Tennis - US Open - Page 2

ALi_Persia · 30-08-09, 21:11

US Open - Federer wants to win for fans
Roger Federer would like to repay New York fans for their support by treating them to a sixth successive US Open triumph at the year's last Grand Slam beginning on Monday.

Federer is one step away from matching the feat accomplished by Bill Tilden, who won six US national titles in a row from 1920 before the championships were open to professionals.

"The fans really turned it around for me, and that's why this year I'm so excited going back there," Federer, 28, said after winning the Cincinnati Masters this month.

"I hope I can again show them what I can do on a tennis court."

Federer came to New York at a low point last year, losing a spectacular Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal, losing his number one ranking to the Spaniard and then losing in his bid for Olympic singles gold in Beijing.

The Swiss rode a rousing wave of fan support to clinch his fifth Open at Flushing Meadows, however, and this year won his first French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

He then went on to reclaim the Wimbledon title in July for a record 15th Grand Slam crown to surpass American great Pete Sampras.

"They were great," Federer said of his New York reception. "Like all the cab drivers and everybody was stopping to wish me luck.

"It was something that I've never really experienced before in New York. I think that really helped turn it around for me."

Federer's primary challengers have their own cause for optimism at the Open.

World number two Andy Murray of Britain, runner-up to Federer last year after advancing to his first Grand Slam final, believes he is ready to take the next step.

"I believe that if I play well, I can obviously win the tournament," said Murray, who has won five tournaments this year including four on hard courts.

The Scotsman's win this month in Montreal leapfrogged him into the number two ranking above Rafael Nadal, who lost rankings points while sidelined with tendonitis in both knees.

Australian Open winner Nadal, working his way back to form, needs an Open title to complete his career slam.

Last year he advanced to the semi-finals, where he lost to Murray. Encouraged by his recovery from injury, the Spaniard told reporters he had a chance to win in Flushing Meadows, drawing admiration from Murray.

"Rafa, he's hungry," Murray said. "His tennis might not be as good as at the start of this year. But I think he's going to be very hungry having missed the big tournament in Wimbledon and he'll want to come back strong here."

But Murray cautioned that the Open's hard courts could slow Nadal down. "These are the toughest courts to come back on. They are so hard and sticky. It really does hurt the joints."

Andy Roddick, whose 27 singles titles includes the 2003 U.S. Open championship, has adopted a new fitness regime working with Larry Stefanki, his fourth coach since 2003.

The American hopes to build on his gallant effort at Wimbledon where he fell to Federer, 16-14, in the fifth set.

US Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe said he thought fifth-ranked Roddick could use that as a springboard.

"I believe it's motivated him," McEnroe said about the Davis Cup stalwart. "I believe Andy believes he can do it. What he did at Wimbledon showed that he's actually improved as a player and matured as a person."

Serbian world number four Novak Djokovic also looms as a major threat on the hard courts and has struck a rich vein of form in recent weeks.

The 2008 Australian Open champion hammered Rafael Nadal in straight sets in their semi-final at Cincinnati, before being outplayed by Federer in the final on Sunday.

"Unfortunately I was born in the wrong era," lamented the 22-year-old, who has been beaten in four other finals this year, including two to Nadal and one to Murray.

Another challenger is Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, who came of age at this level during the French Open, stretching Federer to five sets in the semi-finals.

The towering 20-year-old beat Roddick in the Washington final before falling just short against Murray in Montreal and is now eager to secure his place among the elite.

ALi_Persia · 30-08-09, 21:13

US Open - Champions begin on opening day
Roger Federer and Serena Williams will begin the defence of their US Open titles at Flushing Meadows on Monday, while Kim Clijsters returns to Grand Slam tennis for the first time in two years.

World number one Federer, chasing a modern-day record sixth straight title at Flushing Meadows, plays American wild card Devin Britton in the first round in his first grand-slam event since the birth of his twin daughters last month.

The Swiss, bidding to add the US Open to the French Open and Wimbledon titles he won earlier this year, is hoping to equal the mark set by American Bill Tilden in the 1920s.

Moreover, Federer can extend his record of Grand Slam wins to 16 by winning in New York.

It is a far cry from 12 months ago when he arrived in New York without having won one of the first three grand slams for the first time since 2002.

"I'm just more relaxed this time," he said. "I've already won Slams this year. That takes away pressure from having to do well here, like the feeling I had last year, not having won a Slam last year, trying to get the first one.

"This year is different. I feel like I'm playing great. That gives me obviously a lot of confidence and relaxes my mind."

