HERE IS HIS AFTER MATCH INTERVIEW
Q. Congratulations. It's a remarkable achievement what you did out there tonight and in such an impressive fashion with such great play. Now you have the career Grand Slam. Talk about what tonight means to you and this trophy means to you.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well, just thank you very much, first thing. Yeah, it was amazing feeling. I think win against Novak is always very, very difficult, and the results say that lots of times, I lost against him. So I think for the first time in my career I played a very, very good match in this tournament. That's my feeling, no? I played my best match in the US Open at the most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that, for sure.
Q. In the career Grand Slam, though...
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I know, for you, very important, that. (Laughter.) You know, I still 24. I have, I know, for me, it's a dream have the career Grand Slam, but this is more dream have the US Open. Is some moments unbelievable feeling because I worked a lot all my life, in all difficult moments to be here, but I never imagined have the four Grand Slams.
Q. Can you talk a little bit how you've improved your hardcourt game? Because obviously you started on clay and then you made a big adjustment for grass. What have you done to become a champion on hardcourts?
RAFAEL NADAL: I did, in 2009, I won in Australia, too.
Q. But you're better now.
RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe, or maybe not. I don't know. (Laughter.) Is part of the moment and part of the situation, no? And part of the confidence. So always when you are playing well and when you are in the right moment with big confidence, seems like you improved a lot. But, you know, there are moments when you are not playing that good, when you lose your confidence, you lose matches, and seems like you are not playing that good and you forgot to play tennis. It's not like this, and it is not like this I improved a lot since 2009. I think I improved my tennis a little bit but is not a radical change, no? Sure, to win in here in the US Open I think is the more difficult tournament for me to play, more difficult conditions to adapt, to adjust my game on this court, for the balls, for the court, for everything, no? In Australia, anyway, if it's hot, the ball, the bounce are higher. And inWimbledon, is true I have to adjust a lot my game to play in Wimbledon, but in my opinion, play in Wimbledon for me always wasn't that bad, because one of the most important things on Wimbledon is the movements, and I think my movements are good to play well in that surface. The surface help me, because my serve was not that good, that I have today, and with less serve I can do it the same, the same to the opponent as what I have today at this tournament especially and with this serve and with the US Open. For that reason I think the hardcourt always was the most difficult surface to play good for me, especially with the serve because I have to play almost every point, and probably the serve make the big difference in this tournament.
Q. I think you're strong mentally keep point for completing Grand Slam. How you keep your mental so strong, consistent?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I think my the practice is done a lot of years ago, so is not the moment now that I have. I am strong now because I think practice everything you can practice everything. I think the mentality, I practice it a lot, my mentality, a lot when I was a kid, so right now for me it is a little bit easier, I think.
Q. What do you think you have to accomplish to convince yourself that you're ahead of Roger, maybe the greatest ever?
RAFAEL NADAL: Remain a lot of titles, so that's no doubt about that, no? I think I am more than happy that with my titles, for sure I think is talk about if I am better or worse than Roger is stupid, because the titles say he's much better than me, so that's the true at that moment. I think will be the true all my life. But, sure, for me, always, always Roger was an example, especially because he improved his tennis I think during all his career, and that's a good thing that you can copy, no? So I try to copy this, and I know Roger and me are different, much different styles. Being better than Roger I don't think so is the right moment to talk about that, because I am I don't think that.
Q. What do you think the future of your rivalry is with him? How long do you think it will last?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. Well, now Novak is, too, but he has to defend a lot of points now in the end of the season now, Novak, too. He gonna have his chance to be win the year No. 2, Novak, too. But Roger is there, too, to finish No. 2. You know, we start every year, and a lot of new players and good players are there like well, not new, Novak and Andy are not new, Andy Murray, but always come new players, very good players. But for the last six years, Roger and me was we were No. 1 and No. 2, no? So that's probably a great rivalry since that six years. We will see what happens in the future. I am not a genius.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about today's rain delay, what you did during that time and what you told yourself about the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well, the delay, it wasn't in the right moment for me, but just go back to the locker room, have a shower, and have all the tapes another time. That's what I did.
