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LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)
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606: DEBATE
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0339: That's your lot for day three, we will be back at 1600 BST for day four with Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina kicking things off on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic among the middle order, and Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick providing the night-session finale. Andy Murray will be back in action on Friday. Goodnight.
0335: That was impressive, let's hope none of the other women were watching - they might not turn up tomorrow. Serena Williams beats Melinda Czink 6-1 6-1. 0328: Crikey. Serena plays another great drop shot and then creams a backhand winner down the line, and this is about as well as a person can play tennis. Czink does brilliantly to come up with successive aces and a forehand winner as she gets off the mark to trail 4-1 in the second set. 0321: Czink raises a laugh when she looks at her racquet with concern after one Serena serve almost knocks it out of her hand. You get the feeling someone has riled Serena today and she's taking it out on the Hungarian. She leads by a set and 2-0. Hang on, make that 3-0. Another break with more blistering power from the baseline. 0317: Serena is absolutely flying tonight, finding one backhand pass on the run that gets the crowd gasping as she breaks yet again to lead early in the second set.
0310: Subtlety is not usually the first word that springs to mind when Serena is playing, but she comes up a beautiful drop shot to force a break point. It's then back to Plan A as she cracks away a cross-court backhand and screams "C'mon!" It's another break for the defending champion, and she quickly serves out the set 6-1, finishing with an ace. 0301: OK, that's better from Czink as she hammers a backhand winner on her way to a first hold. Serena leads 3-1 and sets about extending her lead but is foot-faulted, possibly for the first time in her life. She turns and stares at the line judge in question for all of five seconds. It's quite chilling. The American takes the game anyway and leads 4-1. 0250: I've got that Czinking feeling.... best to get it out the way early, Melinda wallops a forehand over the baseline and quickly finds herself 2-0 down. 0246: Serena, who has some strapping on her right wrist, plays a couple of loose shots but holds serve from deuce for 1-0. She won her only previous match against Czink in straight sets earlier this year. 0235: Serena and Czink are out on court now, the American wearing a bomber jacket with her name across the back, the Hungarian wearing tennis clothes. 0232: As you will know, we are about to witness a major landmark for womankind as Serena Williams and Melinda Czink play in the second of the night-session matches. That's right, the men have been shunted to the opening match for the first time this evening as the women complete the day's action in front of a night-session record crowd of 24,206. Emily Pankhurst, this one's for you. I'm guessing Roger Federer is not too unhappy about it as he heads into Manhattan for dinner at around 9.30pm. Very civilised. 0223: So there's just one match to go on day three, with Serena Williams about to take on Hungary's Melinda Czink on Arthur Ashe Stadium. However, there is a worrying amount of activity on court which suggests some form of ceremony/singing/speeches.
0216: Well, well.... Roger Federer double-faults at 30-30 to offer up a break point and does extremely well to save it after a fizzing return from Simon Greul. The Swiss does enough though and wraps up a 6-3 7-5 7-5 win moments later with an ace. Big smiles from both men at the net and it was a pretty entertaining match. 0211: The Greul forehand lets him down and he fires one way over the baseline to give up two break points at 15-40. The German saves the first with a wonderful backhand that just catches the line, and Federer then misses a mid-court forehand that was begging to be put away. A third break point arrives soon enough though and Greul helpfully dumps a forehand into the net. The world number one will serve for the match. 0206: Greul and Federer swap service holds and it's now 5-5 in the third set. Roger's mum and dad are in the crowd along with his wife Mirka - hope he's booked a table for everyone later. 0200: "Come on Federer I can't do this two nights in a row." From Alan via text 0158: After shifting briefly on its axis, the earth can now return to its normal state as Federer gets the break back with a sharp angled volley. He still trails 4-3 in the third set. 0152: Greul is playing really well now and absolutely hammering everything from the baseline. He leads 4-1 and shows no sign of cracking in this set.
0149: I do have a 'Britain down' arrow, and unfortunately it needs another run-out. Sarah Borwell and American Jill Craybas lose their doubles match against Camille Pin and Carla Suarez Navarro in a final set tie-break. Oh well, the juniors start next week. Come on Laura...
