I agree that Soderling is Fed's last major obstacle to reaching the finals this year. But, I am a little hesitant to discount Djokovich. May depend on how costly tonight's match is.

Ace Seeding Progress:

(1) Kim Clijsters - SF against (3)Venus Williams
(2) Caroline Wozniacki - QF against Dominika Cibulkova
(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 - QF against Kaia Kanepi
(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

Moonpie Open Wednesday Order of Play at Ashe:

1 PM - Kanepi vs Zvonareva to be followed by Monfils vs Djokovic
7 PM - The Hostess vs Cibulkova to be followed by Soderling vs Federer

I think Roger will oblige and make it to the final.

Roger will have Sod and Djoker and Rafa will have Verdasco.

Sam E - here's an article appreciating Wozniacki you are going to like:

http://72.32.204.230/news/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=8105

(Why is it most journalists can't update their scripts? So much about Wozniacki as if she hasn't developed her game in the last year and so much about Sharapova as if she's the same player she was in 2006?)

Hi Everyone!:)

Congrats to my Rafa for winning last night,I tried to stay on TW but certain posters just ruin it. What a pity...

My Picks for today is Kanepi with the upset over Vera,hoping my Monfils can beat Nole,I think Caro will probably win but I'm not counting Short Stack out and I can't call the Fed and Sod match. It depends on which Federer shows up. I'm looking forward to at least one upset. :)

What's the over/under on Monfils blowing out his shoes again today? :)

Rafa and Feli on ESPN for those like me who are not night owls.

"Instead, I just asked if he was bummed out about having to decline to play in the US Open final because of his bad back."

Well done, Pete. :)

Hi, Heather, Neveah, and all lurking Twibers. :)

I think Roger's ready to make a statement tonight in his home away from home. Should be a fun one, but I'm taking Roger in 4.

Also, as a Rafa fan, I was encouraged by last night's good performance. But....let's remember it was Lopez. :)

Hoping for Cibulkova to at least take a set off Caro, make it long three-setter :-). I know it's not likely, but hoping Domi can produce a fight today...btw, where is Li Na when you need her? :-)

Lol, Heather. Excellent question. :)

Gael-Novak is going to be painful to watch for anyone with sore ankles. :)

Hi Sherlock!

Hope you're true, Sherlock.
I'd be happy if Federer from the 1st 2 sets of last year's QF can show up. That's the best tennis I'd seen him play in the entire year.

*true = right. :P

"where is Li Na when you need her?"

Lol, Sokol. +1.

The more I watch the women in this tourney, the more I'd be surprised if Caro doesn't win it all. She's so steady and seems pretty mentally strong. Compared to that painful Stosus-Clijsters break-fest last night, Caro's like the Rock of Gibraltar.

Hi Heather and Sherlock!:)

Monfils will definitely blow out a pair of sneakers today!:) Gotta love it!

Hi Neveah! Oh I definitely think he will too, if it goes 5 he might even blow out 2 pairs! :)

Sherlock - I've been trying so hard to see Caro winning this in my head and I just can't do it.:(...

Wow, I didn't know that, Arun, regarding Roger's early play in the Sod match last year. Cool. Roger just seems so relaxed and moving really well so far.

Has Sod been serving well in the tournament thus far? I haven't paid enough attention.

Ya'll will be feeling pretty silly when we're watching a Youzhny-Monfils final on Sunday.

And it sure looks like Caro is the steadiest of the women right now, though I think a rematch against Clijsters could be a compelling three-setter.

LOL @Heather!:) He is surely capable of it!=P

Sod's been showing some streaky form, no? I haven't caught much of his play thus far, but I thought he'd had some troubles early on in the tournament.

Given the way Fed is moving, though, I don't think it makes too much difference.

I think Sod's gone to 5 sets twice this tournament? Not 100% sure but he has had some difficult matches.

