Vamos!

Rafa in 4 hard fought sets...

Today will be Rafa's turn to wow the media..yesterday belonged to the FED!!!

"Imagine that a team with an exceptionally gifted, quick, finess runner has to play a major rival and defensive powerhouse on a field that's been turned into a swamp by a deluge. And this cut-and-dart runner ends up running for 215 yards. That's what Federer did last night."

215 yards? Wow, Federer must have been very good last night, too bad I missed it...

Pete.I had to laugh at your post title? No living Down Under I have to get up at 1.00am in the morning.Hmmmm not happy and its played havoc with my all system not to mention my ant age program.I cant wait for tennis Down Under I hope you lot suffer ok lol!

Moonpie Open Thursday Order of Play on Ashe

2 PM - Wawrinka vs Youzhny
8 PM - The Host vs Verdasco

Before the 2 PM singles match, Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan are playing Kveta Peschke and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in the final of mixed doubles.

Prediction : Liezel and Bob to win in deciding tiebreaker

Pete, I think you need to come clean. You really hate both Rafa and Roger, don't you? :)

Ace Seeding Progress:

(1) Kim Clijsters - SF against (3)Venus Williams
(2) Caroline Wozniacki - SF against (7)Vera Zvonareva
(3) Venus Williams - SF against (1)Kim Clijsters
(4) Victoria Azarenka - R64 loss to Gisela Dulko(retired due to concussion trailing 1-5)
(5) Maria Sharapova - R16 loss to (2)Caroline Wozniacki
(6) Svetlana Kuznetsova - R16 loss to Dominika Cibulkova
(7) Vera Zvonareva - SF against (2)Caroline Wozniacki
(8) Jelena Jankovic - R32 loss to Kaia Kanepi
(9) Elena Dementieva - R16 loss to (F)Samantha Stosur
(10) Na Li - R128 loss to Kateryna Bondarenko
(F) Alisa Kleybanova - R64 loss to Sara Errani
(F) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - R16 loss to Francesca Schiavone
(F) Flavia Pennetta - R32 loss to Shahar Peer
(F) Agnieszka Radwanska - R64 loss to Shuai Peng
(F) Samantha Stosur - QF loss to (1)Kim Clijsters

They still play Wimbledon on grass? I thought it was green clay now?

OT: I posted a translation of interview with Marat on the previous CC (won't repost it here, as it's really long), for those who's interested. He's in NY right now.

here is a link to the original interview, with a picture of Marat.
http://www.gotennis.ru/news/?p=51565

sokol I read the interview on the other post.Thanks soo much.I cant wait till Marat does his thoughts of course I will be in tennis heaven by then.Seeing he thinks he will be around 70 LOL!

Master Ace.Watching the pairing of Black and Aussie Anastasia they have done better in the 2nd set.Though I guess seeing its a new partnership it will take a bit before they gel together.

Pete, I sympathize. Reporting for TW from Toronto in 2008, I put in a throwaway line about Nadal, and was surprised by the vehement reaction of some fans. Goes with the territory - you get it from Camp Fed as well as Camp Rafa.

On the last thread ("What Wind?") I remarked that this is the first time in a year and a half that fans of both Nadal and Federer see their favorite player moving, hitting the ball and taking on opponents with fluency and confidence. I think we should all celebrate that - two greats of the Open Era have been laying a feast before us for nearly six years, and it's just insane to argue about the layout of the cutlery.

