Legg Mason Tennis Preview

By: Ben Raby

WASHINGTON- Grand Slam champions Andy Roddick and Marat Safin headline the 40th edition of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic which kicks off today from Rock Creek Park.

Roddick is the defending champion and is looking to become the tournament's second four-time winner (Andre Agassi won five titles here in the 1990s).

While many of the ATP's big names are in Beijing this week, the 32-man field in DC includes seven of the world's top-50 players. In addition to Roddick (#9) and Safin (#44), other notables includes former world #2 Tommy Hass (now ranked 40th), and American Mardy Fish (#43).

Roddick is the tournament's top-seed with 19-year-old Jaun Martin Del Potro seeded second. The two met in yesterday's ATP final in Los Angeles with Del Potro winning in straight sets. As the top seeds here in Washington, Roddick and Del Potro are on opposite sides of the draw meaning a second straight championship match could take place on Sunday.

Ten Americans are in the main draw including 2007 finalist John Isner. The 6'9" Isner relies on a powerful serve that produced 144 aces at last year's Legg Mason, a record for a non-Grand Slam event.

Isner takes on 8th-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain in today's featured night match on center court. Roddick isn't expected to play until Tuesday night.