Montanes and Monfils win titles

At the BCR Romania Open in Bucharest, fifth seeded Albert Montanes had a tough day at the office against third seeded Juan Monaco, but came up with his best to beat the Argentine with a score of 76(2) 76(6) to capture his second title of the season.

Gael Monfils meanwhile snapped a four year title drought by capturing the Open de Moselle title against Philipp Kohlschreiber. The Frenchman squeezed past in the first set to take it in a tiebreak, but then lost the second set only to recoup and win the match with a score of 76(1) 36 62.

Next week it's the Thailand Open, and Rafael Nadal has withdrawn to treat his abdominal injury.

Federer withdraws from Asian events

Roger Federer has decided that he will not play the upcoming Masters event in Shanghai and the Japan Open because he feels he needs to rest his body more. He will be playing the Basel tournament which comes after the Shanghai Masters. He has helped Switzerland in the Davis Cup tie against Italy by winning both his rubbers and getting his country to the World Group next year.

Results for September 24, 2009

BCR Romania Open

Singles - Second Round
[3] J Monaco (ARG) d [Q] P Riba (ESP) 64 62
S Greul (GER) d [6] D Koellerer (AUT) 61 64
[8] P Cuevas (URU) d P Luczak (AUS) 75 64
M Gonzalez (ARG) d O Hernandez (ESP) 75 36 61

Doubles - Quarter-finals
[1] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d D Koellerer (AUT) / J Levinsky (CZE) 63 64
[2] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) d [Alt] F Gil (POR) / D Munoz-De La Nava 60 63
[3] J Brunstrom (SWE) / J Rojer (AHO) d [WC] M Copil (ROU) / H Tecau (ROU) 64 67(7) 10-8
[4] P Cuevas (URU) / M Granollers (ESP) d A Pavel (ROU) / G Trifu (ROU) 75 60

Open de Moselle

Singles - Second Round
[1] G Monfils (FRA) d [WC] S Grosjean (FRA) 61 61
[4] P Petzschner (GER) d [WC] M Llodra (FRA) 76(3) 63
J Tipsarevic (SRB) d [8] I Ljubicic (CRO) 64 76(3)
R Gasquet (FRA) d C Rochus (BEL) 75 46 62

Doubles - Quarter-finals
R Schuettler (GER) / M Zverev (GER) d P Marx (GER) / B Phau (GER) 62 62
P Kohlschreiber (GER) / P Petzschner (GER) d [2] R Hutchins (GBR) / J Kerr (AUS) 75 67(5) 10-7
C Fleming (GBR) / K Skupski (GBR) d [3] C Kas (GER) / R Wassen (NED) 63 36 11-9

Doubles - First Round
[WC] T Ascione (FRA) / M Gicquel (FRA) d Y Lu (TPE) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) 76(3) 26 10-7

Results for September 23, 2009

BCR Open Romania

Singles - Second Round
F Fognini (ITA) d [2] N Almagro (ESP) 64 76(3)
[5] A Montanes (ESP) d M Granollers (ESP) 61 63
R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) d [WC] M Copil (ROU) 63 67(3) 64
[Q] S Ventura (ESP) d A Martin (ESP) 45 ret. (left leg)

Singles - First Round
[8] P Cuevas (URU) d [WC] A Pavel (ROU) 63 76(2)
S Greul (GER) d S Darcis (BEL) 75 63

Doubles - First Round
[1] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d [WC] A Cruciat (ROU) / P Luncanu (ROU) 76(2) 63
[4] P Cuevas (URU) / M Granollers (ESP) d L Friedl (CZE) / D Vemic (SRB) 60 76(8)
[Alt] F Gil (POR) / D Munoz-De la Nava (ESP) d M Kohlmann (GER) / A Peya (AUT) 63 62
[WC] M Copil (ROU) / H Tecau (ROU) d O Hernandez (ESP) / A Montanes (ESP) 61 62
A Pavel (ROU) / G Trifu (ROU) d R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) / S Ventura (ESP) 76(1) 62

Open de Moselle

Singles - Second Round
[2] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d B Phau (GER) 46 63 62
[3] P Mathieu (FRA) d M Gicquel (FRA) 76(5) 64
[7] A Beck (GER) d [Q] T Ascione (FRA) 62 64
E Korolev (RUS) d D Istomin (UZB) 36 75 76(2)