0145: If I had an 'Australia Up' arrow I would be dusting it off right now, but after the Olympics and the Ashes we thought we wouldn't need them any more. How wrong we were - Lleyton Hewitt beats Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3 6-3 6-4 and will face Federer (or Greul) in the next round. 0139: Hang on, Greul has broken Federer for a 2-0 lead in the third set and the six-time champion does not look too chuffed about it. Unlike one lady in the crowd who applauds enthusiastically. Things looking up all round for Simon. 0130: It will not come as a major surprise to you that Federer has broken serve and will serve for a two-set lead. And as soon as I've written that, he does so - 6-3 7-5.
0126: "C'maawwnn!!" is almost certainly what Lleyton Hewitt said just now when he broke in the third set against Chela. Meanwhile, the generally more serene Daniela Hantuchova has beaten Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky 5-7 6-2 6-1. 0122: Real drama on Ashe... a blistering return gives Greul a set point but Federer saves it with a superb lunging backhand volley. Greul remains unbowed and fires a backhand down the line to earn a second set point, but Fed comes up with a big serve and holds on. Great stuff from The Greuller though.
Kim Clijsters on Twitter:
"I'm really excited to beat Bartoli, I had to really dig deep today and it was a great feeling! I play fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens on Fri. Its Brian's dad's birthday today so I was happy he could see the match and we might all go out to dinner later... treatment first!" 0112: Greul is putting up a good show and leads Federer 4-3 in the second set, while Hewitt has come through a tricky end to his second set and leads 6-3 6-3. Hantuchova is just two games away on Court 11. 0111: Well Phil, he wont be. Murray gets another day off on Thursday, with the night session featuring Sharapova v McHale and Roddick v Gicquel. The day kicks off at 1600 BST with Dementieva and Safina in action, and the likes of Jankovic, Djokovic and Blake are also lined up. 0108: "Any news on when Murray will be on tomorrow?" From Phil via text 0102: There is something approaching drama on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Federer slips 15-40 down, but he simply winds up a couple of big serves and quickly averts the danger. It's 2-2 in the second set.
0057: Hantuchova is charging towards the finish line at 3-0 in the final set, and Britain's Sarah Borwell and American Jill Craybas have levelled at one set all against Pin/Suarez Navarro on Court Five. Greul is 2-1 on serve in the second set against Federer.
0055: "What a sad day for tennis this is - the magician himself Fabrice Santoro hangs up his racket. In a generation where winning is everything, are the days of cheeky sliced double-handers over? A man who loved the game but who we all loved to watch more!" From anon via text 0047: Hewitt is storming away from Chela at a set and 4-1, and I can almost hear the Fanatics chanting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" from here. Bad memories of Wimbledon station about two months ago. Federer calmly seals the opening set 6-3 against Greul in 29 minutes.
0040: Ninth seed Gilles Simon completes a 6-4 7-6 6-3 win over Daniel Gimeno-Traver on Court 13, while Daniela Hantuchova levels at one set all against Timea Bacsinszky on Court 11. 0038: Apologies for the slight delay there, no problems for Federer so far as he leads 5-2 and is strolling around like a man on holiday who's just making his way down to the beach - he could be wearing flip flops and carrying a towel. In fairness, Greul is having a go. Hewitt has taken the first set against Chela, with the winner to face Federer. Or Greul.
0024: Good news for Greul as he holds his opening service game. David Ferrer, the 18th seed, completes a 7-5 5-7 6-3 6-3 win over Alberto Martin. 0019: I'm trying to think where this would rank in the history of upsets were Greul to end Federer's six-year unbeaten reign tonight. Buster Douglas, Wimbledon FC, Sly Stallone catching that penalty in Escape to Victory... Federer holds to love. 0016: Roger Federer, dressed in black with red trim, is going through a few serves on Arthur Ashe Stadium as a rather nervous looking Simon Greul does the same at the other end.
