Serena Williams behaving like a grown-up as she turns 30

Serena Williams turns 30 Monday. Although she recently received plenty of attention for her childish behavior during the U.S. Open final, Williams will have a chance to show her grown-up side in her new role as international goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

The organization announced the appointment last week, saying Williams' status will help promote UNICEF's mission to provide a quality education for vulnerable children through the Schools for Africa and the upcoming Schools for Asia initiatives.

Williams said the new role would give her an opportunity to work on children's issues, which have always been important to her.

"I believe all children deserve the chance to make something of their lives," said Williams, who started playing tennis at age 4 while living with her family in Compton. "I am committed to helping UNICEF provide a quality education to children to help them build a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities."

Williams joins a list of UNICEF ambassadors from the past and present that includes soccer star David Beckham and figure skater Kim Yuna. The 13-time Grand Slam winner first worked with UNICEF in 2006, when she visited Ghana on a health campaign.

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-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Serena Williams. Credit: Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images

US Open 2011: Latest Serena Williams controversy detracts from her place in the sport

Serena Williams in the midst of her rage

Another US Open, another Serena Williams stage-stealing controversy. Two years and three days on from threatening to shove a ball down the throat of line judge Shino Tsurubuchi after being called for that infamous foot fault, the younger Williams sister yet again finds herself fined for letting her tongue lose on another match official.

Deja vu.

US Open referee Bill Earley, afforded hardly a moment's peace thanks to earthquake, hurricane, plague, and player revolt, decided to hand the multi-Slam champ a $2,000 fine for  Serena's visceral comments towards umpire Eva Asderaki during last night's final against Sam Stosur. There were rumours of possible grand slam suspension, but the authorities decided to play soft rather than hard ball. Tennis fans are unlikely to be so generous.

As the New York Times' Chris Clarey put it, could anyone but Serena come back from her deathbed, reach the US Open final and still somehow not end up a clear sentimental favorite?

Admittedly,  as with the foot fault, Serena was on the wrong end of a tough decision. There is no argument that her scream of 'Come On' was uttered before the ball, a thumping forehand, had touched Sam Stosur's racket. Where fact and speculation depart is over whether it was intentional, and thus calculated to help win her the point, or not. If it was the former, then the umpire's decision to award a penalty was correct. If it was the latter, the point should have been replayed.

Clarifying the situation with the umpire in a rather aggressive fashion was understandable. But where Serena was unquestionably wrong, was what happened next. Marching to the net to gesture at the umpire after winning the next point was not clever. Calling her "a hater," "unattractive inside" and  "a loser" on the changeover, and essentially warning her to stay out of her way, was even less so. She let her mouth rather than brain take over. And sadly, given her past history, she should know better.

Players get frustrated when decisions go against them. Of course they do. And who can blame them. Umpires know this. "It's not a personal attack on me as a person," one said to me at the Australian Open this year – "it's just because I'm the umpire. It's part of the job." And, so by and large, the players get away with it. Andy Roddick for example, has spoken his mind rather more ferociously than he should on many an occasion.

The head-against-a-brick-wall thing about Serena is that she can behave so well. She can be hilariously charming, revealing, fascinating. Remember that press conference in Stanford? Hello Kitty backpack in tow, she had press and public enraptured over something as simple as a love of mexican food. Her return to the game was welcomed with open arms, a sentiment that has lasted all the way up to last night's final, Kardashian wedding-going aside.

The other point worth making is that where last night's incident differs from the one two years ago is that it was not a match-winning or match-ending point. The last point penalty handed Kim Clijsters a face in the US Open final. There was far more at stake. This time, the decision had the opposite effect – it amped Serena up. It made her play better. It did not lose her the title.

And she knew that too.

She even partially redeemed herself by going to sit with Sam ahead of the presentation ceremony. Who knows what they talked about, but it certainly looked good. "It shows you what a nice person she is that she can separate the result," Stosur said. "Pretty classy."

But then Serena ruined it again with one of the most obfusticating press conferences she has delivered in years. Avoiding the subject with a defence akin to Chris Taveray's, her answers revealed absolutely nothing. No regret, no remorse, no explanation.

"I don't even remember what I said," she said. " It was just so intense out there.  It's the final for me, and I was just  –  I have to go  –  I guess I'll see it on YouTube.  I don't know (Laughter.) I don't know.  I was just in the zone.  I think everyone, when they play, they kind of zone out kinda thing.  I don't know, I'll see it later, I'm sure."

She said "I don't know" a lot.

Especially when asked whether as one of the most well-known tennis players in the world, she should set a good example and treat officials with respect.

"Um, I don't know.  I think that, you know, when you're an athlete, whether you're looking at a basketball player or football player or tennis players, these athletes, we train all our lives since I was three  –  and I lie about my age a lot, but I'm 29.  (Smiling). You know, we live for these moments, you know.  Everyone lives to be, you know, in the final of Wimbledon or the final at the US Open.  Whatever happens in that moment, you live for them and we breathe for them, and hopefully I'll be back for them."

The sad thing for Serena is that all this hullabaloo detracts from what she has achieved by even being in yesterday's final. "It was pretty close," she said during her acceptance speech last night. None of us really know how close.

And at some point, something will happen, something will come along  to remind us again why tennis needs Serena Williams. As Stosur said, she has done great things for the sport. But this was not one of them.

