Tommy Haas, Gustavo Kuerten Headline Miami Day One

Tommy Haas, Gustavo Kuerten Headline Miami Day One
By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:30am CST USA

Tommy Haas, Tommy Haas, Gustavo Kuerten Headline Miami Day One, Sony Ericsson Open

Photo by Mary Avery/AP

MIAMI--(lawntennismag.com) First round action at the Sony Ericsson Open begins this morning at the second largest tennis tournament played in the United States. Known a number of years ago for several years as simply the Lipton, the tournament has once again this year taken its name from its title sponsor.

And at this fresh start of the tournament, three tour players will attempt to rebound from injuries which had recently kept them sidelined to make their own fresh starts of 2008.

2008 Sony Ericsson Open, Miami, Florida, USA
Miami, Florida, United States
March 26-April 6, 2008
$3,770,000 | Hard court
Day 1 Wednesday | First Round

Men's Singles: 1st Round
Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) WC vs. Sebastien Grosjean (FRA)
Nicknamed Guga in his home country of Brazil, three time French Open champion Kuerten has announced 2008 to be his last as a tour player. After missing large parts of the last two years due to injuries, Kuerten will want to finish strong in Miami and then Paris. But standing in his way today is Sebastien Grosjean of France who leads him 3-2 head to head.
Winner: Kuerten. If he is playing well, local fan support could pull him through.

Women's Singles: 1st Round
Emmanuelle Gagliardi (SUI) Q vs. Ashley Harkleroad (USA)
Back in 2003 American Harkleroad's looks and game sent her to the top level of the game before injury and personal problems took her for a detour. Reached the fourth round last week in Indian Wells and may be not far from playing her best baseline game again.
Winner: Harkleroad. Gagliardi won their only prior meeting in a third set tiebreaker, but I think Ashley will be tougher today.

Men's Singles: 1st Round
Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs. Tommy Haas (GER)
This first round could be a semifinal or final as the two Germans may battle deep into a third set. Head to head Kiefer leads Haas 3-2, but has not been able to string together any momentum this year on the tour.
Winner: Haas. After reaching last week's Indian Wells quarterfinals, Haas withdrew with a sinus infection. If Haas is healthy, I think he will have more weapons to win than Kiefer.