Q. What did you tell yourself about the match at that point?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing special, no? I think -- I thought before the match gonna be very difficult for me to win this match today, because the style of Novak is very difficult for me, because he play aggressive, he play very inside the court with very complete shots on the baseline, forehand and backhand, and difficult for me. But I started the match feeling the ball great, and for me what I said to myself is I did another time, so I can do it another time. So just be there, fight every point and try to play with high intensity all the time, so I know if I play with high intensely, put a lot of balls inside and play long. Finally, I think he can be more tired than me, so if the match is long, I think I gonna have a little bit of advantage, and that's what I thought before the match. But if he starts to play like he did in Paris, is true indoor is different, my level is completely different now than what I did in the Masters 1000 in Paris last year, but when he's playing at his best, he's very difficult to stop.
Q. I'm sorry we broke a tradition. Normally when the winner of the Grand Slam comes in the media room, everybody claps. We didn't do it tonight. (Applause.) Second thing, you're ahead of Roger being 24 years old of three Slams. I'd like to know, now that you lost only five times the serve in all tournament, only one set, what is your goal now? Because you won already everything, Davis Cup, Olympic Games, all the four Slams. Is the major goal to reach Roger or something else?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is very, very -- is too far. 16 for me is too far for me to think about that, no?
Q. So what else?
RAFAEL NADAL: My goal is all the time and all my life was the same, is keep improving and feel myself better player next year than what I felt this year. Being better player doesn't mean you gonna win more than you did, because win or lose sometimes is part of the moment and part of the confidence. But my goal remains for me that the Masters Cup is the big, yeah, probably the last big tournament that I didn't win. That's true is the most difficult title for me to win, because we play it in indoor, and when indoor, indoor very quick surface, so gonna be always very difficult if we don't change that. But at the same time is a challenge for me to keep improving to have the chance to play well there and to have the chance to win. So that's what I gonna try this year. For me right now the next goal is try to finish the season much better than what I did in other years. The last part of the season always was difficult for me. Well, today it started to be less difficult, that's true. But, yeah, I want to finish the season if it's possible with a good feeling.
Q. I spoke to Mats Wilander, and he said that you are the most improved player this year. You've won 21 matches and only dropped 2 sets. He says you're one hell of a special athlete. What could you do to improve since you've done so much with all these titles? How do you think you can improve?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me the most important thing is try to keep serving like I did during this tournament. I think that's if I can do it, this most of the times gonna be a big change for me and my tennis career, because if I have that free points that I had during all this tournament gonna be different for me. I can play more aggressive. I can play with more calm when I am returning. So can change a lot. So that's, for me, the first very important part to keep improving. After that, I can improve everything: volley, keep improving the volley, keep improving the position on court, being more inside the court. I improved a lot since last year, but never is enough. I am not a perfect player, so everybody can improve.
Q. Did you expect such good play from Novak in the second set?
RAFAEL NADAL: I expect everything from Novak because he's the No. 2 of the world, and his level is very, very high. I'm sure he gonna win this tournament very soon, no? Because his level is unbelievable, and I think he has the right game to win here and to win in almost every place, no, or in every place. So I wish him the best of luck, because he's a great athlete, but at the same time is a great, great person. When he lose, is not easy to do it what he do all the time when he lose matches. That's very positive for the sport and great example for everybody.
Q. You've achieved so much over these brief years starting maybe with the clay court streak and then winning in so many different circumstances. In the big picture, we sort of debate what are your greatest strengths. What do you think your greatest strengths are as a champion? Is it strokes or focus, willingness to make changes, attitude? What do you think are your two or three greatest strengths?
RAFAEL NADAL: What's my best thing? I think the mentality, attitude on court I think always was good for me. I am positive on court, and I fight all the time. But not the only thing. Positive attitude is not only fight on court. I think I was able to listen all the time to the coach and to have adjustments and to be ready to change things to be better and to improve. So probably that's was the best thing for me. If we talk about the game, for sure for me I think the best thing that I have is my intensity on court, no? When I am playing well, the intensity always is high. The rhythm is high. Sometimes yes but not always I have easy winners or with one shot winner, but I can have winners after three, four shots having a great rhythm all the time, no? So the focus on court I think was -- that's similar, no, the rhythm and focus. I can, I think, play at the same rhythm and the same level long time. So that's what I think my best thing is.
Q. He did a great job fighting off breakpoints. Did this make you nervous, or what did you think when he actually converted with so many great shots?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, on the statistics of the ATP I was No. 1 on breakpoints converted, so I think after this tournament I don't want to be No. 1 on breakpoints converted. Sure, because the second set I had big chance to go for the second break and decide the set before. I had to serve for the set with 5 4, and that's always dangerous. That's when I didn't convert any chance of the to do the second break. For sure was a little bit nervous for me, because especially on the 5 4 I have 15 30. So that was a very important moment, and at that moment I did something that I never did: three serves, one ace and two service winners. So that's the big experience for me, and believe me, that's good.
