Federer Does it All

Roger Federer continued his magical march through the field on Sunday with a smooth ride past 4^th seeded Novak Djokovic.  The 7-6 (3), 7-5, 705 triumph featured spectacular shot making and a between the legs winner in the last game.  On more than one occasion, Djokovic was left shaking his head in awe of his opponent’s mastery.

Federer had one more ace than Djokovic and hit an astounding 49 winners.  Many shots left the Serb flat footed.  It seems that Federer forces opponents to play his game, at which he is virtually unbeatable.

Djokovic played as well as he could and well enough to beat most other tour players.  As he always does in the big moments, the Swiss star turned it up one notch and is clearly a level above the 4^th seed.

Del Potro Shocks Nadal

In a overpowering display of missile like serves and rocket like ground strokes, Argentina’s Juan martin Del Potro moved to the head of the class in the lower bracket.  The 6’9” 20-year old looks poised to throw an awesome array of talent and force at the top seeded Federer in the finals.

Del Potro stormed through 3^rd seeded Rafa Nadal in a match that was never in doubt.  His 135 mph serve kept Nadal deep off the court and on the defensive in the 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 drubbing.  It was Nadal’s worst defeat since rising to the top of the tour rankings earlier this season.

Del Potro will need to sustain the momentum and bring his A game on Monday at 4:00 p.m. EST.  The lanky 6^th seed broke Nadal 6 times in the 1 hour 45 minute match.  As predicted before the tournament, Del Potro has been the tour’s hottest player this summer and we expect the upset today.

There has been no doubt who the most fierce competitor in the women’s game has been. After all, Serena Williams has won 11 Grand Slam Singles titles. As television commentators have made clear throughout this event, one does not accomplish that by beating one’s self or playing beyond one’s self.

Serena Williams had not made more than $26 million on the tour by beating herself. Serena Williams did not win those 11 Grand Slam titles by playing beyond herself. On Saturday, she did both.

Veteran Kim Clijsters, thought retired just months ago, came all the way back Saturday evening. She did the unthinkable. She tamed Serena Williams. She made the game’s biggest star appear vulnerable. Kim Clijsters showed all the poise, power and grace that it takes to beat the youngest Williams sister. Kim allowed Serena no quarter in hard fought battle of two superstars.

In a convincing win, Clijsters had more game than Serena expected or likes. The defending U.S. Open champ could not bully or play her way past the Belgium star.

The match ended in remarkable fashion to the stunned disappointment of a less than full Flushing Meadows, Arthur Ashe Stadium. After losing the first set 4-6, Williams was serving at 5-6, 15-30 when the service line judge called a stunning foot fault on the second serve. It was the second foot fault of the match called against the American star, who broke her racquet after the first. The score would have been 15-40 but Williams persisted and appeared to threaten the line judge.

The diminutive line judge appealed to the chair umpire who summoned tournament officials. Clijsters was awarded the next point and the match was over.

When the officials made their decision, Williams dropped her racquet and walked to the victor for a final handshake before leaving the court. The confused crowd never really acknowledged Clijsters dominant performance.

And in this match, on this day, Kim Clijsters was the better player. Serena Williams knew it and did not like it. In fact, Kim put Serena in the uncomfortable position the defending champion has often put lesser players.

Clijsters is a former number one who is only in the event due to a wild card award. Kim won the 2005 U.S. Open for her only Grand Slam title. After having a child nine months ago, Clijsters has re-tuned her game and appears to be playing with newfound balance and focus.

Serena Williams was quoted by the Associated Press as saying to the line judge; “If I could, I would take this (expletive deleted) ball and stick it down your (expletive deleted) throat and kill you.”

In post match interviews, Williams acknowledge the inappropriateness of her conduct. The game has been good to Serena Williams. Her interview was poised and calm. She was complimentary of Clijsters’s play.

The defending champ is not used to players rising to the occasion in big moments and Clijsters was definitely in the moment. She played beautiful tennis, winning 70 points to 57 points for Williams. She seemed likely to win the match before the abrupt ending. Clijsters was winning the battle of the serves, landing 69% of her first serves compared to 55% of Serena’s.

Williams had an unusually high 31 unforced errors compared to 18 for the winner. Clijsters’ win marks the first time a wild card entry has reached the finals where she will play Danish star Caroline Woznicaki. Clijsters will be a heavy favorite to claim her second major title. The finals will take place on Sunday. Weather is expected to be good.

As expected, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal appear to be on a Sunday afternoon collision course in the finals of the 2009 U.S. Open. But, hold it! Don’t forget that we picked impressive Juan Martin Del Potro to upset the apple cart and escape the U.S. with the Open Cup in his hands. And, you know what? We still like his chances.

