By AAP
August 27th 2008 @ 1:48am
US Open: the Ball out of court
Australia’s US Open campaign started in predictable fashion today with the first round exit of Carsten Ball.
The 22-year-old son of former Australian Davis Cup player Syd Ball was ousted in straight sets - 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 6-1 by Viktor Troicki.
Ball, one of just three Australian men in the draw, battled hard against the Serb in taking the first set to a tiebreak but fell away badly as the 71st seed took complete control in the second and third sets.
In other first round action Robert Smeets, the only Australian to come through the qualifying rounds, will take on Mardy Fish tomorrow.
The American is in good touch having made made the final of the ATP tour event in New Haven on the weekend.
Samantha Stosur, still on the comeback trail after Lyme’s disease and viral meningitis kept her out of the game for six months, will do well to progress past the first round given she’s up against seventh seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams.
Williams is fresh from taking the Olympic doubles gold medal for the US with sister Serena.
Australia’s No.1 ranked woman Casey Dellacqua faces qualifier Julie Coin from France first-up but a win is likely to see her play world No.1 Ana Ivanovic.
The other Australian woman in the draw, promising West Australian Jessica Moore, takes on American Melanie Oudin.
Australia’s highest ranked male in the tournament, world No.87 Chris Guccione, is in action on Wednesday, the former Junior Wimbledon finalist up against American wildcard Jesse Levine.
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