2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Janowicz booed for underhand serve

Wimbledon semi-finalist Jerzy Janowicz was showered with boos for serving underhand during his quick opening round exit from the US Open.
Hampered by a back injury sustained in the gym on Saturday, the normally temperamental world number 14 from Poland hobbled through a 6-4 6-4 6-2 loss to world number 247 Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina.
Janowicz had 53 unforced errors, threw his water bottle on the court, argued with the umpire and earned the wrath of the crowd at Flushing Meadows when he resorted to serving underhand in the fifth game of the third set.
"On my push, I wouldn't call it a serve, he hit two winners on my push, so I decided to try something else," Janowicz said of the decision to serve underhand.
Janowicz's normally powerful delivery was barely registering 100 miles per hour. He trudged around the court, making his feelings obvious, before he used the underhand delivery when the match was slipping away.
He said a request for pain killers in the third set was rejected since he had received a strong dose earlier on Tuesday.
"It was like being stabbed in the back by a *****," the 22-year-old said of his injury. "I felt bad in my lower back. For three days I haven't been able to practice, I could barely walk. I was in really good shape before this happened and that's why I'm fricking disappointed.
"I was just working hard in the gymnasium when it happened. Today before the match I had injections, strong pain killers. But I couldn't serve. I just couldn't serve."
Still, it was a more quiet departure from Janowicz than his stormy exit at the Australian Open in January.
Losing in the third round to India's Somdev Devvarman at Melbourne Park, Janowicz spat at a ball mark and screamed at the umpire: "How many times? How many times?"
The YouTube clip from the incident at the Australian Open has attracted over 1 million views.
Janowicz said it was too early to tell if he would be available for next month's Davis Cup tie against Australia.
During his charmed run at Wimbledon, Janowicz had been asked to describe the experience in one word. "Fun," he said at the time.
Asked the same question about his US Open appearance, he replied: "Disappointment."

 

[Smallville22]

Federer notches commanding first-round win

Five-times US Open champion Roger Federer gave evidence he could still be a ***** with a commanding 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory over Slovenia's Grega Zemlja in his opening match at Flushing Meadows.
The Swiss master, who suffered a shock second-round loss at Wimbledon in June and struggled through a back injury earlier this year, dominated the 62nd ranked Zemlja, ripping 35 winners and committing just 16 unforced errors in the 93-minute win.
Despite slipping in the rankings and entering the tournament as the seventh seed - his lowest seeding at the US Open in over a decade - Federer said he does not think about retirement.
"Right now I love it," said Federer, the all-time leader with 17 Grand Slam singles titles whose last major triumph came last year at Wimbledon.
The 32-year-old Swiss said his passion for the game is as strong as ever.
"Clearly, when you win everything it's fun," said Federer, whose last major triumph came last year at Wimbledon.
"That doesn't necessarily mean you love the game more. You just like winning, being on the front page, lifting trophies, doing comfortable press conferences. It's nice.
"But that doesn't mean you really actually love it, love it.
That maybe shines through maybe more in times when you don't play that well. For me, I knew it, winning or losing, practice court or match court, that I love it."
Federer showed that love by hitting the practice courts right after his victory against the big-hitting Zemlja to put in more time on his groundstrokes after adapting an aggressive, forward-moving strategy to defuse the Slovenian's weapons.
"Hardly any rallies today," explained Federer. "Decided to work out some more on the practice courts."
Federer's match had been scheduled to cap the Monday night program at Arthur Ashe Stadium but was postponed because of rain.
Next up for Federer will be Carlos Berlocq of Argentina, a 6-3 3-6 6-7 (6) 6-4 6-2 winner over Colombia's Santiago Giraldo.
Giraldo had led Berlocq 2-1 in the fourth set when Monday's rain ****** them to complete their match on Tuesday.
Federer took a few games to find his rhythm against Zemlja but from 3-3 in the first set, he won nine of the next 11 games to go up two sets to love.
A break in the seventh game of the third set gave Federer a 4-3 lead but the hard-hitting Zemlja raised his game and broke the Swiss on his third successive break point in the next game to bring the set back on serve.
Federer shut the door after that, whipping a forehand cross court winner to break for a 6-5 lead and crushed a forehand volley to end the match.

