TENNIS.com Monday picks:

Tomas Berdych (CZE)[9] v. Andy Roddick (USA)[5]Arthur Ashe Stadium – 2nd match

This is one match removed from the heavily-anticipated Roddick vs. Roger Federer contest in the quarterfinals. Roddick started the tournament slowly but produced a dominating performance in his last round. He’ll be looking to (and needs to) step it up yet another level before that potential rematch.

Berdych’s big game means he can never be counted out of any match – he's one of the few playrs who can court win over both Federer and Rafael Nadal. If he has a great day, he could seize the initiative and power past Roddick like he did in Madrid last year. But if he’s feeling flat, even getting Roddick on clay in front of a raucous home crowd isn’t enough –as when he went down to Roddick in Davis Cup earlier this year. After a solid clay and grass season, Berdych has been only so-so on hardcourts. Roddick hasn’t had the best summer either, with a title in Washington the only highlight, but the odds are that he’ll come through in front of the home crowd here.

Prediction: Roddick

Tommy Haas (GER)[10] v. James Blake (USA)[6]Arthur Ashe Stadium – 3rd match

Both players have had a tough road to this point. Blake had a tough straight-set win over Michael Russell, an eclectic five-setter over Fabrice Santoro, and a four-set gunslinger with Stefan Koubek. Haas went four sets with recent revelation Steve Darcis, four sets with compatriot Phillip Petzschner, and five with fellow evergreen Sebastien Grosjean.

Though now 29, Haas has plenty of stamina when healthy – earlier this year, he won the title in Mephis, flew straight over to Dubai, and kept going until he got beaten by Roger Federer in the semifinals. Injuries have interrupted this year’s resurgence, but his results have been enough to keep him dipping in and out of the Top 10.

Famously, Blake’s five-set win was his first ever. A significant mental milestone, but we could have done without the back-patting that accompanied it – a 1-9 record in five-set matches isn’t exactly anything to crow about.

Given Haas’ penchant for marathons, this one could go five too. But Blake’s now been battle-tested thoroughly at this event, so short or long, he should come through.

Prediction: Blake

Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)[6] v. Tamira Paszek (AUT)Arthur Ashe Stadium – 4th match

The women have recently taken a lot of flak for cookie-cutter ball-bashing, so here are two of the more stylish youngsters providing a counter to the criticism. Chakvetadze has been referred to as Hingis with more punch, and Paszek resembles Anna Kournikova – not in looks (sorry guys), but her strokes.

At 16, Paszek began as the youngest player in the draw and was making her US Open debut – this isn’t a bad start. But the 20-year-old Chakvetadze has been one of the tour’s strongest performers during the hardcourt summer. With this half of the draw so wide open, she’s not planning to be done yet.

Prediction: Chakvetadze