Isner Battles Blake in DC; Americans on the Move

American tennis is alive and well, at least in the lower rankings. Already this summer on the hardcourts we’ve seen Mardy Fish and John Isner play some great tennis, and Ryan Harrison has been the breakout star. And lest we forget, the reemergence of Serena Williams.

Today, Americans again take the spotlight in Washington and at Carlsbad where the women are competing.

In our nation’s capital, James Blake, who was left for dead not long ago, battles Isner. Michael Russell and Donald Young also lock up in another all-American showdown while Ryan Sweeting takes on top seed Gael Monfils in a match at noon.

Also, Fernando Verdasco collides with Nikolay Davydenko at 5pm on a very busy day in D.C.

Because of rain Wednesday, six second round matches are still to be completed and those winners will have to play two matches today in the heat to get the tournament back on schedule.

In Cali, promising American teens Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens continue their run. McHale, 19, earned her third round spot when Alla Kudryavtseva retired in the second. The Jersey-native plays the steady Agnieska Radawanska.

Stephens, 18, collected the win of her young career upsetting Top 20 Julia Goerges 6-3, 7-5. She now plays Tamira Paszek today.

And 19-year-old Coco Vandeweghe is also in action against Sabine Lisicki in the headline match tonight in Carlsbad.

Tennis Channel will have live TV coverage of Washington from 4pm ET.

THURSDAY WASHINGTON SCHEDULE

STADIUM start 12:00 noon
[1] [WC] G Monfils (FRA) vs R Sweeting (USA)
[10] M Llodra (FRA) vs G Dimitrov (BUL)
Not Before 4:00 PM
M Russell (USA) vs D Young (USA)
Not Before 5:00 PM
[11] J Isner (USA) vs J Blake (USA)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[1] [WC] G Monfils (FRA) or R Sweeting (USA) vs F Cipolla (ITA) or [15] D Tursunov (RUS) – Possible Court Change
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs M Melo (BRA) / B Soares (BRA)

GRANDSTAND start 12:00 noon
[7] M Baghdatis (CYP) vs S Devvarman (IND) 10
M Berrer (GER) vs [6] J Tipsarevic (SRB)
Not Before 4:00 PM
[16] J Nieminen (FIN) vs R Stepanek (CZE)
Not Before 5:00 PM
[5] [WC] F Verdasco (ESP) vs [9] N Davydenko (RUS)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[3] V Troicki (SRB) vs [13] K Anderson (RSA) – Possible Court Change

THURSDAY CARLSBAD SCHEDULE

Stadium Court (from 11.00hrs)
1. Virginie Razzano vs. Andrea Petkovic
2. Vera Zvonareva vs. Vera Dushevina
3. Alberta Brianti vs. Ana Ivanovic
4. Dushevina/Hradecka vs. Bovina/Zheng
5. Sabine Lisicki vs. Coco Vandeweghe (NB 19.30hrs)
6. Peschke/Srebotnik vs. Date-Krumm/Zhang

Grandstand (from 11.00hrs)
1. Christina McHale vs. Agnieszka Radwanska
2. Daniela Hantuchova vs. Zheng Jie
3. Sloane Stephens vs. Tamira Paszek
4. Errani/Vinci vs. Rodionova/Savchuk (after suitable rest)

Court 3 (from 13.00hrs)
1. Peng Shuai vs. Sara Errani