 

[Smallville22]

Errani serves up double-bagel to advance

Italy's Sara Errani doled out a rare double-bagel win at the US Open, thrashing Australia's Olivia Rogowska 6-0 6-0 in under an hour.
Errani, the women's fourth seed for the year's final Grand Slam, showed no mercy against her 151st-ranked opponent, who only got into the draw as a lucky loser replacement following the withdrawal of Japan's Ayumi Morita.
Rogowska won just 23 points in the entire match and made a whopping 38 unforced errors before Errani finished her off in just 51 minutes.
Errani, who made the semi-finals at last year's US Open and the French Open final the same season, will play her countrywoman Flavia Pennetta in the second round.

 

[Smallville22]

Former champion Stosur stunned by teenage qualifier

Fearless American teenager Victoria Duval described herself as a ***** who became a warrior while knocking former champion Sam Stosur out of the US Open on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old qualifier from Atlanta, who was held hostage at the age of seven and whose ****** who was dug out of the rubble of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, announced herself on the world stage with a stunning 5-7 6-4 6-4 victory.
The 11th seeded Australian, the 2011 champion in New York, looked to have control of the match when she led 4-2 in the second set.
Duval held her nerve, though, to serve out for the win in two hours and 39 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
"I'm very goofy off the court," Duval said after the first-round win. "I think I'm very much a ***** at heart. But on the court you have to be a warrior because that's just the sport we are in."
Duval's ******, Jean-Maurice, was courtside at the Louis Armstrong Stadium when his ******** pulled off the first major upset of the tournament.
Three years ago, his legs were broken, his left arm shattered and seven fractured ribs had punctured his lung after the catastrophic earthquake on the Caribbean island.
A tennis connection played an instrumental part in his recovery with an Atlanta ****** connected with Duval's club paying to airlift him to a Florida hospital.
That only happened after his passport was also dug out of the rubble and the role of the Kitchen ****** in her ******'s rescue was not forgotten by Duval in the biggest moment of her fledgling career.
"Emotionally it was hard at first," Duval said. "But he's as happy as he's ever been. He had a couple of surgeries that helped take the pain away.
"We're just so happy that, you know, he's in a good state of mind right now. He's here with us, so it's incredible. We're forever grateful to the Kitchens.
"If it wasn't for them, my *** definitely wouldn't be here today. Not everyone just pays $30,000 to fly a helicopter to save someone.
"Great story. They're amazing people. I mean, they're angels. We could not have found better people."
It was also in Haiti that Duval, then seven, and her cousins were held hostage at her home by ***-wielding thieves a decade ago.
"It's not a good memory, so I try to forget as much as I can about it," she said. "I don't remember too much of it anymore, which is great."
Duval also struggled to recall the decisive moment of her victory over Stosur, who beat the might of Serena Williams to win the title at Flushing Meadows only two years ago.
"A lot of different emotions," she said. "Mostly happiness.
It was incredible. I don't even remember match point.
"I guess I was really happy. You could tell by all the jumping I did."
Duval, who will meet Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova in the second round, said part of her career ambition was to join the likes of Sloane Stephens in restoring the United States to its position as the dominant power in world tennis.
"We're obviously trying to make American tennis become what it used to be," she said.
"We're all working towards the same goal. We're all a tight-knit group. Helping each other is important. I think we're on an amazing path."
World number 11 Stosur paid tribute to Duval's powerful groundstrokes but also blamed herself for the defeat after hitting 56 unforced errors.
"I think she played well, but I think I certainly helped her along the way," the Australian said.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic overwhelming in first-round win