Singles - First Round
[WC] M Llodra (FRA) d M Zverev (GER) 46 63 63
[WC] S Grosjean (FRA) d J Nieminen (FIN) 76(1) 75

Doubles - First Round
[1] A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA) d R Bopanna (IND) / J Nieminen (FIN) w/o (Nieminen - illness)
[3] C Kas (GER) / R Wassen (NED) d Y Allegro (SUI) / D Martin (USA) 63 67(4) 10-5
C Fleming (GBR) / K Skupski (GBR) d F Moser (GER) / C Rochus (BEL) 76(2) 61
A Beck (GER) / M Berrer (GER) vs P Kohlschreiber (GER) / P Petzschner (GER)

Spain and Czech Republic into Davis Cup 2009 final

Both Spain and Czech Republic got to the final of this year's Davis Cup after both winning 3-0, Spain winning against Israel and Czech Republic to Croatia. Spain reached their fifth final in 10 years and will host Czech Republic in December.

Good luck to both nations in the final!

Del Potro returns home as a hero

Juan Martin del Potro came back to his hometown of Tandil, Argentina a couple of days ago and was greeted as a national hero. He paraded the streets on top of a fire engine and was watched by about 40,000 people. He visited his local tennis club in Tandil and then received the keys to the town. After winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open against Roger Federer, Del Potro was invited to the Today Show and Live with Regis and Kelly the next morning. He is the third Argentine in history to win the US Open crown after Guillermo Vilas and Gabriela Sabatini. The victory also secured his place at the year-ending Tour finals in London.

"I owe this to Tandil," he said from the balcony of the municipal palace.

"I don't want to cry but thank all of you - the ones that were cold waiting on the streets, the ones that ran along the route just to greet me."

Del Potro dethrones King of New York

Juan Martin del Potro has achieved a marvelous feat today as he became the second Argentine to win the US Open crown. The Argentine lost the first set 63 to the 5 time defending champ Roger Federer but then went on a roll to make it a five set battle and win with a score of 36 76(5) 46 76(4) 62. Federer surprisingly struggled with his serve, unleashing a total of 11 double faults but Del Potro kept on wowing with his killer forehand and serve, to win his first Grand Slam title. He has dethroned Federer after the Swiss player held a 41 match winning streak and counted 2,200 days since his last US Open loss.

Del Potro is now the fifth youngest US Open winner in the Open Era, and the tallest Grand Slam winner at 6'6"(198 cm).

Juan Martin is just 20 years old!

That is some achievement, and a great way to get the victory!

Federer will take on Del Potro in final

Roger Federer has reached his sixth final in a row at the US Open today as he outmatched Novak Djokovic with a score of 76(3) 75 75. The Swiss Maestro made an incredible shot just a point away from match point that had the crowd standing in applause before he hit a forehand winner to secure his place in the finals. He will face Juan Martin del Potro who absolutely brushed aside Rafael Nadal for his first berth at a Grand Slam, with a score of 62 62 62.

Good luck to both in the final tomorrow!

Another halted day of play

The men's singles schedule was once again pushed back a day, but Rafael Nadal got to finish his match against Fernando Gonzalez with a score of 76(4) 76(2) 60.

Nadal vs Del Potro will take place first on Arthur Ashe Stadium tomorrow, while Federer vs Djokovic will take place afterwards.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that it won't rain tomorrow!

Rainy day in New York: Update

The US Open organizers are sorry to report that today's schedule of play has been cancelled because of more rain coming in. The matches are scheduled to resume tomorrow with Nadal and Gonzalez still having to finish their quarterfinal match. However, Saturday's weather forecast for New York is not looking so good as more rain is expected.

Stay tuned for more news!

Rainy day in New York

After Juan Martin del Potro won his match against Marin Cilic with a score of 46 63 62 61 yesterday and Rafael Nadal led Fernando Gonzalez 76 66 in the night session after having a rain delay. But the second rain delay of the match could not get them to come out again later, so they are now scheduled to play today. New York though has stormy weather at the moment and no matches have started yet, so it is a question of when the tournament will be able to finish.

Stay tuned for updates on the weather in NY!