Q. Can you describe how much things have changed for you in the past 12, 15 months, whether you're surprised at how fast things have changed?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the life change sometimes, no? Ten months ago seems like I never gonna be another time the same. Now seems I gonna be one of the greatest, so I don't think that's not that bad in that moment and not that good in this moment. So always is in the middle, I think, no? Last year I had a difficult year. Well, I had a great year because when you win a Grand Slam and three Masters 1000 you have a great year, but is true the second half of the year was very difficult for me, have some personal problems, home, and after, I have a lot of injuries, here the abdominal, before, the knees. So, yeah, wasn't an easy year. But is, at the same time, for sure, is not good have these moments but live these moments but at the same time, yes, because after that, when you come back, you are ready to (through translation) value how difficult is win titles and how difficult is be there all the time, no? When I came back and I started to win in Monte Carlo, you know, the emotion is completely different. So when you are winning and winning for a moments, you forgot how difficult this is do, is do it, no, is win tournaments no? So I didn't win a tournament for 11 months. I played for six months very bad. So after that, I think I was ready to come back in January of this year. I started the season playing really well, but the titles didn't came since I started in Monte Carlo, so was four months of playing well but hard moments, too. I was ready to win but without a victory. So I think I was I had great mentality at that moment.
Q. This is not a criticism, but what took you so long to get in here after you left the court? Were you celebrating with your family? Taking a shower? What were you doing that took you so long to get in here?
RAFAEL NADAL: What?
Q. To come over here. What took you so long? It's not a criticism. But what were you doing?
RAFAEL NADAL: Before?
Q. Yeah.
RAFAEL NADAL: I had the control antidoping, and saying hello, all the US Open staff and say thanks, everybody, for the organization, for the facilities that they give me, they give to me. After that, I was with the authorities, they came, thank you very much. Infanta, she came. Cristina, sorry. Cristina came. And the president of the Spanish Federation and the family. Just be out there for the family for a few minutes, and afterwards I was in the locker room organization, and having (through translation) planning? No. Organizing all the clothes. I have show in the locker.
Q. I know you don't like to compare, all right? You don't like to compare this and that and that, but you had so many celebrations, so many great moments in your career, and I saw you last this summer celebrating like if you were crazy when Spain won the World Cup in soccer. I'd like to know which is the emotion that really, you know, that causes you more joy in your life as being the most, the biggest that you never forget more than others?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every feeling is different and at the same time is good, no? Every victory is special, if we speak about my victories. Some ones are more than other ones. This one is very special for me, because is the last one remain. So when Spain won the World Cup was amazing. I was crying like like today, maybe, no? But is different feelings, but at the same time every feeling is unbelievable. But is very difficult to compare. Football is unbelievable. You know how big is football in Spain, or maybe you don't know, but we deserved that title. (Laughter.) We deserved that title a few years ago. Maybe you forgot. You forgot about the World Cup of '94 here? (Laughter.) (Motioning with elbow .) But we don't forgot. It was very emotional moment for us, for World Cup.
Just a congratulation's To Kim Clijsters for retaining her US OPEN title defeating Vera Zvonareva in a one sided Ladies Final.Kim along with Venus Williams were the two class players of the field and its no surprise to me that the winner of this semi went on to the title.
Finally the USA gets some glory with the two boys Jack Sock and Denis Kudla reaching the boys final.Two Russian will battle out the girls event.
Australia should be asking questions on their current juniors who are failing to cut it against the best in the World.New Zealand and Aussie players of the future are now playing tournaments in Australia and looking at the first tournament... there is nothing special going on there. You can keep an eye on the Kiwi's and Aussie's at each event by clicking on this LINK
I guess sometimes predicting Women's tennis matches its a 50/50 call a lot of times ,my selections proved that yesterday!Below are my Men's Semi's selection.
Rodger Federer Vs Novak Djokovic - The toughest Semi on paper, Novak has the ability to hurt Federer and seems to be going along ok after his first round hiccup . Federer also looks hungry and if it comes down to wills then Federer is more stable on the big points. I think Rodger maybe in 4.