"I cant wait till Marat does his thoughts"

that would make some intereting read, won't it? lol

you know, AM, I'm really surprised by his passion and dedication to improving tennis in Russia. I didn't expect that from Marat. I thought he would party, party and party :-) after he's retired, but he's working hard. I've read some artices where other people are stunned with his dedication for improving the system in Russia for tennis. Russia is lucky to have this guy. I hope he'll be successful and soon tehre will be a better system in Russia of raising future stars of tennis. Go, Marat!

hi guys...

good us open this year...

watching doubles with shvedova and vania king...

enjoying what i see from these women

WTA SF Preview:

(A-2)Caroline Wozniacki vs (A-7)Vera Zvonareva

Caroline is currently on a 13 match win streak(19-1 since Wimbledon) and since April 2009, she has lost only 3 matches against Russian players which is good considering the number of matches against them in that time span is either at 30 or more. She was tested in a match that was one that she could have easily been flat,wind causing problems, getting into a debate with the chair umpire over a shot that she felt like that she won, and served twice to stay in the set but she passed those obstacles. For the second Slam in a row, Vera(Dr. Wind if the match are played in windy conditions) has made the semifinals(lost to Serena Williams in the finals at Wimbledon). She has flown under the radar but in some experts opinion, she was the favorite to win that quarter. Now, she will be looking out for revenge after she lost in the final to Caroline at Montreal

(A-3)Venus Williams vs (A-1)Kim Clijsters

For a player to have a total of 0 matches since Wimbledon, you can say that Venus may be the best player at the USO as she won all of her matches in straight sets against tough opposition. With her not playing doubles and Serena not playing due to foot issues, she is able to be more rested in the later rounds of USO and able to choose her 6th dress. Kim finally had a tough match in her QF battle with Samantha Stosur, who won over Elena Dementieva saving 4 MP in the process, who took her to 3 sets and Kim UFEs were more than normal. That match may help her against Venus in the SF as she wants to extend her USO winning streak to 20(2005, 2009 and 2010) with her last loss being to Justine Henin in the 2003 USO final.

WTA Final on Saturday will be : Caroline Wozniacki vs Venus Williams

Mornin' y'all.

sokol! Thanks so much for that article and taking the time to clean up google's translation. Fun read and great to hear his idea about Russian tennis and well... everything. I chuckled at the bit about him shopping at Century 21 and his pride at how little weight he's gained.

thanks for that preview master ace...

loved reading them.. missed them too...

Before one shops at Centuary 21 take valium ok.lol!

"how little weight he's gained."

lost, he lost 3 kg (which is around 5 lbs), that's why he's proud :-)

Sherlock - LOL at both of your posts at 12:13! Too funny! Are you trying to lure Tim out from hiding today??? As for me I should be at work, but alas taking a sick day:(

black/rodionova picking on yaroslava.... not fair... totally not fair...

king/shvedova leads 6-3, 3-2, 15-30

I hope that rumor of Dinara's romance with Zeljko was not true, for Dinara's sake

Yay good work girls to break back on serve again in the 2nd set.

sokol Me too.Though honestly I dont believe it

even though she did looked too attached to the guy...

My match report: So I was at the Open last night, watching the matches from a seat high in the heavens. Looking straight down on the players wasn’t a terrible vantage point, though. I remember being more disconcerted when I was nearly courtside and could barely see the ball whizzing back and forth.

No, the weird thing about watching tennis live is the silence. Without the cozy, familiar, adenoidal voices of John MacEnroe and his commentator partner, there was no narrative constructed for me – it was just two guys facing each other, and to my surprise it looked like more fun than it does on TV. TV brings you in close to the anxiety and discomfort of the players, but watching from the seats, you remember they’re two reasonably young men playing a game. On TV, I sometimes wonder how they can muster the energy to serve over and over and over – live, you see how each serve is a new possibility. Or that’s how it felt to me. Still, I couldn’t help missing the MacEnroes and wondering what they were saying about Soderling’s poor play. A nice guy next to me and my friend lent us his radio earpiece for a while and that helped. But it wasn’t the Macs.

Robin looked lumbering and flat-footed. And his super-casual outfit looked schlubby compared to Fed’s. I felt awful for him – nothing went his way, including a lot of line calls that I couldn’t see why he didn’t challenge. Fed was grace and speed personified. My friend, who isn’t a tennis fanatic, was converted to Fed’s genius by the end of the first set. She also, satisfyingly, found him very hot. So we were in accord and quite happy despite the bitterly cold wind. $14 glasses of red wine warmed us up.

