Daily Bruin: US Open series kicks off in L.A.

his week, UCLA gets its once-a-year makeover as a stop on the professional tennis circuit.The annual Countrywide Classic returns to the Los Angeles Tennis Center this week, and the lineup, while not as star-studded as last year, includes some big names in the world of tennis.

The field, headlined by Fernando Gonzalez and James Blake, has neither the strength nor the name recognition of last year’s field, which included Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.

But there should still be some high-level tennis in this, the first tournament of the US Open series. Many players use this as preparation for the open itself because the playing surfaces are similar.

At least one player is amped up for the challenge.

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