0012: If you're Argentine, there is good news and bad news. Juan Martin del Potro has beaten Juan Monaco 6-3 6-3 6-1. And Hewitt is a break up on Chela at 4-3. The sun is setting in New York and it's nearly time for Federer. 0007: Timea Bacsinszky takes the first set against Daniela Hantuchova on Court 11, and Simon moves two sets clear of Gimeno-Traver on Court 13. While searching for Hewitt-Chela information I stumbled across the story from 2006 when
David Nalbandian accused Tim Henman of bad sportsmanship,
saying: "All this selling himself as a gentleman is not true. He is the worst rubbish there is." One of the most ill-advised outbursts in recent tennis history. We miss you, Dave. 2351: David Ferrer has sneaked two sets to one up on Alberto Martin on Court Four, while fans of Sergiy Stakhovsky and Philipp Petzschner are getting a rare treat on Court Six as they enter a fifth set. And Del Potro gets an early break in the third. Monaco is as good as done.... 2348: Kim Clijsters is happy with her efforts after fighting back to beat Marion Bartoli in three sets. "I like this more than the first match which I won 6-1 6-1. I stayed focused and worked out a game plan and that is more rewarding when you win a game like this." 2343: Monaco shows signs of life as he gets a break back but Del Potro steps it up in the next game to move two sets clear, converting his fourth set point when his compatriot sticks a backhand into the net. Lil' Lleyton Hewitt is out on Grandstand now against Juan Ignacio Chela, for fans of grit and baseball caps. 2330: Del Potro looks bigger and bigger by the second as he stands at the baseline, swatting forehands and muscling backhands with his enormous wingspan. Poor old Monaco is having a torrid time as he scurries around the Louis Armstrong Stadium, and DelPo will serve for a two-set lead.
2325: Venus Williams might be struggling with her knee but she is not planning on pulling out of the doubles with Serena. "My mentality for doubles is, it's a major title and I love winning majors. It's not a decision I take lightly. I'm going to do my best to be able to prepare."
2320: American Vania King completes a 7-5 6-4 win over 15th seed Sam Stosur after saving a break point. Stosur has had a great year and will be disappointed with that. The good news is, we can roll out the shock graphic. No, I'm not sure either. Daniela Hantuchova has been given another late start and is just getting under way against Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky on Court 11. 2312: We could be in for a shock on Grandstand as Vania King moves a set and a break up against 15th seed Sam Stosur, and she will serve for the match. Gilles Simon has recovered the break to take the first set 6-4 against Gimeno-Traver. And Monaco gets a big hand when he wins a point after a 'hotdog' through-the-legs effort. 2302: Monaco has lost the plot and is spraying shots all over the Louis Armstrong Stadium as he drops serve at the start of the second set - it's looking good for DelPo now at 6-3 2-0. 2256: Del Potro wraps up the first set 6-3 against Monaco as we approach 6pm in New York, not 8pm as I suggested earlier. I think it's still Wednesday though. Nice to see the
5 live team have got themselves a new profile picture on Twitter
which manages to include the fourth Beatle, Alastair Eykyn. The picture is sufficiently small and out of focus that they could pass for Take That. If you squint a bit. 2250: Er, thanks Dave. Don't forget we have the night session to come from midnight (UK), with Roger Federer opening against Germany's Simon Greul before Serena Williams plays Hungary's Melinda Czink. Del Potro is about to have another go at serving out the first set against Monaco.
2246: "Hi piers! Im Just watching the juan martin del potro against juan monaco match and realised that if they were playing basketball instead of tennis it would be JUAN ON JUAN?" From dave in staffs via text
2244: The sun is shining as we move past 5.30pm in New York, and Juan Martin del Potro is broken when serving for the set but still leads fellow Argentine Juan Monaco 5-2. Vania King gives American tennis some much-needed good news with the first set against Sam Stosur, and everybody's favourite ninth seed, Gilles Simon, is an early break down against Gimeno-Traver. 2237: Good evening, please manually refresh if you want to put a name to the clunking change of tone. That's it then, Safinwatch is over for good. Caroline just wandered out of the office disconsolately muttering something about "Safin quotes...." She's not taking it well. We've tried to cheer her up with the news that Daniel Gimeno-Traver, Philipp Petzschner, Alberto Martin and the rest of the gang are still battling away out there, but it didn't seem to work. 2231: It's true. Rafa went to see Mamma Mia. He even had his picture taken with the cast. And on that bombshell, I shall pass you over to Piers Newbery, who will no doubt be itching to get involved in the musical chat.