Rafael Nadal Vs Mikhail Youzhny - Nadal has been here at Grandslam Level before and this is all too valuable going into a match like this.On the other hand the Russian has nothing to lose and can throw the "kitchen sink" at Rafa.
Nadal will get there through ability and desire!This event he has never won and its a considerable driving force for him.
Ok was this a handshake or was this Soderling being an ass! LINK Leave me a comment on what you think!
Continuing my Photoshop Pictures I came across this take on a movie soon to be released here is the original poster.And then the hilarious spin version!.
THE ABOVE IS A PRETTY GOOD TAKE LOL!
A perfect score with selections yesterday as Nadal and Youzhny go on to fight another day .Below are my selections for Ladies Semi Finals.
Caroline Wozniacki Vs Vera Zvonareva - Both in form and this is a hard one to call. Vera has been more stable mentally and hence better results.Wozza has lived up to her Number 1 seeding.Who can handle the pressure the best will win ,I'm leaning towards the girl form Denmark.
Kim Clijsters Vs Venus Williams - Kimmy will have to play her best tennis and this week its been very patchy. Venus without sister Serena in the event will give her best to make sure she keeps up the Williams name. Will indeed be very tight ,,,,nearly as tight as Venus's dress that comes up nearly over her head and must tire her during the match , pulling it back down.For that reason alone my money is on Kimmy.
Yours truly is the only Competitor left in the Tipping contest my tip for the Semi Final round is Roger Federer.
Meanwhile Fernando Verdasco tips Federer to win the Final beating Nadal.He had this to say.
"He's playing good," said Verdasco. "If I am not wrong, I think that he will play the final against Roger. It's gonna be a tough match, because I think Roger play really good in these conditions. It's going to be a very tough final for Rafa if he plays against Roger in the final.
"I think if I need to bet here, I will bet for Roger. I think that he won five times here and he like these conditions."
I will give my opinion once the Semi Finals are completed.Wawrinka was unlucky in his match with Youzhny, needs to get a little fitter in my opinion... he has the talent but for me this aspect cost him big time yesterday.
A perfect selection round yesterday so will try my best again today. The Nadal - Federer showdown is moving closer and it would be great if they could meet here in my opinion.Both going for History but both have to get there first.
Selections Today.
Stanislas Wawrinka Vs Mikhail Youzhny - Mikhail has great chance to get to the semi's in his way the Swiss other player who can step a little from Roger's Shadow if he can win this.Fitness will play the key and the Russian has the edge.
Rafael Nadal Vs Fernando Verdasco - I'm not sure if we will reach the high standard of their previous Australian Open Meeting, Nadal has a date with history to keep and Fernando just hasn't got that mental edge.Nadal will hit enough balls back and keep the pressure on at vital times to draw the error from Verdasco.
We are down to three players left in My US Open Contest .Good luck for the remaining rounds everyone.
5 out of 6 correct selections yesterday.The one I missed was Stan the Man beating Querrey in 5 .Did say it was a 50/50 call.Querrey was the last American male standing! Here is an except from a blog that describes the difference between the Americans and the Euro's
Americans serve bigger but don’t move as well as the Euros. Their two-handed backhands largely limit their games to the backcourt. They rally and blast, rather than construct, from the baseline. Isner has had a great year, but Youzhny was the superior player in all facets the other night. Ditto for Fish—great year, but he was outclassed by Djokovic. Querrey and Wawrinka were dead even for four sets, but Wawrinka’s one-hand backhand gave him the flexibility to mix in a new look after four hours.Read the the rest of the Article here.
Another interesting article on Stan Wawrinka the other Swiss player .LINK
So questions again will be asked of American Tennis and their Development programs! America and Australia used to be the World powers of tennis.Australian tennis is in worse shape than the Americans and really apart from Stosur it was as I predicted a pathetic showing by the Aussies at the US Open.
Selections for Day 10
Kaia Kanepi Vs Vera Zvonareva - Kanepi has had a great tournament so far and so in fact has Vera.This should be tight and just giving the nod to the Russian.
Gail Monfils Vs Novak Djokovic - The Djoker is far from joking this tournament!
Caroline Wozniacki Vs Dominika Cibulkova- Have to go with the top seed.
Robin Soderling Vs Roger Federer - Match of the day ! This is going to really test Federer.I am expecting this to be close.I'm hoping for a Fed and Rafa final.So will go with the Fed express.
SELECTIONS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF COMPETITION ATTACH TO THIS POST.
