US Open Daily

Written by: on 1st September 2010
US Open Daily   |
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
US OPEN DAILY

US OPEN DAILY UPDATE – DAY 3

The future of American men’s tennis is on display on Day 3 of the US Open, with current young guns Sam Querrey and John Isner playing their opening matches and promising up-and-comers Ryan Harrison, Jack Sock and Bradley Klahn all making their main draw debuts. Not to be outdone, 18-year-old Melanie Oudin will be back on court looking to add Alona Bondarenko to her list of seeded players vanquished at the US Open, and 21-year-old Vania King will attempt to take out No. 24 seed Daniela Hantuchova.

Page 1 – On This Day in US Open History

Page 2 – They Said It!

Page 3 – Americans in Action; Oudin the Seed Slayer; Oudin’s New ’Do

Page 4 – Top American Men in Action Today; Querrey Among Tour Leaders in Tournament Titles; How Fit is Isner? Ask Mahut

Page 5 – The Kids Are All Right; Bryans Begin Pursuit of Title No. 3; Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles Get Underway Today

Page 6 – USTA Boys’ 18s Champion Sock Makes Main Draw Debut

Page 7 – Today on USOpen.org; 2010 US Open Service Leaders; Today’s Pre-Match Vocalist; Celebrities in Attendance

Page 8 – After Midnight: Late Finishes and Late Night Session Starts at the US Open

Page 9 – Lucic Wins, Date-Krumm Falls Following Long Open Layoffs; Day 2 American Report; Olympus US Open Series Update

Page 10 – Agassi Book Signing Today; Agassi Among Hall of Fame Nominees; Getting to Know You

ON THIS DAY IN US OPEN HISTORY – September 1

1971 – John Newcombe becomes the first top-seeded man to lose in the first round of the US Open when he is defeated by Jan Kodes, 2-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

1975 – Bjorn Borg ends the Rod Laver era at the US Open, defeating “The Rocket,” 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, in the round of 16 in Laver’s final US Open match.

1977 – Renee Richards, the 43-year-old transsexual who fought for more than a year for the right to play in the women’s singles of a major tennis championship, is beaten in the first round by Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade, 6-1, 6-4. Later that evening, 5-foot, 90-pound Tracy Austin, at the age of 14 years, eight months, 20 days, becomes the youngest player to play in the US Open, defeating Heidi Eisterlehner of West Germany, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round. Austin’s mark would be broken in 1979 by 14-year-old Kathy Horvath.

1987 – Fifteen-year-old Michael Chang defeats Paul McNamee, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, to become the youngest man to win a match at the US Open.

1993 – Goran Ivanisevic and Daniel Nestor play the longest tie-break in the history of the US Open (38 points). Ivanisevic prevails 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-6(18), in a first round encounter.

ON THIS DAY IN US OPEN HISTORY (continued)

1994 – Thirty-four-year-old Ivan Lendl plays what becomes his final professional tennis match when he is forced to retire with back pain while trailing Bernd Karbacher of Germany, 6-4, 7-6, 1-0, in the second round of the US Open. Lendl would announce his retirement due to his back problems on Dec. 20.

1997 – Two-time defending US Open champion Pete Sampras has his 17-match winning streak, the fourth-longest of the Open Era in men’s singles, snapped with a 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-6(3) loss to Petr Korda of the Czech Republic in the fourth round.

1998 – Patrick Rafter saves himself from the dubious distinction of becoming the first US Open defending champion to lose in the first round by coming back from two-sets-to-love down to defeat Morocco’s Hicham Arazi, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.

2007 – British tennis star Tim Henman closes out his Grand Slam tennis career on Louis Armstrong Stadium, falling to France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-6(2), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, in the second round.

THEY SAID IT!!!

“I think in ’04 when my career could have ended, it made me realize that it can end at any time, and I wanted to appreciate those things a lot more because any injury could stop it. I want to remember what this feels like. I’ve talked to some retired players that say, ‘Just enjoy it as long as you can.’ That’s what I’m trying to do.”