 

 

U.S. Open: Serena Williams upset in finals by Samantha Stosur

Serena Williams suffered another temper meltdown at the U.S. Open and then a momentous loss Sunday in the women's final of the U.S. Open.

Ninth-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia won her first major championship with a 6-2, 6-3 win over 28th-seeded Williams on Sunday on Arthur Ashe Stadium. If the seedings made Stosur the favorite, Williams, who was already a 13-time major winner, was the heavy favorite.

But in the first game of the second set, as Williams hit what was about to be a definitive forehand winner to save a break point, Williams bellowed just before the ball landed. Chair umpire Eva Asderaki of Greece called Williams for a violation and the point was awarded to Stosur.

It also meant the game went to Stosur and as boos filled Arthur Ashe Stadium, Williams had a contentious discussion with chair umpire Asderaki that included Williams saying,"If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way."

The last time Williams played at the Open, in 2009, she lost to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals, a match that ended with a controversial foot fault called on Williams that caused Williams to burst into an obscenity-laden tirade that included a threat of shoving a racket down the throat of the lineswoman who made the call. It also resulted in a penalty point that ended the match in Clijsters' favor.

Sunday, after the code violation was called, Serena seemed to say, "I get a code violation for this? I express who I am. We're in America last I checked."

Stosur seemed momentarily unnerved by the incident and the Ashe crowd booed loudly for almost a minute and Williams came back to win two straight games to take a 2-1 lead from 0-1 down.

But the 27-year-old Stosur never changed expression or quit hitting winners. On her third attempt at match point, Stosur pounded a forehand return winner past Williams to complete the 1 hour, 13-minute win.

Williams was gracious on court during the awards ceremony, saying the point that was given to Stosur didn't matter because Stosur was playing too well anyway.

ALSO:

US Open: Memories of a decade ago

Samantha Stosur advances to women's finals

Caroline Wozniacki, Serena Williams: Who's No. 1

-- Diane Pucin, reporting from New York

Photos: (Left) Serena Williams reacts as she plays Samantha Stosur during the U.S. Open women's final. Credit : John G. Mabanglo / EPA (Right) Australian Samantha Stosur hits a return to Serena Williams during the final.  Credit : John G. Mabanglo / EPA

U.S. Open: Samantha Stosur into final

Samantha Stosur, who had previously played the longest tiebreaker in women’s major tournament history at the U.S. Open and won the longest women’s match time-wise in U.S. Open history, on Saturday advanced to her first major tournament final.

Ninth-seeded Stosur, a 27-year-old from Australia, beat 92nd-ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

Stosur will play the winner of the second semifinal between top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki and 28th-seeded and three-time Open champion Serena Williams.

Kerber, 23, was in her first Grand Slam tournament semifinal and only the fourth semifinal of any type. Until coming to New York, Kerber, from Germany, had lost in the first round of the last four majors she played and was trying to become the fifth-lowest ranked Grand Slam finalist in the open era of tennis. Four of them were Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Serena Williams, all of whom had major wins on their resumes and were low-ranked because of retirements, injuries or pregnancies.

Stosur, who played in the 2010 French Open final, rushed to a 4-0 lead after only 18 minutes of the third set, asserting herself with her willingness to come forward. Overall, Stosur won 27 of 29 points at the net as Kerber sprayed shots long and wide, perhaps evidence of nerves.

The match was played on the Grandstand Court, the third-largest of the show courts at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Because of lengthy rain delays during the week and water damage that shut down Louis Armstrong Stadium, schedules put Stosur and Kerber on the smaller court because the two men’s semifinals were put on Arthur Ashe Stadium along with the Williams-Wozniacki semifinal.

Stosur's only moment of uncertainty in the final set came when she was up 5-0 and had the chance to serve out the match. Stosur committed three unforced errors and was broken, and then lost two straight games. But finally, on her second match point, Stosur smashed a backhand volley emphatically past Kerber.

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-- Diane Pucin, reporting from New York

Photo: Samantha Stosur hits a return to Angelique Kerber during their semifinal match Saturday. Credit: John G. Mabanglo / EPA

US Open Diary 2011: Michelle Obama serves up a treat

Michelle Obama has a hit at Flushing Meadows

Friday in New York

The First Lady comes to town

Michelle Obama visited the US Open yesterday, and unsurprisingly, went down an absolute treat. The First Lady started off with some serves of her own during an on court clinic, part of her campaign against childhood obesity called 'Let's Move'. She made Serena giggle, she hit with Johnny Mac, she chatted to Billie Jean King, she even watched Andy Murray.

Check out Sports Illustrated's superb snaps of Mrs O in action.

Murray makes it four in a row

Andy Murray was at times sublime, at times surprising against John Isner, but most importantly, he got the job done to reach his fourth Grand Slam semi this year. The first two sets were superb, the third not so much, the fourth nail-chewing, but it was a telling performance from the world No 4. He's amped.

The key to the first two sets, as ever, was his first serve percentage – above the 70% mark. And his low unforced error count. Both these numbers were more negative for sets 3 and 4, so there is obviously work to be done.

Credit to Isner though. From looking almost like he was going to pass out (or maybe that's how he always looks) at the end of the second, he found some energy from somewhere, and showed once and for all that he is far from one dimensional. Some of his stretch volleys were a treat.

If you missed it, we live-blogged it, so have a little reverse re-cap if you feel so inclined.