Top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia lived up to his ranking by playing to near perfection in overwhelming Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-1 6-2 6-2 in his opening match at the US Open.
The world number one committed only two unforced errors before getting a little sloppy toward the end of the third set, finishing with nine miscues against 28 winners, including 10 aces.
Djokovic, who buried groundstrokes from both wings into the corners with 112th-ranked Berankis looking on helplessly, also fended off seven of eight break points held by the Lithuanian.
The Serb, who recently added former professional Wojtek Fibak to his team as a tactical consultant, said the comprehensive nature of the win had been satisfying.
"I was playing on a very high level," he said. "I was just very happy with the concentration, because I didn't play so well in Montreal and Cincinnati in the warm-up tournaments for the U.S. Open.
"So I had 10 days to really give everything I can on the practice courts. I was very committed and put 100 percent into my preparations.
"It's starting to pay off. The first match was as well as it could be. Now I need to continue on working and stay on this course."
Berankis was impressed.
"I had to come up with my best shots to win a point and win a couple of games. I was really impressed with how he played so focused, not one point easy for me," he said.
"The feeling is like, man you have to work so much harder to be at least close to those top guys."
It was the first appearance for Berankis in Arthur Ashe Stadium and his first night match - a factor which Djokovic said he had used to his advantage.
"I think the night sessions in New York are quite different from any other tournament because of just the vibe that you feel with the people, the crowd gets involved," the top seed said.
"It's very exciting, always entertaining. It's fun. It's fun to play in front of the crowd. Biggest stadium we have. Looks quite impressive from down there.
"Berankis was playing his first night session. That's where I was looking for my chance to start pressing from the start."
So swift and one-sided was Djokovic's win, that his post-match news conference shifted from who he beat to what he eats.
The Serb has credited his rise to the top of the rankings to a change in diet which he explains in a new book "Serve to Win". He now foregoes dairy products, tomatoes, cold water and gluten, a protein complex found in wheat.
"This particular diet changed my life really in a positive way and affected positively my career and my overall feeling on and off the court," the Australian Open champion said.
"So I particularly wanted to share this kind of food regime and this kind of change that affected my life positively with the people, just present them my own experience.
"Everybody is different. But you always try to improve as a person and as a player.
"I've been always open-minded about sports science, about nutrition, about health, about general well-being, because that's something that is part of my job also and my life," he added
The 26-year-old will play Germany's Benjamin Becker, a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 winner over Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic, in the second round.

 

[Smallville22]

Azarenka dishes out double bagel

Twelve months after her agonising defeat in the US Open final, Victoria Azarenka made a triumphant return to Flushing Meadows.
In her first match back on the Arthur Ashe Stadium since her gut-wrenching loss to Serena Williams, Azarenka chalked up a rare double-bagel win, thrashing Germany's Dinah Pfizenmaier 6-0 6-0 in just over an hour.
"I'm really happy to be back on this court, the last time I was here it was very emotional," she said.
"To come back and compete at one of the most famous arenas in the world, it's great ... I love New York."
The world number two arrived in the Big Apple brimming with confidence after beating Williams in the final of the Cincinnati Open and was untroubled against Pfizenmaier, ranked 99th.
She hit 14 winners and made just 10 unforced errors but had to fend off three break points on her own serve.
"It was a lot closer than the score," Azarenka said. "I thought I played really well in the important moments and raised my game when I needed to."
Azarenka was just two points away from beating Williams in last year's championship match when the American drew on her all her experience to win a three-set thriller.
It was a painful loss for the fiercely competitive Belarusian but she showed she was quick learner, overcoming her disappointment and rebounding to win her second Australian Open title in January.

 

[Smallville22]

Day three order of play

Order of play for day three of the US Open, with Andy Murray and Serena Williams both in action.

Arthur Ashe Stadium

11am (4pm UK)

Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) vs. Na Li (CHN) [5]

Not before 1pm (6pm UK)

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) [6]

Serena Williams (USA) [1] vs. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)

7pm (midnight UK)

Andy Murray (GBR) [3] vs. Michael Llodra (FRA)

Urszula Radwanska (POL) vs. Sloane Stephens (USA) [15]

Louis Armstrong Stadium

11am (4pm UK)

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [3] vs. Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP)

Not before 1pm (6pm UK)

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Jie Zheng (CHN)

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs. Brian Baker (USA)

Not before 5.30pm (10.30pm UK)

James Blake (USA) vs. Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

Grandstand

11am (4pm UK)

Daniel Brands (GER) vs. Kevin Anderson (RSA) [17]

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) vs. Angelique Kerber (GER) [8]

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) [9] vs. Radek Stepanek (CZE)

Jamie Hampton (USA) [23] vs. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

Court 17

11am (4pm UK time)

Coco Vandeweghe (USA) v Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) [18]

Tim Smyczek (USA) v James Duckworth (AUS)

[Following doubles match] Rajeev Ram (USA) v Fabio Fognini (ITA) [16]

Court 13

11am (4pm UK time)

Lukas Lacko (SVK) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)

Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) [24] v Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)

Benoit Paire (FRA) [24] v Alex Bogomolov Jr. (RUS)

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) [9] v Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)

Court 11

11am (4pm UK time)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Go Soeda (JPN)

Laura Robson (GBR) [30] v Caroline Garcia (FRA)

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Sabine Lisicki (GER) [16]