My Blog always gets busy around Grandslam time and increasing hits world wide.I am posting a picture of hits and country's that have logged on to my page over the past few days.
A very quick post today along with my selections for today's matches.
Stanislas Wawrinka Vs Sam Querrey - This is going to be a very interesting match-up ,Can Stan the Man carry on his Giant Killing form ,Querrey has to serve well as Wawrinka will be too good off the ground. 50/50 call here ,Wawrinka had an injury cloud during the Murray Match. Home ground advantage for this one.
Francesca Schiavone vs Venus Williams - This will be like David and Goliath,
Venus to get there but would like to see Francesca get the money.
Rafael Nadal Vs Feliciano Lopez - Great friends but that wont stop Nadal beating his buddy at this stage of the tournament.
Mikhail Youzhny Vs Tommy Robredo - Tommy is having a new lease of life here at the Open, I think his great run will end here.
David Ferrer Vs Fernando Verdasco- Great tournament for the Spanish men Verdasco has promised so much but rarely delivered , maybe this tournament is the one.
Sam Stosur Vs Kim Clijsters -Kim will exploit Sam's movement and lack of defence which was very noticeable against Elena D.
I must be still suffering from the earthquake as I had some disastrous selections yesterday. I promise not to be away with the fairies for Day 8.!
Svetlana Kutnetsova Vs Dominika Cibulkova - Kutnetsova is showing much improvement by her improved fitness.
Mardy Fish Vs Novak Djokovic - Novak will get there at the end of the day hits too many balls back for Fish.
Caroline Wozniacki Vs Maria Sharapova - This should be the best of the round! I think Maria will take out the top seed.
Andrea Petkovik Vs Vera Zvonareva - Vera your on a roll!
Jurgen Melzer Vs Roger Federer - Fed always cleans this type of player up at exactly this time of the tournament.
Richard Gasquet Vs Gail Monfils - Battle of the Frenchman ! Will be close Monfils will defend better Gasquet more attacking. Ok Richard I have the money on you !
Kaia Kanepi Vs Yanina Wickmayer - Kanepi is promising Yanina is gritty.
Robert Soderling Vs Albert Montanes - Robert a little more fire power .
FINAL 4TH ROUND SELECTIONS FOR COMPETITION SHOULD BE MADE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST.
I really want to like Andy Murray but why do I always go for his opposition! I guess I find Andy very much in the Hewitt mould. He is always complaining , looking and yelling at his box ...punching his racquet strings .Andy I think if you are too win a grandslam you must block out your support box stop using senseless energy in whining and focus on your job at hand no matter what your situation is! When you do this I reckon you will win a Slam.
Finally Tennis Australia must be disappointed with the Aussies in general at the US Open.I bet their web site wont be telling the real story. The Men's results are pathetic .The qualifying was a disaster with some of the so called stars of the future not progressing.Carsten Ball was the only Male that won a match in the Main draw.Thank Goodness for Sam Stosur! Sally Peers did come through qualies and won her first round match but Clijsters cleaned her up easily in a lacklustre match 2 nd round. Now Australia did not have one junior girl competing in the Junior Girls draw not even the qualifying!In the boys section Jason Kubler the 6th seed exited to Evan King of the USA who was unseeded.To make matters even worse James Duckworth the 9th seed was also beaten by an unseeded player.Ben Wagland also exited on the first day to completely decimate the Aussie contingent! Now don't you think Tennis Australia you start telling the real story on your player development program and although their have been questions asked ....they need to be answered don't you think? These players have to harden up and so does Tennis Australia!
A little better with the selections yesterday 13 out of 16 up.Hope I can maintain that form for today's selections.
Ana Ivanovic Vs Kim Clijsters - Ana has had three wins I refuse to tip her on past performance beat Kimmy and I will have to rethink!!!
Shahar Peer Vs Venus Williams - Great another Venus designed outfit ...really the only interest I will have in this match!
Mikhail Youzhny Vs John Isner - This is a tricky contest ,I'm going with the Russian for his versatility.
Samantha Stosur Vs Elena Dementieva - This will be a great match if Stosur can produce her form from last round .Australia on a roll with the rugby and the netball so will stick with Grandslam Sam.
Rafael Nadal Vs Giles Simon - Another test for Rafa , if he is a serious contender he has to beat a player like Simon. Will be tough.
Sam Querrey Vs Nicolas Almagro - Another tough one , could go either way, despite home ground advantage I will pick the Spaniard
Francesca Schiavone Vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - C'mon Franny beat this alphabet .
