Thank you for being a friend, well, so the song goes. These words may not come to mind after friends Alicia Molik and Kim Clijsters, and James Blake and Sam Querrey square off on day 3 of the Brisbane International.
Clijsters showed in her first-round match that she’s determined to pick up in 2010 where she left off in 2009 – cradling silverware. For Molik, her first-round win celebrations were short lived as she set about plotting her friend’s demise.
While both players will put their friendship aside for a couple of hours today, Molik will need to be at her best if she’s to cause a major upset.
Similarly, the lanky Querrey (ranked No.25) will face a tough time against pal and countryman Blake (ranked No.44) in the second match of the day at Pat Rafter Arena.
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Beginning play at Pat Rafter Arena at 10:30 am will be Mardy Fish and smiling Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, both of whom played in the inaugural Brisbane International.
Another American will open proceedings in the night session at Pat Rafter Arena – Taylor Dent who has the unenviable task of matching up with athletic and unpredictable Frenchman Gael Monfils. Monfils is destined for the top 10 and was born for this prime time slot.
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Closing out the night session is Ana Ivanovic who will return to Pat Rafter Arena after ousting Jelena Dokic on Monday. Ivanovic has a date with Swiss Timea Bacsinszky that she will be hoping to keep short and sweet.
In other matches, Queenslander Bernard Tomic will pit his developing game against qualifier Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr, New South Wales’ Nick Lindahl will face a tall order in the shape of Tomas ‘Big Bird’ Berdych, Aussie wildcard Carsten Ball meets Mischa Zverev and West Australian qualifier Matt Ebden faces Jurgen Melzer.