Inside the Open – Serena Williams, Juan Carlos Ferrero

Written by: Staff on 2nd September 2011

Inside the Open - Serena Williams, Juan Carlos Ferrero

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Inside the Open

All the big names posted big victories on Day 4 at the Open. Here’s a quick recap of what went on in Flushing Meadows on Thursday:

DOMINATION THE WORD OF THE DAY: Serena Williams had little trouble dismissing Michaella Krajicek, 6-0, 6-1. Just three weeks short of turning 30, Williams is playing with a dominating focus that easily puts her as the favorite to return to the winner’s stand on Sept. 10.

Count Krajicek as one who was impressed: “Sometimes when you’re on the court against her, you just think, ‘OK, she misses a few balls,” she said after the match. “But she doesn’t miss a lot. It’s just tough to keep the same level as her.”

Next up comes what could be a tough test against No. 4 seeded Victoria Azarenka, but on second thought, maybe not. Williams has a career 5-1 edge over Azarenka, a player who has never reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open, the only major tournament in which she hasn’t done so.

Because she’s looked so dominating, there is little intrigue left in the women’s event, although a total of five U.S. players moved into the third round, including Williams (Vania King, Christina McHale, Irina Falconi and Sloane Stephens are the others), the most at the Open since 2004.

Stephens, who upset 23rd seed Shahar Peer, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), next faces former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, the No. 16 seed from Serbia. The winner of that match gets Williams next.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic reeled off 14 straight games before Argentine Carlos Berlocq finally got on the scoreboard to the roar of the late-night Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd who had paid good money to hopefully see a competitive match. Not on this night as Djokovic continues to put together one of the finest seasons in tennis history improving to 59-2 on the year.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer dropped just seven games against Dudi Sela or Israel and No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki lost just two games against Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.

MATCH OF THE DAY: Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain defeated Gael Monfils of France, the No. 7 seed, in the most competitive contest on Thursday, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4.

SURPRISE RESULT OF DAY: American Vania King beat Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia, the No. 29 seed, 6-2, 6-0.

FISH’S OPPONENTS FROM WHERE? Qualifier Malek Jaziri became the first player from Tunisia to play in a Grand Slam tournament in the Open era. American Mardy Fish dismantled the 23-year-old ranked No. 181 in the world, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

NAME GAME: Jankovic downed Dokic, 6-3, 6-4, in the battle of the Jelenas.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: NCAA champions from Stanford Hilary Barte and Mallory Burdette made it to the second round with a nice 6-4, 6-4 victory over Alexa Glatch and Jamie Hampton.

A day after getting upset in the first round as the top-seeded doubles team, Bob Bryan came back with a win in mixed doubles with partner Liezel Huber. The top-seeded team beat Anastasia Rodionova and Christopher Kas, 7-5 6-4.

It didn’t turn out to be a very good day for other American doubles teams, however as the following teams were eliminated on Thursday: Melanie Oudin / Ahsha Rolle; Christina McHale (playing with Canadian Rebecca Marino); Lauren Davis / Nicole Gibbs; Alex Bogomolov Jr. (with Aussie Matthew Ebden); Travis Parrott / Bobby Reynolds; Irina Falconi (with Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania); Abigail Spears / Travis Parrott; Michael Russell / Donald Young; Steve Johnson / Denis Kudla and Jeff Dadamo / Austin Krajicek.

RODDICK THE ANALYST?: Andy Roddick bolted upstairs to the ESPN booth following his first-round win on Wednesday night, and had a few words for those who commentate on tennis for a living. Here is what he said:

“Tennis analyst is the easiest job in the world because whatever the person does, if it works you just say that’s what’s good, and if it doesn’t work, you guys go, ‘He should have done the other things.’ So, you know, I’m pretty convinced that I could be a tennis analyst one day…it just doesn’t take much thought…if I’m grinding and I’m winning, you guys are like, ‘He’s reinvented himself.’ If I’m playing like crap and pushing, then, you know, ‘He’s horrible and he needs to hit the ball.’ Everyone’s an expert but I’m better than most of them, I believe.”

Roddick has won more matches than anyone on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, and will be back at it Friday night in the late match against fellow Nebraska native Jack Sock. Both won US Open Junior Boys titles 10 years apart.

“I think we’re the only two teenagers to play tennis in Nebraska in the last 30 years, and we’re both in the U.S. Open,” Roddick said. “Maybe we need the corn-fed boys.”

On Thursday, Sock added to his prize money total teaming with Melanie Oudin in winning their mixed doubles match 6-4, 0-6, (11-9) against Vladimira Uhlirova and Filip Polasek.

FRIDAY’S ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM SCHEDULE:

11 a.m. Start Time

1. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round

Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)[30] v. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)[2]

Not Before: 1 p.m.

2. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round

Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[26] v. Maria Sharapova (RUS)[3]

3. Men’s Singles – 2nd Round

Nicolas Mahut (FRA) v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]

Arthur Ashe Stadium 7 p.m.

1. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round

Christina McHale (USA) v. Maria Kirilenko (RUS)[25]