TENNIS WATCH: Verdasco's abs & foot, Djokovic's big heart, Oudin's private life

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?

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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."

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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.

Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.

(Via tennis.com)

US Open Day 9 Wrap-up: Nadal gets the kiss, Murray gets the kick

More bizarre incident happened on Day 9.

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.

Here's the video taken from Gototennisblog.

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)

(Via AP, US Open website)

So overrated...

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.

Stay tune for Day 9 wrap-up later.

US Open Day 8 Wrap-up: *Yawn* Djokovic impersonates again, teens rule the court

Coincidentally, after posting about the lack of star power at the US Open, we begin to see more celebrities in the second week.

Here are some of the celebrities who attended Day 8 matches.

Just like last year, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are not here for tennis.

Mirka & Anna Wintour - Roger Federer #1 fans


Robert Federer & Gavin Rossdale - Also Roger Federer's #1 fans

Rob Thomas and wife

And speaking about celebrities, Novak Djokovic is a star of his own.

He has impersonated Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal and others in the past.

Last night, Djokovic added to his repertoire of memorable impersonations by channeling his inner John McEnroe in front of the majority-American crowd.

Check out the video here by tennisnakama.

Earlier Djokovic defeated Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.

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)

4-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat 15-Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) 6-1 6-3 6-3
10-Fernando Verdasco (Spain) beat John Isner (US) 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4
1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 14-Tommy Robredo (Spain) 7-5 6-2 6-2
12-Robin Soderling (Sweden) beat 8-Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 7-5 3-6 6-2 (Davydenko retired)

US Open women's singles fourth-round results from New York on Tuesday (prefix denotes seeding)

9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat 6-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 2-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3)
Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) beat Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 4-6 6-4 7-5
Melanie Oudin (US) beat 13-Nadia Petrova (Russia) 1-6 7-6 (2) 6-3
Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukraine) beat Gisela Dulko (Argentina) 6-0 6-0

(Via AP, Reuters, TVNZ, US Open website)