James Blake, who won in straight sets yesterday, on appreciating the fan support at the US Open

“Especially from the first couple of rows in the stadium court, you could hear people what they say. Most of the comments throughout the whole match was positive my way. They tried to kind of lift me up. I had, of course, big support from my box. It was difficult for all those people even to sit in that heat. I’d just like to thank everybody who was with me, kind of give me strength and wings to turn the match around.”

Novak Djokovic, on the crowd support during his five-set comeback win over Victor Troicki

“You’re making this a little way too dramatic for what it was. It’s like a Shakespeare poem.”

Maria Sharapova, responding to a detailed question regarding her service preparation

“I’ve never done it. And then on the other hand, like I said before, I mean, I feel like a completely different player. I know that I am. So how far that takes me, I have no idea. But I’ve never been fitter and never been mentally as strong. I’ve never wanted it more, and so hopefully that goes a long way.”

Mardy Fish, on the potential of reaching a Grand Slam tournament semifinal for the first time

“I feel fantastic. I’m so happy. I worked so hard to get here. This is my first US Open in, I don’t know, seven years or something. [It] feels incredible. Like I said, I’ve worked so hard. Every round in qualies has been tough, and it just feels so rewarding.”

Mirjana Lucic, after playing in her first US Open since 2003 and winning her first Open match since 1999

“There are days when you’re not going to be feeling the ball, you’re not going to be moving your feet. In those days, you just really have to fight and really have to try your best and give your maximum and try to get through these kind of matches. If you are able to do that, then it gives you a lot more confidence for the next round.”

Jelena Jankovic, after holding off Simona Halep to win in three sets

“It was very hard to play somebody you never played before, especially that she’s good. It’s not like [a] junior or somebody. It’s a player who [has] played before, and I didn’t realize that she plays very different game from everybody who I’ve played ever.”

Svetlana Kuznetsova, after defeating Kimiko Date Krumm, who will turn 40 later this month, in three sets

AMERICANS IN ACTION TODAY

Men’s Singles Women’s Singles

Ryan Harrison, Bradenton, Fla. Vania King, Long Beach, Calif.

John Isner, Greensboro, N.C. Melanie Oudin, Marietta, Ga.

Bradley Klahn, Poway, Calif. Venus Williams, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Sam Querrey, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Andy Roddick, Austin, Texas Women’s Doubles

Jack Sock, Lincoln, Neb. Hilary Barte, Chatsworth, Calif.

Donald Young, Atlanta Lindsay Burdette, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Alexa Glatch, Newport Beach, Calif.

Men’s Doubles Liezel Huber, Houston

Sekou Bangoura, Bradenton, Fla. Raquel Kops-Jones, Fresno, Calif.

Bob Bryan, Wesley Chapel, Fla. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Phoenix

Mike Bryan, Wesley Chapel, Fla. Christina McHale, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Mardy Fish, Tampa, Fla. Meghann Shaughnessy, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Nathan Pasha, Atlanta CoCo Vandeweghe, Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Riza Zalameda, Los Angeles

Mixed Doubles

Travis Parrott, Atlanta Jill Craybas, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Rajeev Ram, Carmel, Ind. Carly Gullickson, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Michael Russell, Houston Vania King, Long Beach, Calif.

Lisa Raymond, Wayne, Pa.

OUDIN THE SEED SLAYER

Melanie Oudin takes on No. 29 seed Alona Bondarenko today in the second round, looking to continue a stellar record against seeded players at Grand Slam events. Overall, Oudin is 5-2 against seeded players in Grand Slams entering today’s encounter.

Oudin Against Seeded Players at Grand Slam Events

Opponent                  Seed Event Round Result Score

Alona Bondarenko 29 2010 US Open 2R ??? ???

Caroline Wozniacki 9 2009 US Open QF Loss 6-2, 6-2

Nadia Petrova 13 2009 US Open 4R Win 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3

Maria Sharapova 29 2009 US Open 3R Win 3-6, 6-4, 7-5

Elena Dementieva 4 2009 US Open 2R Win 5-7, 6-4, 6-3

Agnieszka Radwanska 11 2009 Wimbledon 4R Loss 6-4, 7-5

Jelena Jankovic 6 2009 Wimbledon 3R Win 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-2

Sybille Bammer 29 2009 Wimbledon 1R Win 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

NEW ’DO FOR OUDIN

Melanie Oudin shed last year’s ponytail for a shorter hairdo at this year’s US Open. The haircut was more than a fashion decision, however. On the Saturday before this year’s Open, Oudin had her long braid cut off and donated the hair to Locks of Love, a public nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under the age of 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

One of Locks of Love’s primary champions has been Liezel Huber, the 2008 US Open doubles champion and Oudin’s Fed Cup teammate.

