Defending Men’s Champions Ousted on Day 11 by Kristen Tracy

Written by: Staff on 6th September 2013

Defending Men's Champions Ousted on Day 11 by Kristen Tracy

epa03853283 Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during their quarterfinals round match on the eleventh day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JASON DECROW |

It was a bad day at the US Open for the defending champions of the ATP. One right after the other, both the men’s singles and doubles 2012 champions found themselves out of contention to once again hoist the winner’s trophy.

First up on Arthur Ashe stadium was Bob and Mike Bryan, who were looking to do something that hadn’t been done in over 50 years – win all 4 grand slam titles in a calendar year. And they were close…as in only 3 matches away close. But two opponents that should have been nothing more than a slight challenge for the number one doubles team turned into two opponents who ended up being responsible for a very disappointed American crowd. The number four team of Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek took down the world no. 1 team 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

It was an odd match for the Bryans, who seemed a little out of sorts from their usual synchronization. And though the crowd was clearly rooting for the hometown team, the win by Paes/Stepanek was oddly well received. With Bob and Mike out, there’s hardly a clear cut favorite to take the title now – and eveyone’s favorite twins will have to wait at least one more year before making history.

After a bit of a letdown from the court’s first match, the crowd on Ashe were ready for a much more exciting performance from fellow defending champ Andy Murray. Murray, who is still coming down from the high of being the first to win Wimbledon in over 70 years, has had a relatively “safe” road thus far – and his matchup against Stanislas Wawrinka wasn’t expected to be much different.

But it wasn’t Murray who had the easy time. The man from Switzerland just dominated the 2012 champion, winning decidedly in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. It was lights out in the Big Apple for the guy who’s had a spectacular last 12 months. And this means only one thing: count on a Nadal/Djokovic final – and look for it to go the distance in a thrilling 5 setter on Monday.

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Arthur Ashe Stadium, ATP Sports, Bob Bryan, Grand Slam, Mike Bryan, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, US Open, Wimbledon