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Federer, Roddick Highlight Open Today

Posted on: Monday, 3 September 2007, 09:10 CDT

NEW YORK - Three-time defending champion Roger Federer takes on Frliciano Lopez tonight in U.S. Open tennis. The men's slate today also includes 2003 champion Andy Roddick vs. No. 9 Tomas Berdych and No. 6 James Blake vs. No. 10 Tommy Haas.

Fourth-round women's matches today include 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova against Victoria Azarenka, and No. 18 Shahar Peer against No. 30 Agnieszka Radwanska, who upset defending champion Maria Sharapova in the third round.

If it's the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, it must be time for Serena Williams vs. Justine Henin. They have been at the forefront of women's tennis over the past few years - and they sure can't seem to escape each other lately. When Williams and Henin square off in the U.S. Open quarterfinals Tuesday, they will be playing at that stage in a third consecutive major.

"We both have a lot of character and a lot of personality. We both have been very strong mentally on the court in the last few years. She won Grand Slams; I did. She's been No. 1 and I've been," said Henin, who currently tops the rankings. "Now let's go and play, and we'll see what's going to happen."

She beat Williams at the French Open on clay and at Wimbledon on grass, although the American won their meeting in the final at Key Biscayne, Fla., on hard courts in March, saving two match points in the process.

"I'm going in feeling like I don't have anything to lose," said Williams, who is seeded No. 8 after falling out of the top 100 last year because of a lack of activity. "I just feel different now, excited about the prospect of meeting her again."

If Williams can get past Henin this time, she could find another, even more familiar foe in the semifinals: older sister Venus.

Both siblings were downright dominant against recent Grand Slam finalists Sunday, with Serena Williams beating Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-4, a few hours before Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals by eliminating French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-2.

"Serena reminds me of a pit bull dog and a young Mike Tyson, all in one. Venus reminds me of a gazelle that's able to move, prance and jump," their father, Richard Williams, said. "Venus looks as if she is really enjoying herself out there more than Serena is right now. If they get by everyone and meet each other, it will be an interesting match."

His daughters could meet in the semifinals. They have met more than a dozen times overall, with Serena holding a 5-1 advantage in Grand Slam finals.

"That would be awesome because it would mean that there is a Williams in the final," said Venus, who will have to beat No. 3 Jelena Jankovic first.

Much like Henin-Williams, Jankovic-Williams has been lopsided lately at the majors: Jankovic has won their past three matches, including at Wimbledon in 2006 and the French Open this year.

"I've definitely improved since then and gotten healthier," Venus said. "I feel a lot better and gotten stronger."

On Sunday, men's winners included No. 2 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Novak Djokovic, while the day's biggest surprise came in the final match, when 88th-ranked Ernests Gulbis of Latvia ousted No. 8-seeded Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

Gulbis, who turned 19 on Thursday and is the lowest-ranked man left in the draw, came to New York having lost in the first round at 10 of his 11 tournaments in 2007.

Serena Williams pulled out of every event she was supposed to play in the 1 1/2 months since Wimbledon, where she sprained a ligament in her left thumb in a victory that preceded her match against Henin there.

And while that hand is fine now, her father indicated something else is wrong.

"Serena has a few problems that we haven't talked to no one about," Richard Williams said, but wouldn't elaborate. "I think she's done a marvelous job of hiding it. Extremely marvelous."

Both Williams sisters are two-time U.S. Open champions and both are getting in a groove as this Grand Slam goes on, just as Serena did en route to her eighth major title at the Australian Open in January, and Venus did en route to her sixth major title at Wimbledon in July.

"I'm still not where I want to be - or near," Serena said. "But I feel like I'm doing better, which is important."

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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