Lindsay Davenport dropped the first set to Marion Bartoli, 6-1.
Bartoli broke Davenport's serve to start the second set. Already down a break, Lindsay can't afford any more sloppy play, but she's not exactly showing any signs of life.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Did we say play was going to resume?
We meant that it was not going to resume.
Sigh.
There's still a steady rain coming down here at the National Tennis Center. It means that the players can't play. Writers can't write. The grounds folks are the ones earning their money right now, playing hide and go seek with the rain. They already took to several of the courts here and dried them off -- only to see the rain come down again.
Anyone have the Weather Channel?
Sigh.
There's still a steady rain coming down here at the National Tennis Center. It means that the players can't play. Writers can't write. The grounds folks are the ones earning their money right now, playing hide and go seek with the rain. They already took to several of the courts here and dried them off -- only to see the rain come down again.
Anyone have the Weather Channel?
Play suspended
Officials announced at about 7:35 or so that play would be suspended in order for showers to pass through. Jo-Wilfried Tsongas and Carlos Moya were in the middle of an entertaining first set on the Grandstand. Lindsay Davenport was on Arthur Ashe, and several of the matches on other courts were suspended -- many players simply taking to their chairs, trying to stay warm.
Looks like on most courts we're right back. We'll keep you posted.
Looks like on most courts we're right back. We'll keep you posted.
Kendrick takes loss in stride
Robert Kendrick, an American qualifier at the Open this year, lost to No. 3 Novak Djokovic this evening. The Serbian Australian Open winner won, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, 6-4.
Kendrick has been struggling with knee tendinitis, which he brought up in his post-match interview. It's a nagging injury that he can't do much about. He thought he missed an opportunity to change the outcome of the match during a tight first set, but overall, he was pleased with his play. He had to win three times in the qualifying round just to break into the main draw, where he defeated Nicolas Mahut, 7-6, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. A 4-1 record ain't all bad.
The statistical breakdown revealed Djokovic had 13 unforced errors in three sets, which is pretty unbelieveable. Kendrick, himself, didn't believe it when I mentioned it. Perhaps the statkeepers were playing nice. Of all the other top men who prevailed in three sets today, Fernando Gonzalez had the next lowest amount of errors -- with 25. Federer finished wtih 46.
That about does it for me on Day 5. Enjoy the weekend's slate.
Kendrick has been struggling with knee tendinitis, which he brought up in his post-match interview. It's a nagging injury that he can't do much about. He thought he missed an opportunity to change the outcome of the match during a tight first set, but overall, he was pleased with his play. He had to win three times in the qualifying round just to break into the main draw, where he defeated Nicolas Mahut, 7-6, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. A 4-1 record ain't all bad.
The statistical breakdown revealed Djokovic had 13 unforced errors in three sets, which is pretty unbelieveable. Kendrick, himself, didn't believe it when I mentioned it. Perhaps the statkeepers were playing nice. Of all the other top men who prevailed in three sets today, Fernando Gonzalez had the next lowest amount of errors -- with 25. Federer finished wtih 46.
That about does it for me on Day 5. Enjoy the weekend's slate.
Women's No. 3 Kuznetsova out
Katarina Srebotnik, seeded 28th, just defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova: 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 to advance to the fourth round.
That means the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds are now knocked out of the women's draw. It could have been 1-2-3, but No. 2 Jelena Jankovic survived a tough test from Jie Jheng earlier today and moved on.
That means the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds are now knocked out of the women's draw. It could have been 1-2-3, but No. 2 Jelena Jankovic survived a tough test from Jie Jheng earlier today and moved on.
His name was Thiago: On playing Roger Federer
For most of his first-time opponents, playing Roger Federer is a lesson in precision timing, nerve, and it is also a way to go absolutely nuts. It was Thiago Alves turn today; yes the top-spinning, fleet-footed Brazilian had the Federer Experience having played the U.S. Open only once before.