On Tuesday, the possibility of a Del Potro-Nadal semi-final pairing took another exciting step forward. Rafa did his thing against impressive French fireballer Gael Monfils in an evening match that had enthralled spectators gasping for air. Nadal’s four set 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 triumph sported two of the fleetest players to grace the game.

In a display of pure athleticism, it would be hard to top this matchup. Rafa Nadal did not have time to show effects from his recent knee or abdominal issues. Monfils came out fast and asserted his will in the opening set. But, as usual, Nadal wears on opponents. He settled to the pace and gradually took charge of the match. The two showmen were most entertaining and provided a series of thrillingly deft shots.

Nadal will face Fernando Gonzalez who surprised the other great French player Jo Wilfried Tsonga with a stirring 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory. Gonzalez showed Tsonga no quarter and had answers for Tsonga’s power game. Solid groundstrokes paved the way for the upset. Gonzalez will square off with Nadal on Thursday but it seems unlikely, the Chilean can stay with the hard charging Spaniard.

Perhaps the most disappointing match of the day was a lackluster effort put forth by number two seed, Scotsman Andy Murray. Wearing his best “deer-in-the-headlights” blank look, Murray put on a Safina-like performance that should complete his over-ranked resume. In a pitiful semblance of the play that fans expect from a quality player, Murray’s tennis career seems headed in the wrong direction. Perhaps, a visit to the friendly sports shrink would help?

A triumphant 16th seed, Croatian Marin Cilic, seemed as bewildered as the crowd. He blew past the listless red-head in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in an embarrassing performance for which the U.S. Open should refund the admission price. At least Murray is done for this year. He needs a break and a new sense of commitment.

Tonight the top-seeded Federer will be center stage against a familiar opponent, Sweden’s Robin Soderling. Soderling will certainly give it his all, but Roger has the answers for Soderling’s big serve. Nonetheless, Soderling has had a strong year.

In the match of the day, Fernando Verdasco will be looking to upset 4th seed Novak Djokovic in a late afternoon pairing. Verdasco and Djokovic have both been on their games so fans expect a battle royal. After the Murray fiasco, a hotly contested match would be a welcome site.

As Nadal and Monfils played late in the night, the cameras shifted briefly to an outside court where a taped Melanie Oudin was practicing for her underdog performance against hot Dane Caroline Wozniacki. The young American has been on a constant media watch and fans wonder how she can maintain her focus.

After her triumph over Italian Flavia Pennetta, Serena Williams told interviewers she was caught up in the Melanie watch and would be cheering for the rising start this evening. Serena will go against Kim Clijsters tomorrow in a stern test against the woman who blasted her sister.

Melanie Oudin! Georgia peach! 5’ 6” might be stretching it. She’s is short, she is square, she is cute as a button and packed with energy. On Thursday before a filled Arthur Ashe Stadium, little Melanie Oudin hoisted the youth of American tennis on her capable shoulders and a mesmerized nation across the finish line… in style.

There was no way Melanie Oudin could compete with the hottest player on the women’s professional tennis tour. No way! The problem is noone told the determined Georgia Peach that she could not beat 4th seeded 5’11” Russian glamour girl Elena Dementieva. So, just as she has done all her life, she put on her little tennis outfit, strapped up her right leg brace and carried her game and big heart onto Center Court.

As expected, Elena came out smoking and broke Melanie’s serve right out of the gate. Elena held to go up 2-0 and the crowd sensed it would be a quick out for the young blonde. But, suddenly balls that should have been outright winners were coming back. Dementieva was forced to hit two and three and sometimes even four more shots than expected. It was aggravating, really.

Elena was not used to this. Oudin became a human backboard. Everything was retrievable. Drop shots, down the line stunners, cross-court drives and quality serves that should have been aces all kept coming back. This just does not happen to players of Elena’s stature. Elena Dementieva knows when she has struck a winner. But, all bets were off as the frisky upstart simply chased down every ball.

Not only was she retrieving everything, Melanie was showing a deft touch and holding her court position. She never backed off the baseline. She was making impossible half court volleys and converting Dementieva drop shots to power drives past her outstretched opponent. Melanie Oudin rose to the occasion, seized the moment and captured the imagination of millions of tennis fans around the world.

The stunning win brought back memories of the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team’s unbelievable win over the Soviet Union. Such was the depth of this upset. Hey, Melanie Oudin is a high school senior. Elena Dementieva has been playing professional tennis since 1999 when Melanie was 7 years old!

