Tennis: U.S. Open Review
The second day of the 2010 U.S. Open featured several great five set matches in the men’s competition. There were also some upsets in both the men’s and women’s fields.
Novak Djokovic struggled in his first round match against fellow countryman Victori Troicki. This second match at Arthur Ashe stadium lasted for more than 3 and a half hours as the Serbians exchanged plenty of long rallies. In the end, the third seed Djokovic prevailed 6-3 in the fifth set.
On Louis Armstrong Stadium, Frenchman Arnaud Clement upset 17th seed Marcos Baghdatis in the first round, winning the fifth set 7-5. The 32 year old Clement remains the oldest player left in the men’s draw. 34 year old German veteran Rainer Schuettler, the oldest player to enter the main draw, lost his opening match in a tough fifth set tiebreak to French qualifier Benoit Paire. Other notable five set victories in the first round were by American Mardy Fish and eighth seed Fernando Verdasco.
In the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, first seed Rafael Nadal took out Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili 7-6(4) 7-6(4) 6-3. This was followed by a quick victory by the women’s first seed Caroline Wozniacki, whose match ended just after midnight.
Here’s a look at Days 3 and 4:
Day 3
Day three featured the biggest headline of the tournament so far, as unseeded Janko Tipsarevic eliminated Andy Roddick 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6(4) in front of a night crowd at Arthur Ashe stadium. Roddick lost his composure in the third set because of a foot fault call, and he kept on complaining about it for several games. Another major upset on the men’s side was by Michael Llodra, who took out seventh seed Tomas Berdych 7-6(3) 6-4 6-4.
On the women’s side, the headline of the day was when 10th seed Victoria Azarenka collapsed during the first set of her second round match against Gisela Dulko. Azarenka was escorted off the court in a wheelchair and was rushed to a local hospital. The 90+ degree weather has been a major factor at the U.S. Open so far, and it took out the young Belarusian.
Day 4
Day four of the U.S. Open did not feature any extraordinary matches on the main show court. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, and Maria Sharapova all enjoyed straight set victories in their second round matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The upset of the day was by Richard Gasquet, who eliminated sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko in straight sets. However, the most impressive match of the day was between 20 year old Kei Nishikori of Japan and 11th seed Marin Cilic. The young Japanese rising star won the match 5-7 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-1 in a grueling battle that lasted for almost five hours under the scorching heat.
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