A grunting Alves displayed some mettle here, blasting a backhand runner down the line at one point in the first set, to which he let out a huge roar. The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium responded gleefully, and though it knew his fate, the crowd indulged him, as New Yorkers are wont to do.
We went to the media room to see what had become of Federer. He looked to have barely broken a sweat. He zipped up his Nike-issued jacket, carressed his hair three or four times for the cameras. This match was a meager blip on his legendary radar. Reporters seemed to know this, too, posing high-minded philosophical questions. Just one question -- the second one -- ever referred to Alves. And even then the reporter did not mention him by name.
Alves defeated Paul Capdeville in the first round after dropping the first sets, and ultimately winning 4-6, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4.
And though Federer barely noticed it, the biggest match of Alves' career came and went.
A grunting Alves displayed some mettle here, blasting a backhand runner down the line at one point in the first set, to which he let out a huge roar. The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium responded gleefully, and though it knew his fate, the crowd indulged him, as New Yorkers are wont to do.
We went to the media room to see what had become of Federer. He looked to have barely broken a sweat. He zipped up his Nike-issued jacket, carressed his hair three or four times for the cameras. This match was a meager blip on his legendary radar. Reporters seemed to know this, too, posing high-minded philosophical questions. Just one question -- the second one -- ever referred to Alves. And even then the reporter did not mention him by name.
Alves defeated Paul Capdeville in the first round after dropping the first sets, and ultimately winning 4-6, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4.
And though Federer barely noticed it, the biggest match of Alves' career came and went.
I wish I was a little bit taller
If you're wandering around the outside courts at the U.S. Open, it doesn't get much better than the alley between Courts 6 and 7, which always offer plenty of good action. It's unfortunate, however, that I'm not 6-3.
I just watched the conclusion of a doubles match on Court 6 featuring Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins, both of Great Britain, and the No. 1 doubles team: Daniel Nestor (Canada) and Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia).
The top-seeded duo prevailed: 7-5, 3-6 and 7-6 (7-2). Murray was not pleased. After losing a point during the deciding tiebreaker, he launched a ball toward Laguardia.
Like I alluded to earlier, wandering between Courts 6 and 7 is fun because it gives you an up-close view of some star players. When a player of Andy Murray's caliber shows up, the alley becomes quite crowded, so it doesn't hurt to be a few inches taller if you're standing a few rows back.
Around the grounds: The Kuznetsova-Srebotnik match is now in the third set, Djokovic took a hard-fought first set from American Robert Kendrick and the crowd is buzzing with anticipation for this Moya-Tsonga match on the Grandstand a little bit later.
I just watched the conclusion of a doubles match on Court 6 featuring Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins, both of Great Britain, and the No. 1 doubles team: Daniel Nestor (Canada) and Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia).
The top-seeded duo prevailed: 7-5, 3-6 and 7-6 (7-2). Murray was not pleased. After losing a point during the deciding tiebreaker, he launched a ball toward Laguardia.
Like I alluded to earlier, wandering between Courts 6 and 7 is fun because it gives you an up-close view of some star players. When a player of Andy Murray's caliber shows up, the alley becomes quite crowded, so it doesn't hurt to be a few inches taller if you're standing a few rows back.
Around the grounds: The Kuznetsova-Srebotnik match is now in the third set, Djokovic took a hard-fought first set from American Robert Kendrick and the crowd is buzzing with anticipation for this Moya-Tsonga match on the Grandstand a little bit later.
Ginepri out, Federer into 3rd round
Robby Ginepri just fell in four sets to No. 30 Marin Cilic. It looked as though he would force a fifth set while serving for the fourth set, up 5-3. He fell down love-40 before forcing deuce, but Cilic won the game to get back on serve. He then held, broke Ginepri again and held for the win: 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
No. 28 Srebotnik took the first set against No. 3 Kuznetsova, 6-3, and the two were on serve in the second set moments ago.
