Location: Flushing Meadows, NY, USA
Dates: August 25 - September 7, 2008
Category: Grand Slam
Prize Money: $ 7,050,000
Draw: 128M/128Q/64D
Surface:: Hardcourt (DecoTurf) / Outdoors
Tournament Director: Jim Curley

Official Web Site:

Danka faces Groenedfeld on the 1st round... I think this is a match dani should win

Danka faces Groenedfeld on the 1st round... I think this is a match dani should win

Here's an interesting one: These two last played exactly two years ago at New Haven. Daniela won 6-4 in the third. At the time, Daniela was ranked 18th and Groenefeld 16th. Since then, Groenefeld went into a very sad collapse and came as close to rock bottom as you can get. She's bettered herself this year and has gone 30-4 on the ITF tour and is back up to no. 142. But Daniela should take her easily.

i remember that match, i won so much money on that one, i played a combiné with other matches lol

For me, this is one of the worst first round match Daniela could have. Ana is coming back strongly and we all know in what form Daniela is right now. I am not very confident about this match. But of course let's stay positive.

i know Daniela isn't in her best form but losing vs Groenefeld in the first round would be even a bigger disaster
then last year vs Vakulenko.

We have to believe in her, im sure she will beat her

I think although this is a tough opener, Daniela should win in straight sets, or in three at worst. There is a big difference between winning lots of matches on the ITF tour and lots of matches on the WTA tour and it is fair to say that most of Anna-Lena's success this year has come on the ITF tour. Two years ago it may have been a tight contest but I am expecting Daniela to have too much for the German.
A very comfortable second round match for Daniela, facing either Jessica Moore of Australia or Melanie Oudin of the United States (both Wildcards, and juniors). I saw both of these players compete when I went to Wimbledon this year and neither will stand a chance against Daniela. Moore did win the girl's doubles at Wimbledon but both lost fairly early on in the singles and will have little game for Daniela.
A tricky potential third round opponant in Cornet, a player Daniela has lost to this week. I don't think we can look much beyond this match but it is nice to see her in a different quarter to both Venus and Serena Williams.

I agree. Groenefeld's best win this year is over Safarova, so Daniela is clearly a couple of levels above that.

Match up issue. Groenefeld is perhaps even more dangerous than Kleybanova and Govortsova, they all play a fairly similar style, having huge serve and groundstrokes. Daniela is gonna have problems to return Groenefeld's serve, while her 2nd serve will be a liability. Besides, Groenefeld is on a roll, confidence sky high. If Daniela wins this it will be a tight 3-setter and she needs to play accurately in order to exploit Groenefeld's poor footwork and movement. I don't see her doing so in current form however. Of course I hope I am wrong and Daniela can raise her level of play because she needs to.

Well, she has played maybe two top 50 players since then, so she hasn't had many opportunities to beat them. Which is understandable as not many higher ranked players play the ITF tournaments. And there her results have been very good (she's been sweeping her opposition lately), besides I saw her in Budapest playing Cornet not so long ago and she was scary at times hitting winners at will from any position on the court. Cornet grind out a win thanks to her superb defensive play (and accurate fh topspin - it was played on clay), which is something Daniela can't rely on.
The reason why the German is ranked so low was a difficult relationship with her former coach, but that is behind her and now she is playing much better. She is a former top 20 and a GS quarterfinalist, and once again tennis is mainly about match ups and Groenefeld isn't a good one for Daniela. It will be tough given Daniela's current form. I will be stunned if she drops less than 11 games and then will claim that I know nothing about tennis.
In Daniela's favour speaks Groenefeld's poor movement and fitness, but that's about it, plus Daniela has exactly the same issues.