Kurumi Nara (JPN) v Sorana Cirstea (ROU) [19]

Court 4

11am (4pm UK time)

Nicolas Mahut (FRA) v Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) [21]

Kaia Kanepi (EST) [25] v Anna Schmiedlova (SVK)

Igor Sijsling (NED) v Peter Gojowczyk (GER)

Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) v Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (AUT)

Court 6

11am (4pm UK time)

David Goffin (BEL) v Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)

[Following two doubles matches] Victor Hanescu (ROU) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG)

Court 7

11am (4pm UK time)

Ashleigh Barty (AUS) v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) [32]

Andreas Seppi (ITA) [20] v Xavier Malisse (BEL)

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) [29] v Evgeny Donskoy (RUS)

Court 8

11am (4pm UK time)

[Following three doubles matches] Jurgen Zopp (EST) v Marcel Granollers (ESP)

 

[Smallville22]

Rain plays havoc with schedule at US Open

Serena Williams's centre court clash was among dozens of matches cancelled on Wednesday after rain washed out most of the day's play at the US Open, ******* tournament organisers to drastically revise the schedule.
Officials were still clinging to hope that the showers would clear up long enough for Andy Murray to begin his title defence but 28 other matches were postponed because of the foul weather on the third day's play.
Only five matches were completed on Wednesday before the clouds opened, sending players and spectators scampering for cover.
Players made a brief return to the courts when the drizzle stopped midway through the afternoon but another downpour saw them retreat to the locker room, ******* organisers to start cancelling matches.
World number one Williams was due to play Galina Voskoboeva on the Arthur Ashe Stadium centre court but their second round meeting was among the matches postponed to allow some of the men to play their first round matches.
The most notable case was Murray, who ended a 76-year British drought in the Grand Slams when he won the US Open in dramatic fashion last year.
Because of the unique scheduling at the US Open, where the men's first round is played over three days, the Scotsman was not scheduled to play his opening match until Wednesday night.
With over four hours lost during the day session and the forecast calling for another drenching in the evening, Murray might have to wait until Thursday before facing his first-round opponent Michael Llodra.
New York's fickle weather has been a major talking point at Flushing Meadows for years with each of the last five men's finals spilling into a third week because of rain delays.
The problem was exacerbated because of the controversial scheduling at the last Grand Slam of the year.
In addition to playing the men's first round over three days, the US Open was the only Grand Slam where both singles semi-finals and finals were played on successive days, leaving no room for catch-up if rain falls on the last weekend.
Tournament organisers changed the rule this year, having a day off between the semis and final, but remain powerless to combat ****** Nature.
The US Open is the only Grand Slam where the main stadium is not covered by a roof. For years, US Tennis Association officials balked at the idea of building a roof because of the enormous cost of covering Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the world.
But they have finally relented, announcing two weeks ago that they would commence a massive renovation program, which would include a roof, but not until 2016, at the earliest.
Each of the five matches that were completed on Wednesday before the showers arrived were decided in straight sets.
China's Li Na beat Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-2 to ease into the third round while Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, the third seed, defeated Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor of Spain 6-0 7-5.
Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro and Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also won through to the third round while Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus won his first-round match against Japan's Go Soeda 6-4 6-3 6-1.
"I was a little bit happy because at least I'm done for my job today," said Li.
"I was so lucky before the rain come that I was I finish the match so I don't have to wait and warming up and coming to the court again."

 

[Smallville22]

Li eager for chance at revenge against Robson

China's Li Na has waited a year for another crack at Britain's Laura Robson and moved one step closer to getting her chance for revenge by dismissing Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson at the US Open on Wednesday.
The fifth-seeded Li's 6-2 6-2 victory lifted the 2011 French Open champion into the third round at Flushing Meadows, where she will meet either Robson or Caroline Garcia of France.
Robson, 19, eliminated Li in the third round at Flushing Meadows last year.
"After last year I think both players improved a lot. I'm really looking forward to playing against her," Li told reporters about a possible rematch against former Wimbledon junior champion Robson.
"For sure, really challenging, a lefty, aggressive player. Also, I can prove myself after one year whether I can do better than last year."
Li, 31, believes she has improved since taking on Carlos Rodriguez as her coach last year, although it has been a process.
"The first one or two months we have, he didn't talk too much, because he have to see what I'm doing," world number six Li said after her victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium court before a light rain suspended play at the US Tennis Center.
"After, I think especially in the winter training, we talk a lot. Not every day, but every second day we talk a lot to know each other pretty much," she added about Rodriguez, a former coach of seven-times grand slam winner Justine Henin.
"I was feeling pretty happy the way he is like now. We are communicating."
Li, a sporting trailblazer in China with more than 10 million fans on Chinese social media, said her relationship with a coach influenced more than just tactics and technique.
"I was feeling that a coach for me not only is about tennis coaching. He teaches me a lot like off of the court. He tells me a lot of experience, especially in press conference. Communication with friends, with ******, so many things."