TOP AMERICAN MEN IN ACTION TODAY

The U.S. has four men seeded in the Top 20, tied with Spain for the most of any country, and three will be in action today with No. 9 Andy Roddick playing his second round match, and John Isner and Sam Querrey, seeded 18th and 20th, respectively, kicking off their US Opens. (Querrey will face reigning NCAA champion and fellow American Bradley Klahn in the first round.)

The US Open is home to many of Isner’s greatest tennis successes. In 2007, he received a wild card just months after completing his collegiate career at the University of Georgia and upset No. 26 seed Jarkko Nieminen in the first round before losing to top seed Roger Federer in the third round (though not before taking a set off the eventual champion, one of just two Federer would lose in 2007). Last year Isner advanced to the fourth round, upsetting No. 28 Victor Hanescu in the first round and then Roddick in five sets in the third round before falling to No. 10 seed Fernando Verdasco.

Querrey, meanwhile, reached the fourth round at the US Open in 2008, defeating No. 22 Tomas Berdych and No. 14 Ivo Karlovic before falling to top seed Rafael Nadal in four sets. Querrey reached the third round here a year ago.

QUERREY AMONG TOUR LEADERS IN TOURNAMENT TITLES

Sam Querrey enters the US Open trailing only Rafael Nadal in 2010 tour titles. Perhaps most promising, Querrey’s titles have come in different locales and on different playing surfaces, including indoor hard courts in Memphis, outdoor hard courts in Los Angeles, clay in Belgrade and grass at Queen’s Club. Here’s a look at this year’s leaders in tournament titles (Grand Slams in italics):

Player 2010 Tournament Titles

Rafael Nadal 5 (Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid, Roland Garros, Wimbledon)

Sam Querrey 4 (Memphis, Belgrade, Queen’s, Los Angeles)

Juan Carlos Ferrero 3 (Casta do Sauipe, Buenos Aires, Umag)

Nicolas Almagro 2 (Bastad, Gstaad)

Marin Cilic 2 (Chennai, Zagreb)

Roger Federer 2 (Australian Open, Cincinnati)

Mardy Fish 2 (Newport, Atlanta)

Michael Llodra 2 (Marseille, Eastbourne)

Albert Montanes 2 (Estoril, Stuttgart)

Andy Roddick 2 (Brisbane, Miami)

Sergiy Stakhovsky 2 (‘s-Hertogenbosch, New Haven)

Fernando Verdasco      2 (San Jose, Barcelona)

HOW FIT IS ISNER? ASK MAHUT.

John Isner enters the US Open battling an ankle injury that forced him to default while leading David Nalbandian, 5-4, in the second round in Cincinnati.

Isner took a month off following his epic match against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon, which he won, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68, in three days and more than 11 hours. The match set a record for time elapsed and games played. After falling in the final round of the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament, Mahut said he was still feeling the effects of their encounter.

“It’s a big disappointment [not to qualify], but like I said a few days ago, I was not ready to play this tournament,” Mahut sid. “I am not 100 percent after hurting my back, but I just really wanted to play the US Open. I really tried. But I was just not ready. I was not tired; it’s just my back and my legs. I’m just very sore. … I do think that our match [at Wimbledon] had something to do with us both being injured now. I took two weeks off and I was injured but I came back too soon. How is John? Will he try to play? I will come and watch him. I haven’t seen him since the match.”

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

The young American men take to the court today, with NCAA singles champion Bradley Klahn and USTA Boys’ 18s national champion Jack Sock making their US Open debuts, along with the USTA Boys’ 18s national doubles champions Nathan Pasha and Sekou Bangoura, and 18-year-old Ryan Harrison, one of the youngest players in the world’s Top 250.

