Yesterday, the 2009 version of the U.S. Open provided some stunning outcomes. Depending on your rooting interest, some were good and some were bad.
For those in the U.S. that were hoping for Andy Roddick capturing his second major, you'll be waiting. Roddick dropped a five setter to fellow American John Isner as Isner's imposing serve and 38 aces took out the 5th-seeded Roddick: 7-6 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6 (5). With the victory Isner advances to the fourth round of a major for the first time ever. It also marked the first major upset in the men's draw. Isner remarked:
"It's obviously, hands down, the biggest win of my career. Nothing even compares. To do it at the stage I did it on is pretty spectacular. Maybe it will sink in a little bit more tomorrow," said Isner. "But I know I can really do some damage here. So I'm not satisfied just yet."Isner will have that day to let it sink in.
The upsets continued with the women's top-seeded Dinara Safina dropping her match in a third set tiebreak. Unseeded Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic took down the #1, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5).
The knock on Safina has been her mental game. That couldn't have been more evident as Safina threw away three match points in the third and final set. But that's where the finger pointing began.Safina blamed herself for her lack of execution. What "confused" her was that her match was moved from Arthur Ashe Stadium to the smaller Louis Armstrong venue. Originally, the Safina-Kvitova match was the first match of the night session. The Tommy Robredo-James Blake match was to follow. The afternoon session ran long and Safina's match was moved instead of the Robredo-Blake match. The organizer wanted to have both matches played at the same time and Safina felt disrespected.
"From my side, I can say, I'm No. 1 player in the world, why did they move me?" Safina said.She elaborated a bit more.
"They just told us, 'We're switching you to Armstrong.' And basically that's it," Safina said. "And I think it's very unfair."Unfair or not, Safina must once again answer questions about why she's number one and has yet to win a major.
But the day's highlight came from the Maria Sharapova-Melanie Oudin match. Oudin had beaten #4 seed Elena Dementieva in the previous round in order to get the shot at Sharapova. And it was a shot heard around the venue.
We were treated to another three set match with Oudin emerging as the victor, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. If you watched the third set, it seemed that neither Oudin nor Sharapova wanted to hold serve. Coming into the match, Sharapova led the circuit in double faults per match with 8.2. That's two games a match she was giving her opponent. The double faults bit Sharapova 21 times and led to her first week dismissal.The 17-year-old from Marietta, Georgia spoke after the match.
"I try to pretend that it's not, like, Arthur Ashe Stadium, playing Maria Sharapova. I try to just pretend it's any other match -- even just practicing. Sometimes I tell myself I'm just practicing at my academy at home, and I'm just playing one of my friends," Oudin said. "So it's not a big deal."Not a big deal? You just finished winning a match on the largest stage you've ever been on and it's no big deal? Now that I think of it, keep that thought process, Melanie. After all, you are the #3 rated American behind the Wiliiams sisters.
Before I forget. I have a bit of good news for Andy Roddick. Nebraska won, 49-3. We're looking for good things down under in 2010.
