USO Crisis Center, Day 1

!2004By Rosangel Valenti, TW Contributing Editor

Good morning. The main draw of the last Grand Slam tournament of 2008 is about to get under way. Today's schedule can be found here.

After the past few days of cl assic pictures from past US Open tournaments, let's recall last year's champions. On the women's side, Justine Henin defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova for her second US Open  title last year, 6-1, 6-3. Of course, Henin, like the 2005 US Open Champion, her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, is no longer playing. Former champions in the mix this year are Kuznetsova (2004), Venus Williams (2000, 2001)and Serena Williams (1999, 2002), Lindsay Davenport (1998), and Maria Sharapova (2006).

On the men's side, it would be dificult to forget that Roger Federer has won the past four titles, defeating Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic in the title matches. Last year's final, like that of 2004, was a straight-sets affair, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4. Other past champions competing this year are Roddick (2003), Marat Safin (2000) and Hewitt (2001).

In response to several requests from Tribe members for a picture of TMF to be included amongst the classics, which wasn't possible due to lack of space, it seems appropriate to start our first US Open Crisis Center with his picture. These two (the one above added just for Tim, along with an improved with-trophy photo) are from 2004, when the score against Lleyton Hewitt was 6-0, 7-6, 6-0.

Matches of the Day:

Men - Guillermo Canas versus Juan Martin Del Potro, on Louis Armstrong stadium. Seeded 17, the younger Argentine is surely the favourite, after winning for tournaments in a row. Will he be called up for Davis Cup duty in September against Russia? Meanwhile, on court 7, Feliciano Lopez, seeded 27, will play Jurgen Melzer, and on Court 4, Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded 10, meets Simone Bolelli.

Women - Lindsay Davenport versus Aleksandra Wozniak. I've yet to see the young Canadian play, and it's also a chance to gauge Davenport's fitness after she pulled out of the Olympics, not having played competitively since Wimbledon. Out on the Grandstand Court, there's also an interesting encounter due between Li Na and Shahar Peer. Out on Court 10, Tamira Paszek, who gave Jelena Jankovic so much trouble in Melbourne earlier this year, takes on Maria Kirilenko, seeded 22.

Weather Report:

All sources suggest that it's currently cloudy but dry. with a 50% chance of rain later on, possibly with thunderstorms.