This week, UCLA gets its once-a-year makeover as a stop on the professional tennis circuit.
The annual Countrywide Classic returns to the Los Angeles Tennis Center this week, and the lineup, while not as star-studded as last year, includes some big names in the world of tennis.
The field, headlined by Fernando Gonzalez and James Blake, has neither the strength nor the name recognition of last year’s field, which included Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.
But there should still be some high-level tennis in this, the first tournament of the US Open series. Many players use this as preparation for the open itself because the playing surfaces are similar.
At least one player is amped up for the challenge.
“I’ve had some of my best success in the US Open Series and the US Open,” Blake said. “It’s my favorite time of year, my favorite events and surface. Any time I get this anxious, excited feeling I can be pretty dangerous.”
Blake is the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament to Gonzalez’s No. 1. They are ranked No. 9 and No. 6 in the world, respectively.
Other big names in the tournament are Marat Safin, David Nalbandian, last year’s runner-up Dmitry Tursunov, Mardy Fish, Hyung-Taik Lee and Amer Delic.
Blake expects Safin to be especially dangerous.
“Whatever he’s ranked, he’s one of the best players in the world talent-wise,” Blake said.
Tennis legend Jack Kramer echoed that sentiment.
“I always look forward to Marat Safin,” Kramer said. “It seems to me that when he plays his best game, I don’t see anybody playing better than him. He has the best chance to beat Federer in my judgment.”
Many players had to withdraw either because of injury or illness.
Included among them were Tommy Haas, who won the tournament last year, and Robby Ginepri, one of the younger Americans looking to fill the void that has been left in the world of American tennis by the retirements of Agassi and Pete Sampras. Andy Murray, a young Scottish star, pulled out as well.
A couple of Americans were not aided in the tournament draw.
Fish and Sam Querrey are doubles partners, but on the first day of the tournament, they will have to square off thanks to an interesting outcome of the draw.
Fish has not been playing well of late, but he is not being discounted by the other players in the field.
“Mardy Fish has been in a slump the last couple of weeks, but he is very dangerous,” Blake said.
Blake is coming off the best year of his career in 2006, when he won five titles in eight finals. With his comfort level at the Countrywide Classic and in the US Open series in general, it could bode well for a special finish for the American. But he’ll have to overcome Gonzalez, who defeated him earlier this year at the Australian Open.
Thirty-two players are featured in the singles tournament draw, and there will also be a doubles tournament where the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, are expected to dominate. This tournament is the first of 10 tournaments in the US Open series and will last from today until Sunday.