Fifth seed and 2003 winner Andy Roddick, the runner-up to Federer at Wimbledon, opens his campaign against German Bjorn Phau.

Women's champion Serena Williams, seeded second, plays fellow American Alexa Glatch in the first round.

Victory for Williams over the next two weeks would give her a 12th Grand Slam title, equalling Billie-Jean King's mark.

Serena's sister, third seed Venus Williams, plays the first night match against Russian Vera Dushevina, while the tournament begins with the return of Clijsters after two years off the tour.

In her third event back, the Belgian former world number one, who had her first child 18 months ago, plays Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine.

Eighth seed Victoria Azarenka, Flavia Pennetta (10) and Amelie Mauresmo (17) are also in first-round action on Monday.

ALi_Persia · 01-09-09, 03:10

US Open - Men: Federer eases through
World number one Roger Federer began his quest for a sixth consecutive US Open title by defeating US teen Devin Britton 6-1 6-3 7-5 in his first-round match.

The Swiss superstar advanced in 88 minutes to a second-round match against Germany's 65th-ranked Simon Greul, who outlasted 182nd-ranked Ecuadoran qualifier Giovanni Lapentti 6-3 4-6 3-6 6-0 7-6 (9).

Federer won 12 of the first 13 points, holding serve twice on his way to a 3-0 lead after only five minutes.

Britton, an 18-year-old US wild card who lost his only prior top-level match last month at Indianapolis, was outclassed from the start.

The 1,370th-ranked US college champion dropped the first set in 18 minutes, battled back in the second and broke Federer in the seventh game of the final set only to have Federer break back twice, claiming the match with the second on a crosscourt forehand winner.

Federer completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open in June and set an all-time record with his 15th Slam title in July at Wimbledon.

Federer, a semi-finalist in each of the past 21 Grand Slam events, has won 61 career titles and nearly 50 million dollars in prize money, taking trophies at Madrid and Cincinnati this year in addition to his two Slam crowns.

After reclaiming the top ranking from Rafael Nadal with his Wimbledon title, Federer can keep the top spot by reaching the US Open's round of 16. An earlier exit opens the door for Nadal or Britain's Andy Murray to become number one.

Top seed Federer improved to 48-7 this year and 46-4 in career US Open matches. Federer has not lost a match on the Flushing Meadows hard courts since 2003, when David Nalbandian beat him in the fourth round.

Not since 1920s American star Bill Tilden ran off the modern-day Slam record of six wins in a row from 1920 through 1925 at the US event has any player dominated a major tennis championship the way Federer has owned the US Open.

Only four defending Slam champions have lost in the first round in the Open era, injured Australian Pat Rafter in 1999 being the only one at a US Open.

American Andy Roddick blasted his way past Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the final match of the opening day.

The fifth-seeded Roddick, who pushed Federer to an epic 30-game fifth set in the Wimbledon final, hardly had to break a sweat against the 84th-ranked Phau.

Banging in more than 80 percent of his sizzling first serves and showing off improved fitness with spectacular retrievals and diving volleys, Roddick breezed to victory in 95 minutes.

Roddick, the last player to win the US Open crown before Federer began his five-year reign, will next play 81st-ranked Marc Gicquel of France, who beat Russian Dmitry Tursunov.

20th seed Tommy Haas look vulnerable at one stage against Alejandro Falla but an injury to his Colombian opponent helped him dig out a 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7) 6-2 victory.

Big serving American John Isner powered his way past 28th seed Victor Hanescu 6-1 7-6 (14) 7-6 (5) with the Romanian failing to convert with any of his 10 set points in the second set.

2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt enjoyed a comfortable 6-0 6-3 6-4 victory over Thiago Alves, while James Blake enjoyed a comfortable 6-1 6-4 7-5 victory over Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain.

Mikhail Youzhny got one over on Paul-Henri Mathieu once again as he beat the 26th seed 2-6 7-5 6-0 6-2 in a repeat of the 2002 Davis Cup deciding rubber.

Robin Soderling, the French Open runner-up, and Spaniard Tommy Robredo both safely negotiated their way into round two with four set wins over Albert Montanes and Donald Young respectively.

Russian eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko advanced by defeating 222nd-ranked German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann 6-3 6-4 7-5.

Davydenko, who matched his best Grand Slam showings with 2006 and 2007 runs to the US Open semi-finals, will next face 70th-ranked Czech Jan Hernych, who outlasted Germany's Rainer Schuettler 1-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 2-6 6-3.