From anon via text on 81111: "Re 2211: You joke, but his Facebook page reveals the answer... MAMMA MIA." 2225: Given his passionate, and rather endearing, defence of his lil sister, you might expect Marat to stick around and support her as she bids to end her Grand Slam title drought. Nope. "I really love my sister but I think she can manage without me." More from Safin on Dinara: "Personally, I'm really like, I have to protect her. She deserves a little bit more than what she's getting right now. You can't imagine how crazy she is about sport. I don't think there is one person in the world more professional than her." Marat Safin on criticism of his sister Dinara: "Everybody is giving her hard time. 'Why is she number one?' 'Is she a real number one or not?' 'She made eight double faults, 43 unforced errors.' 'She struggled, almost lost to an 18-year-old.' Who cares? I mean, she's number one in the world. On this ranking, she's number one. Serena, even though she won two Grand Slams this year, she's number two. Sorry, but that's the way. Deal with that." 2219: DelPo ends a 26-shot rally with an outrageous angled drop shot, leaving Monaco rooted to the baseline. Some brutal exchanges already in that match. Monaco comes through an epic game to make it 1-1 in the first set. 2214: Sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro is up against fellow Argentine and fellow Juan, Monaco, on the Louis Armstrong Stadium. I fully expect a straight-sets win for DelPo, who is a potential quarter-final opponent for Andy Murray. 2211: Rafa reveals he's spent his spare time in New York "walking around" and has been to see "a few musicals". Wonder what he went to see? The Little Mermaid? Shrek The Musical? South Pacific?! Maybe all three. Rafael Nadal on his win over Richard Gasquet: "No one match is easy, but when you win two, two and three, must be comfortable no? Very happy how I played today. My forehand I can improve a little bit more. For that reason I'm working very hard no?" Marat Safin on what he'll miss about tennis: "I need to get away from tennis for some time to realise what I'll miss. Right now, it's difficult to decide exactly what I'll miss. It's the end. Could have been better ending, but still OK. I'm looking forward to after my career, so I have no regrets. And I don't care about losses anymore." 2155: Rafa's still out there, whacking a few balls into the stands and then signing about a zillion autographs. No more play in Arthur Ashe Stadium until midnight when Fed and Serena star in the night session. Play still continues on the outside courts though.
From Eagleeeee! on 606: "Sends out a strong message, Rafa. Good knees? New hair? Whatever it is, worked well today. The serve's also looking good. Bring it on!"
2151: World number three Rafael Nadal brushes aside the challenge of Richard Gasquet, winning 6-2 6-2 6-3. That was supposed to be a testing first-round match? Devastating display. The US Open is the only Grand Slam title to elude him so far. On this performance, I wouldn't bet against him this year. 2146: Sensational stuff again from Rafa Nadal. The crowd are loving this. Gasquet produces a decent enough backhand volley - which comes straight back - so the Frenchman tries a deft drop volley this time. Nadal's up to it in a flash, producing the winner down the line. The world number three breaks in the third set, and this is all over bar the shouting.
2143: Kim Clijsters recovers from a set down to beat 14th seed Marion Bartoli 5-7 6-1 6-2. The Belgian, who is unseeded, plays compatriot Kirsten Flipkens next. She could meet Venus Williams in the fourth round. Marat Safin on his abiding memory of Flushing Meadows: "Here first few days it's like a zoo. It's like a million people running around, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, so many people. That's pretty much annoying." 2137: Kim Clijsters turns to HawkEye - which shows the ball hit the edge of both lines in the corner - and that gives her a second break and a 5-2 lead in the third set against Marion Bartoli. 2130: Rafael Nadal has made five unforced errors, Richard Gasquet has made 34. Painful stats. Still on serve in the third though. Have just been reminding myself of Soulja Boy's greatest hit. There's an Alvin and the Chipmunks version on a well-known video sharing website. It's a fake though. You can tell by the quality.