It's hilarious how the McEnroes keep calling F-Lo "Verdasco." Somehow it's fitting :)

"The more I watch the women in this tourney, the more I'd be surprised if Caro doesn't win it all. She's so steady and seems pretty mentally strong. Compared to that painful Stosus-Clijsters break-fest last night, Caro's like the Rock of Gibraltar."

agree, Sherlock

Heather,
I think Robin had a 5 setter in his first match and a 4 setter against Albert on Monday.

Thanks, MA. I wasn't sure. :)

Sherlock: What CPM and Heather said.

I'd like Bepa to reach (and win) the SF. I don't care about the other quarter in her half.

can't wait until Vera's match. Off to get an early lunch, so all my attention will be on Vera at 1PM

Howdy!! I've been out of the loop since last week and actually missed you all (a little) -- I know it's been said, but the weather over the long weekend and continuing this week has been flat out spectacular - "9/11 weather" as I now think of it .... been scrolling through the posts on my phone whenever I've had the chance -- thanks everybody for the match calls all weekend. Biggest headscractcher for me was Muzz/Stan. Stan is certainly capable of playing lights-out, but I was shocked at Muzz's bad mood (although I suppose I shouldn't be.....)

I'm going to do everything I can to stay awake for Marquis Le Sod v. The Tweener tonight. Stay calm, Fed fans. STAY CALM!

Oh, I totally missed Sauce/Ferru -- are there highlights anywhere? Thanks.

Hello everyone,

I'm a Rafa fan, but was a bit disgusted last night by the minion game. I mean come on, Feli showed at times that he can play and rip a ball! Let's not forget his win over Delpo in DC...

The only excuses I can see in all this situation is that:

a) Rafa has tendinits (like myself actually) and a bit a help is like charity

b) A friend of mine was pointing in the past, how Roger also has been helped (but in my mind, nothing as obvious as the minions game lol)

It was funny to listen to the Mac brothers trying to be diplomatic about the whole situation and not "make waves"...
As it is right now, Rafa has the path wide open to the Grand Slam, because either Roger or Nole may not make or least be so beaten up on the way to the final that he'd just push them aside...

Take care everyone and let the rain stop!

/play ball

PS

Hope Caro wins.

Neveah, I've reached my quota of one positive Caro statement for the day. You're on your own now till Samantha shows up. :)

"Ya'll will be feeling pretty silly when we're watching a Youzhny-Monfils final on Sunday."

Lol. That would serve us all right. :)

I remember Sod barely surviving the big serving qualifier dude in the first round, but it seems like he's been much better the past 3 matches.

"I'd like Bepa to reach (and win) the SF."

+10000000, Arun

"I'd like Bepa to reach (and win) the SF. I don't care about the other quarter in her half."

+ a very large number. :)

There are still tricky matches to come but I'm feeling good for a fedal final finally. Don't want to jinx it though. Caroline has really impressed me, I think she is ready to make the big step.

Sherlock,

Am I remembering right that Sod was taken to five in one of the first two rounds of the FO this year? Didn't seem to affect him adversely there, if that's true ... but Sod on clay >>>> Sod on outdoor HC.

Team Stubbsy loses to Team Huber. Not exactly the thing I was looking forward to.

"Oh, I totally missed Sauce/Ferru -- are there highlights anywhere?"

The fifth set TB is a pretty accurate summation of the entire match, so see if you can find it.

I have no expectations for Vera...I'll be happy for Kaia if she wins, I guess. I want the finalist to come from this match, at any rate.

"I'd be happy if Federer from the 1st 2 sets of last year's QF can show up. That's the best tennis I'd seen him play in the entire year."

Hmmm ... you mean strictly CYO9? Have to think about it. Some might take some of that play he flashed in Cincy over Djoker in the final. Some may even take the Madrid final, and I don't care if Rafa was on one knee and pulling a respirator behind him on his worst clay surface. You beat Nadal on clay under ANY circumstances, it might count for the best tennis you've played all year.

