Nick's Picks: US Open Women's Fourth Round

Severine Bremond (FRA) vs. Serena Williams (USA)
The 29-year old Bremond is into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in her career. The previous occasion occurred when she reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2006. She came into the tournament ranked #121, but she has been as high as #34 back in February of 2007.
Serena has been dominant in her three matches. She has only lost a total of 10 games, and been on court for just three hours. She looks healthy, confident and determined to make it back to the finals for fourth time in her career.
 
Match-Up:
This is the first career match between Bremond and Williams. Bremond has excellent groundstrokes and keeps constant pressure on her opponents at all times. Serena will look to exploit Bremond’s one-handed backhand with heavy cross-court backhand shots. Her relentless powerful groundstrokes will be the big difference in this match, causing unforced errors and plenty of defensive balls. I look for Serena to continue her run.
 
Nick’s Pick – Serena Williams in 2 sets 
 
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs. Venus Williams (USA)
Radwanska has been to the fourth round or better of every Grand Slam this year, and this is the second straight year she has reached the Round of 16 at the US Open. She has won three titles already this year, with her most recent one coming at Eastbourne before Wimbledon.
Venus has played in the US Open 10 times (including this year), and every time she has graced these courts she has at least reached the fourth round. Of those nine previous appearances she has been to the semis or finals seven times!! To get back to semis she will have to get by a tough test here, and then maybe her sister Serena in the quarterfinals.
 
Match-Up:
Radwanska is 1-0 against Williams, with that win coming back in 2006. Radwanska doesn’t have the big weapons that some of the other top girls have, but she is a brick wall on the baseline. She doesn’t make many errors, and she moves extremely well. When you play against a player like this, you have to be a bit more patient and not go for outright winners all the time. You have to hit one or two extra balls to set up the point. Venus is playing fantastic tennis. She has really cut down on her unforced errors, is moving beautifully, and her serve has been very consistent. The one thing she has that most of the girls don’t, is her ability to come into the net and use that long wingspan to hit magnificent volleys. This has the potential to be a close match, but in the end I like Venus to pull it out.
 
Nick’s Pick – Venus Williams in 3 sets 

Other matches to watch…
 
Amelie Mauresmo vs. Flavia Pennetta – Mauresmo will really have to be playing her best tennis if she wants to reach the quarterfinals. Pennetta is playing excellent right now, and this should be a very interesting match.
 
Anna-Lena Groenefeld vs. Dinara Safina – Groenefeld is on fire and Safina struggled a bit in her third round match. We all know what Safina has been doing this year, but to get to the quarterfinals she is going to have to play better than she did in her last match.