I also really enjoyed the women's match -- it was a lot closer. Thought it would go three sets but not quite.

Hmmm Cara Blacks hubby is a bit of a scary person

was watching ace at star sports earlier, and carlos ramos was featured, i think it was the first time that they featured an umpire. im so happy, he is my fave umpire. and his accent is just so sexy...
and... pretty smart guy too...
i love him more now...

sokol - Lost? Even better. LOL. Agree re: Dinara/Zeljko. Would make sense, but I hope the rumors were just that.

Kirsty Thanks for a great report.I hope you enjoyed yourself even in the windy conditions and the wind didnt play havoc with your hair.

thanks kristy...

was it really that cold there??? with the gusts???

Andrew and Pete - I have a question for the both of you regarding Rafa's new service grip. I was shocked to hear he started this two days before the open. I am thinking of many players over the past several who after adjusting a grip or changing a technique have come down with wrist, elbow, and/or shoulder injuries. I also would think to employ a new grip one would need more practice and adjustment before employing it so successful on such a grand stage at the US Open. I'd love to hear both of your thoughts on the subject. Thanks!

Come on girls stay steady and serve out this 2nd set

Kristy: what a fabulous post! I wish I'd been with you on tuesday night when I looked down at these small figures on court and got all cranky about it. After moving down to better seats, I really got to appreciate the speed of the shots and the incredible court movement of the players. But, you're right, it really is nice to have to listen to the running commentary from the talking heads. Are you going back again?

Hi Kristy! Thanks so much for your match report! Also good to know there is another Fed fan out there:) Will you be attending anymore sessions?

Omg, it was freezing. My friend was in a short skirt and blouse - she almost bought a US Open towel to wrap herself in, but at $61 we decided it wasn't worth it.

AM, it was a bad hair day, I'm not going to lie to you. It started out high-humidity and then just went to straight wind. Luckily we had hats.

Deuce If I may answer that one and give my thoughts Imjimmy and I were discussing the same thing on the other post.Its not soo dramatic at all.For any player to completely change their grip its a process.I thought Rafa's wrist looks loser to me.Read imjimmys thoughts on the last page of the other post.

Kirsty I also hate Hat hair lol! I have had this new treatment in my hair.Usually with any humidity or rain my hair just goes to Frizz.Though now its just a Wonder.Though it wont guard against Hat Hair lol!

oops, I meant NOT to have to listen to the running commentary!

I almost bought an official program but I thought $17 was insane.

Pfft girls serving for the 2nd set and got broken? focus please.

Deuce, he he. Just trying to lighten the mood before we are all trying to kill each other over another stressful slam final weekend. :)

Sorry to hear about the sick day. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Annie and Deuce, thanks! Annie, I wish I could have been there Tues. night too. It's better to be a bit lower down, you're right. I don't think I'm going back but of course I would LOVE to see the final.

Diane, the funny thing is I'm mainly a Roddick fan but have watched so much Federer that I'm now a fan of his -- I've become almost as obsessed with him. But I still hope (pointlessly) for Roddick.

Yay good effort to break and take the 2nd set.I know the wind is diffucult just make adjustments.Onto a 3rd set.

black and rodionova took the second set... decider set on arthur ashe now...

Thanks Aussiemarge! Love the "Do it for Wayne" piece of your moniker!!!If so many American celebrities can be fans of the foreign players why can't the U.S media stop harping on the American tennis is dead bit? I mean who wouldn't rather watch Rafa than Fish, Isner or Querry? And this is coming from a U.S. based FedKAD!

Sherlock You do that normally here.Nothing new.

AM, yes, but this time it was on purpose. :)

Deuce LOL!

Sherlock Hmmm I suppose its always good to have a purpose.

