By Mario Sarmento
Two multiple Grand-Slam champions face off to highlight an action-packed Saturday of tennis at the Sony Open Tennis Tournament. Thirteen-time Grand Slam champion and three-time Sony Open finalist Rafael Nadal takes on two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt in the showcase match on Stadium Court, which won’t begin before 8 p.m.
Nadal praised Hewitt’s competitive fire in a press conference Friday, saying, “I admired him when I was a kid and I saw him on the TV. I like his character. He’s always fighting for every ball. He always gave everything on the court. He’s a good example of how to fight on the tennis court.”
Nadal-Hewitt is only the nightcap for a day that’s filled with tennis heavyweights, as women’s No. 1 Serena Williams continues her Sony Open title defense against France’s Caroline Garcia in a match that won’t start before 1 p.m. Five-time Sony Open finalist Maria Sharapova takes on Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in another Stadium Court showdown that won’t begin before 4:30 p.m.
In between those two matches, two Americans take center stage, as No. 10 John Isner – the highest-rated U.S. male – takes on Donald Young.
The day’s action starts strong with Australian Open champion and third seed Stanislas Warwrinka battles Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver at 11 a.m.
But it’s not just a day for singles acts, as the No. 1 doubles team in the world, the Bryan brothers, take on the Great Britain pair of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins on Court 1 not before 5 p.m.
So get your tickets today, and make it a Sony Open day.
