It was another disastrous day at the US Open where several women's seeded players were knocked out from the season ending Grand Slam — no. 4 Elena Dementieva, no. 5 Jelena Jankovic, no. 19 Patty Schnyder, no. 23 Sabine Lisicki and no. 30 Alona Bondarenko.
Elena Dementieva blew her $1 million bonus after being stunned by American teenager Melanie Oudin 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
The 17-year-old Oudin will set up a third-round match against Maria Sharapova who eliminated another 17-year-old American, Christina McHale 6-2, 6-1.
Dinara Safina was lucky to stay in the tournament, overcoming her second poor performance of the week before defeating Kristina Barrois 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3. It was whole different scenario with the guys as no seeded men lost on Day 4 at the US Open.
Surprisingly, the Americans did pretty well as they sailed through to the next round — Andy Roddick, James Blake, Sam Querrey, John Isner and the unknown Jesse Witten.
Swiss Marco Chiudinelli currently ranked 161 in the world, surprised many after defeating Mikhail Youzhny 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3.
Somdev Devvarman managed to bageled Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third set before he was shown the exit door by the German who won 6-3, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2.
US Open men's singles second round results from New York on Friday (prefix denotes seeding)
Zahed and his Mom was in KL back in November, 2008
One of our friend and occasional Tennisweek.com featured writer, Zahed Khan (a.k.a Zahederer) — one of the world's most devoted Roger Federer fans and also a Federer lookalike— has a serious competitor.
Mentioned in the US Open website, this anonymous New York City bartender in the picture above is also often mistaken for Federer. (Images by HCFoo, US Open website)
I just came back from a special Majlis Berbuka Puasa (break fast for Muslims) organised by the nice people at IMG/Malaysian Open.
According to the Tournament Director Nick Freyer, the event is just three weeks away and everything is in perfect order including court installation.
During the "Makan" function, he took the opportunity to welcome Starbucks Coffee, Krispy Kreme, Gatorade and Eau Claire as Official Suppliers to the Malaysian Open.
This is my appetizer...
Personally I'm happy with this announcement because I'm entitled for a 20% discount (I'm working under the Mother company of Starbucks Coffee and Krispy Kreme)! :D
I was told that during the tournament, Starbucks Chill Patrol, a newly launched mobile coffee van will be parked on-site (at the front entrance of the Putra Stadium).
IMG staff, media and sponsors pose for a family photo...
If you still haven't get your tickets to the Malaysian Open, it's available through TicketPro or via their Hotline: +603 7880 7999. You can also purchase tickets through TicketPro outlets. (Via IMG)
To celebrate Rafael Nadal's return to the Grand Slam, here's a bunch of photos of him during the first round match against Richard Gasquet at the US Open.
And not forgetting a couple of shirtless photos too during changeover break.
Those who are curious about Rafael Nadal's knee probably have the answer now.
He's indeed okay and he can play well too!
Kicking off his US Open campaign, Nadal encountered no apparent trouble in winning the first round 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 over Richard Gasquet.
Maybe you might say Gasquest wasn't a fit opponent...
It's probably too early to predict Nadal's road to final but one thing for sure, Nadal said he has never felt so fresh.
Nadal's rival, Roger Federer, who is bidding for a 6th consecutive US Open championship—and 3rd Grand Slam title in a row this year— has no problem in overcoming Simon Greul with a 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 victory.
Waiting for Federer next is two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt, who defeated Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
Venus Williams may have a wide patches of white tape on her left knee but still, she can easily overcome Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-2.
Kim Clijsters continues to play by knocking off no. 14-seeded Marion Bartoli 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
With over a billion Indians following her every move on the tour, Sania Mirza displayed horrible tennis after being bageled twice by Flavia Pennetta. Other seeded women sent home included Samantha Stosur, in a shocking defeat to Vania King, who won 7-5, 6-4; former world no.1 Amelie Mauresmo, who lost to Aleksandra Wozniak; Agnieszka Radwanska, who was defeated by Maria Kirilenko; and Anabel Medina Garrigues.
