When the 2010 U.S. Open begins on the hard courts of The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, there are several talented unseeded players who could be tough opening round opponents, might post big wins or could advance into the later rounds of the tournament… they include:

WOMEN:
o    Sania Mirza – talented Indian star, who qualified, on the comeback trail from injury
o    Mirjana Lucic – former teen star who qualified and has been working her way back up the rankings
o    Jarmila Groth – Australian with a strong serve and moving up the rankings
o    Kimiko Date Krumm – almost 40, but still capable of challenging top players
o    Anna Chakvetadze – has been ranked as high as five in the past and on the comeback trail
o    Kateryna Bondarenko – solid baseliner who reached the U. S. Open quarters in 2009
o    Dinara Safina – was seeded/ranked Number One a year ago and on the comeback from a back injury
o    Ana Ivanovic – former French Open champion and Number One player, perhaps this can be the Slam where she really turns things around…


MEN:
o    Kei Nishikori – Japanese star, who qualified, is returning from an arm injury
o    Jeremy Chardy – big-hitting Frenchman who reached the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2008
o    Xavier Malisse – flashy Belgian who has rebounded up the rankings in 2010
o    Julien Benneteau – solid player who almost upset Rafael Nadal a few weeks ago
o    Michael Llodra – strong lefty serve and volleyer who has won Slams in doubles
o    Richard Gasquet – talented Frenchman who used to be ranked in the top ten
o    Janko Tipsarevic – has shown he can beat top players on big stages in the past
o    Taylor Dent – has a strong serve and volley game that is a “change-up” to most opponents