ALi_Persia · 01-09-09, 03:16

US Open - Women: Big scare for Venus
Venus Williams had to dig deep to avoid one of the most shocking upsets of her illustrious career as she beat little-known Russian Vera Dushevina 6-7 7-5 6-3 in the first round of the US Open.

Williams was down a set and a service break before hitting her stride late in the match to overpower the 47th-ranked Dushevina before nearly 24,000 fans on Arthur Ashe.

The seven-times Grand Slam winner won the final three games of the second set and first four of the decider against the demoralised 22-year-old Russian.

Williams committed 53 unforced errors and had 10 double faults but won the match in two hours and 43 minutes to set up a second-round date against fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Former world number one Kim Clijsters made a winning return to Slam tennis with a 6-1 6-1 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine.

The 26-year-old former world number one only returned to competitive tennis at the start of the month after more than two years of retirement, and eased through her first US Open test in just 58 minutes.

It was another clear demonstration that she has lost little of the power and talent that took her to the top of the world rankings in 2005 and her unseeded category will make her a dangerous floater in the bottom half of the draw.

Clijsters was given the honour of playing the opening match on the central court, her first appearance at Flushing Meadows since she defeated Mary Pierce in straight sets in the 2005 final.

She was unable to defend her title the following year due to injury and then retired from the game in May 2007 to marry and have a baby, only returning to action earlier this month.

The Belgian got off to a storming start by winning the first seven points against her 21-year-old opponent.

That set the tone and she totally dominated the east European who once was touted as a potential top 10 player.

Clijsters, who hit 17 winners and was 70 per cent on her first serve, won the last eight points of the match against a demoralised opponent to smoothly move into the second round.

The win was the sixth for Clijsters against two losses since she launched her comeback and moved her forward to a second round clash against French 14th seed Marion Bartoli, whom she beat in straight sets in her first match back in Cincinnati.

Bartoli cruised past Rossana De Los Rios of Paraguay 6-1 6-0.

Serena Williams began the defence of her title with a straightforward 6-4 6-1 victory over fellow American Alexa Glatch.

The world number two, looking for her third Grand Slam title of the year and 12th in all, survived a lapse in concentration midway through the first set to advance in just over an hour.

Williams began strongly but was broken when serving for the opening set at 5-2 as world number 103 Glatch settled after a nervous start.

But she made no mistake second time round and then cruised through the second to set up a clash with Hungary's Melinda Czink.

Jelena Dokic was unable to shake off the rust of a two-month layoff and lost to Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-3 6-4.

Dokic had not played competitively since a first-round loss at Wimbledon due to a debilitating bout of mononucleosis.

The 26-year-old Australian had 41 unforced errors, nine double faults and no aces while losing to the 93rd-ranked Flipkens in 66 minutes.

Indian star Sania Mirza had to fight to beat Olga Govortsova 6-2 3-6 6-3, while Daniela Hantuchova was taken to a deciding set by American Meghann Shaughnessy before the Slovak won 6-2 4-6 6-1.

Seventh seed Vera Zvonareva and 10th seed Flavia Pennetta also cruised into the second round in straight sets.

Also through early on the first day was Belarussian eighth seed Victoria Azarenka, who defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-1 6-1, and Polish 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who ousted Patria Mayr of Austria 6-1 6-2.

It was a far tougher opener for Australia's 15th seed Samantha Stosur, who was taken all the way by 34-year-old Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama before winning 6-4 4-6 6-4.

The French Open semi-finalist started slowly in the first two sets, hitting back to win the first but dropping the second against an opponent who was playing in her 16th consecutive US Open draw.

The players exchange breaks again early in the deciding set before Stosur finally edged home by breaking Sugiyama in the 10th game and on her third match point.

It was a welcome win for the Gold Coast player, whose improved play has seen her reach a career-best 15th in the world rankings, as she had failed to get past the first round in New York for the last four years.

Stosur will next play US youngster Vania King, who was 2-1 up in the opening set against Anastasiya Yakimova when the Belarusian retired.

