Sam Querrey in action at Farmers Classic

Sam Querrey probably saw Kevin Anderson challenge his good friend John Isner in Atlanta last week. The second seed at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles must have thought the draw was incorrect when he checked to see whom his first opponent was. At 6’8”, South African Kevin Anderson poses a threat in every match he plays. By the time the U.S. Open begins, everyone will know who Anderson is and the size of his game.

Already possessing one of the game’s biggest serves, Anderson is adding some depth to his game before the Open. On Wednesday, Anderson pushed the second seed in the first two sets before crumbling in the third 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-0.

Anderson defeated Illya Marchenko of the Ukraine 6-3, 6-2 in the first round. After pushing Querrey to the limit in sets one and two, the hard hitter simply ran out of gas in the third.

Querrey will next face Germany’s Rainer Schuettler in the round of sixteen. Schuettler outlasted another competitive American, Robby Ginepri, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 despite some boisterous support from the locals. Team USA is shaping up their hard court prowess before heading to Flushing Meadows.

In other Wednesday action, third seeded Marcos Baghdatis was pushed by wild card American Ryan Sweeting 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Sweeting had Bagdhatis off balance with his big two handed backhand in the first set, but once the Cypriot found Sweeting’s forehand, the deal was sealed.

Baghdatis will face Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in the round of 16. The Serb defeated India’s Somdev Devvarman 7-6 (9), 6-2.

Today 4th seed Feliciano Lopz will take on Dudi Xavier and top seed Andy Murray will play American Tim Smyczek. Murray was a late entrant and received top billing when Novak Djokovic was forced to rest.

The world’s fourth ranked player is looking to win his first title in what has been a disappointing year. The ATP World Tour 250 hard court is Murray’s first appearance in an outdoors hard court event this season. Murray holds 14 tour level championships. Four of those titles were earned in California. Andy is the first Brit to play in Los Angeles in three years.

At the start of the week, Murray dismissed his coach, Miles Maclagan. At times, analysts have doubted the Scotsman’s intensity. In announcing the coaching change, Murray said he felt that he had the game to win a Grand Slam but something was missing. He made no announcement about a new coach.

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