You can see, I'm asking for it very nicely. The showers continued at Flushing Meadows and this time nature has forced the postponement of all of Friday’s three scheduled singles matches which also included the suspended quarterfinal match between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez.
Also delayed are the two women’s semifinals, one between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters, the other between Caroline Wozniacki and Yanina Wickmayer.
Clijsters and her husband Brian Lynch wait in the players' lounge at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for play to commence...
Those three matches were all rescheduled for Saturday and set to have Nadal/Gonzalez begin at noon, followed by Wozniacki/Wickmayer, with Williams/Clijsters slated to start after 8PM.
Assuming the women’s semifinals can be completed Saturday, that final will be moved to Sunday.
If Nadal/Gonzalez finishes Saturday, the men’s semifinals will be Sunday.
This means the men’s final then would be moved from Sunday to Monday.
If you remember last year, the US Open men’s final was played on a Monday for the first time in many years. (Via AP; Images via Yahoo! Sports)
Japanese tennis player Ai Sugiyama announced her her retirement after this season during a press conference in Narita, Tokyo yesterday.
The former world no.8 singles and no.1 doubles player played her last US Open recently, in which she lost in straight sets to Samantha Stosur. (Image by Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images)
Juan Martin del Potro has to wait for another day to know who he's going to play in the semifinals.
This is because the quarterfinal match between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez was postponed after a series of interruptions due to showers during the second set.
Nadal is currently leading 7-6, 6-6 and 3-2 in the tiebreak.
This break might be helpful to Nadal, who called for a trainer in earlier set due to stomach muscle problem that bothered him since earlier of the tournament.
Their match was scheduled to resume tomorrow (not before 2PM) — following the first women’s semifinal, between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters, which was to begin at 12:30PM.
It's curtain call for Melanie Oudin at the US Open but as she stepped out of the Arthur Ashe stadium last night, her life will change forever - as the media said, she'll step into "a world of jostling paparazzi, autograph signing and an endorsement-filled future".
Caroline Wozniacki who ended Oudin's dream run with a 6-2, 6-2 victory, will go into her first Grand Slam semifinals for the first time.
In an earlier quarterfinal match, Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, who never before past a Grand Slam second round, beat Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5, 6-4.
Both Wozniacki and Wickmayer will meet in a Friday semifinal to determine the winner to play for a US Open title on Saturday against either Serena Williams or Kim Clijsters.
In the men's singles, Roger Federer defeated Robin Soderling 6-0, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 to extend his winning streak to 39 at the US Open.
Federer will play Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, after the Serbian pulled off a 7-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over the unfit Fernando Verdasco.
Here's Thursday’s order of play on day 11 at the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seeding):
(Not before 1100EDT) 6-Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) v 16-Marin Cilic (Croatia)
(Not before 1900EDT) 11-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) v 3-Rafael Nadal (Spain) (Via AP; Images via Yahoo! Sports)
According to tennis.com, Fernando Verdasco will miss Spain's upcoming Davis Cup tie to allow an abdominal injury to heal and have surgery on his foot.
" I have micro tears [in the abdominal], and tomorrow I have proof to know how long I need to rest, to recover. But I think it's going to take around one week or ten days," Verdasco said.
"So in that time, I will take that time also to have the surgery on my foot."
Does that mean Verdasco would not be able to recover in time for the Malaysian Open scheduled to take place end of this month?
*******
Novak Djokovic is all out to win America's heart.
He invited children of 9/11 victims to watch his matches in his box.
"We had this idea before the tournament, and I didn't want to talk about it, obviously."
"Well, it's a gesture that I hope it means [something] for them. I've been meeting four different guys in these two weeks. I have been giving them some presents after the matches."
"I just try to bring some smiles and make them enjoy. I hope that's what I did."
*******
You know you're famous when people want to know about your private life.
That's happening to Melanie Oudin.
It has been reported that John Oudin, Melanie Oudin's father has filed for divorce from Melanie's mother, Leslie, in July 2008, alleging that Leslie was having an affair with Melanie's coach Brian de Villiers. *Gulp!*
Still about, Melanie Oudin, she just signed a multi-year endorsement deal with technology company BackOffice Associates, who also sponsors James Blake.
Just when Rafael Nadal finished the match against Gael Monfils, a fan ran out of nowhere, approached the Spanish player and gave him a kiss before a woman security guard intervened.
When asked about the incident, Nadal said, "For me, it wasn’t a problem. The guy was really nice. He said, ‘I love you,’ and he kissed me.” :D
By defeating Monfils 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to move on to the quarterfinals, Nadal will regain his no. 2 ranking from Andy Murray who was upset by Marin Cilic earlier.
Back to Nadal, he'll try to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the US Open.
He'll meet Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinal after the Chilean eliminated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
In another men's singles match, Juan Martin del Potro defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
In the women's singles, Kim Clijsters dispatched Li Na in straight sets with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
The opponent waiting for her next in the semifinals is none other than Serena Williams who sent off Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-3.
Here's Wednesday’s order of play on day 10 at the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seeding):
(Not before 1630GMT) Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) v Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukraine) 4-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 10-Fernando Verdasco (Spain)
(Not before 2300GMT) Melanie Oudin (U.S.) v 9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 12-Robin Soderling (Sweden)
According to AP, 'disappointed' was the word Andy Murray used over and over to describe how he felt about his exit from the US Open.
I'd say the right word should be 'overrated' :P
Coming in to Flushing Meadows as seed no.2 and one of the top contenders for the US Open title, Murray was upset by Marin Cilic 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth round.