 

[Smallville22]

Watson adamant she'll start taking chances soon after US Open loss

Heather Watson believes it is only a matter of time before she makes a major breakthrough at a Grand Slam despite losing in the first round at the US Open.
Watson, who competed for Team GB in the women's singles and doubles at the London 2012 Olympics, lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Simona Halep of Romania in her first clash at Flushing Meadows.
It could have all been different though had Watson converted when 40-0 up at 4-4 in the second set however she dropped five points in a row and the next four games.
Watson therefore failed to join fellow London 2012 Olympian and mixed doubles silver medallist Laura Robson as well as Dan Evans in advancing to round two.
It is also the third successive time that Watson has failed in the first round at the US Open while she is yet to progress beyond the third round at a Grand Slam.
However the 21-year-old is adamant the more she finds herself in the position she was against Halep the less chance there is that she'll squander the opportunity.
"I knew she wouldn't give it to me and she didn't, and I didn't make first serves on any of those game points," said Watson.
"That game was extremely important and I think once I get a few matches under my belt, I'll learn how to play those points smarter and take my time.
"I think that's why it hurts a lot, because I was so close. But if I keep making these opportunities for myself, I'll take some.
"I played better than I have been. I was playing one of the hottest players on tour right now; she made a lot of balls.
"I thought I played a good two sets and in the third my fitness let me down a bit; I was cramping in my legs. I was bit tense in the way I was moving and hitting the ball.
"All in all, I'm pleased with how I played but I had my chances and I had an opportunity to win that match in two sets. But she's got the confidence and she won the points when it mattered."

 

[Smallville22]

Venus beaten by China's Zheng at U.S. Open

Venus Williams was knocked out of the U.S. Open on Wednesday, beaten 6-3 2-6 7-6 by China's Zheng Jie after the pair slugged it out for more than three hours.
The 33-year-old American, the second oldest player in the women's singles draw, staged an incredible fightback to push the match into a deciding tiebreak but ultimately came up just short as she suffered her third successive second round exit at Flushing Meadows.
Williams was once the undisputed queen of tennis in New York, winning the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, but has struggled with health problems in recent years.
She provided a glimpse of her best when she beat Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens in the opening round on Monday but was always in trouble against the 30-year-old Zheng, whose best achievements have come in doubles.
With her hair braided and dyed a deep purple and with her fingernails polished in the same vivid fuschia, Williams made a shaky start.
The former world number one committed 15 unforced errors and served four double-faults to lose the opening set, which was interrupted by a long rain delay.
She fought back to win the second and recovered from 4-1 behind in the third through sheer ***** of will.
But just when she got back on level points in the tiebreaker, Williams made two successive errors to hand victory to Zheng, who matched her best performance at the U.S. Open by reaching the third round.
"It's unbelievable I can beat her," Zheng said in a courtside interview.
"I think this is very good for me and gives me more confidence for the next one."

 

[Smallville22]

Robson win sets up Li re-match

China's Li Na has waited a year for another crack at Britain's Laura Robson and got her wish as their second-round victories set up a third round US Open showdown.
Robson, 19, eliminated Li in the third round at Flushing Meadows last year.
The fifth-seeded Li beat Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium court and Robson, seeded 30th, advanced with a 6-4 7-6 victory over Caroline Garcia of France, winning the second-set tiebreak 7-5.
"After last year I think both players improved a lot. I'm really looking forward to playing against her," Li said about a rematch against former Wimbledon junior champion Robson.
"For sure, really challenging, a lefty, aggressive player. Also, I can prove myself after one year whether I can do better than last year."
Robson said she well remembered their showdown at the 2012 US Open.
"I remember being so nervous when I walked on court," the Briton said. "But just fighting through that and just sticking with her.
"I think she made a lot of mistakes in the first set, which helped quite a lot. Hopefully she'll do that again."
Li, 31, believes she has improved since taking on Carlos Rodriguez as her coach last year, although it has been a process.
"The first one or two months we have, he didn't talk too much, because he have to see what I'm doing," world number six Li said.
"After, I think especially in the winter training, we talk a lot. Not every day, but every second day we talk a lot to know each other pretty much," she added about Rodriguez, a former coach of seven-times Grand Slam winner Justine Henin.
"I was feeling pretty happy the way he is like now. We are communicating."
Li, a sporting trailblazer in China with more than 10 million fans on Chinese social media, said her relationship with a coach influenced more than just tactics and technique.
"I was feeling that a coach for me not only is about tennis coaching. He teaches me a lot like off of the court. He tells me a lot of experience, especially (for) press conference, communication with friends, with ******, so many things."

