Day 3: Don't Believe The Hype

Why do the marquee matches rarely live up to the hype? I just have one thing to say about last night's showdown: Maria was ready; Lindsay was not. Next.

Red White and Blue



Serena Williams stepped it up to fend off a fierce attack from Meng Yuan. Mardy Fish exacted revenge on Tommy Robredo with a composed beatdown in the sun. Andy Roddick hardly lit up the night with a rinky dink moonball special which turned Michael Berrer into a club player and made Jimmy Connors red with laughter. Jesse Levine got cheated by officials left and right and, despite serving for two sets but winning none against Jarkko Nieminen, lost his way into the third round. Sam Warburg had few answers for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, even though he made the Frenchman sing for his supper.

Blue White and Red



Speaking of the Frenchies. A nervous Amélie Mauresmo needed 10 matchpoints to book her spot on Day 5. She'll be joined by Richard Gasquet, Aravane Rezai, who upset compatriot and No. 13 seed Tatiana Golovin in three sets, Virginnie Razzano, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Marc Gicquel, and Tsonga. Not a bad showing for a half of each draw.

Daily Discovery



Serena sure knows how to find them. This is the Grand Slam of the Asia Pacific and Yuan who hails from China had loud supporters. She played Serena like she knew she could beat her. She stared her down, pumped her fist, and rifled winner after winner off both wings. I don't believe I've ever seen a player from Asia hit a forehand with so much topspin. If only other players who are supposed to lose to the game's elite would show half the fight she did, the sport would be much better.

Upset Specials



Not a big surprise, really, but the Aussies certainly had something to celebrate with lefy Casey Dellacqua took out lefty Patty Schnyder, the No. 15 seed, with a confident display of power and finesse. If Mauresmo remains frightened of winning, she'll get another scalp on Day 5.



And Yuan wasn't the only Asian woman who put on a show. Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei must've put on quite the show to take out No. 19 seed Sybille Bammer in straight sets with a loss of a mere two games. Wish I could've seen that one.

Hope For Day 4

Here's hoping Fabrice Santoro vs. Roger Federer and Marat Safin vs. Marcos Baghdatis live up to expectations, that any women's match becomes a surprise classic, and that there are less bagels in the bolier, less breadsticks in the oven.