Ana takes on world No.58 Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the first round of the US Open on Monday. The match will be the first meeting between the two players.
Makarova, a 22-year-old Russian left-hander, sprang to prominence in June this year when she won the AEGON Championships in Eastbourne. In a career-breakthrough week she qualified then beat Flavia Pennetta, Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Samantha Stosur and Victoria Azarenka. It is arguably the most impressive run through a draw on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour during 2010 so far.
Since triumphing on the grass of Devonshire Park the Russian has failed to reach the last eight of a Tour event, although she did win four matches in succession in Istanbul last month, including the qualifying competition.
This week she fell to fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the semi-finals of a challenger in the Bronx, New York.
Ana has a 22-10 win-loss record against left-handers, although she has lost her last four matches against southpaws.
The match is scheduled as the fourth on the Granstand court, the third biggest at Flushing Meadows. Play on that court begins at 11am, so Ana is unlikely to be in action before 4pm local time (10pm Central European Time). Click here for live point-by-point scoring from the Billie-Jean King USTA National Tennis Center.