David Nalbandian Vs Fernando Verdasco - Toss a coin for this one! I think Nalbandian if he has the desire.
Andy Murray Vs Stan Wawrinka - Murray seems to always get over Stan the Man...I tip Murray but won't be disappointed if Stan gets there.
Feliciano Lopez Vs Sergiy Stakhosvky - Dare I go for the unseeded Ukrainian or the seed . Will throw caution to the wind!
Tommy Robredo Vs Michael Llodra - Ok I will pick the french man this time!
David Ferrer Vs Daniel Gimeno-Traver - Ferrer should get the money.
The first round of the Juniors get under way with Local New Zealander Ben Mclachlan competing. Look for plenty of upsets in the juniors.American Jack Sock played in the Men's going down in 4 sets and will be hard to beat.He is unseeded , as I have said before many Juniors have inflated points and when quality players come into the draw are found wanting.Sock is ranked 651 ATP whilst many players in the Juniors Draw have only had Junior experience .One can waste too much time playing the Junior Tour and at the end of the day lots of money spent and not much reward in transition to senior ranks.
Finally another clever photo Shop creation can you guess these all time greats .Only one can get that honour in my opinion because they have won each of the Grand Slam titles ....the other's in the picture have fell short of at least 1 grandslam title.One other is of course current.Leave me a comment on who are these players and which Grandslam they have not won.Of course 1 of these have won all four.!
I won't forget the match between Daniela Hantuchova Vs Elena Dementieva for a long time not because of the great tennis but because that's when the earthquake hit during the match!First of all I thought it was wind, then after ten seconds I knew it was a quake,now I'm Australian and I have never experienced a tremor let alone a quake , since I've been in New Zealand there has been earthquakes but never near me or have never felt the ones that have occurred.Boy did I feel this one! The whole house started shaking and swaying and I could hear a rumbling noise, I stood not quite knowing what to do as other members of the household made their way to the lounge room where I was.It shook and swayed for a minute which seemed like eternity, I thought oh yeh 15 sec and its finished..........hahah it kept going on an on.Even some 12 hours as I write this post an aftershock just occurred and trembled my house a little!I am in Timaru but have coached in Darfield where the quake was centered!Wow its not something I thought I would experience and its something I don't want to again.I actually feel like I am sea sick and any slight movement or bump startles me! Anyhow above is some pictures of Christchurch where a lot of the damage occurred.We are all ok in Timaru but definitely shaken.
Jelena Jankovic Vs Kaia Kanepi - Jelena Jelly bean for the win.
Beatrice Capra Vs Maria Sharapova- The courts are alive with the sound of Maria
Paul-Henri Mathieu Vs Roger Federer-Will be a good test for Rodger!
James Blake Vs Novak Djokovic - The Djoker is playing with us he will let us think he is a contender then have a dizzy spell and lose! But not this round.
Svetlana Kutnetsova Vs Maria Kirilenko - Its Russian roulette
Robert Soderling Vs Thiemo De Bakker -Soderling has not really impressed me so far but should get the job done.
Caroline Wozniacki Vs Yung Jan Cheng - The top seed to get through.
Arnaud Clement Vs Mardy Fish - The Frenchman wont be catching any Fish here.
Alexandra Dulgheru Vs Vera Zvonareva - Vera to get there may be tight.
Gail Monfils Vs Janko Tipsaravic- I would never put money on either of these in a grandslam tournament.Monfils just.
Patty Schnyder Vs Yanina Wickmayer - So Long Patty
Jurgen Melzer Vs Juan Carlos Ferrero - I'm think Juan Carlos
Albert Montanes Vs Kei Nishikori- Could go either way. Will go with the higher seed.
Richard Gasquet Vs Kevin Anderson - The Frenchman
Shuai Peng Vs Andrea Petkovik - Peng maybe
Dominika Cibulkova Vs Lourdes Lino - Anyone's guess
Competition players still needing to pick for Round 3 use this post.
Finally Venus Williams Outfit of the round
Seeds are falling faster than you can say Maria Sharapova at this years US OPEN. In the Men's Daveydenko the 6th seed and Marin Cilic the 11th seed are on their bikes out of the here. . Today's round has some great matches scheduled .FInd my selections in red below.
Daniela Hantuchova Vs Elena Dementieva - Good match up and a real test for Dementieva .Could go either way.