Rafa's back

Foot injury, sickness, cramp, temper tantrums, revolt-planning…Rafael Nadal has had it all  this US Open, but last night he showed that underneath it all, he's still the same old Nadal. He absolutely blitzed Andy Roddick in their quarter-final, romping home in three sets, and looking much more like the man who won this title a year ago. Watch out Muzza.

Three out of four

Britain started the boys' singles competition with four boys in the draw. It's semi-final stage now, and guess what? Three of the four are Brits. George Morgan plays Oliver Golding, guaranteeing one British finalist for the first time since Andy Murray won the title in 2005. And Kyle Edmund takes on top seed Jiri Vesely. Coming after Liam Broady's appearance in the junior Wimbledon final, it's pretty heartening. Good luck to them all.

Melanie Oudin, Grand Slam champion

Yes, you did read that correctly. America's former golden girl, who 'believe-ed' her way to stardom here in New York two years ago, has since been unable to hit a ball in the court. But she and Jack Sock, fellow star of the future, won the mixed doubles title last night. Amazing.

Soundbite

If there was any doubt that Andy Roddick gives a good quote…

 Q. “Just talk about playing on a small court. Do you just feel your juices more intensely, feel more into the match …”

ANDY RODDICK: “I try not to feel my juices ever, Bill. But I appreciate your interest in them.”

Q. “That’s all I think about.”

ANDY RODDICK: “Thank you. Creepy and inappropriate.”

More court troubles

On Thursday it was Armstrong, yesterday it was Grandstand. The cracks keep appearing (literally) in the Flushing Meadows infrastructure. With Armstrong completely out of commission, there were reports of the same 'water seepage' occurring on the US Open's third stadium court. Not good at all.

Get well to…

Robin Soderling. The Swede has glandular fever. Horrible.

Coming up this evening

Roger Federer v Novak Djokovic (12 noon, 5pm UK)

Roger Federer was the man to break Novak Djokovic's winning streak with possibly one of the best clay court performances of his life in the semi-finals of Roland Garros, winning 7-6(5),  6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), so if there is anyone that knows how to expose a chink in Djokovic's seemingly invincible aura, it's Federer. He's played his way superbly into form, and has dropped just the one set all tournament. Will it be enough though?

Andy Murray v Rafael Nadal (not before 2.30pm, 7.30pm UK)

Andy Murray became only the seventh player in the Open era to reach all four grand slam semi-finals in a calendar year, and in so doing, he's handed himself a third consecutive clash with Rafael Nadal. Don't forget, of course, that it was in exactly this position three years ago that the Scot showed what he was capable of, beating the Spaniard for the very first time. Murray and Nadal are different players now, but that knowledge will certainly mean something to Murray.

Angelique Kerber v Sam Stosur (6pm, 11pm UK)

Very much the odd one out, world No 93 Kerber takes on ninth seed Stosur in the semi-final no one would ever have dreamed could happen. It's Sam's to win. But then, so was the French Open in 2010.

Serena Williams v Caroline Wozniacki (8pm, 1am UK)

The match that everyone has been waiting to see. The best player in women's tennis against the world No 1. And no, they're not the same person. Wozniacki will have to play the match of her life to soak up Serena's power and versatility, but maybe this is her moment to do it. Maybe it's what she's been waiting for. Serena's consistency, or lack thereof, will be key.

Predictions?

If I say something will happen, invariably the opposite does, hence why I'm terrified of making predictions about anything. So I'm dividing my punts on the two finals into head and heart:

Head says: Federer v  Nadal, Serena v Stosur

Heart says: Djokovic v Murray, Serena v Stosur

Agree, disagree, on the fence? Comment below…

The daily click

Just how good was Rafa? Take a look… 

U.S. Open: Roddick, Isner advance; Wozniacki to face Serena

Andy Roddick and John Isner have advanced to the men's quarterfinals at the U.S. Open and top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki will get to prove herself as the world's No. 1 player when she plays against 13-time major tournament winner Serena Williams in the women's semifinals.

Roddick, who won his only major title here in 2003, had to survive another water-related drama Thursday. He and fifth-seeded David Ferrer were supposed to play on Louis Armstrong Stadium in a match that had been canceled because of rain Wednesday. But when Roddick and Ferrer arrived on the court, water was bubbling up from beneath the surface, and after an attempt to dry the court with towels proved unsatisfactory, it was decided to put Roddick and Isner on Court 13 where there are fewer than 600 seats.

With babies crying and a man climbing a fence among the distractions, Roddick managed to pull out a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Ferrer. He will play defending champion Rafael Nadal in one quarterfinal.

Isner made it to his first-ever major quarterfinal with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4) win over 12th-seeded Gilles Simon.

Wozniacki survived a late rally from 10th-seeded Andrea Petkovic and earned a semifinal spot against Williams with a 6-1, 7-6 (5) win.

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Rain washes out another day at U.S. Open

Rain-altered schedule takes players out of comfort zone

Serena Williams moves into U.S. Open quarterfinals

-- Diane Pucin in New York

Photo: Andy Roddick returns a shot during his victory over David Ferrer at the U.S. Open on Thursday. Credit: Al Bello / Getty Images

US Open Diary 2011: Roger Federer walks on water

Roger Federer didn't hang around to make it a record late-night finish

Monday in New York

Two more marathon matches as the wet weather threatened to appear…

Playing in the rain

At roughly 10 to midnight, Roger Federer began his fourth round match against Juan Monaco. As one tweeter so aptly alluded, Roger is probably used to waiting around for the women in his life, there being three of them. But not at such a late hour.