Federer and Djokovic make first semi

Novak Djokovic played Fernando Verdasco today, and the match was full of ups and downs. The first set Djokovic took in a closely fought tiebreak, but in the second set Verdasco zoomed to take it 61. The third set saw Djokovic just climb ahead of Verdasco, and the fifth set saw Verdasco taking a medical time out at least twice for his abdominal muscle and not playing so well either because of the slight injury. Djokovic then capitalised to take the match with a score of 76(2) 16 75 62 and make it to the semis for the third straight year at the US Open.

Roger Federer was on for the night session against his opponent in the French Open final, Robin Soderling. Federer took the first two sets with no problems, Soderling got him to fight for his victory when he won the fourth set on a tiebreaker after Federer led 4-0 in the tiebreak. The fourth set was another tiebreak, but this time Federer didn't let Soderling get to the fifth set and secured another semifinal appearance with a score of 60 63 67(6) 76(6).

Results for September 8, 2009

Singles - Fourth Round
[16] M Cilic (CRO) d [2] A Murray (GBR) 75 62 62
[3] R Nadal (ESP) d [13] G Monfils (FRA) 67(3) 63 61 63
[6] J del Potro (ARG) d [24] J Ferrero (ESP) 63 63 63
[11] F Gonzalez (CHI) d [7] J Tsonga (FRA) 36 63 76(3) 64

Doubles - Quarter-finals
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d C Ball (AUS) / C Guccione (AUS) 64 76(2)
[5] M Mirnyi (BLR) / A Ram (ISR) d [2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) 67(4) 64 60
[3] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) d I Ljubicic (CRO) / M Llodra (FRA) 64 46 76(4)
[4] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) d [7] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) 63 57 64

Results for September 7, 2009

Singles - Fourth Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d [14] T Robredo (ESP) 75 62 62
[12] R Soderling (SWE) d [8] N Davydenko (RUS) 75 36 62 ret. (left thigh)
[10] F Verdasco (ESP) d J Isner (USA) 46 64 64 64
[4] N Djokovic (SRB) d [15] R Stepanek (CZE) 61 63 63

Doubles - Third Round
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d R Kendrick (USA) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) 62 57 64
[3] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) d Y Lu (TPE) / D Sela (ISR) 64 64
[4] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) d J Knowle (AUT) / J Melzer (AUT) 75 64
C Ball (AUS) / C Guccione (AUS) d L Friedl (CZE) / J Levinsky (CZE) 62 61

Federer dismisses Robredo

Roger Federer was in top form once again as he beaten Tommy Robredo in straight sets. The first set was a bit of a warm-up for Federer but the next two were all business as Roger got to the quarterfinals with a score of 75 62 62. Federer stays unbeaten at the US Open. Novak Djokovic also had the same luck against Radek Stepanek. Novak was sharp and focused from the start and didn't give Stepanek any chances to pressure him as he beat him with a score of 61 63 63.

Other winners include Robin Soderling who won after Nikolay Davydenko had to retire from a left thigh injury, and Fernando Verdasco who beat the last American in the draw John Isner.

Results for September 6, 2009

Singles - Third Round
[2] A Murray (GBR) d [WC] T Dent (USA) 63 62 62
[3] R Nadal (ESP) d [32] N Almagro (ESP) 75 64 64
[6] J del Potro (ARG) d D Koellerer (AUT) 61 36 63 63
[7] J Tsonga (FRA) d J Benneteau (FRA) 76(4) 62 64
[24] J Ferrero (ESP) d [9] G Simon (FRA) 16 64 76(5) 10 ret.
[11] F Gonzalez (CHI) d [17] T Berdych (CZE) 75 64 64
[13] G Monfils (FRA) d J Acasuso (ARG) 63 64 10 ret.
[16] M Cilic (CRO) d D Istomin (UZB) 61 64 63

Doubles - Third Round
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) / O Rochus (BEL) 75 63
[5] M Mirnyi (BLR) / A Ram (ISR) d S Bolelli (ITA) / A Seppi (ITA) 76(5) 67(8) 62
[7] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) d [11] M Damm (CZE) / R Lindstedt (SWE) 67(4) 76(2) 76(5)
I Ljubicic (CRO) / M Llodra (FRA) d J Chela (ARG) / P Cuevas (URU) 75 26 63

Murray and Nadal Labour their way to quarters

Andy Murray showed a classy performance against American Taylor Dent tonight as he won in straight sets. Dent has a mostly serve and volley game and Murray didn't expect him to be so into it, so he sometimes got down on himself but found ways to get around it and claim the quarterfinal spot with a score of 63 62 62.