Anyway, have to think about it. I would say, hands down, Fed's best performance the last year and a half was the AO F over Murray. But, of course, that's not CY09.

I think Roger wants to prove all the doubters wrong and he'll be too determined and focused to let Sod win tonight. Maybe it will go to 4 sets but I think Roger's got this, he's been playing better this week than he has in awhile.

It's a little more humid here today than it has been, not sure how it is in NY so that could be detrimental to Novak, hope not though!

But I know what I like—and I like Sam Stosur’s look on court. She looks like a (very attractive) athlete, not someone about to go nightclubbing—neat, trim, functional outfit, no earrings. Delectable. Kim’s outfit was nice too, and despite the breaks, the tennis was also fun.

Rumour has it that Sharapova may have reinjured her shoulder and that may have contributed to her loss to Wozniacki. Trying to find a credible source and will post as and when I have it.

"I like Sam Stosur’s look on court. She looks like a (very attractive) athlete, not someone about to go nightclubbing—neat, trim, functional outfit, no earrings."

+1. I dig jocks.

Sherlock - I wake up from nightmares screaming "THE TALENTED AND BEAUTIFUL CARO"!

*Sweat beading down my forehead* LMAO=P

"I don't care if Rafa was on one knee and pulling a respirator behind him on his worst clay surface. You beat Nadal on clay under ANY circumstances, it might count for the best tennis you've played all year."

great visual, Action Flunky, I can see Rafa Vamos-ing through an oxygen mask.

Wonder if Rafa - Sauce will be at night? Too bad Sauce is going to be running on empty - he's got the ability to make Rafa work.

Hey, everyone. :)

If Caroline gets through, I'd pick the winner of Kim-Venus over her in the final. Although, she's been very impressive so far this fortnight, and in the series too.

The best summary of Rafa's draw, scheduling, and match opponents at this USO comes from a musical about another New York 'dynasty', "Damn Yankees" :

Whatever Rafa wants, Rafa gets.

A quarter full of cream-puff minions? You've got it!
Sod & Berdy in other quarters far away from you? It's done!
Murray (whom you almost surely couldn't beat) knocked out so you won't face him in SF? Take it!
Choose most favorable times to play (like early SF last year, which contributed to Roger's loss in Final)? Go for it!
Sod in Fed's Quarter to potentially knock out your most dangerous Finals opponent? Help yourself!
Play nobody ranked higher than 8th (Minion Verdasco) through SF? It's yours!

The only hitch in this dream is that Fed will not cooperate by losing in QF or SF. And you've got about a 20% chance of beating him in a USO Final.

Allez Roger! Go Caro!

Hi Jewell! :)

I'm with you,I don't see Caro beating Venus or Kim to be honest.

Good Morning Everyone,

Yay I have a 'stress free day' for a change

Good matches today

Djoker has 4-0 over Monfils but the scores look respectable. Anyone think Monfils has a shot.

K-Swiss must love the fact that Monfils busted out of their shoes after running their first commercials with him.

Hiya Neveah, how are you? :)

"And you've got about a 20% chance of beating him in a USO Final." LMAO! That was the funniest thing I've read all morning! LOL

ActionFlunky: True. All those matches you mention are great too.
Thinking about it look at the lineup he defeated at Madrid'09. Soderling --> Blake --> Roddick --> Delpo --> Nadal.. Though Roddick and Blake aren't tough customers on clay. :)

"I can see Rafa Vamos-ing through an oxygen mask."
LOL!

Hello good people!Jamaica if she reallr has,what a disappointment for her,she's been trying to put that injury behind I'm sure,injuries are the worst enemies of a sportsman...

Hmmm...I think Caro will win if she gets to the F, but that's prolly just me. I was super impressed by her play against Masha...incredible D, speed, and she even has some O now. And, I think she won't get bogged down by the stage this time. V or Kim will have to be on their A games to beat her. They haven't played anything close to it so far. Bepa and Dominatrix might actually prove to be toughers test for Caro, as they don't give enough pace to work with. But, Caro's on a big winning streak...I don't see them stopping her.

