Pilot Pen Tennis preview

Pilot Pen Tennis
Location: New Haven, Conn.
Dates: August 17-23, 2008
Draw Size: 48
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $708,000; men’s singles champion: $94,000
2007 Singles Final: James Blake, USA, def. Mardy Fish, USA, 7-5, 6-4
Official Web site: www.pilotpentennis.com

Top story lines:
1. Can Juan Martin Del Potro win his fifth straight ATP title?
2. Will Jurgen Melzer, quarterfinalist at the Olympics, be able to continue his recent winning ways?
3. Does Mardy Fish have enough to make it back to the finals in New Haven?

Justin’s notable first round match-ups:
1. Sebastian Grosjean vs. Wayne Odesnik (First meeting; both have 11 losses this season, Grosjean only with 7 wins)
2. Dudi Sela vs. Donald Young (First meeting; both have reached their career high rankings in 2008)
3. Luis Horna vs. Robby Ginepri (Series tied 1-1, both on hard courts; haven’t met since 2005)

Potential notable late round match:
No. 3 Juan Martin Del Potro vs. No. 8 Mardy Fish, Quarterfinals
· Series tied 1-1, both matches on hard courts
· Del Potro defeated Fish in straight sets two weeks ago at the Country Wide Classic in Los Angeles

Watch out for…
1. No. 2 Ivo Karlovic (Winner in Nottingham; defeated top ranked Roger Federer and advanced to semis in Cincinnati; currently ranked at a career high No. 16)
2. Nicolas Lapentti (Quarterfinalist at Masters Series Cincinnati and semifinalist at February’s Costa Do Sauipe in Brazil)

Champion prediction:
Justin: No. 2 Ivo Karlovic
Jordan: No. 8 Mardy Fish