 

[Smallville22]

Del Potro battles to tight win in first round

Former champion Juan Martin del Potro outslugged a gritty Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in a contentious four-set match decided by a tiebreaker to reach the second round of the US Open.
Argentine Del Potro, who won his only Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in 2009, beat the 74th ranked Spaniard 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-4 7-6 by taking the climactic tiebreak 9-7 on his fourth match point.
The towering sixth seed had all he could handle from an inspired Garcia-Lopez in a match that saw the players bicker on a changeover as Del Potro complained about treatment his opponent was receiving on his left leg.
Garcia-Lopez, who had several extremely close calls in his favour reversed by challenges, kicked at his towel in disgust after a costly reversal during the tiebreaker.
The four hour, 13 minute marathon actually lasted twice as long with two rain delays totalling more than four hours further extending the match.
Del Potro will next play 2001 US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, who beat American wild card Brian Baker 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4.

 

[Smallville22]

U.S. Open order of play for Thursday

Arthur Ashe Stadium

(15:00 GMT/11 a.m. ET)

4-Sara Errani (Italy) v Flavia Pennetta (Italy)

(Not before 17:00 GMT/ 1 p.m. ET)

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) v Galina Voskoboeva (Kazakhstan)

7-Roger Federer (Switzerland) v Carlos Berlocq (Argentina)

(23:00 GMT/ 7 p.m. ET)

6-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) v Chanelle Scheepers (South Africa)

2-Rafa Nadal (Spain) v Rogerio Sutra Silva (Brazil)

Louis Armstrong Stadium

(15:00 GMT/ 11 a.m. ET)

8-Angelique Kerber (Germany) v Eugenie Bouchard (Canada)

4-David Ferrer (Spain) v Roberto Bautista (Spain)

2-Victoria Azarenka (Belaris) v Aleksandra Wozniak (Canada)

(Not before 21:30 GMT/ 5.30 p.m. ET)

13-John Isner (U.S.) v Gael Monfils (France)

Grandstand

(15:00 GMT/11 a.m. ET)

Christina McHale (U.S.) v Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)

13-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) v Alexandra Dulgheru (Romania)

26-Sam Querrey (U.S.) v Adrian Mannarino (France)

10-Milos Raonic (Canada) v Pablo Andujar (Spain)

 

[Lanceth]

Guys update me about Radwanska please. Enlighten me!

 

[Smallville22]

Night owl Murray opens defence with dominant win

Andy Murray was not happy about having to wait until Wednesday night to open the defence of his US Open title but the Briton was quite pleased with the result after delivering a masterly thrashing of Michael Llodra.
Wimbledon champion Murray, whose starting time was further delayed after four hours of rain delays had stalled proceedings at Flushing Meadows, raced through an entertaining 6-2 6-4 6-3, 98-minute drubbing of the 49th-ranked Frenchman on centre court.
"The rallies were quick, sharp. Wasn't much time between points. He was playing quickly on his serves in between points," the third-seeded Scot rattled off like winners from his racquet.
"It was a fairly, I thought, high standard match. Lots of reactions and dropshots, and definitely tested my movement today. I thought I moved well. I didn't make too many errors.
"It was a solid match."
The world number three's only lapse on Arthur Ashe Stadium court was when he allowed the Frenchman to break his serve in the second game of the second set.
Murray, who made only five unforced errors, faced just two break points while converting a tidy five-of-seven to set up a second-round clash against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina, a 7-6 (4) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (4) winner against Romania's Victor Hanescu.
The Briton put on a splendid show of athleticism, with his cat-like agility, timing at the net and piercing angles on his groundstrokes.
Llodra entertained with a 'hot dog' shot between his legs, an underarm serve, a juggling of the tennis ball with his feet and a futile tossing of his racquet into the air as Murray's soft, tantalising lob carried over him on match point.
Despite those good vibes, the 26-year-old from Dunblane still registered his disdain over waiting so long to join the fray in the last Grand Slam tournament of the season.
"I think playing at that time for your first round is not ideal," Murray said. "It's just not ideal.
"I don't know how many guys have played their first match at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday.
"You just want to get on the court and play."
When all was said and done, Murray enjoyed his return to the scene of his maiden Grand Slam victory a little less than a year ago, a five-set triumph over long-time rival and friend Novak Djokovic.
"It was nice. Going back onto that court again for me was the nicest part about it because, obviously, I have great memories here from last year.
"I didn't necessarily feel like I had much time to enjoy last year because I was so relieved. I was also a little bit in disbelief as well.
"To actually be out there and play a night match in front of a big crowd was really nice. I performed well. It was good."