Arun: Andy took Roger to three sets in Madrid. He had a good spurt on clay last year. Only for a day or two though. :)

@Jewell, I'm fantastic and still laughing at Tigress!:) How are you this beautiful day?

Arun - looking at that list & the order of opponents it's astounding (in a good way) how much Soderling has improved over the last 18 months or so.

Day 6...walking around the exterior of Arthur Ashe stadium, I saw two medical trainers exit a restricted doorway:

"Monfils is cooked!"

"Did you just see him?"

....I was dying to stay and listen. I hadn't watched the Tipsy/Monfils match earlier that day, but I assumed something was wrong with Monfils. Hmmm, what to do with this valuable information? I thought I might start a betting scandal if I mentioned it here (obviously I'm a legend in my own mind!). Well, I made the moral/ethical decision to keep my mouth shut. My son, on the other hand, promptly picked Gasquet for his SP pick when the time came......HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
(still wonder what that trainer meant)

Hi everyone!

Heather, it's very humid in NYC today, but not that hot. Novak should be fine.

I think Soderling will be intimidated tonight. Fed's aura, the Open's energy, etc. I predict Fed in 3 (but I hope for more because I'm going!!!)

Heather: Right. I carefully avoided mentioning to score. You caught it though. ;)
He even reached the 4th round in RG'09, right?

Jewell: True!

GC20- I'm pulling for Monfils all the way today so Yes! :)

Hi Kristy! Thanks for that update, hopefully Novak is good to go. Awesome for you that you get to go tonight!!! Have a ton of fun!! :)

"Team Stubbsy loses to Team Huber. Not exactly the thing I was looking forward to."

Arun,
That match is not over as Lisa and Rennae is leading in set 2.

By the way Rafa has a 11-0 head to head with Verdasco

Seeing it was discussed before lol!

Cheers, MA.

Hi Kristy!:)

I see the bitterness is seeping through from some people last night and today...

I find it freaking hilarious how threatened some Roger fans are...relax, your guy is the Greatest thing since sliced bread, no one will ever equal him etc etc.

And by no means is Nadal's place in the final assured. I think both Verdasco or Wawrinka (lets not count our The Youzh) could be tough matches for him. and of course if he does reach the final against the Almighty Fed, what chance does he have? Gonna be very difficult match, For sure, less than 20% chance, no?

Heather, thanks! I'm really psyched.

Does anyone know if you're allowed to take film cameras into the Open?

Arun, yes he did! Too bad he decided to go on sabatical this year. Next year, Andy wins the French Open, mark my words, you heard it here first folks! You'll all be thinking back to this day when he's hoisting the trophy next year. HAHA. :)

Anyone that can beat Monfils always has my utmost respect

it seems when he gets down to the business end of tournaments his focus can let him down

We Gonna See No?

@Aube, I have to say that if there is an injury with Maria, I would not be surprised. Her shots have lost the force that they used to have (and before anyone eats off my head), I think that is one of the reasons why Caro was able to get so many of the shots back. They might have looked like they were being hit with force, but come on, we have seen Sharapova play defensive players before, JJ being a prime example, and just completely blow them off the court, and this is since the surgery (Tokyo last year to be exact).

Yes Woz has incredible defence but the stick that Sharapova usually has on her shots and her ability to paint the lines was just not there in that match and hence the many forced errors (doubt that they were UFE seeing as Woz was getting the ball back in play).

However, rotator cuff injuries are incredibly difficult to overcome and perhaps that is one of the reasons why the look that I have been seeing on her face during her losses this year at the majors is one of dejection more than anything else.

I mean, cameras in Ashe? Are they allowed? I have some vague memory that they're not.

Morning, all.