Like I am still waiting for the cheque and I have given up alltogether with the cherries.Cherry season is nearly over.

Hi Kristy!! Thanks for your report, glad you had a great time despite the wind and cold! :) When I saw Fed for the first time last Saturday I found him to be much more captivating in real life than he comes across on television if that's even possible. I completely agree about the silence, it's so bizarre you almost forget you're at a sporting event and as much as commentators annoy us all they do provide a backdrop.

Deuce: I'm literally stunned that Nadal has gained 8-10 mph on his first serve almost overnight. I think it might - just might - affect his placement, but it clearly hasn't had an awful impact on his first serve percentage (Andy Murray must be rolling on the floor in agony).

I can't see that a grip change alone would affect the shoulder or elbow - possibly the wrist. The increased mph comes from greater racquet head speed and/or changing the angle the racquet head contacts the ball. If it's the latter, you'll get a reduction in spin (rotational energy transferred to the ball) but an increase in speed (greater kinetic energy). If it's the former, you may get more kinetic energy with possibly even increased rotational energy. Only if the racquet head is actually moving faster will this affect the body, based on accelerating and decelerating the racquet during the service motion. Let's give it time and see what happens.

Hi Heather! Yes, it was a lot of fun. Sorry I gave short shrift to the woman's match btw -- I don't know how to spell Wozniacki's opponent's name and am at work and don't have time to find it. Lol.

I also read Rafa is thinking of changing his racquet same brand though.We shall see like Andrew says.He has been tweaking serve it hasnt been a over night thing.I saw in Toronto and Cinncy evidence.I think here at the USO it has clicked.

"Someone snidely asked of (if) Federer also walked on water last night, and I must admit he did not. But only because it wasn't raining."

OK - THAT's funny!

Kristy - great report!!! I am definitely planning to go to Montreal next year...I SO want to see ANY pro tennis...esp. Fed of course...but ANY pros tennis, live and at least semi-up close.

Pat from Philippines,where were you?I've been wanting you all these Venus' games,were you hiding?
Ok,now one more SOS:Avidsports fan!!!come out of you hiding area too!!!

"Love the "Do it for Wayne" piece of your moniker!!!If so many American celebrities can be fans of the foreign players why can't the U.S media stop harping on the American tennis is dead bit? I mean who wouldn't rather watch Rafa than Fish, Isner or Querry? And this is coming from a U.S. based FedKAD!"

Well Lil Wayne, despite being from New Orleans, is also a fan of the Packers, the Red Sox, the Lakers and the Bruins, so he's clearly not a homer in any aspect of his sports fandom.

CL I thought us women only could "walk on water"

Grant Please leave Wayne alone

He's the only hope Rafa has ok.

doesn't look good for 2PM start for Misha-Stan

kristy : 99% in sync with your feelings about watching tennis live vs TV.
It felt like two totally different worlds.

One where there are 2 girls trying to do their best to keep the ball in play despite the wind while trying to hit as hard as they could, with paper napkins swirling around the sky over AA and people shivering in their 'summer' attire! Less than half the stadium was full at the beginning and people strolling in slowly by the second set and figuring out what their seat assignments were etc... in other words, people paid out some heavy money and travelled probably hours to get here on a cold day to watch what was essentially going to be over sooner than there backsides got warm from sitting in one place.

And my thots drifted to the other world, where the same spectacle was being fed, to probably over a billion people all over the world, watching it for free without having to travel an hour or two and sitting in their cozy couches somewhere and carefully being programmed by commentators to think/notice a certain way/things and get all hyped up/anxious and a variety of emotional reactions to the same thing.

Mind you, I have been in both of those worlds, predominantly the latter obviously, but it was just striking!

Maybe there is a 3rd world, like here in TW, where we can devour and deconstruct that same spectacle for eons to come and draw mind-bending conclusions from it!