A junior standout, Klahn recently completed his sophomore campaign at Stanford. He was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Rookie of the Year as a freshman and, in addition to winning the NCAA singles title this year, reached the semifinals in doubles to earn All-America honors in both disciplines. As a junior player, Klahn ascended to No. 1 in the USTA boys’ 18s rankings and No. 14 in the world junior rankings. He reached the round of 16 in the US Open and Wimbledon boys’ singles in 2008.

Sock reached the round of 16 in singles and the semifinals in doubles at last year’s US Open juniors, and also advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2009 Dunlop Orange Bowl. He won his first professional title last year at the $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Amelia Island, Fla., and has reached the quarterfinals at two additional Futures tournaments in 2010, as well as the final in doubles at two events.

Pasha and Bangoura are playing together for perhaps the last time before they become collegiate rivals next year in the Southeastern Conference. Pasha has committed to the University of Georgia starting in the fall, while Bangoura is heading into his sophomore season at the University of Florida. (He joined the Gators in January of this year.)

Harrison is perhaps the brightest young talent among the American men. He qualified for the Open this year after falling in the final of the USTA eight-man playoff to earn the last wild card into the main draw. This is Harrison’s second Grand Slam event—and his second of the year—after he won a USTA playoff to earn a wild card into the 2010 Australian Open. Also this year, Harrison reached the quarterfinals at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on the ATP World Tour and the second round at the Masters Series event in Indian Wells, Calif.

BRYANS BEGIN PURSUIT OF US OPEN TITLE NO. 3 TODAY

Bob and Mike Bryan, who earlier this summer broke the Open Era-record for tour titles previously held by recent Hall of Fame inductees Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, will begin their pursuit of a third US Open men’s doubles title today against Alexandr Dolgopolov and Bjorn Phau.

The Bryans won the men’s doubles title here in 2005 and 2008, and reached the final in 2003. In addition, Bob Bryan has won the US Open mixed doubles title in 2003 (with Katarina Srebotnik), 2004 (with Vera Zvonareva) and 2006 (with Martina Navratilova), while Mike Bryan won the mixed doubles crown in 2002 (with Lisa Raymond).

WOMEN’S DOUBLES, MIXED DOUBLES UNDERWAY

The Bryans brothers are hardly the only all-American doubles teams in action today. In fact, the last match on Court 7 features an all-American matchup, with veterans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy taking on Christina McHale and Riza Zalameda.

Other teams competing today include the reigning NCAA women’s doubles champions Lindsay Burdette and Hilary Barte from Stanford, and Alexa Glatch and CoCo Vandeweghe. Liezel Huber, who partners Russian Nadia Petrova as the No. 2 seeds in this year’s women’s doubles draw, also plays today.

The mixed doubles draw also gets underway today with the defending champions, Carly Gullickson and Travis Parrott of the United States, taking on Gisela Dulko and Pablo Cuevas on Court 17.

BOYS AMONG MEN…

The USTA has a longstanding tradition of awarding a main draw wild card to the U.S. junior champion, determined by the USTA Boys’ 18 Super National Hard Court Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich. This year’s entry is Jack Sock from Lincoln, Neb., who today faces Marco Chiudinelli in his US Open main draw debut. In the Open Era, U.S. junior boys’ champions have a 17-41 record in the US Open. Justin Gimelstob was the last U.S. junior champion to win a US Open match, defeating David Prinosil, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, in the first round in 1995. Jay Berger and Aaron Krickstein had the most success as U.S. junior champions in the US Open. In 1983, Krickstein advanced to the fourth round, losing to Yannick Noah. In 1985, Berger advanced to the fourth round, also losing to Noah.

USTA Boys’ Junior Champions in the US Open (during the Open Era)

Year      USTA Boys’ 18 Champion            Round reached (player lost to w/ seeding)