I'll go back and read the match call in a while, but FWIW I watched precisely 1.5 games of Nadal-Lopez last night. I remember Lopez playing a titanic match against Federer at the same stage of the R16 tournament. Lopez came roaring out of the gate, broke early, served out the set with a 117mph second serve, and was on serve through 5-4 of set two.

For his troubles, he summoned TMF: after holding from 0-40 down in game 1 of set 3, Federer broke in one of the three sweetest return games he's ever played (Roddick Basel 2002 and Nadal Shanghai 2006 were the others), then proceeded to lay the wood on his opponent, who still fought gamely.

I didn't see that Lopez last night. Maybe it was windier, but I saw a chap slicing his way through points, not getting returns into court, and I thought "this one's not for me." If I've done either Nadal (who for all I know, may have played like TMN) or Lopez a disservice, I apologize.

Anyhow, I hope tonight's match is a cracker, and (naturally) I hope Mr Federer prevails. Pete's right - most of us pencilled this one in from the get go.

Not so bad, Neveah. :)

Have fun, Kristy!

Kristy, I was on Ashe on Saturday and everyone had a camera. There are restrictions regarding digital recordings though, there's a great link on the USO site that goes into detail about electronics.

"I don't see Caro beating Venus or Kim to be honest."

I hope you're right, Neveah

Heather, hahah! Andy will win the French next year. That's a great prediction! He could do worse than to set himself a specific goal like that, however unlikely.

No kidding, Kristy! :) Here's the link I was talking about too: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/about/security_information.html

"Wonder if Rafa - Sauce will be at night? Too bad Sauce is going to be running on empty - he's got the ability to make Rafa work."

Unless it's an older player and it's the Stupid Saturday one day turnaround, I don't know if this is a valid excuse. In fairness to Sampras supporters, his age and that USO quirk (notice the euphemism) probably hurt him against both Safin and Hewitt, but then again, they beat him so thoroughly I don't know if it would have made the final result any different. And yes, I think it could hurt Federer this year too. It may have even last year; one will never know.

But if you're in-shape pro and you have two nights of sleep one would assume you should be okay for your next five setter. This is why I never made much of Rafa's well-publicized exhaustion heading into his AO final against Fed: he still had two nights of sleep. Likewise, Sauce will too. And so did Kuz, who I saw blamed her early morning schedule against Kinepi for her loss. Bad Kuz.

Bottom line if Sauce ordinarily has it in him to make Rafa work: I would think he can replenish and make him work tomorrow.

Heather No offence

Are you on Drugs?

AM: No, hahaha. I was just kidding. :) Stranger things have happened though!

AM, Stress free day ,indeed!! So nice to have no horse in the race...so to speak.

Tho' I would like to see Robin pull out a win against Federer.

Some of you may remember my animus toward him on this site after the Rome 2009 incident but my daughter and I met him after practice at Rogers Cup in Toronto and he was really nice and gracious and signed so many autographs for the kids, so I have "very good feelings" towards him now.

Andrew,

I don't think your sense of Nadal-Lopez is too far off. Feli just couldn't find a groove--not on the serve, and not on his groundies--and had TMN showed up, he would've won it at 1, 3 and 1. Nadal's serve continues to click in ways heretofore not seen from him, and his BH is on the way to getting into top form, but the tough passers you expect him to hit when he's in tip-top form were going just wide.

I don't think we've seen the best Nadal can do here.

Thanks, Jewell! I will have fun because I nearly didn't go at all. Sooooo relieved I woke up and got a ticket.

Mornin' y'all!

Karen - Really hope the thing about Sharapova is just a rumor - I'm sometimes ambivalent about her, but the tour is much more interesting when she's healthy and a threat to win tourneys.

I'm STILL wired from the Fer/Ferru match last night. LOL. Unfortunately, TTC has just chosen to show replays of that "classic" Stan/Sam matchup. :/

Hi Neveah! Thanks for the link, Heather!

