just say the temps were more bearable.

Highs of 80 and lows in the 50's call for you to bring a jacket or sweatshirt for the night matches. 

Pictures from a full day of tennis.

Serena WilliamsChristina McHale dives for a ballMarion BartoliRebecca MarinoAgnieszka RadwanskaMaria Sharapova warms upThe Stanford Tennis Center

Wimbledon Day 6 Match of the Day: Kirilenko vs. S. Williams

A 3rd round match on Court 1 that will actually tell us where Serena is in her comeback right now.

Maria Kirilenko shoud pose a real test, and Serena to me has looked a little off in her first two matches.  That's not to say Serena can't turn it around in a hurry, and what a story it would be if Serena and Venus would make it to the finals.

I don't think that will happen, and I also don't think Serena will beat a match tough Kirilenko on Saturday.

Prediction: Kirilenko in 3 sets.

Roddick Speaks About Serena's Return

"Well, it's great that she's back," Roddick told reporters after beating Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4 in the third round of the Queen's Club tournament on Thursday.

"I mean, I think, no disrespect to any of the women that are playing right now, but I think women's tennis needs that dominating figure.

"She hasn't played for a year but I think she still is that personality and, you know, she's certainly going to probably be the top storyline going into Wimbledon."

Serena has four Wimbledon singles titles to her name, one less than sister Venus who is also returning at the Eastbourne warm-up event after being ruled out since the Australian Open with an abdominal injury.
Roddick said despite a chronic lack of match practice Serena is capable of claiming the Wimbledon title this year. The championships begin on June 20.

"I don't think it would shock anybody if she came through and won it again," Roddick said. "It's very smart of her to play a lead-up event, especially after being gone for a year."

Since cutting her foot on broken glass in Munich last year, an injury that required surgery to a lacerated tendon, and then suffering life-threatening blood clots in February, Serena's presence has been missed on the WTA Tour.

Her return will help raise its profile, Roddick said.

"I think I speak for most people in tennis whereas you want her in the game for so many reasons; not only because she wins and she's a great champion, but she brings pop culture to tennis," he said.