All in all, I liked Pete's expression above about the history of the moment being more important in tennis.

If fed had lost that very first serve game of his (saved by hawk eye), who knows how it would have turned out!

We are too gullible and easily buy too much into the emphasis on how this match means everything for the future and all sorts of other things, when infact this match means everything for this match and this match only, atleast thats how I feel.

Fed's win was a master clinic because of the wind and the cold. The other two I've seen this year -- which had nothing to do with weather -- were Fed's AO F over Murray and Rafa's FO F over Soderling. That said, if you're not a fan of the player putting on the clinic, you might very well think, "yeah, whatever." So for the grouches in the crowd:

Youzhny vs. Wawrinka

I'm picking the Youzh. Stan's wins have been more marquee, but I thought both Murray and Querry were very cooperative in different ways. Youzh can be cooperative too, but for some reason I think Stan's run ends today. Coin-flip, though.

Andrew - agree entirely on the mystery of the overnight Nadal serve improvement, and nice explanation of what's actually involved in making that happen besides grip.

That "snide" question was from me, CL. Funny thing about the title of this post was that I actually did fall asleep during the Fed/Sod match. I was probably still feeling sorry for myself because I could have been in the stands for Ferru/Hot Sauce Tuesday night. Plus, once Fed's got the first set, most of the suspense is gone.

AM - yes, we all struggle with the timing and sleep deprivation when everyone's playing in Melbourne, and even in Europe, watching the US Open live can make for brutal seemingly endless nights.

I am waiting to watch Damir Dzumhur v. Jack Sock on Armstrong. Haven't seen a Junior's match in ages.

King and Shvedova,one game away,hurray to the Wimbledon champions,now gut this one out and don't get broken!!!

great point by King well done

"I can't see that a grip change alone would affect the shoulder or elbow - possibly the wrist. The increased mph comes from greater racquet head speed and/or changing the angle the racquet head contacts the ball."

Andrew : you are ever so on the mark with these intricate details.

I rather think, Nadal told himself he is NOT going to get beaten yet again in the semi-finals by Murray or another big hitter and needed this serve if he was going to get to the finals of the USO and win it. Once Nadal thinks that way, it happens. what exactly happens, you already put it so perfectly above.

Caught out of position.Shevoda didnt switch in time

B.point

Good hassle Vania!now two more points!

Good net play Anastasia

This is fun to watch...

Mennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn,ladies got broken!!!back to work guys!!!

break back.Anastasia playing great tennis at the moment

Yey were 5-1 down

5-3 and Black/Rod are serving

Ahhhhhh what kind of smash was that lol!

Well King/Shevoda again will serve for the match

Thanks for the well wishes Sherlock. Kids went back to school last week or as I call it Back to the Petri Dish.

Andrew - thanks for the reply. The technical analysis helps. I'm thinking of Clijsters pre retirement where she altered her grip and ended up with a wrist injury (though it wasn't her service grip). Also this year Henin had an injury or two from adjusting her motion and of course Sharapova's elbow from altering her service motion to protect the shoulder. On the men's side, I'm drawing a blank as to who but do recall injuries related to the wrist from a change in grip. As you say, time will tell. And we as fans of the game can just marvel at the accomplishemnt!

Congrats King and Shvedova well done

Bad luck Black/Rodionova

Well done, Smile Sisters!

Will Vania King(Yaroslava Shvedova is her partner) keep the doubles in the USA for the entire 2010 season? Last time a team won a title without an American being involved was at the French in 2009 when Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginie Ruano Pascual

Lundgren on Stan:

"He is much more aggressive, serving better... Before he played too far back. There he's also strong and defends well, but you won't win any matches against top players."

Listening Andy (Murray & Roddick) and Gael.

Am I the only one curious about the kid, Jack Sock?