Thankfully for the world’s media, and the capacity crowd, Federer wasn’t in the mood to have the US Open’s latest-ever finish. Taking six minutes to win the first three games, 12 minutes to win the first five, and 19 to win the first set, Federer even produced what is known on the tour as a ‘poker’ – four aces in a row.

Handing Monaco (who has to win best hair of the tournament) an opening breadstick, then a brioche (desperate failure to find something that could possibly look like a 2 and starts with ‘b’), Federer was 3-0 up when the rain began to fall.

Before the umpire could even move to examine the droplets on his trousers, Federer had produced a third set bagel, finishing off Pico in an hour and 22 minutes at just after 1am.

Pity the poor press corps though, who were huddled under a tree at 2am waiting for the bus home.

The ladies continue to enthrall

This tournament has not lacked for drama, but it’s largely been thanks to the ladies. Caroline Wozniacki and Svetlana Kuznetsova continued the ‘oh my wow’ trend, contesting an epic over three hours and two minutes.

If ever there was a match to make Wozniacki, it was this one.

“She was a wall and to break a wall you cannot hit hard you have to mix it up…I just couldnt close it,” said a desperate Kuznetsova, who, leading by a set and 4-1, showed at once why she is both enormously talented and enormously frustrating at the same time. You can hit the most beautiful forehand from nowhere off the back of your heels, but 78 unforced errors do not a match win.

With dear Rors tweeting “COME ON!!!!!!” from his Swiss hotel (imagine what time it was), Caro came through 6-7, 7-5, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals. Another step towards justification.

Tsonga reels in Fish

The Murraycoaster against Robin Haase aside, the men have been waiting for an edge of the seat five-setter that shows off concrete tennis at its best. Enter Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish, who did a superb job of winding each other up the wrong way. Some players play well angry, some don’t. Mardy definitely doesn’t, and seemed to have eaten some firecrackers for lunch, complaining about the umpire, and basically losing his way.

It’s a shame, because Fish has been the man of the moment, but credit to Tsonga, who certainly hung tough, even sinking his teeth into a tennis ball. One way to manage anger, I guess. His reward is another meeting with Federer. He’s won the last two…

Romper suits

Surprise, surprise, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic still haven’t dropped a set. Let’s talk about Nole first. As expected, Dolgolpolov gave him a lot to think about in their opening set, whipping that bizarre service motion so quickly, and cutting such a slice that a slightly sleepy-looking Djokovic did a little head-scratching as he went a break down.

But, then he remembered that he’s invincible. Saving umpteen set points to win an edgy first-set tie-break 16-14, the next two sets were routine with a capital R. 61 wins now for Djokovic. That’s as many as he managed in the entire 2010 season.

Janko Tipsarevic is up next, playing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final after defeating J.C. Ferrero. Odds of him causing an upset? Unlikely.

Serena meanwhile, was not the Serena who destroyed Victoria Azarenka. But sadly, even so, there was nothing Ana Ivanovic could do, even if she did hit more forehand winners than Ms Williams. It was Serena’s serve, one of the best shots in women’s tennis, that sent her through to the quarter-finals.

Ciao…

Another day, and some more farewells. Francesca Schiavone, surely the most joyful player to lace up her tennis shoes, bowed out at the hands of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, avenging her loss to the Italian at the 2010 French Open. Pavs hits a heavy ball. But will she get stage fright against Serena? Probably.

Let’s dance

Andrea Petkovic became the only woman on tour to reach three Grand Slam quarter-finals this year, brushing aside Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets before performing her latest jig. And with a torn meniscus too. Respect.

Healthy coffers

There’s no danger of this year’s US Open not making a profit. The weekend smashed the all-time record for people through the gates on Labor Day weekend.

Soundbite

“I don’t know if I’m the best or not. I believe I am and I think a lot of other girls believe they are, too, as they should. I don’t think anyone should go out and say that they’re not.”

Saying it like it is, Serena.

Young Brits

Don’t get too excited, but four out of four British boys made it through their first-round matches at the US Open juniors. Oliver Golding, George Morgan and Liam Broady all joined Kyle Edmund in round two. Woop.

Coming up this evening…

Andy Murray v Donald Young

Given the dark clouds currently hovering over New York City, word on the street is that this is unlikely to start on time. But when it does, expect it to be a) very loud, and b) hopefully nothing like their previous and only meeting in Indian Wells. Muzza is well aware of what makes D-Young tick now, and bar the partisan crowd messing with Murray’s concentration, it should not be too much of a bother.

John Isner v Gilles Simon

Little and large? Power v poise? Something like that. How well Simon can get under Isner’s skin and force the errors will be vital. But big John has been playing verrry well of late, so it is a big ask.

Andy Roddick v David Ferrer

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Daveeed is absolutely the last player you want to play if you’re not feeling physically tip top. It’s exhausting just thinking about it. So Roddick needs to be very much on strike if he is going to compete from the baseline.

Sam Stosur v Vera Zvonareva

Just how in the zone is Vera? She took care of Sabine Lisicki in an awesome display, but are the marbles upstairs sufficiently aligned to withstand Stosur’s variety, and, crucially, confidence?

