| Generations: Sampras and Roddick Launch US Open Campaigns While Sampras meets Boutter and Roddick faces Dosedel, Lleyton Hewitt, Greg Rusedski and Roger Federer all play on day two. (6)Julien Boutter (FRA) vs. (10)Pete Sampras (USA) Head to Head: First Meeting Boutter is exactly the type of first round opponent Sampras would have hoped to avoid as he begins his assault on a fifth US Open crown. The 1990, '93, '95 and '96 winner would have preferred to play someone without the huge serve, flamboyant single-handed backhand, and care-free personality of Frenchman Boutter. A final appearance in Long Island has given the American some confidence though, and when his game is "on," he is still regarded by many as the man to beat. Smarting from a fourth round loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon, Sampras is desperate to win the year's final Grand Slam event at Flushing Meadows, and will have the backing of the New York crowd as he attempts to book a second round date with Andre Sa of Brazil. Boutter won't mind that though. An intelligent and slightly whacky character, the 6'3" (1.91m) giant from Metz in France has a degree in Applied Mechanics, and can boast wins over Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Goran Ivanisevic this year. Slava Dosedel (CZE) vs. (18)Andy Roddick (USA) Head to Head: First Meeting Dosedel will need to take several looks at the smiling face he draws on his racquet strings to cheer himself up on Tuesday, because it's the only friendly face he's likely to see when he meets Andy Roddick in the US Open first round. The Czech is a popular man on the ATP tennis circuit, but in Roddick he faces the future of American tennis, and a patriotic New York crowd. The man known as "A-Rod" doesn't need much to pump himself up at the best of times, but with a highly charged sea of supporters cheering on his every move, his booming first serve will be cranked up like never before. Dosedel, at 31, has seen these types of situations before. He reached the quarterfinals in New York in 1999 - beating Jim Courier along the way - and he won't be overawed by the occasion. A patient baseliner who tends to let his opponents punch themselves out before surprising them with sudden forays to the net, Dosedel is married with a 2-year-old son, Jakub. He also featured in a movie called "Life Water" two years ago. He played the main character, Dr.Priesniez, who found a cure for high fever in the 1800s. Whether he can find an antidote to the problems caused by Roddick, who is fresh from claiming a title in Washington two weeks ago, is another matter. The winner will meet 36-year-old Gianluca Pozzi or American qualifier Jack Brasington in round two. |