Were into the third day of action in New York and all remaining singles players begin their tournaments today as the 2012 US Open gets into full swing. Yesterday we seen men's defending champion Novak Djokovic give a scintillating performance beating Paolo Lorenzi 6-1 6-0 6-1 under the lights to send a warning to his rivals that he isn't going to give up his crown so easily. Serena Williams was equally as impressive against Coco Vandeweghe winning 6-1 6-1 and she looks in ominous form. Sister Venus gave us a flash from the past as she was in fine form beating the dangerous Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3 6-1 as she extends her stay in what could be her final US Open. Christina McHale went out in her first round match losing to Kiki Bertens in a third set in a disappointing result for the American. Another young American was at her brilliant best as 19 year old Sloane Stephens beat Francesca Schiavone in straight sets. Caroline Wozniacki became the biggest casualty of the women's draw losing 6-2 6-2 to Irina Camelia Begu as her form continues to deteriorate. There were also wins for Angelique Kerber, Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic, Sara Errani, Dominika Cibulkova and Maria Kirilenko. In the men's game Andy Roddick had too much experience for young Rhyne Williams to reach round two. Thomas Berdych gave an impressive display against David Goffin to advance in straight sets. Joining them in round two are Sam Querrey, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Milos Raonic, Stanislas Wawrinka and Nicolas Almagro. Marcos Baghdatis and Fabio Fognini both advance after stunning 5 set matches but undoubtedly game of the day was that between Juan Monaco and Guillermo Garcia Lopez. Monaco was cruising to victory when he led by two sets to love but back came Garcia Lopez to bring it to a 5th set. Garcia Lopez twice went a break up but twice Monaco fought back to force a tie break which Garcia Lopez went on to win. The Spaniard progressing 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6 7-6 in the game of the tournament so far.
So on to today's games and unfortunately the game of the day between Juan Martin Del Potro and David Nalbandian will not take place after Nalbandian withdrew citing a strained chest muscle. Despite this, there are plenty of exciting matches in store. Starting with the women and Victoria Azarenka takes on Kirsten Flipkens on Ashe. I watched Azarenka Monday night and I thought she was sensational. The courts seem to be playing slower than usual and we've seen some men struggle to inject pace but she was hitting winners for fun and that's a scary prospect for her opponents. She should be able to dominate Flipkens and win in two comfortable sets. Young Laura Robson has a chance to finish the career of Kim Clijsters if she wins on Arthur Ashe stadium today but being realistic I don't see her getting close. Clijsters is still a great player and she will not be leaving this tournament without making sure she has left her mark. She says she's happy with her game and she will be looking to go out in style and it isn't beyond the realms of possibility she wins the tournament. She has proven unbeatable here in the past few years and Robson won't be the one to beat her, Clijsters in two. Maria Sharapova looked good in her opener and takes on Lourdes Dominguez Lino today. I don't think Lino has got enough fire power to hurt Sharapova and that makes it a comfortable game for the Russian. Maria will want to atone for her poor performance at the Olympics against Serena where she was struck with a virus and now that she's fully fit she's ready to challenge Williams again. I expect a dominant performance from her today. Petra Kvitova plays Alize Cornet in her second round and like the other seeds I mentioned above she should also progress with ease. Defending champion Sam Stosur hasn't had the best of years but back on the courts where she lifted her first Grand Slam she should be able to raise her game to a new level and she looked imperious on Monday so expect her to beat Edina Gallovits-Hall in two today. There should also be wins for Li Na, Nadia Petrova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
In the men's game we have some very entertaining games ahead of us today. My dark horse for the men's title John Isner begins his campaign today and he has a tough opponent in the form of Xavier Malisse. Malisse has been steady this year but I don't see him beating the American. Isner has got a great serve and some big ground strokes and if he plays like he did at the beginning of this year when he beat Djokovic then I think he will be very dangerous here. With the backing of the New York crowd he will be very tough to beat and with the draw he got he could easily make a semi final. I expect him to easy into the tournament and to get past Malisse in four sets today. Andy Murray takes on Croation Ivan Dodig in the night session in what could potentially be a tricky game. Dodig has a big serve and some heavy ground strokes and the aggression that normally I would say could trouble Murray but I'm not sure of his consistency. If he can put it all together from the start then he could get inside Murray's head and be successful. I don't think Murray will allow himself slip up this early and he should win in four sets. David Ferrer is a man I don't know what to expect from. He is a sensational player and has had an incredible year so far but surely he can't still be fresh. He gives absolutely everything on court and it's got to take it's toll eventually. Since the Olympics he hasn't looked his best and I think Kevin Anderson might be able to get past him today. I hope I'm wrong because I like Ferrer and I think he can reach a semi final which would another great achievement for him this year. I think I'll be proven wrong here but I don't think Ferrer will get through and I'll go Anderson in five sets. Janko Tipsarevic starts against Guillermo Rufin and that should be comfortable for him and if he drops a set I would be very surprised. The incredible story of Brian Baker continues today when he plays Jan Hajek in his opener. After a stunning run at the French Open and again at Wimbledon I don't see him failing here. He will at least win this one and get a shot at Tipsarevic. I think Baker to win in three sets. I'm looking forward to seeing Grigor Dimitrov this fortnight and he starts against Benoit Paire today. Dimitrov is starting to play the tennis we expected from his junior days and I think he might be ready to announce himself on the biggest stages in the coming months. He hasn't got the worst draw and if he plays the way he can he might be able to cause a few upsets and make a good run. I think he'll beat Paire in three. The man I think nobody wants to see near them in the draw is Tommy Haas. He may be 34 but he is playing sensational tennis. He won the title in Halle beating Berdych and Federer along the way and has been brilliant in America this Summer reaching two finals and also reaching the quarter finals in Toronto where he pushed Djokovic all the way. He plays the unpredictable Ernest Gulbis today and I think as well as Gulbis can play he won't have enough for Haas. Haas has got a decent draw and will fancy a run into the second week and I wouldn't back against him. He should get through in four today. Philip Kohlschreiber takes on Michael Llodra and that's a tough one to call with two very talented players but I would go with Kohlschreiber simply because he seems to be more consistent lately, this one is well worth a watch. There should be wins for Jarkko Nieminen and Richard Gasquet as well as Lleyton Hewitt and Ryan Harrison.
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