Also in action

Rafael Nadal v Gilles Muller, Flavia Pennetta v Angelique Kerber.

The daily click

Judy Murray’s blogs. The best guide to cakes and cocktails in New York. And some tennis too.

Get your umbrellas out

It’s raining in New York. Bring on the heaters, squeegee mops and towels.

US Open 2011 Diary – Novak Djokovic having fun in the bagel shop

Even Novak Djokovic had to laugh at his own brilliance

Thursday in New York

Terrifying form

When a tennis player is in one of those ‘I can do no wrong moods’, it’s hard to see how they can lose a point, let alone a game or a match. Which is the situation that Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic find themselves in at the moment. Both S and Nole have been all too happy to visit the Flushing Meadows bagel shop, dropping just three games on their way to the third round – Serena two in her opener, one in her second, Novak one in his opener (admittedly helped along by Conor Niland’s stomach troubles), and two in his second.

Djokovic’s dominance over Carlos Berlocq was so ridonkadonk that he hit a  hotdog to set up match point. This does not happen in the real world.

It can’t last of course. Or can it? Either way, woe betide those poor souls who come next.

Passing through

Also cruising along were Roger Federer in 77 minutes, Caroline Wozniacki in 63 minutes (Arantxa Rus, you let me down), and Francesca Schiavone in 53 minutes. Restoring order with every game or set that they don’t drop. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marin Cilic, Jelena Jankovic and Tomas Berdych also advanced.

Stars and stripes

Yesterday marked the passage of five American women through to the third round at Flushing Meadows, the most since 2004 (when eight made it through). And, much more tellingly, three of the five are below the age of 21. Introducing Serena’s successors…Christina McHale, Irina Falconi, and now, 18 year-old Sloane Stephens. The punchy teenager didn’t even stop to muse on the fact that Shahar Peer might be too much for her, and will instead meet Ana Ivanovic in the third round.

The ones that don’t make sense

Gael Monfils lost to juan Carlos Ferrero in five very strange sets.

La Monf is a particularly curious case. Yes, JC Ferrero (not related to the chocolates, as someone did in fact ask), can defy his age to produce some vintage mosquito play, but still. These are matches that Monfils, who has talent screaming from his afro, should be winning. Except he doesn’t. Head-banger.

Richard Gasquet also went out to Ivo Karlovic in four.

And then there was one

Five players in the first round was pretty great, considering that it’s not Wimbledon. Three in the second round was greater. But now, as per usual, there’s just one. Not for want of trying on the part of Elena Baltacha, I’ll quickly add. She lead Svetlana Kuznetsova by a break at the start of their second-rounder, before the mercurial Russian got it together, and was ultimately that bit more consistent.Food for thought for Bally, who has had her best year in the Slams, all second rounds, at the grand old age of 28.

“Matches against world-class players like her teach you a lot about your game and where you need to improve,” Baltacha wrote in her BBC column. “My US Open might be over but I’m determined to finish the year strongly to give myself the right platform for 2012.”

But it does mean that Andy Murray is Britain’s last remaining player in the singles competition. Praise Peter for the doubles… Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins, and Jonny Marray and Jamie Delgado are all in second round action today.

More on Venus

Venus Williams has been talking a bit more about being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome.

“I’ve been told it’s going to take three to six months for all the medication to sink in,” Williams told the New York Times, adding that she received a diagnosis last month. “Looking back, it’s affected my career in a huge way… A lot of times I’ve had to pretend I felt good when I felt terrible.”

The tennis world is behind her.

Have a read of some more thoughts on the US Open sick bay syndrome.

Soundbite

“Not much trouble on serve/baseline when it’s like that obviously tough 4 opponent. I just think I was superior today”

Vintage Roger Federer

What’s coming up this evening

Andy Murray v Robin Haase (approx 8.45pm UK time)

Robin Haase is a very sweet-natured Dutchman with a lovely smile. But let that not delude you that he can be swimming shark, his huge serve and groundstrokes meaning that Murray can’t afford to stand at the back of the court and swat.Will be a good test of where Murray’s return game is at.

Maria Sharapova v Flavia Pennetta

Inconsistent in her first round, dominant in her second – what will the third round bring from MaSha? Pennetta is one of the most naturally-gifted athletes on the WTA, so it won’t be easy. But when Maria gets the banshee wail going…

Rafael Nadal v Nicolas Mahut

Can the marathon man do anything to upset Rafa? Or will this be a chance for the defending champ to ease his way back into form.

Irina Falconi v Sabine Lisicki

Why? Because Falconi has a great name and Lisicki is one of the hardest hitters out there. Should be interesting.

Andy Roddick v Jack Sock

Old takes on new in this all-American duel. Roddick needs to stamp on Sock from the beginning. But can he?

Also in action

Juan Martin Del Potro (v Diego Junqueira), David Ferrer v James Blake, David Nalbandian v Ivan Ljubicic, John Isner (v Robby Ginepri), Sam Stosur v Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva (v Annabel Medina Garrigues), Julia Goerges v Peng Shuai.

The daily click

Djokovic on song. In case you missed it.

US Open 2011 Diary: Is Serena Williams back to her best?