ALi_Persia · 01-09-09, 03:42

US Open - MEN - 1st Round - Day 1

ALi_Persia · 01-09-09, 03:53

US Open - WOMEN - 1st Round - Day 1

ALi_Persia · 02-09-09, 09:10

US Open - MEN - 1st Round - Day 2

ALi_Persia · 02-09-09, 09:32

US Open - WOMEN - 1st Round - Day 2

ALi_Persia · 04-09-09, 07:29

US Open - MEN - 1st & 2nd Round - Day 3

ALi_Persia · 04-09-09, 07:39

US Open - WOMEN - 2nd Round - Day 3

30-08-09, 21:11	#11 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - Federer wants to win for fans Roger Federer would like to repay New York fans for their support by treating them to a sixth successive US Open triumph at the year's last Grand Slam beginning on Monday. Federer is one step away from matching the feat accomplished by Bill Tilden, who won six US national titles in a row from 1920 before the championships were open to professionals. "The fans really turned it around for me, and that's why this year I'm so excited going back there," Federer, 28, said after winning the Cincinnati Masters this month. "I hope I can again show them what I can do on a tennis court." Federer came to New York at a low point last year, losing a spectacular Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal, losing his number one ranking to the Spaniard and then losing in his bid for Olympic singles gold in Beijing. The Swiss rode a rousing wave of fan support to clinch his fifth Open at Flushing Meadows, however, and this year won his first French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. He then went on to reclaim the Wimbledon title in July for a record 15th Grand Slam crown to surpass American great Pete Sampras. "They were great," Federer said of his New York reception. "Like all the cab drivers and everybody was stopping to wish me luck. "It was something that I've never really experienced before in New York. I think that really helped turn it around for me." Federer's primary challengers have their own cause for optimism at the Open. World number two Andy Murray of Britain, runner-up to Federer last year after advancing to his first Grand Slam final, believes he is ready to take the next step. "I believe that if I play well, I can obviously win the tournament," said Murray, who has won five tournaments this year including four on hard courts. The Scotsman's win this month in Montreal leapfrogged him into the number two ranking above Rafael Nadal, who lost rankings points while sidelined with tendonitis in both knees. Australian Open winner Nadal, working his way back to form, needs an Open title to complete his career slam. Last year he advanced to the semi-finals, where he lost to Murray. Encouraged by his recovery from injury, the Spaniard told reporters he had a chance to win in Flushing Meadows, drawing admiration from Murray. "Rafa, he's hungry," Murray said. "His tennis might not be as good as at the start of this year. But I think he's going to be very hungry having missed the big tournament in Wimbledon and he'll want to come back strong here." But Murray cautioned that the Open's hard courts could slow Nadal down. "These are the toughest courts to come back on. They are so hard and sticky. It really does hurt the joints." Andy Roddick, whose 27 singles titles includes the 2003 U.S. Open championship, has adopted a new fitness regime working with Larry Stefanki, his fourth coach since 2003. The American hopes to build on his gallant effort at Wimbledon where he fell to Federer, 16-14, in the fifth set. US Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe said he thought fifth-ranked Roddick could use that as a springboard. "I believe it's motivated him," McEnroe said about the Davis Cup stalwart. "I believe Andy believes he can do it. What he did at Wimbledon showed that he's actually improved as a player and matured as a person." Serbian world number four Novak Djokovic also looms as a major threat on the hard courts and has struck a rich vein of form in recent weeks. The 2008 Australian Open champion hammered Rafael Nadal in straight sets in their semi-final at Cincinnati, before being outplayed by Federer in the final on Sunday. "Unfortunately I was born in the wrong era," lamented the 22-year-old, who has been beaten in four other finals this year, including two to Nadal and one to Murray. Another challenger is Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, who came of age at this level during the French Open, stretching Federer to five sets in the semi-finals. The towering 20-year-old beat Roddick in the Washington final before falling just short against Murray in Montreal and is now eager to secure his place among the elite. __________________

30-08-09, 21:13	#12 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - Champions begin on opening day Roger Federer and Serena Williams will begin the defence of their US Open titles at Flushing Meadows on Monday, while Kim Clijsters returns to Grand Slam tennis for the first time in two years. World number one Federer, chasing a modern-day record sixth straight title at Flushing Meadows, plays American wild card Devin Britton in the first round in his first grand-slam event since the birth of his twin daughters last month. The Swiss, bidding to add the US Open to the French Open and Wimbledon titles he won earlier this year, is hoping to equal the mark set by American Bill Tilden in the 1920s. Moreover, Federer can extend his record of Grand Slam wins to 16 by winning in New York. It is a far cry from 12 months ago when he arrived in New York without having won one of the first three grand slams for the first time since 2002. "I'm just more relaxed this time," he said. "I've already won Slams this year. That takes away pressure from having to do well here, like the feeling I had last year, not having won a Slam last year, trying to get the first one. "This year is different. I feel like I'm playing great. That gives me obviously a lot of confidence and relaxes my mind." Fifth seed and 2003 winner Andy Roddick, the runner-up to Federer at Wimbledon, opens his campaign against German Bjorn Phau. Women's champion Serena Williams, seeded second, plays fellow American Alexa Glatch in the first round. Victory for Williams over the next two weeks would give her a 12th Grand Slam title, equalling Billie-Jean King's mark. Serena's sister, third seed Venus Williams, plays the first night match against Russian Vera Dushevina, while the tournament begins with the return of Clijsters after two years off the tour. In her third event back, the Belgian former world number one, who had her first child 18 months ago, plays Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine. Eighth seed Victoria Azarenka, Flavia Pennetta (10) and Amelie Mauresmo (17) are also in first-round action on Monday. __________________