 

[Smallville22]

Blake happy to avoid bowing out on historic anniversary

James Blake just about achieved his wish of avoiding defeat on the 50th anniversary of the Great March On Washington when his career-ending loss at the U.S. Open concluded past midnight at Flushing Meadows on Thursday.
The American former world number four had led two sets to love before succumbing to Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic 6-7(2) 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) 7-6(2) in front of more than 10,000 fans, who gave him a standing ovation as he left Louis Armstrong Stadium.
"I thought about that a lot this morning," Blake said of the anniversary of the civil rights protest that was highlighted by Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a *****" speech.
"I thought it would be a great day to get a win because of how important this day is in our history," he said of a first round match that had started late in the evening on Wednesday
"Maybe we should take it that at midnight, hopefully I was winning... and I lost the next day."
The African-American Blake was inspired to play tennis when he heard three-time grand slam winner Arthur Ashe speak in Harlem and the 33-year-old New York native has been outspoken on social issues throughout his career.
"To have something that was a demonstration 50 years ago that still resonates today, and still is sort of a beacon for what Martin Luther King did, how much he progressed the civil rights movement, I'm proud that I'm in a situation now where I don't have to face the same things he had to face," Blake said.
"I don't have to face the same things my *** had to face.
"But I also don't think we're at the finish line. I think it's a good reason to celebrate the 50th anniversary, to let people know that the civil rights movement isn't over."
Blake, who represented the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, also used his final post-match news conference to criticise the anti-gay laws announced by Russia ahead of next year's Sochi Winter Games.

BATTLES CONTINUE

"It's sad," he said.
"We're still in this fight. I don't know if a boycott would change that. I don't know all the politics that go into a boycott, but I know that policy is unacceptable.
"I wouldn't want to be over there. I wouldn't want to have anyone associated with me."
Blake said Russia's stance highlighted the battles for equality still being waged 50 years after the Great March on Washington.
"I think everyone at this point, when you look at the numbers, someone in your circle, whether it's a ****** member or a friend, is gay, transgender or bisexual," he said.
"You should appreciate that those people are valued members of society, people that are doing something good in the world.
"They should feel comfortable to live their lives.
"Any sort of policy that discriminates against them, that excludes them, is completely unfair in today's day and age. That's why I say we're 50 years out and there are still things going on that are discriminatory."
On the court, Blake's final action was to launch an unsuccessful line call challenge but he said that despite the loss, he was proud of putting up a fight in the last singles match of a commendable career beset by a host of problems.
At the age of 13, Blake was diagnosed with scoliosis and for five years was ****** to wear a full-length back brace for 18 hours a day.
In 2004 he broke his neck from colliding with a net post in Rome and suffered a ****** tragedy just months later when his ****** died of stomach cancer. Blake then developed shingles, which temporarily ********* half his face and blurred his sight.
The following year, Blake was named the ATP's comeback player of the year and in 2008, he was named the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year by the sport's governing body.
"Now I'll go back to being a normal person," he added after ending his career with 10 tournament victories.