Serena Williams was at her best level for quite some time

Saturday in New York

Order is restored, but more players withdraw…

Float like a butterfly…

There was a moment yesterday when Serena Williams looked like she was on the ropes. Breathing heavily, walking slowly, she had just seen four match points come and go against Victoria Azarenka, and then surrendered her serve for the first time all tournament.

But Serena, who one tennis pundit remarked as back to being just as quick around the court as she was in her Serena Slam pomp 11 years ago, merely soaked it all up. Absorbing Azarenka’s aggression like a sponge, she sent it straight back during an extraordinary knife-edge tie-break.

It wasn’t just that she was hitting it gob-smackingly hard. She was hitting it so deep, and with such angles. And all the while sprinting to the net too. She even did the splits.

There is one word for Serena so far – awesome. Huge credit to Vika too. She tried.

Serena plays Ana Ivanovic next in the fourth round, who clutched her way to a straight-sets win over Sloane Stephens.

Unsung hero

Louise Engzell. The umpire over-ruled a call on one of Serena’s three match points, when the security guards had already begun to make their way onto the court. Keen eyes.

Props also to Jack Sock and Melanie Oudin, who knocked out top seeds Bob Bryan and Liezel Huber.

Cruising

Roger Federer may have dropped a set against Marin Cilic, but it didn’t seem to bother him unduly. The mighty Swiss moved within one win of extending his record streak of Grand Slam quarter-finals to 29, and also, on 226, an inch closer to Jimmy Connors’ record of 233 Grand Slam match wins.

Novak Djokovic had not the merest whiff of trouble against Nikolay Davydenko, romping his way to a 60th win this year. Just two losses, remember.

Mardy Fish also made it through very easily, as did Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schiavone (albeit not so easily, but in true Fran style). It’s hotting up.

More wounded

The retired/withdrawn list rose again yesterday, prompting some reaction from the players…

@andy_murray is the 18th pull out in the us open telling the tennis authorities anything?? No?? Thought not….

Of course, pundits were quick to say that players shouldn’t overload their schedules so much. Let the blame-game begin.

New knowledge

John McEnroe provided yesterday’s ‘learn something new every day’ – apparently the nets at the US Open are tighter than they are at Wimbledon. Hence, more net cords?

Chest-bump of the day

Team Auf Geht’s - Andrea Petkovic and Julia Goerges. It’s a miracle they were still standing, they laughed so much.

Hitting partners

While Peter Fleming was spotted on the practice courts yesterday, unorthodox forehand and all, British youngster Liam Broady had the chance to have a hit with Andy Murray. Nadal at Wimbledon, Murray in New York. Not at all bad…

Coming up tonight…

Andy Murray v Feliciano Lopez

A re-match of their Wimbledon quarter-final, and one hopefully free of silly jokes about Judy, Murray should relish the prospect to face his good friend in his first night match of the tournament.

Lopez had no answer to Murray’s versatility and power at Wimbledon. But that will be different on hard courts. As ever though, Murray will need to execute well from the start, and not take himself on as well as the Spaniard.

Sabine Lisicki v Vera Zvonareva

Aside from Serena, Miss Lisicki is probably one of the most eagerly anticipated prospects  in the women’s game, so people will be expecting her to cause serious problems for Zvonareva, who withdrew from the doubles yesterday.

That said, the Russian and her phenomenal defence have a 3-0 record over Lisicki, so the German will need to make sure she is not missing.

Juan Martin Del Potro v Gilles Simon

The first big test for DelPo? The BFG hasn’t played on these courts since winning the title here two years ago, remember, and has so far been a rather silent mover through the draw. But Gilou, who takes an Andy Murray approach to hard court tennis, is not a straightforward customer. Del Potro’s power should be too much though.

Rafael Nadal v David Nalbandian

The fifth career meeting between these two, Rafa has two, Nalby has two. Nalbandian’s power will always present problems for Nadal, especially if he hits it flat to Nadal’s toes, but the question remains over whether he is physically fit enough to keep up with Nadal over five sets.

Nalbandian showed glimpses of his old form against Andy Murray in Cincinnati, but in reality, could only sustain it for a set.

The daily click

Jon Wertheim’s mid-term grades. Who’s ranked where so far in New York?

Keep an eye on

The weather. Rain is on the way. The doom-mongering has begun.

U.S. Open: Serena Williams beats wind, Ana Ivanovic

Even when the wind carried her ball toss into another part of the service box or when it blew the visor right off her opponents' head, when the gusts made Serena Williams wish she had Velcro to make her skirt stick to her compression shorts, it didn't matter.

When she needed to, Williams, seeded 28th, stayed true to her game Monday. She served nine aces and moved into the U.S. Open quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 2008 French Open champion and former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in Arthur Ashe Stadium in a fourth-round U.S. Open match.

Ivanovic, 23, fell behind, 3-0, in eight minutes, but the 6-foot-1 Ivanovic, who was seeded 16th, didn't let the conditions or her own frail serve keep her from being aggressive. Despite serving eight double faults, Ivanovic had more winners than Williams (20-16) and won three games of her own to even the first set. But it was one of those double faults, in the eighth game, that put Williams ahead, 5-3, and Williams served out the first set at love.

Williams also broke Ivanovic in the first game of the second set, an advantage she never lost. Williams, a 13-time major champion and three-time winner here, served a 101-mph ace to end the match and said, "I was just happy to get some balls in the court. It was really windy."