From BulletMonkey on 606:
"Very, very impressive from Nadal. I take back any doubts I had about him before the match, he's looking exceptional here today. He'll still need to play well against Kiefer, though. That's no walk in the park." 2123: Good to see Gael Monfils is keeping up with dance trends. Perhaps next time he wins, he could bring out a few friends and give us a few Diversity moves. Seamlessly moving on now to Marion Bartoli, who, after lengthy treatment on a thigh injury, is bouncing about waiting to receive serve from Kim Clijsters. Gael Monfils on whether he might bring back his Soulja Boy-style celebration dance: "Depends. I mean, depends, depends, because it change a little bit, dance, since Soulja Boy. So now, I don't know. Depends on my elation. Maybe. Why not?" 2116: Rafael Nadal strolls into a two-set lead against Richard Gasquet, and the end is nigh for the Frenchman. Should Nadal win - and he will - he'll face German Nicolas Kiefer in the second round. Potentially tricky too, but on this form, he shouldn't hold up Rafa for too long. Venus Williams on her knee injury after beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands: "I was moving pretty good today and just put all my focus on hitting the ball and not how my body was. It's not a huge surprise that, at this time of the year, things are starting to hurt a little but I am just determined to play every match I can."
2113: Oh dear. Marion Bartoli has got the trainer on court in the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Looks like a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Richard Gasquet rifles a lovely backhand return cross-court - but Rafa Nadal gets to it and finds an even tighter angle with his forehand response. Classic Nadal. 2110: Kim Clijsters rattles through the second set against Marion Bartoli, taking it 6-1 to force the decider. Rafael Nadal has the break in the second set against Richard Gasquet, and this is looking like a very comfortable opener for the world number three.
From Rodders, Manchester, via text on 81111: "The tennis world seems a better place with Nadal in it. He's the difference between a good tourney and a great one." 2102: BBC 5 live tennis correspondent Jonathan Overend
tweets that Andy Murray will play his second-round match on Friday.
I've covered the US Open for a good few years now, and their schedule still baffles me. I'm pretty sure that soon they'll end up playing every single match on one Big Super-Dooper Sensational Saturday. Think of the TV audiences... 2056: Rafa's even getting the luck now, his smash taking a sizeable chunk of the net before going over. He leads 2-1 but it's still on serve. 2053: Curse the Arthur Ashe Stadium DJ. I appear to have I'm Walking On Sunshine by Katriona And The Waves locked in my head. Over on Louis Armstrong, a forehand return winner from Kim Clijsters earns her a break at the start of the second set against Marion Bartoli. 2043: First set summary: Rafael Nadal looks very good, Richard Gasquet looks very rusty. The Frenchman's weapon of choice - the backhand - is even failing him. Nadal gets a second break to take the set 6-2. 2040: Not a lot Richard Gasquet can do at the moment. Flashes of excellence, but that's not enough against Nadal. I'd have to agree with the TV commentary team: this is not the match Gasquet would have wanted in his first top-level tournament since his ban. The Frenchman is 5-2 down. Marion Bartoli takes the first set 7-5 against Kim Clijsters. Over on Court Five, there's a Rolf Harris(on) in action. Just saying. 2035: Now then, did you notice when Andy Murray won the Montreal Masters title, he did a bit of a shuffle which looked like a moonwalk, and we weren't quite sure if he meant it? And he did the same last night after beating Ernests Gulbis? BBC Radio 5 live got on the case in Canada - and got him to
explain exactly what it's all about.
