Sports > Nadal facing test of his title credentials
Second seed Rafael Nadal of Spain can
expect to receive a huge test of his U.S. Open credentials on
Saturday when he faces in-form American James Blake for a place
in the fourth round.
The French Open champion won his first hardcourt title at
the Montreal Masters earlier this month while Blake is unbeaten
in eight matches, having triumphed in New Haven last week.
Former champion and seventh seed Andre Agassi also faces a
tough test when he plays Czech teenager Tomas Berdych.
The 19-year-old Berdych beat world number one Roger Federer
at the Olympic Games last year and also upset Nadal in
Cincinnati earlier this month.
Women's seventh seed Justine Henin-Hardenne, champion at
Flushing Meadows in 2003, bids for a place in the fourth round
with a match against Cho Yoon-jeong of South Korea.
Second seed Lindsay Davenport, runner-up at the Australian
Open and Wimbledon, meets Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues,
while sixth seed Elena Dementieva faces fellow Russian Anna
Chakvetadze, the 29th seed.