Up next for Williams in the quarterfinals will be 17th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia who upset seventh-seeded Francesca Schiavone, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Before she knew it would be Williams she would face in the quarters, the 20-year-old Pavlyuchenkova said, "I don't know what to say about her. She's just awesome and a great athlete and she's showing good tennis so far. So I don't know what to say, really.

"I'm just going to go out there and -- I'm going to say that I don't want to go out there and enjoy just being on the center court playing against Serena. I would like to do well, try to fight and with my effort I try to beat here. But of course I respect her a lot as well. She's just great."

ALSO:

Novak Djokovic dances way into fourth round

Samantha Stosur advances to fourth round at U.S. Open

Rafael Nadal wins; queasy Flavia Pennetta into quarterfinals

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: Serena Williams drives a forehand shot back at Ana Ivanovic during their U.S. Open match on Sunday. Credit: Nick Laham / Getty Images

US Open 2011 Diary: Back to her best?

Serena Williams was at her best level for quite some time

Saturday in New York

Order is restored, but more players withdraw…

Float like a butterfly…

There was a moment yesterday when Serena Williams looked like she was on the ropes. Breathing heavily, walking slowly, she had just seen four match points come and go against Victoria Azarenka, and then surrendered her serve for the first time all tournament.

But Serena, who one tennis pundit remarked as back to being just as quick around the court as she was in her Serena Slam pomp 11 years ago, merely soaked it all up. Absorbing Azarenka’s aggression like a sponge, she sent it straight back during an extraordinary knife-edge tie-break.

It wasn’t just that she was hitting it gob-smackingly hard. She was hitting it so deep, and with such angles. And all the while sprinting to the net too. She even did the splits.

There is one word for Serena so far – awesome. Huge credit to Vika too. She tried.

Serena plays Ana Ivanovic next in the fourth round, who clutched her way to a straight-sets win over Sloane Stephens.

Unsung hero

Louise Engzell. The umpire over-ruled a call on one of Serena’s three match points, when the security guards had already begun to make their way onto the court. Keen eyes.

Props also to Jack Sock and Melanie Oudin, who knocked out top seeds Bob Bryan and Liezel Huber.

Cruising

Roger Federer may have dropped a set against Marin Cilic, but it didn’t seem to bother him unduly. The mighty Swiss moved within one win of extending his record streak of Grand Slam quarter-finals to 29, and also, on 226, an inch closer to Jimmy Connors’ record of 233 Grand Slam match wins.

Novak Djokovic had not the merest whiff of trouble against Nikolay Davydenko, romping his way to a 60th win this year. Just two losses, remember.

Mardy Fish also made it through very easily, as did Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schiavone (albeit not so easily, but in true Fran style). It’s hotting up.

More wounded

The retired/withdrawn list rose again yesterday, prompting some reaction from the players…

@andy_murray is the 18th pull out in the us open telling the tennis authorities anything?? No?? Thought not….

Of course, pundits were quick to say that players shouldn’t overload their schedules so much. Let the blame-game begin.

New knowledge

John McEnroe provided yesterday’s ‘learn something new every day’ – apparently the nets at the US Open are tighter than they are at Wimbledon. Hence, more net cords?

Chest-bump of the day

Team Auf Geht’s - Andrea Petkovic and Julia Goerges. It’s a miracle they were still standing, they laughed so much.

Hitting partners

While Peter Fleming was spotted on the practice courts yesterday, unorthodox forehand and all, British youngster Liam Broady had the chance to have a hit with Andy Murray. Nadal at Wimbledon, Murray in New York. Not at all bad…

Coming up tonight…

Andy Murray v Feliciano Lopez

A re-match of their Wimbledon quarter-final, and one hopefully free of silly jokes about Judy, Murray should relish the prospect to face his good friend in his first night match of the tournament.

Lopez had no answer to Murray’s versatility and power at Wimbledon. But that will be different on hard courts. As ever though, Murray will need to execute well from the start, and not take himself on as well as the Spaniard.

Sabine Lisicki v Vera Zvonareva

Aside from Serena, Miss Lisicki is probably one of the most eagerly anticipated prospects  in the women’s game, so people will be expecting her to cause serious problems for Zvonareva, who withdrew from the doubles yesterday.

That said, the Russian and her phenomenal defence have a 3-0 record over Lisicki, so the German will need to make sure she is not missing.

Juan Martin Del Potro v Gilles Simon

The first big test for DelPo? The BFG hasn’t played on these courts since winning the title here two years ago, remember, and has so far been a rather silent mover through the draw. But Gilou, who takes an Andy Murray approach to hard court tennis, is not a straightforward customer. Del Potro’s power should be too much though.

Rafael Nadal v David Nalbandian

The fifth career meeting between these two, Rafa has two, Nalby has two. Nalbandian’s power will always present problems for Nadal, especially if he hits it flat to Nadal’s toes, but the question remains over whether he is physically fit enough to keep up with Nadal over five sets.

Nalbandian showed glimpses of his old form against Andy Murray in Cincinnati, but in reality, could only sustain it for a set.

The daily click

Jon Wertheim’s mid-term grades. Who’s ranked where so far in New York?

Keep an eye on

The weather. Rain is on the way. The doom-mongering has begun.

U.S. Open: Serena Williams passes test against Victoria Azarenka

Serena Williams, who was up a set and a break, withstood a furious rally from fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka and advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open with a 6-1, 7-6 (5) win that took 1 hour, 50 minutes and featured powerful rallies filled with shots of startling accuracy and power from both women.

