At The Open
With Marcia Frost...

Wednesday, August 31st
Main Draw, Day Three

Former Harvard attendee James Black got in plenty of practice. First on the U.S. Open practice courts (above) and then over at Shea Stadium where he tried did some swinging with a baseball bat.

Nineteen year old Scott Oudsema, who turned pro after winning the Junior Open doubles title last year, partnered with Alex Kuznetsov (a pro, but still eligible to play the Juniors) to defeated Tommy Haas and Alexander Waske, 7-6,6-3. There was quite a crowd at that event and it seemed to have as much to with Scott's modeling campaigns for Polo as his talent in doubles.

Former Stanford players were everywhere today as Laura Granville squeaked by Nicole Pratt, 6-4,5-7,7-5; Bob & Mike Bryan defeated Arnaud Clement and Sebastien Grosjean, 7-6,1-6,6-3; Paul Goldstein (and partner Jim Thomas) upset third-seeded Mark Knowlesand Daniel Nestor, 4-6,6-4,6-2; and Marissa Irvin (and partner Jamea Jackson) lost to Chia-Jung Chuang and Akiko Morigami, 6-4,6-3.

It was a quiet day for American juniors, but I did see some of Shahar Peer of Israel against No. 23 Vera Douchevina. Shahar eliminated the Russian, 7-5,3-6,6-3, so it looks like she may be staying in the main draw and skipping the juniors.

Thursday will be a busy one for me as I try to do the old "three places at once" trick. Though I make no promises, I will attempt to cover: Nathalie Dechy vs. Vania King; Massimo Bertolini/Filippo Volandri vs. Sam Querrey/Donald Young; Jelena Jankovic vs. Alexa Glatch; Alexa Glatch/Vania King vs. Daniela Hantuchova/Ai Sugiyama; Megan Bradley/Kristi Miller vs. Catalina Castano/Laura Pous Tio; and Mykyta Kryvonos/Denis Zivkovic vs. Jose Acasuso/Sebastian Prieto. Wish me luck!

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FROM OTHER DAYS & FEATURE STORIES
FROM THE 2005 US OPEN