Five Matches To Watch On Day 3 Of The Legg Mason Tennis Classic

The few seeds who haven’t yet taken the court, plus several intriguing doubles matches, make up Wednesday’s action at the 2010 Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

6. Sam Querrey (USA) vs Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) — These two played a phenomenal match last week in the semifinals of Los Angeles, which Querrey won after saving two match points in the second set. It’s a classic flashy counter-puncher vs. power server match-up, and could definitely produce some spectacular stuff.

(Keep an eye out for an interview I did with Tipsarevic yesterday on The Daily Forehand that will go live in the very near future).

[WC] Andrew Courtney (USA) / Michael Shabaz (USA) vs 2. Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) — Local wildcards Andrew Courtney and Michael Shabaz take on the most prolific team in ATP doubles history in the Bryan brothers, who just last week won their record 62nd title as a pair. I saw Shabaz play singles in the first round of qualifying, a match in which he didn’t look impressive and lost fairly quickly. I’ve never heard of Courtney, and This one will be a bloodbath, but it will be a quick bloodbath.

1. Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) -- Tomas Berdych plays in his first match since losing to Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final. Tursunov is a tricky, feisty opponent, but he doesn’t have quite the first strike abilities in rallies that Berdych possesses.

7. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs [WC] David Nalbandian (ARG) -- Stan Wawrinka plays the always unpredictable David Nalbandian in what is easily the toughest second round match anywhere in the tournament. Rough draw for both, to be sure. Should be some spectacular shotmaking.

John Isner (USA) / Sam Querrey (USA) vs Julien Benneteau (FRA) / Michael Llodra (FRA) — It’s pretty insane that Isner and Querrey, the second and third biggest name in American men’s tennis today, would be put on a court as tiny as Court 1, but that’s what’s happened today. If you want a chance to see the present and future of American tennis up close (and really get a sense for how toweringly tall they both are), this is your chance.