Thursday Thunderers

Here’s my pick – hence the title of the column – for the tasty morsels in Thursday’s line-up at the US Open. It could be a bit of a doozy but we warned that the scorching temperatures might be about to come to an end, replaced instead by a sizeable gush of rain and fast-dropping barometer.

Matches of the Day (all day session)

Men:

Robin Soderling versus Taylor Dent

This one could capture the imagination, not least because of the clash of tennis styles between the flat-hitting Swede and Dent’s swashbuckling approach to the game. Dent is still on the comeback trail after injuries nearly derailed his career but with a big crowd and a hot serving spell he could give Soderling trouble. It will be tough, though, for Soderling has done an excellent job so far of building on last year’s surprise run to the French Open final.

Kei Nishikori versus Marin Cilic

Cilic reached the semi-finals at last year’s US Open so the pressure is on to defend those ranking points and show that he can deliver on his undoubted potential. Nishikori is already a superstar in his native Japan and is a graduate of the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton and the buzz around him remains strong enough to suggest a grand slam breakthrough might be on the cards soon. One to watch, that’s for sure.

Women:

Jelena Jankovic versus Mirjana Lucic

Lucic was a player of outstanding promise as a teenager and although it has taken estrangement from her father and a brush with retirement to get her back to this point, her talent remains as potent as ever. Jankovic looked less than convincing in the opening round and is often vulnerable in the opening rounds of grand slams. Lucic will relish the chance to give a big name a scare and how Jankovic reacts will tell us a lot about how much the Serbian really believes she can win a grand slam title.

Sabine Lisicki versus Vera Zvonareva

A year or so ago, Lisicki was being touted as the WTA Tour’s next bright star and there was plenty to back that up until a horrible ankle injury knocked her off her stride. Zvonareva knows a thing or two about ankle injuries, having suffered with the same problem but the way she has recaptured her pre-injury form this year should offer some inspiration to Lisicki. Her run to the Wimbledon final was certainly impressive, though Lisicki will have the advantage of less to lose and far lower expectations.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands versus Andrea Petkovic

Mattek-Sands gives the ball a mighty spank and Petkovic is one of the breakthrough players of the last 18 months or so, so the portents are good here. Mattek-Sands penchant for long socks and eccentric wardrobe choices is always in-keeping with the shameless showmanship of the US Open and she’ll love the intimate-yet-noisy atmosphere of the Grandstand Court. Petkovic should have too much guile but there is unlikely to be much in it.

ENDS

Topics: Bright Star, Comeback Trail, Doozy, Estrangement, Grand Slam Title, Grand Slams, Jelena Jankovic, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic, Mirjana Lucic, Native Japan, Nick Bollettieri Academy, Robin Soderling, S Line, Sabine Lisicki, Session Men, Tasty Morsels, Taylor Dent, Vera Zvonareva, Wta Tour

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