I've got to be honest, I'm still not sure, but I can confirm it's definitely a deliberate move. Something to look out for anyway... 2029: Nadal still with the break in the first set. Kim Clijsters has battled back to 5-5 against Marion Bartoli. Fabrice Santoro's Grand Slam career comes to an end with a straight-set defeat by Juan Carlos Ferrero. Funny, because Santoro used to drive Marat Safin to distraction with his infuriating slicing and dicing. Maybe they'll hit the town together tonight... 2020: Sensational flicked backhand winner from Richard Gasquet wins him the first point in Rafa Nadal's second service game. A rare bright spot for the Frenchman early on. The world number three leads 3-0. 2013: Kim Clijsters announced her return to the tour in August with an impressive win against Marion Bartoli. She's up against the unorthodox Frenchwoman again today - but trails by a break in the first set. Over on Court 13, Maria Kirilenko battles past 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 2-6 6-4 after two hours and 19 minutes.
2009: Nadal to serve first against Gasquet - and he holds easily. Meanwhile, some results: Kirsten Flipkens beats 20th seed Anabel Medina Garrigues, and seventh seed Vera Zvonareva recovers from a set down to beat Anna Chakvetadze. 2003: They're out warming up. Life feels so much better now Rafa is back in Grand Slam action, no? The former world number one is wearing a bright yellow shirt, black shorts, turquoise accessories. And of course, there's that shorter hair... 1958: So, just in case you're not familiar with the Gasquet story, here goes: the Frenchman received a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine. An independent tribunal accepted that the drug got into his system when he kissed a girl in a nightclub, and the ban was reduced to two months. He has played two matches since his return to the tour. Richard Gasquet on the support he received from Rafa Nadal during his drugs ban: "Rafa supported me more than anyone in the last few months and if he ever needs me to help him, I will do what I can. I'll never forget what he's done for me. Now I just want to get out and play." 1951: Venus's win paves the way for the one we've all been waiting for: Rafa v Richard next up in the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Don't forget, Fed and Serena still to come in the night session.
1946: Third seed Venus Williams unleashes a big serve to wrap up a 6-4 6-2 win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands, whose knee-highs exit stage left. Better from the big V today, but tougher tests await.
1939: "He'll be back," says a well-meaning colleague. He doesn't know Marat Safin very well, I fear. Doesn't look like there'll be any fairytale win for Fab Santoro either. The wily Frenchman trails Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4 5-3. 1936: Through the tears, I can just about see that Venus Williams is well on her way to victory against Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Vera Zvonareva has turned it around against fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze and leads 5-1 in the decider. Maria Kirilenko and Agnieszka Radwanska are level at a set apiece, but Kirilenko has the break in the third. 1932: Tears from Safin? You're joking, aren't you? He waves briefly before disappearing. He's probably got plans for this evening.
1931: NOOOOOOOOOO! Nine years after crushing Pete Sampras to win the US Open, Marat Safin bows out to Jurgen Melzer in his final Grand Slam match. The Russian produces one final flash of genius - a glorious backhand winner - and then has the crowd roaring their appreciation when he gets back to 30-30. But Melzer bangs down an ace and then Safin nets a return - and that's it. He won't care - but the rest of us do. 1926: Hold serve he does, but Jurgen Melzer will serve for the match - and the end of Safin's Grand Slam career - after the changeover. 1925: Huge cheers for Marat Safin, who must hold serve here to avoid defeat.
Neat socks!
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1915: Venus Williams now 6-4 2-0 up against Bethanie Mattek-Sands - which means I'd better produce a picture of the socks (see 1824) quick. Marat Safin is a break down against Jurgen Melzer and two games from the end of his Grand Slam career. Sigh. 1912: Taylor Dent won yesterday. Interested? Not yet? How about this: Taylor Dent won his first US Open match since 2005 yesterday. Since then, he has three bouts of surgery on a serious back injury, which left him bedridden for up to 23 hours a day for weeks at a time. He was told there was a chance he might not be able to walk again, and almost certainly would never play tennis. Now that's quite impressive right?