2010      Jack Sock plays today against Marco Chiudinelli

2009      Chase Buchanan first round (l. No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga)

2008      Austin Krajicek first round (l. to Agustin Calleri)

2007 Michael McClune first round (l. to No. 20 Juan Ignacio Chela)

2006      Donald Young first round (l. to No. 20 Novak Djokovic)

2005      Donald Young first round (l. to Giorgio Galimberti)

2004      Scoville Jenkins first round (l. to No. 2 Andy Roddick)

2003      Robert Yim first round (l. to Todd Martin)

2002      Prakash Amritraj first round (l. to Paradorn Srichaphan)

2001      Alex Bogomolov first round (l. to David Nalbandian)

2000      Phillip King first round (l. to Andrei Pavel)

1999      Phillip King first round (l. to No. 12 Richard Krajicek)

1998      Andrew Park first round (l. to Mikael Tillstrom)

1997      Rudy Rake first round (l. to Bohdan Ulihrach)

1996      Kevin Kim first round (l. to David Wheaton)

1995      Justin Gimelstob second round (l. to Richard Krajicek)

1994      Paul Goldstein first round (l. to Ronald Agenor)

1993      Paul Goldstein first round (l. to Karsten Braasch)

1992      Brian Dunn second round (l. to Chuck Adams)

1991      Michael Joyce second round (l. to Wally Masur)

1990      Ivan Baron first round (l. to Fabrice Santoro)

1989      Chuck Adams first round (l. to Ronald Agenor)

1988      Thomas Ho first round (l. to Johan Kriek)

1987      Michael Chang second round (l. to Nduka Odizor)

1986      Al Parker first round (l. to Anders Jarryd)

1985      Jay Berger fourth round (l. to Yannick Noah)

1984      Ricky Brown second round (l. to Henrik Sundstrom)

1983      Aaron Krickstein fourth round (l. to Yannick Noah)

1982      John Letts first round (l. to Freddie Sauer)

1981      Jimmy Brown first round (l. to Alejandro Cortes)

1980      Sammy Giammalva third round (l. to Bernie Mitton)

1979      Scott Davis DID NOT PLAY

1978      David Dowlen first round (l. to Ove Bengtsson)

1977      Van Winitsky first round (l. to Brian Gottfried)

1976      Larry Gottfried second round (l. to Cliff Richey)

1975      Howard Schoenfield first round (l. to Antonio Munoz)

1974      Ferdi Taygan first round (l. to Guillermo Vilas)

1973      Billy Martin second round (l. to Stan Smith)

1972      Pat DuPre first round (l. to Patrick Proisy)

1971      Raul Ramirez first round (l. to Stan Smith)

1970      Brian Gottfried first round (l. to Robert McKinley)

1969      Erik van Dillen first round (l. to Gene Scott)

1968      Robert McKinley third round (l. to Torben Ulrich)

TODAY ON USOPEN.ORG

  • The last time Andy Roddick and Janko Tipsarevic met in the second round of a Grand Slam event, Tipsarevic pulled off the upset, defeating Roddick in four sets at Wimbledon. To see who has the edge in this second round encounter, go to USOpen.org for the pre-match analysis presented by Polo Ralph Lauren.
  • Beatrice Capra reached the quarterfinals of the US Open girls’ singles draw a year ago and enters the US Open as the U.S.’s top-ranked junior girl at No. 14 in the ITF World Junior Rankings (after rising to No. 8 in June of this year). Two weeks ago she won an eight-woman USTA playoff to earn the final wild card into the 2010 US Open main draw, and she continued that momentum into the Open yesterday, defeating Karolina Sprem, 6-1, 6-3. Her victory earned Capra the honors as the USOpen.org Player of the Day presented by Continental Airlines.
  • Today’s esurance Quote of the Day: “No, definitely not. I am not as good as he is in that. I’d like to be very careful with my racquet (smiling). You know what I mean.”Novak Djokovic, talking about Roger Federer’s between-the-legs shot and why he rarely attempts it himself.

Aces – Women             No. (Matches)

1.    Svetlana Kuznetsova           11 (1)

T2.    Venus Williams                    10 (1)

T2.    Rebecca Marino                 10 (1)

T2.    Nadia Petrova                     10 (1)

5.    Stefanie Voegele                  9 (1)

6.    Andrea Petkovic                    8 (1)

T7.    Maria Sharapova                   7 (1)

T7.    Marion Bartoli                       7 (1)

T7.    Vera Dushevina                     7 (1)

T7.    Mirjana Lucic                        7 (1)

T7.    Elena Vesnina                       7 (1)