Rafael Nadal didn't have a lot of trouble against Nicolas Almagro either as he also beat him in straight sets. Nadal received some treatment to his abdominal muscle and Almagro received treatment to his back and the crowd were abit worried about the players' performance. Though both players exchanged breaks of serve quite a lot of times in the match, Nadal was the one who picked up his game in the important moments to win the match with a score of 75 64 64.

Gilles Simon retired from his match against former US Open finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero and Juan Martin del Potro also got his ticket to the quarters.

It was a great Labour's Day weekend and looking forward to Labour Day action tomorrow!

Results for September 5, 2009

Singles - Third Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d [31] L Hewitt (AUS) 46 63 75 64
[4] N Djokovic (SRB) d [Q] J Witten (USA) 67(2) 63 76(2) 64
[8] N Davydenko (RUS) d [Q] M Chiudinelli (SUI) 64 75 75
[10] F Verdasco (ESP) d [20] T Haas (GER) 36 75 76(8) 16 64
[12] R Soderling (SWE) d [22] S Querrey (USA) 62 75 67(8) 61
[15] R Stepanek (CZE) d [23] P Kohlschreiber (GER) 46 62 63 63
J Isner (USA) d [5] A Roddick (USA) 76(3) 63 36 57 76(5)
[21] J Blake (USA) vs [14] T Robredo (ESP)

Doubles - Second Round
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d J Nieminen (FIN) / A Qureshi (PAK) 76(5) 63
[3] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) d J Levine (USA) / R Sweeting (USA) 75 62
[4] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) d N Almagro (ESP) / R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 62 63
J Chela (ARG) / P Cuevas (URU) d [8] B Soares (BRA) / K Ullyett (ZIM) 16 63 63
S Bolelli (ITA) / A Seppi (ITA) d [10] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) 76(3) 67(5) 62
J Knowle (AUT) / J Melzer (AUT) d [16] M Melo (BRA) / A Sa (BRA) 57 64 64
L Friedl (CZE) / J Levinsky (CZE) d M Kohlmann (GER) / R Wassen (NED) 76(3) 46 61
C Ball (AUS) / C Guccione (AUS) d R Harrison (USA) / K Van't Hof (USA) 67(5) 75 62

Federer survives Hewitt scare; Isner knocks out Roddick

Roger Federer had a little bit of trouble playing against former world number one and Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt as he lost the first set 64. The next three sets Federer made a few changes to his game plan and eventually won it in four although he was far from his best today. The score was 46 63 75 64 and Federer will head to the fourth round where he will play either James Blake or Tommy Robredo.

Andy Roddick experienced one of his worst defeats at the US Open today as he was defeated by another American John Isner. The match was a five setter and Isner took his opportunity in the last set tiebreak when he won it 7-5. It was one of Isner's best wins to date and he will play Fernando Verdasco who beat Tommy Haas in a five setter as well.

Other winners today were Novak Djokovic who beat American breakthrough 26 year-old Jesse Witten in four sets, Nikolay Davydenko and Robin Soderling.

Results for September 4, 2009

Singles - Second Round
[2] A Murray (GBR) d P Capdeville (CHI) 62 36 60 62
[3] R Nadal (ESP) d N Kiefer (GER) 60 36 63 64
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) d J Melzer (AUT) 76(8) 63 63
[7] J Tsonga (FRA) d J Nieminen (FIN) 75 63 64
[9] G Simon (FRA) d T Bellucci (BRA) 63 62 64
[11] F Gonzalez (CHI) d J Ouanna (FRA) 64 67(5) 63 64
[13] G Monfils (FRA) d A Beck (GER) 63 75 63
[16] M Cilic (CRO) d J Levine (USA) 46 26 60 63 60
[17] T Berdych (CZE) d H Zeballos (ARG) 63 67(3) 76(2) 62
J Acasuso (ARG) d [18] D Ferrer (ESP) 63 36 16 63 62
[24] J Ferrero (ESP) d P Petzschner (GER) 16 36 64 62 64
J Benneteau (FRA) d [30] V Troicki (SRB) 61 36 61 60
[32] N Almagro (ESP) d R Ginepri (USA) 67(9) 62 63 46 64
T Dent (USA) d I Navarro (ESP) 64 57 67(1) 75 76(9)
D Istomin (UZB) d N Lapentti (ECU) 26 64 46 75 76(4)
D Koellerer (AUT) d P Cuevas (URU) 36 62 61 64