Federer took the third and final set, 6-4, to advance to the third round:6-3, 7-5, 6-4. He won 80 percent of his points on first serves and recorded 19 aces to Alves' two. He was tested in the one-hour and 13-minute second set, but broke twice in the third to move on.
No. 28 Srebotnik took the first set against No. 3 Kuznetsova, 6-3, and the two were on serve in the second set moments ago.
Federer took the third and final set, 6-4, to advance to the third round:6-3, 7-5, 6-4. He won 80 percent of his points on first serves and recorded 19 aces to Alves' two. He was tested in the one-hour and 13-minute second set, but broke twice in the third to move on.
Ginepri in trouble
Robby Ginepri lost the third set against Marin Cilic, 6-2, to allow the 30th-seeded Croatian to take a 2-1 set lead.
After Ginepri stormed through the second set, 6-2, Cilic broke him in the opening game of the third set and added a late break to cruise to the win. The men remained on the baseline for the most part because when they decided to approach the net, the results weren't pretty. Ginepri was 2-for-14 at the net and Cilic was 0-for-17. Ginepri's major downfall was his 0-for-5 effort on break chances.
We'll see if he can turn things around ...
Federer, who holds a 2-0 set lead, is trying to finish off Thiago Alves over on Ashe. Dementieva made quick work of her opponent next door at Armstrong and will join Jankovic in the fourth round.
Later on at Armstrong, No. 15 Tommy Robredo will face Marat Safin in what could shape up to be an excellent match.
After Ginepri stormed through the second set, 6-2, Cilic broke him in the opening game of the third set and added a late break to cruise to the win. The men remained on the baseline for the most part because when they decided to approach the net, the results weren't pretty. Ginepri was 2-for-14 at the net and Cilic was 0-for-17. Ginepri's major downfall was his 0-for-5 effort on break chances.
We'll see if he can turn things around ...
Federer, who holds a 2-0 set lead, is trying to finish off Thiago Alves over on Ashe. Dementieva made quick work of her opponent next door at Armstrong and will join Jankovic in the fourth round.
Later on at Armstrong, No. 15 Tommy Robredo will face Marat Safin in what could shape up to be an excellent match.
Haas falls in 5
Tommy Haas, playing on court 11, just fell to Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in the fifth set. Muller won: 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.
With Muller serving at 30-all in the final set, he aced Haas, who felt as though the ball was well out. He stood and stared at the chair umpire for what seemed like a full minute before dejectedly walking back to the baseline. Muller won the match on the next point and Haas exited the court in a hurry without shaking hands with the ump. (He flung his wristband into the crowd and it landed at my foot, but some 40-year-old woman did a back dive off the bleachers to snag it.)
There is no Hawk-Eye replay on the outer courts, which Haas would have loved to have in that final game. Still, Haas can't blame one (possibly) blown call after losing a match in which he held a 2-0 set lead. Tough break for Haas, who seems to be a crowd favorite.
I'm off the Grandstand to check out Ginepri for a second time as he faces Marin Cilic. That match is already underway as Cilic serves for the set, up 5-4.
Elsewhere, Federer and Dementieva both won their first sets.
With Muller serving at 30-all in the final set, he aced Haas, who felt as though the ball was well out. He stood and stared at the chair umpire for what seemed like a full minute before dejectedly walking back to the baseline. Muller won the match on the next point and Haas exited the court in a hurry without shaking hands with the ump. (He flung his wristband into the crowd and it landed at my foot, but some 40-year-old woman did a back dive off the bleachers to snag it.)
There is no Hawk-Eye replay on the outer courts, which Haas would have loved to have in that final game. Still, Haas can't blame one (possibly) blown call after losing a match in which he held a 2-0 set lead. Tough break for Haas, who seems to be a crowd favorite.
I'm off the Grandstand to check out Ginepri for a second time as he faces Marin Cilic. That match is already underway as Cilic serves for the set, up 5-4.
Elsewhere, Federer and Dementieva both won their first sets.
Breaking away; Jankovic moves on
Well, THAT took a while.