There was another thing for the American crowd to cheer about last night.
America's newest darling, Melanie Oudin, continued her dream run at the US Open with another upset over Russian Nadia Petrova.
The teenager won 1-6, 7-6, 6-3.
The biggest upset of the day has to be Caroline Wozniacki who sent off Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The Danish teen toppled the former US Open champ 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 to reach her first grand slam quarterfinal.
American John Isner’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Fernando Verdasco marked the first time since 1968 that no American men's players advanced to the US Open quarterfinals.
Here's the rest of the results:
US Open men's singles fourth-round results from New York on Tuesday (prefix denotes seeding)
I was lucky to be able to catch the repeat match between Flavia Pennetta and Vera Zvonareva last night.
I have to tell you it was the ultimate meltdown ever happened on any WTA or grand slam tennis tournament!
I couldn't find any youtube video yet... probably someone will upload it soon. But in the meanwhile you can find it at the US Open website. Just find under Audio & Video and look for Pennetta vs Zvonareva match on September 6, 2009.
Chris Chase wrote sort of a chronology of what had actually happened in Yahoo! Tennis.
Zvonareva cried on the court during the second set tiebreak.
Hysterically cried in the locker room in between the second and third sets.
Ripped off a portion of the medical tape that was wrapped around her thighs.
Complained to the chair umpire that the remaining tape left around her thighs prevented her from playing.
Screamed an obscenity at the chair umpire when she wouldn't give her a medical timeout to fix said medical tape.
Loudly yelled a compound word/profanity after hitting an unforced error.
Continued to rip the tape off her leg.
Smashed her racquet into a post.
Spent the final changeover sitting in her chair with a white towel draped over her head.
Lost the third set 6-0.
What was not mentioned by Chris in detail was, when Zvonareva skidded and fell, did the splits, she just sat there on the ground, pounding on her leg with her palm.
You can see that in the US Open website.
The scariest part was (also not mentioned by Chris) Zvonareva knocked her head several times while being attended by a trainer. Luckily she did not pull a Mikhail Youzhny that night.
While leaving the court, she something like "I hate the crowd"....
This year's US Open has to be the wackiest of all times, and Zvonareva's behaviour was simply the climax of a truly bizarre week.
I remember very well that in the last couple of years, there were quite a number of celebrities who added glitter to the US Open every single day.
So what happen this year?
Besides Alec Baldwin, Will Ferrell, Kim Cattrall, Patrick Stewart, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Love Hewitt, I haven't really seen any hotter stars than those I just mentioned. Celebrities aside, I think the player of the day is Kim Clijsters.
Clijsters marked her dazzling return to the grand slam by ousting Venus Williams with a wild yet weird 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 victory!
The Belgian mum will face Li Na next after the Chinese beat Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3.
In another exciting match, Flavia Pennetta saved six match points to advance to the quarterfinal with a 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 victory over Vera Zvonareva.
Pennetta will face Serena Williams next!
In the men's singles, Andy Murray joined Juan Martin del Potro, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez to the next round.
Earlier of the day, Nadal knocked off compatriot Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
During the match, Nadal was treated for a stomach muscle problem while Almagro also received a treatment for back problem.
Nadal's next opponent is Gael Monfils who advanced when Jose Acasuso quit because of left knee pain while trailing 6-3, 6-4, 1-0.
In the last match of the day, Murray, needed only 90 minutes to sent off Taylor Dent 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and set up a fourth-round encounter with Marin Cilic.
US Open men's singles third round results from New York on Monday (prefix denotes seeding)
2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Taylor Dent (US) 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat Daniel Koellerer (Austria) 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Julien Benneteau (France) 7-6(4) 6-2 6-4 11-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat 17-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-4 6-4 3-Rafael Nadal (Spain) beat 32-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 7-5 6-4 6-4 24-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat 9-Gilles Simon (France) 1-6 6-4 7-6(5) 1-0 (Simon retired)
US Open women's singles fourth round results from New York on Monday (prefix denotes seeding)
10-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) beat 7-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 Kim Clijsters (Belgium) beat 3-Venus Williams (US) 6-0 0-6 6-4 18-Li Na (China) beat 26-Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 6-2 6-3 2-Serena Williams (US) beat 22-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-2 6-0 (Via AP, Reuters, TVNZ, US Open website)
So, this is the real reason why Elena Dementieva lost so early in the US Open.
The president is wowed by the medal... I guess.
May I present to you one of Russia's best export...
Women's Tennis Blog posted a very interesting photo of Ana Ivanovic and Adam Scott strolling the streets of NYC.
You can see, I'm asking for it very nicely.
Clijsters and her husband Brian Lynch wait in the players' lounge at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for play to commence...
Japanese tennis player Ai Sugiyama announced her her retirement after this season during a press conference in Narita, Tokyo yesterday. 
I always believe in Juan Martin del Potro's consistency even though Marin Cilic took the first set in their quarterfinal match last night.
As expected, Del Potro sealed it with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory.
According to tennis.com, Fernando Verdasco will miss Spain's upcoming Davis Cup tie to allow an abdominal injury to heal and have surgery on his foot.
Novak Djokovic is all out to win America's heart.
You know you're famous when people want to know about your private life.
According to AP, 'disappointed' was the word Andy Murray used over and over to describe how he felt about his exit from the US Open.
I was lucky to be able to catch the repeat match between Flavia Pennetta and Vera Zvonareva last night. 
What was not mentioned by Chris in detail was, when Zvonareva skidded and fell, did the splits, she just sat there on the ground, pounding on her leg with her palm.
