US Open Day 7 Wrap-up: Lack of star power, Clijster, Pennetta steal the show

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)

Juan Martin del Potro thinks he'll be better when Federer, Nadal, Murray retire...

Either he is lack of confidence or he's humble...

Read this excerpt taken from the post-match interview with Juan Martin del Potro after he defeated Austrian Daniel Koellerer.

Q. Djokovic said a few weeks ago that with all these great players coming around maybe he came around at the wrong era. Do you feel that way?

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, my feeling is I have very good players from me to the No. 1. For sure, Roger, Rafa, Murray, they are two or three step more than me. I working hard every day hard to be like them.

But if I play for many years in this level, then they gonna retire and I gonna be much better, so...

(Via US Open website; Image via Yahoo! Sports)

Royal treatment awaits Rafael Nadal in Bangkok

As you've already know, Rafael Nadal will be playing at the PTT Thailand Open this month.

The official hotel sponsor, Intercontinental Hotel, has opened the door and let fans take a glimpse of Nadal's luxurious Royal Suite Room.

Remember his face... Mr. Warachai, Nadal's butler

(via PTT Thailand Open website)

Congratulations to the winners of the "We Love Malaysian Open" contest

Here are the winners for the "We Love Malaysian Open" contest. Judges' decisions are final. Winners will be contacted via e-mail.

Grand Prize #1
Gold Semifinals Seat (Day session) x 2
Winner: Joash Wee
Rafa: I hear you're heading to South East Asia for a tournament! So am I! Is it the Thailand Open?
Richard: Unfertunetely i enters zee Maleesien Open.
Rafa: Oh.
Rafa/Richard: Anyways...

Grand Prize #2
Gold Semifinals Seat (Evening session) x 2
Winner: Freddy Kwa, Puchong, Malaysia
Richard: So, how's Xisca?
Rafa: She's HOT, no? Hehhe... so, how's Pamela*?
Richard: Hmmmppphhh!
Rafa: Ooops....
(*the chick who kissed Richard and landed him in drug controversy)

Second prize
Australian Open "mini tennis ball" keychain x 1
Malaysian Open notebook x 1 (not laptop, okay)
Official Guide To Professional Tennis x 1
ATP World Tour 2009 season book x 1
Malaysian Open car sticker x 1
Wilson socks x 1
Wilson cap x 1
Winner: Pt, Ampang, Malaysia
Seeking to break the monotony that is training, Rafa and Richard resort to a fun game of mirroring each other's movements and expressions, and soon come to realise that in the event of the relentless pursuing of a certain Mr Tendinitis or Miss Pamela, they could very well retire into mime.

Third prize
Malaysian Open notebook x 1 (not laptop, okay)
ATP World Tour 2009 season book x 1
Malaysian Open car sticker x 1
Wilson socks x 1
Wilson cap x 1
Winner: ReliableRaf, Philippines
Rafa: Did you watch my game against Fed last week? I totally butchered him. I'm quite shock but great hahaha
Richard: Yeah i saw that match, i was surprise how helpless he was on that match.
Rafa: shhhhhhhhhh....quiet Fed's coming. He might hear us, pretend to wonder hehe
Richard: oh ok...as you say ;-)

Consolation prize
Malaysian Open poster x 1
Malaysian Open car sticker x 1
Winner: arvy harahap, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
RQ: Hey Rafa, how's your knee man?
RN: It's holding up pretty well..haha
RQ: Good! then i can't wait to play against you in the Malaysian Open!
RN: HAHAHAHA...same here...if its possible
Q: What? I thought that you are playing in the tournament
RN: Hmm...hmm....nope, i am going to Thailand.
RQ: What! but you said you gonna go, that's why i entered the tournament!
RN: hmmph..sorry...
RQ: SHUT UP!

Thank you for all your entries.

I know some said this contest was hard. So I'm amazed by a few entries which I think are pretty creative.

To those who won, congrats... and to those who didn't win, don't give up as I'll be organising more contests in the near future.

Thanks again to the tournament director of the Malaysian Open for sponsoring 4 tickets to the semifinals!

Have a good weekend!