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  • Legg Mason Classic Preview

    8/11/08 8:15 AM | Ricky Dimon
    Legg Mason Classic Preview Andy Roddick looks to defend his Legg Mason title this week in Washington D.C. Juan Martin Del Potro, Tommy Haas, and Marat Safin hope to deny him.

    Sure it's a step down from the two recent Masters Series events of the U.S. Open Series, but considering the Olympics are going on simultaneously, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington D.C. boasts a solid field of players.

    Defending champion Andy Roddick, who has won this title three times, is the top seed and only Top 10 player in the draw with the rest over in Beijing, China. Roddick gets qualifier Ramon Delgado in round one, possibly Sebastien Grosjean in the second, and then perhaps his Los Angeles semifinal opponent, Denis Gremelmayr.

    Juan Martin Del Potro, the hottest player on tour right now having won three straight tournaments (Stuttgart, Kitzbuhel, L.A.) and 14 matches in-a-row, is seeded second. The 6'6'' Argentine drew wild card Jesse Levine for his opener and he could face both Tommy Haas and 2007 surprise runner-up John Isner before the final.

    Haas, the No. 4 seed, and the mercurial Marat Safin also pose threats to the two favorite, Roddick and Del Potro. Both have relatively soft draws and should cruise into the quarterfinals, at which point more difficult tests will stand in the way of the semis.

    Also keep an eye on two former college stars in Isner and Somdev Devvarman. Isner, who led the University of Georgia to the 2007 NCAA team title and lost to Devvarman in the singles final, won five consecutive matches in third-set tiebreakers last year in D.C. before falling to Roddick in the title match. Devvarman, who repeated as NCAA Champion this year representing the University of Virginia, went undefeated in his first four tournaments (Challengers and Futures). He is already continuing his incredible hot streak this week by winning three matches to qualify for the main draw.

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Comments

Juan Martin Del Potro does seem like the one to really watch out for.
Come on Safin!!! It would be awesome if he was seeded for the open.

BernieEliza , 8/11/08 8:25 AM


yeah BernieEliza it would be but i'm not sure he wants it as badly as his fans want it for him. his sister on the other hand should be considered a favorite to win it all.

servolova , 8/11/08 4:27 PM


Team Marat!

His sister is having a great time at the moment indeed.

BernieEliza , 8/12/08 12:27 AM



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