Doubles - Second Round
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d A Pavel (ROU) / H Tecau (ROU) 76(2) 63
[5] M Mirnyi (BLR) / A Ram (ISR) d D Vemic (SRB) / M Zverev (GER) 75 36 61
[7] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) d M Gicquel (FRA) / F Santoro (FRA) 76(5) 76(4)
[11] M Damm (CZE) / R Lindstedt (SWE) d M Gonzalez (ARG) / J Monaco (ARG) 62 64
I Ljubicic (CRO) / M Llodra (FRA) d J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) 36 76(12) 62
Y Lu (TPE) / D Sela (ISR) d M Granollers (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) W/O
R Kendrick (USA) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) d R de Voest (RSA) / R Ram (USA) 62 46 75
G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) / O Rochus (BEL) d O Hernandez (ESP) / A Montanes (ESP) 63 63

Doubles - First Round
C Ball (AUS) / C Guccione (AUS) d T Bellucci (BRA) / M Daniel (BRA) 63 64

Results for September 3, 2009

Singles - Second Round
[4] N Djokovic (SRB) d C Ball (AUS) 63 64 64
[5] A Roddick (USA) d M Gicquel (FRA) 61 64 64
[8] N Davydenko (RUS) d J Hernych (CZE) 64 61 62
[10] F Verdasco (ESP) d F Serra (FRA) 63 60 63
[12] R Soderling (SWE) d M Granollers (ESP) 20 ret.
[14] T Robredo (ESP) d G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 62 46 62 64
[15] R Stepanek (CZE) d L Mayer (ARG) 76(5) 63 64
[20] T Haas (GER) d R Kendrick (USA) 64 64 76(3)
[21] J Blake (USA) d O Rochus (BEL) 64 36 76(6) 63
[22] S Querrey (USA) d K Kim (USA) 75 67(6) 64 64
[23] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d S Devvarman (IND) 63 64 06 62
J Witten (USA) d M Gonzalez (ARG) 67(3) 64 75 62
M Chiudinelli (SUI) d M Youzhny (RUS) 26 76(4) 64 63
J Isner (USA) d M Ilhan (TUR) 63 64 76(1)


Doubles - First Round
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d J Acasuso (ARG) / M Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 63 64
[3] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) d J Cerretani (USA) / L Zovko (CRO) 63 64
[7] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) d J Benneteau (FRA) / J Chardy (FRA) 64 67(4) 64
L Friedl (CZE) / J Levinsky (CZE) d [9] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) 36 64 63
I Ljubicic (CRO) / M Llodra (FRA) d [12] S Aspelin (SWE) / Paul Hanley (AUS) 46 63 64
Y Lu (TPE) / D Sela (ISR) d [13] T Parrott (USA) / F Polasek (SVK) 36 76(2) 62
[16] M Melo (BRA) / A Sa (BRA) d D Koellerer (AUT) / C Rochus (BEL) 26 63 63
J Knowle (AUT) / J Melzer (AUT) d F Fognini (ITA) / P Starace (ITA) 63 64
J Nieminen (FIN) / A Qureshi (PAK) d A Golubev (KAZ) / D Istomin (UZB) 46 76(11) 64
N Almagro (ESP) / R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) d T Gabashvili (RUS) / D Tursunov (RUS) 61 76(7)
M Gonzalez (ARG) / J Monaco (ARG) d D Nguyen (USA) / J Sundling (USA) 36 62 61

Results for September 2, 2009

Singles - Second Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d S Greul (GER) 63 75 75
[31] L Hewitt (AUS) d J Chela (ARG) 63 63 64

Singles - First Round
[3] R Nadal (ESP) d R Gasquet (FRA) 62 62 63
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) d J Monaco (ARG) 63 63 61
[9] G Simon (FRA) d D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 64 76(3) 63
[13] G Monfils (FRA) d J Chardy (FRA) 61 64 63
[18] D Ferrer (ESP) d A Martin (ESP) 75 57 63 63
[24] J Ferrero (ESP) d F Santoro (FRA) 64 63 63
[32] N Almagro (ESP) d S Darcis (BEL) 62 64 26 76(8)
J Melzer (AUT) d M Safin (RUS) 16 64 63 64
A Beck (GER) d E Korolev (RUS) 63 64 26 26 64
N Kiefer (GER) d M Llodra (FRA) 63 64 64
P Cuevas (URU) d C Guccione (AUS) 64 76(4) 60
T Bellucci (BRA) d Y Lu (TPE) 64 62 63
J Acasuso (ARG) d M Daniel (BRA) 62 64 63
D Koellerer (AUT) d [LL] R Machado (POR) 62 64 26 62
R Ginepri (USA) d A Pavel (ROU) 57 62 64 60
P Petzschner (GER) d S Stakhovsky (UKR) 76(3) 67(6) 64 46 63