JK, thanks for the info on Masha. I hope she didn't reinjure herself. That would be too bad, even though I feel that she is not being herself after her injury and might never be again. Good thing she got those 3 Slams while being younger.

keep us posted if you find anything else

Verdasco's main problem is his inablilty to maintain his focus on big points

That has been evident especially when he plays say Rafa who has a mind like a steel trap

Yes he can "make Rafa work" which by the way Rafa dosent mind

Though it takes more than that to defeat champions like Rafa and Roger.

"bitterness.. relax, your guy is the Greatest thing since sliced bread, no one will ever equal him etc etc... Almighty Fed"

Shocking that you came up with something like that once again in defense, Nam1. ;)
Anyway it's been hours since the said nonsense has taken place and the offenders have been revoked already, a lot of times, and deservedly so.

Moving on..

"By the way Rafa has a 11-0 head to head with Verdasco"

What a surprise! Does that make Verdasco something rhyming with 'opinion', in your opinion?

Sokol- Caro is playing well and I like her but I'm not seeing that far, she will have to make a believer out of me.

Andy on sabbatical this year - lol Heather. Isn't that the truth.

Action Flunky - agree re Verdasco in particular and in general about this is only an issue with an older player and the next day play scenario. I'd expect Verdasco to be in fine fettle for tomorrow's match - however he plays, I don't think physical condition will be the key variable.

From the BBC livetext this morning I got the impression that Lopez played best in the third set and that Rafa went up a gear to break for 5-4. But I didn't see it so I can't really judge.

I don't think anyone's saying that Lopez played the match of his life but that's very far from saying he didn't try to play so that Rafa could go through, as "minion" seems to imply. I remember his slicing worked well against Rafa at Queens.

Djokovic is a pretty dangerous opponent for Rafa on hard courts...*if* Rafa was to get there. Some not-so-good memories for Rafa fans there. :)

geez, I hate making a simple mistake.
*revoke = rebuke

MA: Team Stubbsy took the 2nd set.

MA, do you know if Nadia ever won a Slam in doubles? Thanks.

Tigress, tigress burning bright
In the forests of the night...

When the (spanish) stars threw down their spears (read racquets)
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made Tim make thee?

BTW, all of sudden I got Tennis Channel over the weekend.... I don't know if it's a special promotion or something, but I'm not going to tell the cable company just yet...(go ahead, report me.....)
Their coverage is pretty good, but way, waaaayyyyy too much Gimelstob for my taste.....

Re-posting from previous thread (I didn't realize there was a new one up)

Had some work drama that kept me away.
Master Ace and Sokol,
We'll see how things develop but I must admit I'm now afraid of Sokol's wishes knowing he/she had so much success yesterday ;-) Anyway, good luck to all of our faves!

I will add my two cents on the Verdasco issue.
I do believe Fernando wants to beat Nadal badly but I don't think he's going to.
I don't think this has anything to do with his own ability or the nonsense that gets thrown around here about him (or any other Spanish player) being a minion.
I think it has more to do with Rafa's own ability both mentally and tennis wise and I would say the same applies if he were to face Federer instead of Nadal, for example.
Of course, anything is possible and it could well be that he plays the match of his life and Rafa is a bit off and he ends up winning.

i tell you these reporters, I think they even get on the nerves of the players. From Clijsters' press conference:

Q. Are you a little surprised even that Venus is still playing considering she hasn't played since Wimbledon, her knee injury, and she's 30?

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, no, because I think obviously the way that she's been playing and the way that she has mentally looked, I think it's maybe been even been good for her to have been away for that long, because she looks more hungry than ever.

And then there is this gem of an exchange:

Q. Doesn't seem that there are many young 18 year old girls playing at the top of the game these days. What would you attribute that to? Do you think that's also to do with the fact that...

KIM CLIJSTERS: Can you look at the script from my previous press conference, because I answered that already last...

Q. Can you just talk briefly about it?

KIM CLIJSTERS: I think it's just physically, because it's become physically -- you know, the game has become a lot stronger over the last eight years or so.