From Biscuits on 606:
"The most pointless stat of the year is that every male Grand Slam finalist this year has a "d" as the third letter of their surname." 1857: Stunning backhand winner from Jurgen Melzer - and that means Marat Safin may only have one set of Grand Slam tennis left. Not looking great for our other retiring hero, Fabrice Santoro, who must break Juan Carlos Ferrero's serve to stay in the first set.
1854: A double fault followed by a missed first serve and Marat Safin lets the ball have it, belting it out of the Louis Armstrong Stadium. It's probably still going... He does hold though and makes Melzer serve for the set. 1852: All going the wrong way for Marat Safin, and if I was his racquet, I'd be worried right now. He is 5-2 down in the third set. Better news for Venus Williams, who has overcome her shock at Bethanie Mattek's knee-high socks and leads 5-3 in the first. 1846: Marat Safin has just played the best shot I have seen... today. The Russian trundles along the baseline and plays a squash-style forehand down the line for a clean winner. He ruins it all by apologising to Melzer - as if he didn't mean it. Doesn't help Safin, though. He is broken, and Melzer looks in ominous form here. 1839: Another mini-shock - more of an eyebrow-raiser than anything else - developing on Grandstand where Anna Chakvetadze, a former top tenner, has taken the first set against seventh seed Vera Zvonareva. Maria Kirilenko is a set up against the 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Tell you what: if this is Marat Safin's last Grand Slam match, what a way to go out. Cracking match. Still on serve in the third.
1824: Hurrah! Bethanie Mattek-Sands has not disappointed in the fashion stakes. She's wearing knee-high socks, in the manner of a school netball outfit. She is leading 1-0 and giving Venus Williams a hell of a battle to hold her opening service game. 1823: Jurgen Melzer sweeps a forehand cross-court and earns two set points at 5-4. Marat Safin delivers a big serve to save one, but Melzer has got the one wrapped up as the Russian is forced to send up a defensive lob... NO WAY! Melzer has belted his smash over the baseline. He has got it now though - as Safin sticks a backhand into the net. One set all. 1813: Possible upset over on Court 13 where Maria Kirilenko leads 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 5-2. Still on serve in the second set between Safin and Melzer. 1805: Venus Williams and Bethanie Mattek-Sands should be heading to Arthur Ashe Stadium around about now. That match is followed by Rafael Nadal v Richard Gasquet, which should be a cracker. Following Safin v Melzer, Kim Clijsters meets 14th seed Marion Bartoli. Sania Mirza on her 6-0 6-0 defeat by Flavia Pennetta: "When you lose love and love there is not much you can say, but I felt I didn't play that badly. She played exceptionally well. Everything was working for her. I told her in the locker room afterwards that if she continues to play like that she will be number one in the world." 1755: The US Open's answer to the problem that is Michelle Larcher de Brito's screeching was to stick her out on Court 13 - where the teenager duly lost to Li Na today. Also falling today: veteran American Jill Craybas. She needs to pick herself up, and fast. She'll be pairing up with British doubles numero uno Sarah Borwell later on in the women's doubles. 1749: Just been reading a piece
on the Sports Illustrated website
about Safin. There's a great quote from Sveta Kuznetsova in there. Asked what Safin might have achieved had he been as dedicated as Federer, she concludes: "It's an expression we say it in Russian: If? What would happen if? But 'if' didn't happen."
1741: They're pretty much all going in at the moment. Safin hammers down three aces in a row to move to 40-0. A fourth wraps up the set 6-1. Surprised? I know I am. Meanwhile, Gael Monfils brushes aside Jeremy Chardy 6-1 6-4 6-3.
1731: Marat Safin's tactics today? Hit every ball as hard as he can, hope some of 'em go in. He saves a break point and now leads 4-1. 1727: Just flipped over to see what dear old Marat's up to - and seen him wallop the ball straight at Jurgen Melzer's head. He apologised, but I'm not sure Melzer is convinced. But if it was a tactic by Safin, it worked. He breaks to 15 and leads 3-1 in the first set.