Doubles - First Round
[5] M Mirnyi (BLR) / A Ram (ISR) d E Butorac (USA) / S Lipsky (USA) 63 61
R Harrison (USA) / K Van't Hof (USA) d [6] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) 63 67(10) 75
[8] B Soares (BRA) / K Ullyett (ZIM) d J Coetzee (RSA) / J Erlich (ISR) 36 63 64
[10] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) d F Moser (GER) / F Serra (FRA) 64 61
[11] M Damm (CZE) / R Lindstedt (SWE) d S Prieto (ARG) / S Roitman (ARG) 75 62
R De Voest (RSA) / R Ram (USA) d [14] A Fisher (AUS) / J Kerr (AUS) 76(4) 64
R Kendrick (USA) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) d B Becker (GER) / I Kunitsyn (RUS) 63 64
J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) d W Odesnik (USA) / M Shabaz (USA) 63 64
D Vemic (SRB) / M Zverev (GER) d B Evans (USA) / A Kuznetsov (USA) 76(6) 75
M Kohlmann (GER) / R Wassen (NED) d D Martin (USA) / D Young (USA) 76(3) 46 64
J Levine (USA) / R Sweeting (USA) d J Brunstrom (SWE) / J Rojer (AHO) 64 75

Federer and Nadal shine on Day 3; Safin and Santoro leave Grand Slam spotlight

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both showed great movement and shots to beat their opponents today, and now Federer will head to the third round while Nadal will head to the second.

Federer played against Germany's Simon Greul and though he won in straight sets, Greul pressured him in the second set as he had two set point chances but couldn't convert. In the third set Greul was up 4-1 but couldn't get a grip on himself as he let the lead slip and Federer take the match with a score of 63 75 75. Nadal played against Richard Gasquet, this being Gasquet's first Grand Slam after his suspension was finished. Nadal won the match in three easy sets, 62 62 63. Another seeded winner was sixth seeded Juan Martin del Potro, who ousted Juan Monaco, 63 63 61.

Also, Marat Safin played and lost his last match at the U.S Open against Jurgen Melzer, and the score was 16 64 63 64. This was Safin's last appearance in a Grand Slam since he is retiring at the end of the season. Fabrice Santoro also played and lost his last match in a Slam since he also is retiring at the end of the season.

Stay tuned for more news on the last Grand Slam of the year!

Djokovic and Murray enjoy wins on Day 2

Novak Djokovic fired himself up with a precise performance against former top 3 player Ivan Ljubicic. Djokovic took charge from the start and showed no mercy towards Ljubicic when he won with a comfortable straight sets win. The score was 63 61 63 and he will continue his campaign against Carsten Ball on Thursday.

Andy Murray also had a confident win over Ernests Gulbis after the Latvian pressured him in the first and third sets. The pair's last meeting was at Wimbledon this year and Gulbis showed no passion whatsoever, so this match was a slight improvement from him since he had such a slump this year. Murray goes on now to the second round which he will also play on Friday against Paul Capdeville of Chile. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Sam Querrey also had successful first round wins.

(This is yesterday's wrap of events.)

Federer and Roddick headline Day 1 winners

Roger Federer started his US Open 2009 campaign for his sixth straight title with a three set win over American wildcard Devin Britton. The American posed no threat to the number one as Federer wrapped up a win with a score of 61 63 75. He will meet Germany's Simon Greul in the second round.

Andy Roddick had a late night yesterday as he started his match at 11 pm local time and finished shortly before 1 am. Roddick stayed sharp throughout his match and didn't let Germany's Bjorn Phau have any chances to pressure him. He won with a score of 61 64 62.

Other winners of the day include James Blake, Nikolay Davydenko, Tommy Haas and Robin Soderling.