US Open day 1: Kim begins her farewell tournament

US Open starts today and I must apologize for the delay in updating of this blog. Just came back from a short trip overseas and barely had time to rest. Anyway, the last Grand Slam of the year begins and Kim will play her last official tournament here. It's tough to maintain the unbeaten streak but it has to stop somewhere...

Schedule of play can be found here:

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/index.html?promo=subnav

Match focus: 

Sorana Cirstea vs. (16) Sabine Lisicki

Sabine Lisicki faces a tough opener as Sorana Cirstea can upset anyone on a good day. However, she can also blast herself off the court on a bad day. Lisicki enters the US Open with zero preparations on the American hardcourts while Cirstea had plenty of warm-up on this surface. Will it be an advantage? If Sorana can get into Sabine's head with her pesky play, Sabine might self-implode. But knowing Sorana, she will self-destruct first before that happens.

Pick: Lisicki in 3 sets

Daniela Hantuchova vs. (17) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 

Daniela is one of the dangerous unseeded floaters and she faces Pavlyuchenkova in the first round. After a disastrous start to the season which saw Anastasia almost falling out of the top 40, she played herself back to form recently and even upset Caroline Wozniacki in Cincinnati. Form wise, you have to favour the Russian as Daniela had several early exits in her warm-up events. But if Daniela can play clean first-strike tennis, Pavlyuchenkova may be in trouble.

Pick: Pavlyuchenkova in 3 sets

Romina Oprandi vs. Andrea Petkovic

Petkovic is back from her injury! After an injury plagued year ruined her year, Andrea is fighting hard to participate in the last Grand Slam of the year after missing the first 3. She did win a match in New Haven but Oprandi can drive players nuts with her crazy junk. Petkovic needs to be patient and not get riled up by Oprandi's tricky shots. I hope the German wins this because she is such a hard worker and is plain unlucky with injuries.

Pick: Petkovic in 2 sets

Lucie Hradecka vs. (27) Anabel Medina Garrigues

I have no idea how Anabel Medina Garrigues manages to keep herself in the top 30 despite not doing much for the whole year. After losing spectacularly against Stosur, I don't fancy her chances against another big serve in Lucie Hradecka. Lucie has a huge game and will have too much firepower for Anabel. It's a pity that she prefers to concentrate more on her double career because if she wants to, she can be a great singles player as well.

Pick: Hradecka in 2 sets

(31) Varvara Lepchenko vs. Mathilde Johansson

If there is a late bloomer, it will be Varvara Lepchenko. Despite being on tour for about 7 to 8 years, she's only making some impact now. Guess what, her hard work has paid off and is seeded for the first time in a Grand Slam. She will face an unprepared Mathilde Johansson in the first round. You have to favour the newly converted American as she is high on confidence now and Johansson didn't play any warm ups.

Pick: Lepchenko in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Samantha Stosur, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova

Upset alert: Anabel Medina Garrigues, Julia Cohen, Romina Oprandi