Clijsters advances to US Open final...in a bizarre way

Kim Clijsters is back. She's back in the U.S. Open finals and it occurred in a peculiar way.

While serving at 5-6, 15-30, Serena Williams was called for a foot fault. That foot fault made the game score 15-40, and Williams was obviously distraught over the call. It's pretty odd to see that call at that stage of a match. But instead of showing her usual calm demeanor, Williams decided to shout at the line judge. The world's #2 player and tourney's #2 seed said something along these lines:

“If I could, I would take this … ball and shove it down your … throat and kill you.”

 Apparently that judge felt threatened by Williams' statement. That statement was a little brash, to say the least. Normally, this "exhibit" would result in a conduct warning. But Serena had already been issued such a warning after the first set for "abusing her racket". The next step, awarding a point to her opponent. And that's exactly what was done. Clijsters was awarded a point and giving her the game...and the match.

But don't let those events from last night cloud what Clijsters has done. With her win last night, Clijsters has gone from wild card entry to U.S. Open finalist. Along the way, she has defeated four seeds, #14 Marion Bartoli, #3 Venus Williams, #18 Li Na, and #2 Serena. She will have to go up against another seed in #9 Caroline Wozniacki to gain her second U.S. Open title.

And she could be favored to do just that. Beating five seeds would be such an incredible run.

Clijsters has given credit to Lindsey Davenport for helping her prepare for life on the courts as a parent. Clijsters has an 18 month old daughter. I hope Davenport told her of the "terrible twos".

Hey Kim, they are just around the corner.

Oudin to quarters

Remember, it's not a big deal. You just act like your hitting with your sister. That's all. That's a bit of what American Melanie Oudin sounded like after she defeated Maria Sharapova two matches ago.

Oudin continued one of the greatest runs posted by an American teen since Serena Williams won the 1999 U.S. Open by taking down yet another seeded Russian. This time it was #13 seed Nadia Pretrova's turn to lose a three set match to Oudin, 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3. Oudin, for the third straight match, lost the first set.

"I don't actually mean to lose the first set," explained a smiling Oudin, 17-4 this season in three-setters. "I sometimes just start off slowly, I guess. Maybe I'm a little nervous."

Next for Oudin will be #9 seed Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark. Wozniacki also had to go three sets also to defeat #6 seed and two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3). Both Wozniacki and Oudin are first timers reaching this point in a Grand Slam. Wozniacki knows she's up against it going into her quarterfinal match with Oudin.

"Hopefully," Wozniacki said, "someone from the crowd will cheer for me."

There will be some from the crowd cheering for you, Caroline...anyone you invite to be there. Eveyone else will be cheering for Oudin. The winner will also get a first semifinal match in a major. Wozniacki has been there in regular tournaments, but not in Slams. Oudin, never. Oudin was ranked #221 last year, and even if she doesn't win another match, she will be ranked no lower than #45.

The "legend" of Oudin continues to grow. She must now have security escort her around the tourney's facilities. She must make better use of her time due to requests and meetings. Some meetings are for possible endosement deals. And we've all seen her specially made Adidas shoes with "Believe" by the heel. Those shoes just add even more to her story. And Oudin does believe. And we do as we follow her with every swing of her racket.

Even at 5' 6", Melanie Oudin is now larger than life.

Top names out at US Open

Before eveyone gets too carried away with the beginning of the college football season (I'm guilty, too.), let's not forget the activities in New York.

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.

Dent provides inspiration at US Open

It didn't start as a scheduled night match. It just ended that way. American Taylor Dent outlasted Spain's Ivan Navarro, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(1), 5-7, 7-6(9). The fact that both players were out on the Grandstand court for over four hours is not the most amazing aspect of their match.

Not even close. The mere fact that Taylor Dent was even on a tennis court is.

During a span from May 2006 to September 2007, Dent underwent three surgeries on his ailing back. So much damage had been done from all the tennis Dent had played over the years. Broken vertebra on two sides of his lower back and exposed nerves required the three delicate procedures. If not, Dent was potentially looking at an extreme prognosis of life in a wheelchair. Dent was even told he wouldn't play tennis again. But the healing progressed and Dent was given a new lease on his once promising career.

He had already overcome so much, and on Friday night, Dent had to overcome a gutty opponent and a grueling match. Dent's victory delighted all in attendance. After his victory, Dent grasped the mic from the umpire's chair and proclaimed to those in attendance that they were "incredible". Then Dent proceeded to take a "victory lap" around the court.

Up next for Dent, #2 seed Andy Murray. You can bet the "home crowd" will be in his corner. This is Dent's first US Open since 2005. By the looks of it, it will not be his last.

You see, the New York crowd loves an underdog.

U.S. Open and NFL: anti-Twitter?

With the U.S. Open beginning this past Monday and the NFL regular season just around the corner, both tennis and football have taken steps in the "anti-social website" direction. So, you won't be getting tweets from Andy Roddick (an outspoken "member" of the anti-Twitter policy). Chad Ochocinco and T.O. won't be tweeting either, at least for awhile, on gameday.

In New York, site of the U.S. Open, the International Tennis Foundation (ITF) instructed players to not tweet anything that could be deemed as "sensative material". That material could be about themselves, an opponent, even weather conditions. This rule does not only apply to players, but it also applies to their coaches, agent, families and anyone associated with the tournament.

The ITF's official stance is as follows:

"Tennis's governing bodies felt that it was appropriate to issue these guidelines as a precaution in light of the increased use of the various social networking sites by players," Jeff Rees, director of the ITF's Tennis Integrity Unit.

Roddick posted on his Twitter account his take on the ruling:

"i think its lame the US Open is trying to regulate our tweeting.. i understand the on-court issue but not sure they can tell us if we cant do it on our own time.... we'll see"

"i definitely respect the rule about inside info and on court, but u would seriously have to be a moron to send "inside info" through a tweet ... not very subtle/smart ..... come on"

Roddick makes excellent points in showing his displeasure. Who would give that "inside info"? Anyone wanting to make an extra buck, that's who. And that's unfortunate. But that's exactly why the rule is in place.

The NFL has taken a stricter approach to social websites and their use before, during, and after games. On gameday, coaches, team personnel, anyone "representing" a player, and media must cease using any social networking site (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) 90 minutes prior to gametime. Those same individuals will not be able to resume using those same sites until after all postgame activities are deemed finished.

The rule is intended to enforce a long standing policy of "prohibiting play-by-play description" of games in progress. In addition, there could be a fear that reporting such activity might be constituted as gaining an advantage over another player and/or team.


Why the harsh rules? It is possible that the NFL is using Chad Ochocinco as the poster boy of the rule. Ochocinco publicly stated (on a chat via Ustream) that he would tweet during a game which could challange the enforcement of the new rule. The league will no doubt monitor player accounts for any activity. But what if a player were to create a dummy account? How would the league know beyond a doubt that any player is associated with it? I'm sure that will be tested as well.

It's a shame that we won't be able to catch a glimpse of what athletes are thinking during play, but I can understand why the ITF and NFL have instituted such policies.

But no tweets from Chad Ochocinco? Child, please.