There were no men's seeded losers today.
Marat Safin and Fabrice Santoro said goodbye to Grand Slam tennis with first round exits.
Both of them are retiring at the end of the season.
Safin, the 2000 US Open champion, lost to Jurgen Melzer 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 while Santoro, appearing in his record 69th major tournament, was beaten by Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
US Open men's singles results from New York on Thursday (prefix denotes seeding)
1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Simon Greul (Germany) 6-3 7-5 7-5 9-Gilles Simon (France) beat Daniel Gimeno (Spain) 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3 18-David Ferrer (Spain) beat Alberto Martin (Spain) 7-5 5-7 6-3 6-3 Philipp Petzschner (Germany) beat Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) 7-6(3) 6-7(6) 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat Juan Monaco (Argentina) 6-3 6-3 6-1 Robby Ginepri (US) beat Andrei Pavel (Romania) 5-7 6-2 6-4 6-0 Daniel Koellerer (Austria) beat Rui Machado (Portugal) 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-2 32-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat Steve Darcis (Belgium) 6-2 6-4 2-6 7-6(8) Jose Acasuso (Argentina) beat Marcos Daniel (Brazil) 6-2 6-4 6-3 3-Rafael Nadal (Spain) beat Richard Gasquet (France) 6-2 6-2 6-3 Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) beat Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) 6-4 6-2 6-3 Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) beat Chris Guccione (Australia) 6-4 7-6(4) 6-0 24-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat Fabrice Santoro (France) 6-4 6-3 6-3 Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) beat Michael Llodra (France) 6-3 6-4 6-4 Juergen Melzer (Austria) beat Marat Safin (Russia) 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 Andreas Beck (Germany) beat Evgeny Korolev (Russia) 6-3 6-4 2-6 2-6 6-4 13-Gael Monfils (France) beat Jeremy Chardy (France) 6-1 6-4 6-3
US Open women's singles second round results from New York on Thursday (prefix denotes seeding)
Mirka is back in the player box after gave birth to a set of twin girls back in July.
She looks great and ain't heavy anymore.
Other tennis WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) watching their men playing on courts for the past three days were Maria Francisca “Xisca” Perello, Jelena Ristic, Kim Sears, Bec Hewitt and Brooklyn Decker.
Xisca - Rafael Nadal's gf
Brooklyn Decker - Andy Roddick's wife
Jelena Ristic - Novak Djokovic's gf
Kim Sears - Andy Murray's gf
Bec Hewitt - Lleyton's wife
So where are the husbands and boyfriends?
Last week, we saw Jelena Jankovic's hunky water polo player boyfriend Mladjan Janovic at her practice.
2009 Olympus US Open Series men’s champion Sam Querrey and women's champion Elena Dementieva were at the photoshoot today.
Both of them are now eligible to compete for the largest payout in tennis history at the 2009 US Open — $2.6 million ($1.6 million for winning the US Open and a $1 million bonus for winning the US Open and the Olympus US Open Series)!
The second and third place finishers will compete for up to $500,000 and $250,000, respectively, in bonus prize money. (Image via US Open website)
Top seed and world no. 1 Dinara Safina barely survived a 2 hours and 35 minutes first round match to beat no. 167 Olivia Rogowska, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4!
Meanwhile, it was not so lucky for Ana Ivanovic who made her second straight early exit from the US Open, this time falling 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7) to Kateryna Bondarenko in the opening round.
Earlier, Svetlana Kuznetsova has advanced to the second round after a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Julia Goerges.
Just like Kuznetsova, Sharapova has no problem in advancing to the next round after an impressive 6-3, 6-0 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova.
Fresh from winning a US Open tune-up tournament in New Haven last week, Caroline Wozniacki also passed her first-round test after defeated Galina Voskoboeva with a 6-4, 6-0 win.