01-09-09, 03:10	#13 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - Men: Federer eases through World number one Roger Federer began his quest for a sixth consecutive US Open title by defeating US teen Devin Britton 6-1 6-3 7-5 in his first-round match. The Swiss superstar advanced in 88 minutes to a second-round match against Germany's 65th-ranked Simon Greul, who outlasted 182nd-ranked Ecuadoran qualifier Giovanni Lapentti 6-3 4-6 3-6 6-0 7-6 (9). Federer won 12 of the first 13 points, holding serve twice on his way to a 3-0 lead after only five minutes. Britton, an 18-year-old US wild card who lost his only prior top-level match last month at Indianapolis, was outclassed from the start. The 1,370th-ranked US college champion dropped the first set in 18 minutes, battled back in the second and broke Federer in the seventh game of the final set only to have Federer break back twice, claiming the match with the second on a crosscourt forehand winner. Federer completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open in June and set an all-time record with his 15th Slam title in July at Wimbledon. Federer, a semi-finalist in each of the past 21 Grand Slam events, has won 61 career titles and nearly 50 million dollars in prize money, taking trophies at Madrid and Cincinnati this year in addition to his two Slam crowns. After reclaiming the top ranking from Rafael Nadal with his Wimbledon title, Federer can keep the top spot by reaching the US Open's round of 16. An earlier exit opens the door for Nadal or Britain's Andy Murray to become number one. Top seed Federer improved to 48-7 this year and 46-4 in career US Open matches. Federer has not lost a match on the Flushing Meadows hard courts since 2003, when David Nalbandian beat him in the fourth round. Not since 1920s American star Bill Tilden ran off the modern-day Slam record of six wins in a row from 1920 through 1925 at the US event has any player dominated a major tennis championship the way Federer has owned the US Open. Only four defending Slam champions have lost in the first round in the Open era, injured Australian Pat Rafter in 1999 being the only one at a US Open. American Andy Roddick blasted his way past Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the final match of the opening day. The fifth-seeded Roddick, who pushed Federer to an epic 30-game fifth set in the Wimbledon final, hardly had to break a sweat against the 84th-ranked Phau. Banging in more than 80 percent of his sizzling first serves and showing off improved fitness with spectacular retrievals and diving volleys, Roddick breezed to victory in 95 minutes. Roddick, the last player to win the US Open crown before Federer began his five-year reign, will next play 81st-ranked Marc Gicquel of France, who beat Russian Dmitry Tursunov. 20th seed Tommy Haas look vulnerable at one stage against Alejandro Falla but an injury to his Colombian opponent helped him dig out a 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7) 6-2 victory. Big serving American John Isner powered his way past 28th seed Victor Hanescu 6-1 7-6 (14) 7-6 (5) with the Romanian failing to convert with any of his 10 set points in the second set. 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt enjoyed a comfortable 6-0 6-3 6-4 victory over Thiago Alves, while James Blake enjoyed a comfortable 6-1 6-4 7-5 victory over Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain. Mikhail Youzhny got one over on Paul-Henri Mathieu once again as he beat the 26th seed 2-6 7-5 6-0 6-2 in a repeat of the 2002 Davis Cup deciding rubber. Robin Soderling, the French Open runner-up, and Spaniard Tommy Robredo both safely negotiated their way into round two with four set wins over Albert Montanes and Donald Young respectively. Russian eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko advanced by defeating 222nd-ranked German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann 6-3 6-4 7-5. Davydenko, who matched his best Grand Slam showings with 2006 and 2007 runs to the US Open semi-finals, will next face 70th-ranked Czech Jan Hernych, who outlasted Germany's Rainer Schuettler 1-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 2-6 6-3. __________________