Serving Speed – Women

1.    Venus Williams                    126 mph

2.    Jarmila Groth                      120 mph

T3.    Magdalena Rybarikova        119 mph

T3.    Sabine Lisicki                      119 mph

5.    Maria Sharapova                 118 mph

2010 US OPEN SERVICE LEADERS (through Tuesday)

Aces – Men              No. (Matches)

1.      Andreas Halder-Maurer      34 (1)

2.      Mardy Fish      24 (1)

T3.      Julien Benneteau      23 (1)

T3.       Janko Tipsarevic      23 (1)

T3.       Victor Troicki      23 (1)

6.      Marcos Baghdatis      22 (1)

7.      Guillaume Rufin      21 (1)

T8.      Carsten Ball      20 (1)

T8.      Michael Przysiezny      20 (1)

T10.       3 players tied at       19 (1)

Serving Speed – Men

1.      Taylor Dent      147 mph

2.       Fernando Verdasco      141 mph

3.      Andy Roddick       139 mph

4.       Viktor Troicki       137 mph

T5.      Mardy Fish      136 mph

T5.       Robert Kendrick      136 mph

TODAY’S PRE-MATCH VOCALIST

11-year-old Sami Zindel of Marlton, N.J., will perform “America the Beautiful” before today’s night matches. Zindel was one of the 15 selections from the 258 kids ages 12 and under who answered the USTA’s Casting Call for singers at Radio City Music Hall in June. The winners receive a once-in-a-lifetime-chance to perform in front of thousands of fans at the US Open.

IN THE HOUSE…

Celebrities expected to attend Day 3 of the US Open include actress Rosie Perez, actress Jessica Szohr from “Gossip Girl” and actor Chaske Spencer of the “Twilight Saga.”

Those in attendance yesterday included Olympic skiing gold medalist and US Open National Playoffs participant Bode Miller, former WNBA star Lisa Leslie and “Melrose Place” star Katie Cassidy.


AFTER MIDNIGHT AT THE 2010 US OPEN

Yesterday marked the first Night Session of the 2010 US Open to wind down after midnight, the result of a marathon Day Session on Arthur Ashe Stadium in which all three matches went the maximum number of sets, with Jelena Jankovic, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova all escaping upsets.

In all, the Night Session did not start until 8:34 p.m., wrapping up at 12:52 a.m. with victories for top seeds Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki.

Late Finishes at the US Open

Finish       Date             Rd       Result of Final Match

2:26 a.m.       Sept. 4, 1993       2R       Mats Wilander d. Mikael Pernfors, 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-4

2:14 a.m.       Sept. 3, 2002       4R       Younes El Aynauoui d. Wayne Ferreira, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5, 7-6

2:11 a.m.       Sept. 4, 2008       QF       Rafael Nadal d. Mardy Fish, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

1:51 a.m.       Sept. 4, 2007       4R       David Ferrer d. Rafael Nadal, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2

1:35 a.m.       Aug. 28, 1991       1R       Jimmy Connors d. Patrick McEnroe, 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

1:34 a.m.       Aug. 30, 2008       2R       Andy Roddick d. Ernests Gulbis, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5

1:33 a.m.       Sept. 5, 1998       2R       Carlos Moya d. Michael Chang, 3-6, 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-3

1:30 a.m.       Sept. 2, 1987       1R       Gabriela Sabatini d. Beverly Bowes, 6-3, 6-3

1:25 a.m.       Aug. 28, 2001       1R       Marcelo Rios d. Markus Hipfl, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-0

1:22 a.m.       Sept. 6, 2000       4R       Todd Martin d. Carlos Moya, 6-7(3), 6-7(7), 6-1, 7-6(6), 6-2

Other notable late finishes

12:56 a.m.       Sept. 5, 2009       3R       Tommy Robredo d. James Blake, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4

12:52 a.m.      Aug. 31, 2010      1R      Caroline Wozniacki d. Chelsey Gullickson, 6-1, 6-1

12:50 a.m.       Sept. 7, 1999       4R       Todd Martin d. Greg Rusedski, 5-7, 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-4

12:45 a.m.       Aug. 31, 2009       1R       Andy Roddick d. Bjorn Phau, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1

12:43 a.m.       Sept. 7, 2001       QF       Lleyton Hewitt d. Andy Roddick, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