Jelena Jankovic who sees herself as a danger woman at the US Open also sailed through to the next round after defeating Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-3.
The night before, I managed to catch up with a couple of matches including the one between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and American wildcard recipient Chase Buchanan.
Tsonga dominated the 18-year old 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 in a one-sided match.
Also advancing to the second round is Novak Djokovic, who lost to Federer in the 2007 final. The Serbian proved to be too powerful for Ivan Ljubicic by defeating him 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.
Second seed and world no.2 Andy Murray denied Ernests Gulbis by winning 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 in the featured night match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Here's the complete results for Day 2:
US Open men's singles first round results from New York on Wednesday (prefix denotes seeding)
Hip-hop icon Jay-Z has designed a limited edition t-shirt featuring Arthur Ashe that will be sold at the 2009 US Open. The launch of the t-shirt design celebrates the USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network’s 40th anniversary, and proceeds from the shirt will benefit the NJTL and the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS.
You can purchase this t-shirt on-site at the Octagon and the Arthur Ashe Endowment Booth or you can order online at USOpen.org and ArthurAshe.org.
The design is part of Jay-Z’s Rocawear clothing line. (Via US Open website)
No other player can make bigger statement with her tennis dress than Maria Sharapova.
The Russian beauty is simply stunning in her NIKE black dress with silver straps and a matching silver headband.
Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki who debut her Stella McCartney's Adidas dress was far from impressive.
I'm a fan of Wozniacki but to be honest, that dress would have suited Maria Kirilenko better.
*******
Something bizzare happened to James Blake when an umpire wipe an advertising logo off his headband before his first round match at the US Open.
"I didn't know the rule," said Blake, who played without the FILA logo on the headband
"I didn't know you couldn't have any writing on the headband or wristband. With the new logo, new design, there's always the logo. I didn't know we couldn't do that."
"I don't know why the ATP does some of the things it does, or if it is just the (International Tennis Federation)," Blake said.
"A quarter-inch here, a quarter-inch there, they make all these rules. That's for them to deal with, the sponsors and everything. It's not my place to say."
Kim Clijsters returned to Arthur Ashe stadium at the US Open on Monday after two-year absence from tennis.
Although she said she was a 'little more nervous than usual' she was still able to thrash Viktoriya Kutuzova 6-1, 6-1 for a first-round victory.
Roger Federer, chasing a 6th straight US Open title and 16th Grand Slam, overwhelmed American wild card Devin Britton, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5, in just 88 minutes.
Following Federer and Clijsters on the centre court was Serena Williams, who walloped fellow American Alexa Glatch 6-4 6-1.
Her sister Venus was far from impressive and barely survived the match with Vera Dushevina. Venus won 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-3.
Andy Roddick closed Monday’s opening night with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 demolition of Bjorn Phau.
Before the Americans took their places under the spotlight, I need to specifically mention the double victories of Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza who posted first-round victories on opening day of the U.S. Open to become the first man and woman from India to reach the second round of the same grand slam event.
Mirza defeated Olga Govortsova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, and qualifier Devvarman beat Frederico Gil 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Here's the complete results for Day 1:
US Open men's singles first round results from New York on Tuesday (Prefix denotes seeding)
Elena Dementieva blew her $1 million bonus after being stunned by American teenager Melanie Oudin 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
Dinara Safina was lucky to stay in the tournament, overcoming her second poor performance of the week before defeating Kristina Barrois 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3.
Surprisingly, the Americans did pretty well as they sailed through to the next round — Andy Roddick, James Blake, Sam Querrey, John Isner and the unknown Jesse Witten.
Swiss Marco Chiudinelli currently ranked 161 in the world, surprised many after defeating Mikhail Youzhny 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3.
Somdev Devvarman managed to bageled Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third set before he was shown the exit door by the German who won 6-3, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2.