1721: Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada wraps up a 6-4 6-0 win over an out-of-form Amelie Mauresmo. The Frenchwoman was seeded 17th, but not much of a shock that one. Wozniak up against Flavia Pennetta in round three. 1718: In the battle of Jamie Murray's exes, Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram have beaten Eric Butorac and Scott Lipsky. If you're wondering where Jamie is: so am I. He's not entered in the men's or mixed doubles in New York. Andy's big bro has been having an awful season, and his doubles ranking has dropped to 121. 1709: Sania Mirza made 28 unforced errors in that 12-game match against Pennetta, and hit six winners. Not great numbers. Gael Monfils now two sets up against fellow Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. 1706: Another double fault from Amelie Mauresmo, and again it's at break point down. She trails the world number 39 6-4 2-0. Winner of this one plays Flavia Pennetta.
From Eagleeeee! on 606:
"Hmm, not surprising really. Penneta has to be feeling super confident having had some good results recently. Mirza has always had a shaky game, big hits that can miss big."
1658: Couple of bagels for you, Sania? Certainly madam. Tenth seed Flavia Penetta routs her Indian opponent Sania Mirza in 50 minutes. And there's a double fault from Amelie Mauresmo which gives Aleksandra Wozniak the first set 6-4. 1649: Double bagel is on over on Louis Armstrong. Flavia Pennetta leads Sania Mirza 6-0 4-0. Not sure if Mirza is injured - but that is a very surprising scoreline if you ask me. 1641: Hope Dinara Safina isn't a New York Times reader. The newspaper's
front page today
features articles on Afghanistan, US policy in Japan, swine flu - and the state of serving in women's tennis. The headline reads: 'Toss the Ball. Hit the Ball. Oops! Oops!' Safina served up 11 DFs as she scraped past Aussie wildcard Olivia Rogowska yesterday.
1636: Over on Louis Armstrong Stadium, Sania Mirza is having her clock cleaned by 10th seed Flavia Pennetta. The Italian has served up a bagel in the first set. 1632: Gael Monfils is not hanging around today. The Frenchman - seeded 13th - has already taken the first set 6-1 against Jeremy Chardy. Chardy is the world number 34, and might have been expected to put up a bit more of a fight. 1626: I agree, that would be a very Safin-esque performance. But let's not forget that the Russian has managed three wins since the French Open. Anyway, I must crash on before this becomes 'Live text - Safin', an idea that was cruelly was given the boot at an editorial meeting earlier today.
From yesyesok on 606:
"Marat will win tonight, and then in one last shebang will knock out Juan Martin del Potro in round two on Friday, before falling in round three to Chris Guccione. Mon the Safin!" 1624: Of course, we may also say a Grand Slam goodbye to Fabrice Santoro today.
Court 11 is your destination
if you fancy a last glimpse of the French magician, who is up against Juan Carlos Ferrero. 1620: If you - like Danny in Lytham - wish to send your tributes to Marat, or chip in with any other tennis-related chit-chat - I'd suggest you tap 81111 into your phone or head over to
606
or
Twitter.
From Danny, Lytham, via text on 81111: "I predict Marat Safin to go out with a bang! Some Hollywood shots and hopefully a broken racket as a tribute to his famous tantrums." 1613: Roger Federer and Serena Williams headline the night session, and we'll also see how Juan Martin del Potro, Amelie Mauresmo, Gael Monfils, Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt get on. Aaah. Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt... remember? 1611: Away from the tears (from me) in the Louis Armstrong Stadium, world number three Rafael Nadal (feels weird writing that) finally gets to start his campaign today against Richard Gasquet. Before that, Venus Williams tests out her dodgy knee against fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands (she of the wacky outfits). In action early doors: Gael Monfils, Amelie Mauresmo and, er, Flavia Pennetta. 1607: And before you ask: no, I have absolutely no faith in Safin. He plays Jurgen Melzer today and I predict a close first set followed by a 6-1 6-3 capitulation, or something like that. Anyway, winning is not the point. It's all about the show with Marat. 1600: Hello. You find me with a heavy heart, for today we are likely to witness the final Grand Slam match of my favourite player ever: the magnificent Marat Safin.
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