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  • Legg Mason Day 1 Preview

    8/11/08 2:35 PM | Ricky Dimon
    - Monday in D.C. hails the return of Taylor Dent and the arrival of Somdev Devvarman. But don't forget about Tommy Haas, John Isner, and Donald Young.

    Rik De Voest vs. (4) Tommy Haas

    Haas, one of John Isner's upset victims last year, is looking to improve upon his 2007 quarterfinal showing. He definitely has a draw that is conducive to doing just that, and first up is veteran Rik De Voest. The South African is just 3-5 in ATP level matches and has lost in the first round of his last three events, including one Challenger tournament. De Voest has not won a match of any kind since early June. Haas has enjoyed a solid summer, but he failed to capitalize on a solid showing in Cincinnati (lost to Rafael Nadal in the third round) by bowing out of Los Angeles in shocking fashion to Donald Young in round one. Nonetheless, Haas should be able to bounce back and rout De Voest in straight sets.

    (8) Marcel Granollers vs. John Isner

    Last season's summer sensation is back for more, but Isner is not coming in with ideal confidence. The 6'9'' American is 8-16 at the ATP level this season and is down to 134th in the world since the Legg Mason was played earlier in 2007 and those runner-up points are already off the board. Isner showed signs of life in Cincinnati, beating Andrea Stoppini before playing a solid match against Igor Andreev in which he had match points in the second set. Last week he drew Marat Safin in the first round of Los Angeles and went out in straights. Granollers, a Spaniard who much prefers dirt, has fallen off the map since the clay-court season in which he won a title in Houston. Anything can happen in an Isner match since it so often comes down to just a few points, but Granollers will probably be overwhelmed by Isner's serves on a faster surface.

    Donald Young vs. Luis Horna

    The hyped-up Young is still just 18 years old and he continues to struggle finding his form on the ATP Tour. He got embarrassed by an ailing Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-1 in the Cincinnati first round, but he bounced back to stun Haas in Los Angeles. The up-and-down trend continued, however, as Young lost his next match easily to Marc Gicquel. Young has a better hard-court game than Horna, who has not played on the surface since the Masters Series Indian Wells. Horna, who didn't post outstanding results on clay this season either, is a mere 0-2 on hard courts in 2008. Young should have at least one good match in him this week, and if he does, Horna will be dispatched in straight sets.

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