 

[Smallville22]

Stephens at ease on the big stage

As the anointed leader of the next generation of American tennis players, Sloane Stephens is getting used to being in the spotlight.
At the US Open on Wednesday, there was she again, under the bright lights of New York but in the most intimidating stadium in world tennis.
The 20-year-old had been a bundle of nerves in her first match on Monday at Louis Armstrong Stadium and needed nearly three hours to advance.
But on Wednesday, in front of a much bigger audience, she ****** her latest test with flying colours, demolishing Poland's Urszula Radwanksa 6-1 6-1 to ease into the third round.
"I just had a goal, I was going to come out here and play aggressive, not miss a ball and make her work. That's all I can do," she said in a courtside interview.
"I have nothing to lose. It's the US Open so might as well come out and swing and have fun and I think that's what I did tonight."
If Stephens was unfazed by the boisterous crowds and the daunting size of the centre court stadium, she was unruffled by the late timing of her match.
After rain had washed out most of the day session and delayed the start of the night programme, her match did not begin until 11.53 p.m.
Only one match, the 1987 clash between Gabriela Sabatini and Beverly Bowes that started at midnight, had begun later.
"I never started that late. It was definitely a long experience," she said.
"But I played good. Maybe I should do that more often.
"Winning my first match on Ashe is a good feeling, a good way to do it."
Stephens also made the third round in her two previous appearances in the main draw at the US Open. To make the fourth round for the first time, she will need to beat her Fed Cup team-mate Jamie Hampton after she beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 7-5 6-4.
"It's always tough playing obviously another American. Jamie is a good friend. Obviously it will be a good match," Stephens said.
"Playing at the US Open, it's a pretty big deal. I'm looking forward to it."

 

[Smallville22]

Fourth seed Errani dumped out by Pennetta

Sara Errani became the highest seed to be knocked out of this year's US Open, losing 6-3 6-1 to fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta.
Errani, seeded fourth for the women's singles, was sent packing after just 71 minutes by her fellow Italian in a second round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
A semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows last year, Errani was looming as a contender this year and appeared to be in great form after doling out a rare double-bagel win in her opening match against Australia's Olivia Rogowska in under an hour.
Errani will now focus her attention on the doubles where she and her countrywoman Roberta Vinci will defend the title they won last year.
Vinci fared better in her second round singles match on Thursday with the 10th seed defeating Lucie Safarova 4-6 6-1 6-2.

 

[Smallville22]

Federer cruises into third round

Roger Federer enjoyed a routine 6-3 6-2 6-1 win over Argentina's Carlos Berlocq in the second round of the US Open to stay on track for a mouthwatering early clash with Rafa Nadal.
'Routine' was greeted positively by Federer, the all-time leading Grand Slam singles winner with 17 titles, who is seeded seventh after slipping in the rankings while hampered by injury.
"It's one of those matches I expect myself to win if possible in straight sets and gain confidence in the process," the 32-year-old Swiss maestro said.
"All those things happened, so I'm pleased about it."
The five-times US Open champion needed just 95 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium court to dispatch the overmatched Berlocq and secure a spot in the third round.
Federer is on a collision course to meet world number two Nadal in the quarter-finals instead of the usual semi-final or finals stage where he most often has encountered the Spaniard.
But it has been a down year for Federer, who has been bothered by a back injury and notched just one tournament win. He claimed the grass title at Halle over Michael Youzhny in a lead-up to Wimbledon, where the Swiss suffered a shock second-round ouster by Sergiy Stakhovsky.
"It hasn't been actually a terrible season up until Wimbledon really, and Wimbledon was just a disappointment," said Federer, who lost a five-set Australian Open semi-final to Andy Murray and denies he is in decline.
"I wish I could have played better, but I thought Stakhovsky overall played pretty well. Let's give him some credit.
"After that, I just really hoped I could win Hamburg and Gstaad back-to-back to gain confidence," said Federer, who lost in the Hamburg semi-finals and in his first match in Gstaad.
Yet Federer appears relaxed and said after his first-round, straight-sets US Open win over Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania that he was as passionate as ever about tennis.
"For me it was just sort of like playing matches again, enjoying myself training really hard, and I really got the matches I was looking for in Cincinnati," said Federer, who lost there in the quarters to Nadal in his US Open build-up.
"I'm still hopefully gaining confidence match by match.
"It might not just take a match but might take just a few matches, and next thing you know you're playing really, really good tennis again and you're close to playing some really great tennis," he said.
"I think that's kind of where I am right now, and that's where every match is really important to me now and that's how I play every single point right now."
While a Federer-Nadal clash in the quarters is awaited with great expectations, the Swiss veteran wants more than that.
"For me, one match against Rafa is not going to make my season or going to make me super confident or not," he said. "It needs to be more than that."
Federer will next play Adrian Mannarino of France.