No. 2 Jelena Jankovic just finished her match with China's Jie Zheng and prevailed, 7-5, 7-5 in a match that took an unorthodox two hours and nine minutes to complete. The last game alone featured 11 deuces and five match points for Jankovic before she sealed the deal.
Nobody could hold serve in this one, which featured 14 breaks out of 24 games. Zheng showed why she can hang with the best of them, showing a tremendous amount of power for her 5-5 frame.
In the first set, Jankovic maintained a break until Zheng evened it up at 4-4. The two produced some exciting rallies for the Arthur Ashe crowd, which filled up as the match progressed. Jankovic won, 7-5, in a statistically even set.
Zheng went up 2-0 in the second set, but that would be the biggest lead for either player the rest of the way. The final game may have been the longest I've ever watched (11 deuces).
In other news, Fernando Gonzalez dismissed American Bobby Reynolds in their second-round match in three sets.
No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko won the first two sets and was taken to a third-set tiebreaker against Agustin Calleri, which he won to advance to the third round.
On one of the outside courts, Tommy Haas has his hands full with Gilles Muller, who is leading 4-1 in the fourth after Hass won the first two sets and Muller took the third in a tiebreak.
No. 2 Jelena Jankovic just finished her match with China's Jie Zheng and prevailed, 7-5, 7-5 in a match that took an unorthodox two hours and nine minutes to complete. The last game alone featured 11 deuces and five match points for Jankovic before she sealed the deal.
Nobody could hold serve in this one, which featured 14 breaks out of 24 games. Zheng showed why she can hang with the best of them, showing a tremendous amount of power for her 5-5 frame.
In the first set, Jankovic maintained a break until Zheng evened it up at 4-4. The two produced some exciting rallies for the Arthur Ashe crowd, which filled up as the match progressed. Jankovic won, 7-5, in a statistically even set.
Zheng went up 2-0 in the second set, but that would be the biggest lead for either player the rest of the way. The final game may have been the longest I've ever watched (11 deuces).
In other news, Fernando Gonzalez dismissed American Bobby Reynolds in their second-round match in three sets.
No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko won the first two sets and was taken to a third-set tiebreaker against Agustin Calleri, which he won to advance to the third round.
On one of the outside courts, Tommy Haas has his hands full with Gilles Muller, who is leading 4-1 in the fourth after Hass won the first two sets and Muller took the third in a tiebreak.
Top of the mornin'
We're back for Day 5 at the Open, which features plenty of power players who can make a run at the title.
It's tempting to park myself at Arthur Ashe for the afternoon with a lineup that includes Jankovic, Federer and Djokovic for the first three matches. While it's tough to imagine Federer or Djokovic going down, the same cannot be said for Jankovic.
She faces China's Jie Zheng, who made a surprising run to the semifinals at Wimbledon earlier this summer. This could be quite a match given the fact that she made Serena Williams work for her berth in the finals at the All England Club.
Ashe is not completely where it's at today. The Grandstand offers some fun with Davydenko vs. Calleri followed by Ginepri vs. Cilic, who needed five sets to advance out of the first round the other day.
Elena Dementieva, Kuznetsova (vs. Srebotnik) and Safin will play on Louis Armstrong. Should be a fun day. Be back later.
It's tempting to park myself at Arthur Ashe for the afternoon with a lineup that includes Jankovic, Federer and Djokovic for the first three matches. While it's tough to imagine Federer or Djokovic going down, the same cannot be said for Jankovic.
She faces China's Jie Zheng, who made a surprising run to the semifinals at Wimbledon earlier this summer. This could be quite a match given the fact that she made Serena Williams work for her berth in the finals at the All England Club.
Ashe is not completely where it's at today. The Grandstand offers some fun with Davydenko vs. Calleri followed by Ginepri vs. Cilic, who needed five sets to advance out of the first round the other day.
Elena Dementieva, Kuznetsova (vs. Srebotnik) and Safin will play on Louis Armstrong. Should be a fun day. Be back later.
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