TENNIS.com Friday picks:

Vera Zvonareva (RUS)[27] v. Serena Williams (USA)[8]Arthur Ashe Stadium – 3rd match

Zvonareva is playing her first event after a wrist injury that has kept her off the tour since the spring. Serena is playing her first event after a thumb injury that has kept her off the tour since Wimbledon. So expect some rusty play on both sides.

Serena has struggled with her timing and not looked particularly convincing so far. But she’s hitting her backhand as normal (the injury forced her to revert to a slice during Wimbledon) and there’s still time for things to click into place. Zvonareva, a former top-tenner, has a game that is capable of troubling Serena, but the emotional Russian is short on match-play and her backhand could still be feeling the after-effects of the injury.

Prediction: Serena Williams

Venus Williams (USA)[12] v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)[21]Arthur Ashe Stadium – 7:00 pm

Unlike sister Serena, Venus has started her Open campaign looking impressive. She’s serving well, even breaking her own main-draw record for the fastest women’s serve with a 129 mph effort. The key will be keeping it up, as she’s been prone to sudden lapses during the past few years.

Bondarenko is also the older half of a sisterly duo on the WTA tour, and like Venus, struggles when playing her younger sister, Kateryna. A young player on the rise, she may test Venus at times during the match, but a win is probably out of her reach.

Prediction: Venus Williams

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]Arthur Ashe Stadium – 5th match

All eyes will be on Nadal’s knee as this contest begins. The problem, which visibly affected him during his first-round match, is reported to be tendinitis. Since that’s a nagging nuisance rather than a potentially serious injury, Nadal will probably keep persevering, but he’ll be less effective hitting his forehand on the run and the possibility of an upset becomes more likely. What’s more, he pointed out, having to favor the left knee puts more pressure on his right knee, which troubled him during Wimbledon. It’s not a good situation for the Spaniard.

Assuming a decent performance, he should get through here. But if he plays like he did in his previous match, the deep-thinking Tipsarevic has the tools to get past him. This could be a long one.

Prediction: Nadal, but with an obvious caveat.

Radek Stepanek (CZE) v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3]Louis Armstrong Stadium – 11:00 am

Djokovic has the toughest draw among the top seeds, and this second-round match is part of the reason why. Making his return from a debilitating back/neck injury he suffered towards the end of last year, Stepanek struggled during the spring but has picked up his results since Wimbledon – winning in Los Angeles and causing Roger Federer a few frowns in the semifinals of Cincinnati.

Still, Djokovic should be up to the challenge. Having beaten Federer and Nadal back-to-back in Montreal, he’s now established himself as the challenger to their hegemony and is expected to make a deep run at this event.

The Serb is mentally tough enough not to let Stepanek’s mid-match antics bother him, and his sling-shot groundstrokes should be more than a match for the Czech’s somewhat unorthodox game. Stepanek, whose engagement with Martina Hingis recently came to an end, could take a set or even two with some inspired play, but Djokovic’s sky-high confidence should stand him in good stead during the match’s crucial stages.

Prediction: Djokovic