12:35 a.m.       Aug. 26, 2008       1R       James Blake d. Donald Young, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4

12:27 a.m.       Sept. 5, 2003       SF       Justine Henin-Hardenne d. Jennifer Capriati, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4)

12:19 a.m.       Sept. 5, 2009       2R       Rafael Nadal d. Nicolas Kiefer, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

12:17 a.m.      Sept. 4, 2009       2R       Andy Roddick d. Marc Gicquel, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

12:17 a.m.       Sept. 3, 2001       3R       Gustavo Kuerten d. Max Mirnyi, 6-7(5), 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-2

Late Starts at the US Open

Last night Wozniacki and Chelsey Gullickson started their match at 11:51 p.m., which is just shy of the latest recorded start time for a match in US Open history. That came in 1987, when Gabriela Sabitini and Beverly Bowes started their match at midnight, wrapping up at 1:30 a.m.

The latest start to a Night Session in recorded US Open history came on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, when the Day Session ran so long that the first scheduled night match between Dinara Safina and Petra Kvitova was moved to Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Night Session began in Arthur Ashe Stadium at 10 p.m. with a special ceremony honoring Pancho Gonzalez; James Blake and Tommy Robredo took to the court at 10:35 p.m. and wrapped up just before 1 a.m.

Date       First Night Session Match Start Time / First Match

September 5, 2009             10:25 p.m. / Tommy Robredo d. James Blake

September 2, 2008       9:26 p.m. / Andy Roddick d. Fernando Gonzalez

September 3, 2009             8:50 p.m. / Maria Sharapova d. Christina McHale

August 31, 2010            8:34 p.m. / Rafael Nadal d. Teymuraz Gabashvili

September 4, 2008             8:30 p.m. / Serena Williams d. Venus Williams

September 4, 2007       8:00 p.m. / Justine Henin d. Serena Williams

September 7, 2005 7:40 p.m. / Elena Dementieva d. Lindsay Davenport


OLYMPUS US OPEN SERIES UPDATE

Olympus US Open Series Bonus Prize Money

OUSOS BONUS MAXIMUM MINIMUM STAUS IN THE DRAW

CHALLENGE FINISH

MEN

  1. Andy Murray $1 million $15,000 Faces Lukas Lacko (0-0 head-to-head) in 1R
  2. Roger Federer $500,000 $12,500 Faces Andreas Beck (0-0 head-to-head) in 2R
  3. Mardy Fish $250,000 $6,250 Defeated Jan Hajek in five sets in 1R

WOMEN

  1. Caroline Wozniacki $1 million $25,000 Defeated Chelsey Gullickson in straight sets in 1R
  2. Kim Clijsters $500,000 $12,500 Faces Sally Peers (0-0 head-to-head) in 2R
  3. Svetlana Kuznetsova $250,000 $6,250 Defeated Kimiko Date Krumm in three sets in 1R

* Maximum bonus based on winning US Open; minimum based on current round reached

WELCOME BACK: LUCIC WINS, DATE KRUMM FALLS IN RETURN

1996 US Open girls’ singles champion Mirjana Lucic won yesterday in her return to the US Open main draw, defeating Alicia Molik, 7-6(5), 6-1. It was the first appearance in the US Open main draw for Lucic since 2002. In the intervening years the 1998 Australian Open doubles champion and 1999 Wimbledon semifinalist retired and stayed away from tennis for nearly four years, returning to compete on the USTA Pro Circuit in 2007.

Kimiko Date Krumm came out of retirement in 2008 after a nearly 12-year layoff and yesterday almost upended 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, falling 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.

Here is a look at some of the longest breaks between US Open main draw appearances in the Open Era:

Player Layoff Previous  Return

Kimiko Date Krumm 14 years 1996 2010

Mirjana Lucic 8 years 2002 2010

Lindsay Lee-Waters 7 years 1997 2004

Dally Randriantefy 7 years 1996 2003

Sandra Kloesel 6 years 1999 2005

Janette Husarova 5 years 1996 2001

Nana Miyagi 5 years 1990 1995

Andrea Serra-Zanetti 5 years 1996 2001

Elena Wagner 5 years 1990 1995

AMERICAN REPORT: DAY 2

Beatrice Capra made the day’s biggest splash, winning her first-ever Grand Slam main draw match with ease, defeating former Wimbledon quarterfinalist Karolina Sprem, 6-1, 6-3. Other American winners yesterday included Mardy Fish, James Blake and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

In doubles, the American tandem of Rajeev Ram and Bobby Reynolds advanced to the second round by defeating Stephen Huss and Andre Sa, 6-3, 6-3.