Petra Kvitova Vs Kim Clijsters - Kim is going to have to lift her game and cut down on the unforced errors.
Andy Murray Vs Dustin Brown - I don't think Andy will have played a player such as Brown since his junior days.If you get a chance have a look at Brown and you will see some unorthodox play at times.
Mandy Minella Vs Venus Williams - Can't wait for the Venus Outfit today!
Rafael Nadal Vs Dennis Istomin - Reports Rafa's practice did not go so well and he scheduled another for the afternoon!Nadal has definitely not found his A game yet and Istomin will test.
Samantha Stosur Vs Sara Errani - Stosur had an easy win last round but will be tested here.Her form has not been great and I'm tempted to go with Errani!However will of course stick with the Aussie through loyalty!.
Marco Chiudinelli Vs John Isner - Thank goodness no advantage 5th Set!
Virginie Razzano Vs Ana Ivanovic - Can Ivanovic win 3 in a row. No way I'm backing her ....burnt to many times!
Sam Querrey Vs Marcel Granollers - Sam is the 20th seed ....they have been dropping like flies ,but surely the big fella can get this one.
Sergiy Stakhosvky Vs Ryan Harrison - Harrison is 18 and Americans feel he can go far...In fact I am going to tip him here ...may lack the experience still.
Francesca Shiaovone Vs Alona Bondarenko - Good match up Franny has been looking good so will go with the French Open Champion.
David Nalbandian Vs Florent Serra - C'mon David your form was average last round and your lucky to be here .
Shahar Peer Vs Flavia Pennetta - The 16th seed versus the 18th seed how close will this be !
Mikhail Youzhny Vs Dudi Sela - Sela is very tough to beat ....Mikhail should have too many weapons however.
Juan Ignacio Chela Vs Stanislas Wawrinka - Stan is the man!
Daniel Gimeno-Traver Vs Jeremy Chardy - Chardy has been in good form
Guillermo Garcia - Lopez Vs Nicolas Almagro - Almagro to win this battle of the Spaniards
Feliciano Lopez Vs Benoit Paire - Lopez for the win
Julien Benneteau Vs Tommy Robredo - Sorry Tommy your form lately has been "crap" Julien should get the money.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Vs Gisela Dulko - Beat her Dulko because her name is too long to write!
Adrian Mannarino Vs Fernando Verdasco - Fernando tweeted to his followers should he cut his hair....Yes cut it Fernando it might make you play better!
Victor Hanescu Vs Michael Llodra -Llodra took out Berdych ...tennis is a cruel game and Victor will be Victorios.
Gilles Simon Vs Philipp Kohlschreiber - Very Good match but Simon a class player when fit.
David Ferrer Vs Benjamin Becker - No relation to Boris , will be close and maybe the German will just get there.
The Junior Boys and Girls events also start today(Qualifying). There are some Round three matches drawn today and those entered in my competition if you think you have a winner for round three from any of these matches ...that is if you have survived round 2 then post you selection here in the comment section.
Here is a link to a story on Dustin Brown HERE
Day 3 had lots of surprises and drama associated with a Grand Slam event such as this.Andy Roddick's stay in the U.S. Open was a short one as he blew up over a foot fault and then lost to Janko Tipsarevic.Roddick has been under a
fitness cloud due to an illness he had prior to the event.When Andy gets worked up he really does get worked up and its sad to see a former champion go out like this.I guess Roddick is not getting younger and another Grand Slam win is beyond him me thinks!.The other exciting event was another Venus Williams fashion show what the **** did she have on to day? Was it short shorts , or was it a short dress with shorts? I wonder when Venus gets in front of that mirror when dressing does she say" hey American public and tennis fans I have something to show you today! And I wonder if the TV public is like me and switch channels.
The drama continued with Azarenka Trailing Gisela Dulko 5-1 in the first set in stifling conditions, Azarenka stopped suddenly while chasing a ball on the baseline, and crumpled to the ground. Is it in an athletes genes that they just cant handle a hot day?One wonders what is their diet , is this a reason why so many players fade in the heat.
DAY 4 SELECTIONS
After yesterday I think I had every second match wrong and thought why bother today ! There where some huge upsets yesterday so lets hope its a little more settled on day 4 !