Many tennis experts, including myself, picked the much-improved Russian to upset Serena Williams and win the tournament. Now, those same experts are wondering if New Jersey native, 20 year old Christina McHale, could ever knock of the other 5’11” Russian superstar, Maria Sharapova.

About halfway through the second set, Oudin began to take the play to Elena. Melanie kept forcing the action, pressing shots. She committed 44 unforced errors but hit a whopping 30 outright winners. The unseeded American won 104 points to Dementieva’s 100.

After dropping the first set 5-7, Oudin took charge with two breaks in set two and held on for a 6-4 win. In the third set, she broke Dementieva out of the starting blocks and never looked back winning 6-3.

Other players on the verge of an upset have shown nerves. Even Dementieva who had Serena on the ropes at Wimbledon, cracked under the pressure. Oudin showed no fear. She never hesitated. She looked victory in the eye and kept going for it until she had it.

If there was ever any doubt that Melanie Oudin was a fierce competitor, forget it. Ms. Oudin has the calm determination of an experienced gunfighter. If you have any doubts, ask the number four seed, who will be watching the rest of the U.S. Open on a television set.

Way to go, Melanie Oudin! Rest up. They will be gunning for you now, kiddo.

When Elena Dementieva wins her first Grand Slam Championship at the 2009 US Open, the 11-year tour veteran will finally shake that “best player to have never won a major” label. In a sport that is beginning to look like a Russian talent show, Elena Dementieva is the best of the lot.

With more than $12 million in career earnings, the 5’11” 27-year old blonde beauty need not make excuses or offer an assortment of sob stories as some of her more pampered teammates have chosen to do. That is not Elena’s style. Elena Dementieva takes her graceful game to the court, puts out 100% every time and always walks away with her head held high. Elena Dementieva has nothing about which to be ashamed.

Tennis has been good for Elena and Elena has been good for tennis. The slender bombshell has won 449 professional singles matches. She has won 50 of those matches in 2009 while losing just 13 times. In the last five Grand Slam Tournaments, Elena has reached the semifinals four times.

Neither top seed laughingstock Dinara Safina, second seeded Serena Williams or third seeded Venus Williams can boast such a consistent Grand Slam record over the past two years. Elena has not always been in her best playing form, working her way through a series of nagging injuries. However, Elena finds ways to win.

At Wimbledon this year, Elena took her A game right to Serena Williams, offering the eventual champion all she could handle in a stirring three set match. The semifinal battle was far and away the most exciting match of the London tournament.

Dementieva showed a return to form in England. Her foot speed and groundstrokes were exquisite. What thrilled Elena’s fans most was her very competitive service game, long deemed her Achilles heel. With her newfound velocity has come an increased confidence and as Serena will attest, a confident Elena is a very dangerous contender.

Claiming her first Grand Slam title will not be easy. The Dementieva quarterfinal bracket is the most difficult in the Open. Likely pairings will include a second round tussle with American teen sensation Melanie Oudin, a quarterfinalist and surprise dominator of the 5th seeded Jankovic in London. Oudin’s serve is a problem but she can expect boisterous support from the U.S. crowds.

A likely third round matchup will be against 29th seed and another crowd favorite Maria Sharapova. Russia will have two of its most notable stars on the court for that battle. Maria has won two Grand Slams and the 2006 Open. Now, that is a third round match to remember! The tall, beautiful blondes will provide plenty of firepower in the best third round paring of the event.

The most likely 5th round match will feature yet another Russian top seed, Nadia Petrova. 2009 has been a good year for Petrova. With 439 career wins and no fear of anyone, Nadia can play with anyone.

In the quarters, Elena can look forward to a colossal pairing with still one more Russian, 6th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. Svetlana’s 2009 resume shows 31 wins, 11 losses and 1 Grand Slam earned the hard way, in Paris. Kuznetsova will have her own challenges with the likes of Carla Navarro Suarez, Agnes Szavay, Sorana Cirstea and Caroline Wozniacki in her bracket, but it pales in comparison to Elena’s road.

After Elena disposes of Svetlana, the biggest Russian of them all, top seed Dinara Safina, might be waiting in the semis. Safina will not go quietly, but she will go. Safina’s only severe challenge might come from the unpredictable but always game Ana Ivanovic. Neither player is up to Dementieva’s form. Elena may actually draw a sigh or relief at the semi pairing because the way the deck is stacked, it will be an imposing journey past two major champions just to get there.

But, that is the way it is in professional tennis. And, it is the way a woman about to claim her first US. Open and her first Grand Slam should want it to be. All hail, Elena Dementieva, a player who just keeps getting better and better.