ANDRE AGASSI BOOK SIGNING TODAY

Andre Agassi will be signing copies of his award-winning book, “Open: An Autobiography,” newly released in paperback, today at the Membership booth from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Agassi will not be taking or answering questions from the media.

“Open” ascended to No. 1 on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and was recently awarded first prize in the inaugural book contest of the U.S. Tennis Writers’ Association.

AGASSI AMONG NOMINEES FOR HALL OF FAME

Two-time US Open winner and eight-time Grand Slam tournament champion Andre Agassi headlines the ballot for the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2011. Joining Agassi on the ballot in the Master Player Category are Thelma Coyne Long, who dominated Australian tennis in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, and Christine Truman Janes, a British star of the 1950s and 1960s. Nominated in the Contributor Category are influential tennis promoter and administrator Mike Davies and Fern Lee “Peachy” Kellmeyer, who has played a vital role in the growth of women’s tennis.

Voting for the 2011 ballot will take place over the next several months, culminating with an announcement early next year to reveal the Class of 2011 inductees. The 2011 induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2011, at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event.

Also, yesterday Nicolas Mahut presented the Hall of Fame with his racquet from his Wimbledon match against John Isner that lasted a record 11 hours and went 70-68 in the fifth set. Mahut’s apparel from the match is already on display at the Museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which chronicles the history of tennis from its 14th century origins through present-day notable moments.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU (in 25 words or less)

Event Player Hometown The Skinny
MS Ryan Harrison Bradenton, Fla. Defeated Pablo Cuevas at the ATP event in Houston in 2008 to become the third 15-year-old this century to win an ATP match (Richard Gasquet, Rafael Nadal).
WS Vania King Long Beach, Calif. 2010 Wimbledon doubles champion would equal her best singles showing in a Grand Slam with a victory today.
MS Bradley Klahn Poway, Calif. Reigning NCAA singles champion’s mother, Nancy, played college tennis at the University of Iowa.
MS Jack Sock Lincoln, Neb. 2010 USTA Boys’ 18s champion won his first pro title last year at the $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Amelia Island, Fla.
MS Donald Young Atlanta, Ga. Two-time junior Grand Slam champion and youngest-ever year-end junior No. 1 reached the third round here in 2007.
WD Riza Zalameda Los Angeles, Calif. 2008 NCAA doubles champion was an eight-time All-American (singles and doubles all four years of college) at UCLA.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS

Today is Stonyfield Day at the 2010 US Open. Stonyfield is the “official yogurt” of the 2010 US Open. If you’re looking for a healthy meal, be sure to visit the Stonyfield Café, a grab-and-go dining option in the Food Village dedicated to serving healthy food, fast.

Tonight is New York Times Night at the US Open. Drop by the New York Times booth in the Food Village for a great offer on home delivery of the Times.

US OPEN DAILY TRIVIA

CONTEST FOR MEDIA

Throughout the fortnight, the USTA will be conducting a trivia contest for media covering such topics as US Open history, player information, US Open sponsors and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The answers are available in the US Open Media Guide, daily notes and other reference items located in the Media Center.

Please turn in your completed entry form (below) to the USTA Media Office.

Winners will be selected at random from all correct entries, and prizes can be picked up at the USTA Media Office.

TODAY’S QUESTION: Who is the active leader (man or woman) in US Open singles victories?

Yesterday’s question: Who is the only player (man or woman) to win two Olympus US Open Series titles?

Answer: Andy Roddick in 2005 and 2006

Winner: Craig Gabriel, Cross Court

————————————————————————————————————-

2010 US OPEN

MEDIA TRIVIA CONTEST

Name:

Affiliation:

Desk Number:

Telephone:

Answer:

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,








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