Honour to Del Potro

The Goat (or what many considers as the Goat) lost to the best of his generation, beaten in the previous 6 meetings (also including when he went two sets up at the 2009 Roland Garros with 2 hours and a half of incredible tennis).


Federer-Del potro was not the most thrilling of the Grand Slam final, the game quality was a bit more than decent; but surely it has been the best U.S. Open final since 1999 when Andre Agassi surprised Todd Martin by coming back from 2 sets to 1 down (the last five setter before the yesterday's clash). This was anyway the most surprising final since 2000, when another first-timer, Marat Safin, stunned Pete Sampras. So Del Potro, 20 years and 355 days old, has become the fifth youngest player to win this tournament.

(Continue to ATP Tennis 360)

Classy Cilic Overpowers Murray

When Andy Murray hit the last forehand long ending his misery, Marin Cilic realized that he probably has completed his personal puzzle, found his missing piece and started filling his standards.

The Croat, thought by many as a future and bright star, had failed in big appointments (though recently he did defeat James Blake in a dramatic Davis Cup five-setter). But today he was simply perfect, enjoyable, powerful and precise. This was the best performance of his career. He gained his first Grand Slam quarterfinal and the crowd could rub their hands thinking to the clash between the two big-bombers of this decade: Marin Cilic and Juan Martin Del Potro.

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Oudin Steals the Show at U.S. Open

The Yankees have opened up a season-high nine game lead on the Boston Red Sox in race for the American League East.

The Giants and Jets haven’t started their seasons yet, and the Mets … wait, are the Mets still playing?

So it is against that backdrop that a 17-year-old girl from Marietta, Ga., has seized the September spotlight on the New York scene. She is enjoying her tennis Coming Out Party on the world's biggest stage.

When Melanie Oudin defeated Nadia Petrova in three tough sets in the U.S. Open Monday, she did more than advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. She created a buzz in the New York consciousness, which is difficult to do for a women’s tennis player not named Williams or Sharapova.

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U.S. Open First Week: Ups and Downs

Roger Federer – Not extraordinary, not so bad anyway. He managed his energies on court enough to find his form. Devin broke him twice, he lost a set to Hewitt but Roger defeated the Aussie for the 14th time in a row. He’s the main candidate to win the title. Vote: 6.5

Rafa Nadal – Not so bad. He’s in the third round despite an abdominal injury against Almagro, who has to learn the difference between playing a series of beautiful strokes and playing a match. Rafa was broken five times, really too many, but the Spanish derby was exactly what the new, leaner Nadal needed: a straightforward three-setter that tested him enough ... but not too much. Vote: 6.5

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Taylor Dent Makes Major Return

Taylor Dent returned to win a match in a major for the first time in four years, beating Feliciano Lopez in four sets. After three back surgeries and an entire year passed in bed for 23 hours a day, he came back to world-class tennis.

During the layoff, he tried to earn a real-estate license, studied religion and politics, became a champion at World of Aircraft video game. Against Lopez, despite a modified service movement, he realized 18 aces. And, despite a passion for "vintage style" tennis, he didn't alter his serve-and-volley style with 39 point at the net out of 58 attempts.

Now, to refresh your memory, the highlights of his memorable 4th round against Roger Federer in Miami this year.



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US Open, Day 1 Highlights

Roger Federer advances to the second round after beating former junior champion Devin Britton.



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Open Nonsense: Serena at No. 2

Serena Williams got a No. 2 seed at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday morning. While a No. 2 seed might sound fair, how can it be fair when Dinara Safina, the player seeded ahead of her, has won nothing of importance.

The collection of insignificant titles that dot Safina’s resume doesn’t add up to one of the 11 Grand Slam trophies Serena Williams has on her mantel. The U.S. Open, however, stuck to its traditional rules of using yearly rankings to seed players, though officials had the prerogative to ignore the rankings.

(Continue to Justice Is Served)

Does Federer Have an Open Run?

You wonder whether Roger Federer, the world No. 1, has the stomach for the grind that will be the U.S. Open.

His season has already been wildly successful. He’s conquered a demon: the slow red clay of Paris; he’s recaptured the glory on the hallowed grass at Wimbledon when he bested Andy Roddick in an unforgettable Finals, and he’s marched on toward the kind of greatness few men in any sport have ever achieved.

(Continue to Justice Is Served)