Tuesday's Order of Play

I still got most of my picks right yesterday, if only barely.

CENTER COURT

4:00 pm
John Isner (USA) [WC] vs Tim Henman (GBR)

Tim Henman has an incredibly soft draw in this tournament, easily in the softest eighth of the bracket. Isner is apparently 6'9'', but Our Man Tim should be able to see him out with his far superior. Then he'll beat Benjamin Becker, then whoever comes out of the Del Potro section. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

My pick: Tim Henman

Not Before 5:00 PM
Paul Goldstein (USA) vs Somdev Dev Varman (IND) [Q]

After making his way through qualifying as I predicted, Somdev gets a pretty nice draw in local favorite Paul Goldstein. As noted earlier, there are three V's in Somdev's name, which should be good for three wins. This will be the third and final win for him at this tournament.

My pick: Somdev Dev Varman

Not Before 7:00 PM
[1] Andy Roddick (USA) vs Tomas Zib (CZE)

You can pretty much pencil Andy into the semis, and easily into the final if he doesn't run into Karlovic in the semis. This really is his tournament to lose in many respects. No pressure, Andy.

My pick: Andy Roddick

Jan Hernych (CZE) vs [3] Marat Safin (RUS)

Which Marat Safin will show up to Washington? The last person to beat Federer at a slam who isn't named Nadal? Or the one who moons the crowd during matches and gets angry with himself every point? Let's hope it's a little of both. His year was better than last, as he came into last year's tournament unseeded. Even if Marat is off against Hernych, he should come through.

My pick: Marat Safin

GRANDSTAND

4:00 pm
Ryan Sweeting (USA) [WC] vs Wesley Moodie (RSA)

Moodie managed to make a nice run here, beating Querrey in the first round and losing to Safin in the quarters. He eats wild cards like Sweeting for breakfast. I mean that only half-jokingly, as Moodie is a pretty frightening looking guy.

My pick: Wesley Moodie

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) vs [5] Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR)

I don't know a whole lot about Lee, but I hear he's been doing big things lately. Good enough for me.

My pick: Hyung-Taik Lee

Martin Klizan (SVK) [WC] vs [9] Gael Monfils (FRA)

This battle of junior champions could be the upset special of the day. I sincerely hope not, as I want to see Monfils hang around for a while. I think he'll get Klizan here, but he's almost as inconsistant as Safin.

My pick: Gael Monfils

Somdev Dev Varman (IND) / John Isner (USA) [WC] vs [2] M Damm (CZE) / L Paes (IND)

COURT 1

4:00 pm
Jiri Vanek (CZE) vs Wesley Whitehouse (RSA) [Q]

I know absolutely nothing consequential about either of these players. Vanek?

My pick: Jiri Vanek

Adrian Garcia (CHI) vs Wayne Odesnik (USA) [Q]

Garcia is the only player who is automatically entered into the main draw whom I'd never heard of before. That's gotta be music to Wayne's ears.

My pick: Wayne Odesnik

Paul Capdeville (CHI) vs [13] Amer Delic (USA)

Capdeville benefited from the meltdown of one Yugoslav yesterday, but will lightning strike twice? Amer Delic is arguably the weakest seed in the tournament (either him or Llodra), so I could easily see Capdeville taking this one. That being said, Bozoljac was way better than Capdeville, and I have no reason to think that he'll be able to beat a seed barring another meltdown.

My pick: Amer Delic

[3] Paul Hanley (AUS) / Kevin Ullyett (ZIM) vs Jeff Coetzee (RSA) / Rogier Wassen (NED)

COURT 2

4:00 pm
Michael Berrer (GER) vs George Bastl (SUI) [Q]

Michael Berrer is supposedly the player to watch in his part of the rankings. I'll be watching Henman during this match, though.

My pick: Michael Berrer

Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs Kei Nishikori (JPN)

Nishikori just made the quarterfinals of Indianapolis, at the age of seventeen. He's in a pretty nice section of the draw, and could make the quarters again if things fall his way.

My pick: Kei Nishikori

Marcelo Melo (BRA) / Andre Sa (BRA) vs Chris Haggard (RSA) / Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

[14] Michael Llodra (FRA) vs Robin Haase (NED)

I can't go around saying that Llodra and Delic are the two weakest seeds without having one of them lose. Nothing personal, Michael.

My pick: Robin Haase

Yesterday's record: 6 for 9

Overall record: 16 for 21