01-09-09, 03:16	#14 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - Women: Big scare for Venus Venus Williams had to dig deep to avoid one of the most shocking upsets of her illustrious career as she beat little-known Russian Vera Dushevina 6-7 7-5 6-3 in the first round of the US Open. Williams was down a set and a service break before hitting her stride late in the match to overpower the 47th-ranked Dushevina before nearly 24,000 fans on Arthur Ashe. The seven-times Grand Slam winner won the final three games of the second set and first four of the decider against the demoralised 22-year-old Russian. Williams committed 53 unforced errors and had 10 double faults but won the match in two hours and 43 minutes to set up a second-round date against fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Former world number one Kim Clijsters made a winning return to Slam tennis with a 6-1 6-1 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine. The 26-year-old former world number one only returned to competitive tennis at the start of the month after more than two years of retirement, and eased through her first US Open test in just 58 minutes. It was another clear demonstration that she has lost little of the power and talent that took her to the top of the world rankings in 2005 and her unseeded category will make her a dangerous floater in the bottom half of the draw. Clijsters was given the honour of playing the opening match on the central court, her first appearance at Flushing Meadows since she defeated Mary Pierce in straight sets in the 2005 final. She was unable to defend her title the following year due to injury and then retired from the game in May 2007 to marry and have a baby, only returning to action earlier this month. The Belgian got off to a storming start by winning the first seven points against her 21-year-old opponent. That set the tone and she totally dominated the east European who once was touted as a potential top 10 player. Clijsters, who hit 17 winners and was 70 per cent on her first serve, won the last eight points of the match against a demoralised opponent to smoothly move into the second round. The win was the sixth for Clijsters against two losses since she launched her comeback and moved her forward to a second round clash against French 14th seed Marion Bartoli, whom she beat in straight sets in her first match back in Cincinnati. Bartoli cruised past Rossana De Los Rios of Paraguay 6-1 6-0. Serena Williams began the defence of her title with a straightforward 6-4 6-1 victory over fellow American Alexa Glatch. The world number two, looking for her third Grand Slam title of the year and 12th in all, survived a lapse in concentration midway through the first set to advance in just over an hour. Williams began strongly but was broken when serving for the opening set at 5-2 as world number 103 Glatch settled after a nervous start. But she made no mistake second time round and then cruised through the second to set up a clash with Hungary's Melinda Czink. Jelena Dokic was unable to shake off the rust of a two-month layoff and lost to Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-3 6-4. Dokic had not played competitively since a first-round loss at Wimbledon due to a debilitating bout of mononucleosis. The 26-year-old Australian had 41 unforced errors, nine double faults and no aces while losing to the 93rd-ranked Flipkens in 66 minutes. Indian star Sania Mirza had to fight to beat Olga Govortsova 6-2 3-6 6-3, while Daniela Hantuchova was taken to a deciding set by American Meghann Shaughnessy before the Slovak won 6-2 4-6 6-1. Seventh seed Vera Zvonareva and 10th seed Flavia Pennetta also cruised into the second round in straight sets. Also through early on the first day was Belarussian eighth seed Victoria Azarenka, who defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-1 6-1, and Polish 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who ousted Patria Mayr of Austria 6-1 6-2. It was a far tougher opener for Australia's 15th seed Samantha Stosur, who was taken all the way by 34-year-old Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama before winning 6-4 4-6 6-4. The French Open semi-finalist started slowly in the first two sets, hitting back to win the first but dropping the second against an opponent who was playing in her 16th consecutive US Open draw. The players exchange breaks again early in the deciding set before Stosur finally edged home by breaking Sugiyama in the 10th game and on her third match point. It was a welcome win for the Gold Coast player, whose improved play has seen her reach a career-best 15th in the world rankings, as she had failed to get past the first round in New York for the last four years. Stosur will next play US youngster Vania King, who was 2-1 up in the opening set against Anastasiya Yakimova when the Belarusian retired. __________________

01-09-09, 03:42	#15 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - MEN - 1st Round - Day 1 __________________

01-09-09, 03:53	#16 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - WOMEN - 1st Round - Day 1 __________________

02-09-09, 09:10	#17 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - MEN - 1st Round - Day 2 __________________

02-09-09, 09:32	#18 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - WOMEN - 1st Round - Day 2 __________________

04-09-09, 07:29	#19 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - MEN - 1st & 2nd Round - Day 3 __________________

04-09-09, 07:39	#20 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,808 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - WOMEN - 2nd Round - Day 3 __________________

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