Stanislas vs Mikhail will be delayed for at least 90 minutes as the King/Shvedova vs Black/Rodionova doubles match took at least 2 hours to complete and the finals of the mixed doubles will be starting shortly

"Am I the only one curious about the kid, Jack Sock?"

i am much more curious about his parents, and why they would choose to name somebody Jack Sock

Just catching up on some quotes and found this gem from Aisam Qureshi about the different personal tastes of his doubles partner: "We don't have many things in common," Qureshi said. "He likes spicy food, I don't. He likes to dance to slow songs, I don't."

Bopanna likes to dance to slow songs???!!!! Love it!!!

Also read that the Indian and Pakistani UN ambassadors were at their SF match and sat next to each other and chatted with the players after the match. Go world peace.

And Mr. Qureshi -- try to ignore the Koran-burning nutjobs in this country......

I'm pulling for Stan The Man -- All-Swiss Final 2010!!! (Ha!)

Heppy there will be no more endless talk how future belongs to powerfull hitters! Bravo Roger! And come back soon Delpo, you can show Sod and Berdy how to play Tennis. AM, I see you got your Jackson Browne/ David Linley CD, do you like it? I have to wait mine 4 weeks.

Congrats to King/Shvedova. Commies to Black/Rodionova fans. Pretty good match given the conditions.

Didn't Murray have a wrist injury last year? When did he begin amping up his serve? Could be related.

Remember, too, that it was rather recent that DelPo's serve went "big" and he's had a pretty serious wrist injury since. Don't know if it's related. And don't know hwo much either he or Murray adjusted their service grips, but those are just two recent/well-known names to toss out there in terms of wrist injuries/gained speed on their first serves.

Nina Hi.I love it.The instrumentals are fab.I have been playing it over and over.

Action Flunky Andy has had wrist problems before.He had to have time off a few years ago when he did his other wrist at a tournament at Hamburg when Brad Gilbert was his coach.

I dont know if this is due to his improving his serve or not.

Davydenko is another one who notably jacked his serve up and broke his wrist.

tina- ah...welcome to the 'snide' club. ;-)

Sherlock- he probably does hate them both. They probably make his job both boring and difficult...

"What? Him AGAIN? What more can I possibly write about this guy?"

Oooh... amping up serve = wrist injury? That gives me hope yet. I like your thinking ActionFlunky.

I gave the entire Spanish Arsemada 18 games vs. their fearful leader. Feli took 11, so that leaves 7 games for Verdassco.

Rafa wins 6-0, 7-5, 6-2

Never mind Davydenko broke his left wrist.

AM -- fair enough, but DelPo's case might be stronger in terms of potential cause-and-effect. His serve looked night-and-day between '08 and '09.

Again, I don't know. Just tossing it out there.

CherryNYC,
Great story about the UN ambassadors. The Bopanna and Qureshi partnership reminds me of the brief Peer-Mirza partnership.

Well, crap. I got all lost in the wrong threads.

But hi, all. Happy to see Roger playing well, and hopefully giving himself a chance to contend for another title. Bless him. :)

"amping up serve = wrist injury?"

I never thought of that...eek!

Well, Grant, video feed for Juniors' matches has no commentary let alone shots of the parents. The kids even use plain white towels. A friend of mine years ago had two cats, one named Blouse and one named Sock. Jack Sock looks like all the preppy kids I knew at school. So I'm guessing his parents are no strangers to madras patch pants, pink corduroy, and embroidered whales. Which means a sense of preppy humor. Maybe he's got a sister named Sookie Sock? But at least they didn't name him Jock Sock or Rock Sock.

Oh, tsk, tsk Russ - according to some the Gods of Karma will swoop down and bear of those nearest and dearest to you.

I think the 'what more can I possibly write about this guy (team),' problem generally depresses almost all sports writers.

***waves to Tari**

so, Grant - how is the 'Name Grant's New Fav Player' sweepstakes coming along? I take it after yesterday's debacle, La Monf is right out?

Action Flunky Point taken with Del Potro's serve.