Sabina Lisicki Vs Vera Zvonareva
Caroline Woznaiacki Vs Kai Chen Chung
Andreas Beck Vs Rodger Federer
Iveta Benesova Vs Maria Sharapova
Phillip Petzsclner Vs Novak Djokovic - Hope its not hot today Djoker
Pablo Cueves Vs Mardy Fish
Svetlana Kuznetsova Vs Anatasija Sevastova
Jelana Jankovic Vs Mirjana Lucic
Peter Polansky Vs James Blake - Can Blake go two in a row?
Aravana Rezai Vs Beatrice Capra
Nikolay Davydenko Vs Richard Gasquet - Men's Match of the round!
Robin Soderling Vs Taylor Dent
Bethanie Mattek-Sands Vs Andrea Petkovic
Julia Goerges Vs Yanina Wickmayer
Andreas Seppi Vs Simone Vagnozzi
Ryan Harrison Vs Robert Kendrick
Paul Henri Mathieu Vs Guillaume Rufin
Akgul Amamuradova Vs Kaia Kanepi
Dominika Cibulkova Vs Kateryna Bondarenko
Thiemo de Bakker Vs Ivan Dodig
Lourdes Dominguez Lino Vs Tamira Paszek
Jurgen Melzer Vs Ricardis Berankis
Albert Montanes Vs Carsten Ball - The Last Aussie male----Adios!
Maria Jose Sanchez Vs Patty Schnyder
Arnaud Clement Vs Eduardo Schwank
Yvonne Meusburger Vs Maria Kirilenko
Ricardo Mello Vs Juan Carlos Ferrero
Kei Nishikori Vs Marin Cilic
Alexandra Dulgheru Vs Sofia Ardvidsson
Kevin Anderson Vs Thomaz Bellucci
Agnieszka Radwanska Vs Shuai Peng
My Selection for Day 3 Matches are in Red and I have indicated matches that are second round matches , there are still first round matches also to be completed.
Anna Ivanovic v Jie Zheng - cannot expect Ivanovic to win two in a row can we?2nd Rnd
Andy Murray v Lukas Lacko - Should be a good match Lacko is up and coming
Rebecca Marino Vs Venus Williams 2nd Rd
Sally Peers Vs Kim Clijsters 2nd Rd
Janko Tipsaravic Vs Andy Roddick 2ND RD
Sam Querrey Vs Bradley Klahn
Daniel Hantuchova Vs Vania King 2nd Rd
Melanie Oudin Vs Alona Bonderenko 2nd Rd
Frederick Gil Vs John Isner
Gisela Duko Vs Victoria Azarenka 2nd Rd
Michael Lodra Vs Tomas Berdych
Francesca Schiavone Vs Maria Elena Camerin 2nd Rd
Gail Monfils Vs Igor Andreev 2nd Rd Will be close and will tip an upset here.
Potito Starace Vs Nicolas Almargro
Mikhail Kukushkin Vs Stanislas Warinka
Sara Errani Vs Alisa Kleybanova
Agnes Szavay Vs Flavia Pennetta
Juan Ignacio Chela Vs Yen-Hsun Lu
Petra Kvitova Vs Elena Baltacha
Sergiy Stakhosvsky Vs Peter Luczak Bet Hewitt wishes he had this draw
Dudie Sela Vs Xavier Malisse Sela always hard to beat Malisse just!
Raul Ramirez Hidalgo Vs Dustin Brown - Brown is a different player indeed.
Tobias Kamke Vs Phillip Kohlschreiber
Marcel Granollers Vs Andreas Seppi
Ryan Harrison Vs Ivan Ljubicic
Sybille Bammer Vs Elena Dementieva 2ND rd
Mikhail Youzhny Vs Andrey Golubev
Samantha Stotsur Vs Anastasia Rodionova - 2nd Rd Interesting !
Guillemo Garcia Lopez Vs Lukas Kubot
Anatasia Pavlyuchenkova Vs Sania Mirza 2nd Rd
Marion Bartoli Vs Virginia Razzano
Giles Simon Vs Donald Young
Jack Sock Vs Marco Chiudinelli- Sock is also in the Junior Boys singles
Shahar Peer Vs Pauline Parmenter 2nd Round
Victor Hanescu Vs Carlos Berlocq
Competition News!
Protennis was eliminated with their choice of Petrova in the first round.Unlucky with that one for sure! Mostly second round women matches , except Roddick and Monfils who is drawn for Round 2. We will use this post for Round 2 selections, so if you have a winner post here in the comment section.We are still waiting round 1 to be completed. Mickey mouse schedule if you ask me : ) Round 2 matches drawn also tomorrow.
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