On Monday, Ivo “Dr. Ivo or MC Ivo” Karlovic took out 13-seed Radek Stepanek. The Czech became the first casualty of the Australian Open. The opening day was a rather harmless when compared to day two of the tournament.


Tuesday was a fragile day for seeded players. Twenty-third-seed Juan Carlos Ferrero and 25-seed Sam Querrey lost their Aussie debuts. A big stunner was 16-seed Tommy Robredo’s exit. The Spaniard is usually so consistent. Perhaps the biggest stunner of them all was eighth-seed Robin Soderling.

Columbian Santiago Giraldo (pic. left) took out Tommy Robredo. The world no. 114 did not qualify at last year’s US Open, but he was able to surpass handily the Spaniard on 6-4 6-2 6-2. Giraldo now advances Pole Lukaz Kubot in second round.

Robin Soderling lost to world no. 113 Marcel Granollers (pic. right) of Spain. The Spaniard rallied to eventually kneecap Soderling 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-2. The 23 year old will meet Columbian Alejandro Fallo in the next round.

Soderling’s departure now opens his quarter of the draw and gives Spaniard Nicolas Almagro a good shot at the round of 16. The 26 seed has never made it to the round of 16 in a grand slam on hardcourt. He did make it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2008, which is his best grand slam result to date.

Tuesday’s Results

Wednesday’s Order of Play

Watch Live
Tennis Channel - 7:00 PM ET
Tennis Channel - 7:00 PM ET
ESPN2 – 9:00 PM ET
ESPN360- 7:00 PM ET

(Images: AP/Andrew Brownbill, AP/Shuji Kajiyama)

It looks like a good cross-section of players qualified yesterday, which is good for the tournament. Giovanni Lapentti now joins his brother, Nicolas Lapentti in the draw. That has not happened for some time.

In the US, television and online coverage is much improved. If you cannot make it to the tournament, you should have no problems watching a lot of tennis this fortnight if you so desire.

US Open Qualifiers
Pictured
Marco Chiudinelli (SUI), Thomaz Bellucci (BRA), Horacio Zeballos (ARG), Peter Polansky (CAN), Alejandro Falla (COL)

Not Pictured
Michael Yani (USA), Marcel Ilhan (TUR), Josselin Ouanna (FRA), Jesse Witten (USA), Dieter Kindlmann (GER), Michael Berrer (GER), Juan Pablo Brzezicki (ARG), Carsten Ball (AUS), Giovanni Lapentti (ECU), Donald Young (USA), Somdev Devvarman (IND)

Saturday’s Qualifying Results

Monday’s Order of Play

Watch Live
Tennis Channel - 11:00 am – 7:00 pm ET
ESPN2 - 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm ET
ESPN2 - 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm ET
US Open
ESPN 360

(Images: Denise/tennisfiend)

Alejandro Falla denied Ernest Gulbis from qualifying yesterday. He beat the Latvian 7-6 (5) 7-5. The Columbian now draws Israeli Dudi Sela in the first round. Sela has been on a roll of sorts lately, so the matchup should be interesting.


The Qualifiers Are . . .
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP), Julien Benneteau (FRA), Jesse Levine (USA), Milos Raonic (CAN), Jan Hernych (CZE), Alejandro Falla (COL) and Alex Bogomolov Jr. (USA)


Monday’s Order of Play


(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)