Williams -- whose ranking (28th) suffered during her nearly year-long absence from tennis due to injuries beginning in July of 2010 -- seemed to have won the match in the ninth game of the final set when she had Azarenka down 30-40 as the Belorussian was serving. Williams hit a forehand that appeared to have just hit the sideline. Williams and Azarenka began walking off the court, but a lines person had called the ball out. Williams asked for a review, and the replay showed that Williams' shot was out.

From there, Azarenka held serve to stay in the match and broke Williams, whose concentration seemed rattled, in the next game to tie the second set at 5-5 and send the match to a tiebreak.

"She started to get better at that 5-3 game," Williams said. "All I was thinking was, 'Man, at least I won the first set, worst case scenario."

Williams had 12 aces and 39 winners, to 24 for Azarenka.

RELATED:

Roger Federer defeats Marin Cilic

Donald Young upsets Stan Wawrinka

Flavia Penetta upsets Maria Sharapova

-- Diane Pucin in New York

Photo: Serena Williams does the splits while returning a shot during her victory over Victoria Azarenka at the U.S. Open on Saturday. Credit: Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters

US Open 2011 Diary – welcome to the bagel shop

Even Novak Djokovic had to laugh at his own brilliance

Thursday in New York

Terrifying form

When a tennis player is in one of those ‘I can do no wrong moods’, it’s hard to see how they can lose a point, let alone a game or a match. Which is the situation that Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic find themselves in at the moment. Both S and Nole have been all too happy to visit the Flushing Meadows bagel shop, dropping just three games on their way to the third round – Serena two in her opener, one in her second, Novak one in his opener (admittedly helped along by Conor Niland’s stomach troubles), and two in his second.

Djokovic’s dominance over Carlos Berlocq was so ridonkadonk that he hit a  hotdog to set up match point. This does not happen in the real world.

It can’t last of course. Or can it? Either way, woe betide those poor souls who come next.

Passing through

Also cruising along were Roger Federer in 77 minutes, Caroline Wozniacki in 63 minutes (Arantxa Rus, you let me down), and Francesca Schiavone in 53 minutes. Restoring order with every game or set that they don’t drop. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marin Cilic, Jelena Jankovic and Tomas Berdych also advanced.

Stars and stripes

Yesterday marked the passage of five American women through to the third round at Flushing Meadows, the most since 2004 (when eight made it through). And, much more tellingly, three of the five are below the age of 21. Introducing Serena’s successors…Christina McHale, Irina Falconi, and now, 18 year-old Sloane Stephens. The punchy teenager didn’t even stop to muse on the fact that Shahar Peer might be too much for her, and will instead meet Ana Ivanovic in the third round.

The ones that don’t make sense

Gael Monfils lost to juan Carlos Ferrero in five very strange sets.

La Monf is a particularly curious case. Yes, JC Ferrero (not related to the chocolates, as someone did in fact ask), can defy his age to produce some vintage mosquito play, but still. These are matches that Monfils, who has talent screaming from his afro, should be winning. Except he doesn’t. Head-banger.

Richard Gasquet also went out to Ivo Karlovic in four.

And then there was one

Five players in the first round was pretty great, considering that it’s not Wimbledon. Three in the second round was greater. But now, as per usual, there’s just one. Not for want of trying on the part of Elena Baltacha, I’ll quickly add. She lead Svetlana Kuznetsova by a break at the start of their second-rounder, before the mercurial Russian got it together, and was ultimately that bit more consistent.Food for thought for Bally, who has had her best year in the Slams, all second rounds, at the grand old age of 28.

“Matches against world-class players like her teach you a lot about your game and where you need to improve,” Baltacha wrote in her BBC column. “My US Open might be over but I’m determined to finish the year strongly to give myself the right platform for 2012.”

But it does mean that Andy Murray is Britain’s last remaining player in the singles competition. Praise Peter for the doubles… Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins, and Jonny Marray and Jamie Delgado are all in second round action today.

More on Venus

Venus Williams has been talking a bit more about being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome.

“I’ve been told it’s going to take three to six months for all the medication to sink in,” Williams told the New York Times, adding that she received a diagnosis last month. “Looking back, it’s affected my career in a huge way… A lot of times I’ve had to pretend I felt good when I felt terrible.”

The tennis world is behind her.

Have a read of some more thoughts on the US Open sick bay syndrome.

Soundbite

“Not much trouble on serve/baseline when it’s like that obviously tough 4 opponent. I just think I was superior today”

Vintage Roger Federer

What’s coming up this evening

Andy Murray v Robin Haase (approx 8.45pm UK time)

Robin Haase is a very sweet-natured Dutchman with a lovely smile. But let that not delude you that he can be swimming shark, his huge serve and groundstrokes meaning that Murray can’t afford to stand at the back of the court and swat.Will be a good test of where Murray’s return game is at.

Maria Sharapova v Flavia Pennetta

Inconsistent in her first round, dominant in her second – what will the third round bring from MaSha? Pennetta is one of the most naturally-gifted athletes on the WTA, so it won’t be easy. But when Maria gets the banshee wail going…

Rafael Nadal v Nicolas Mahut

Can the marathon man do anything to upset Rafa? Or will this be a chance for the defending champ to ease his way back into form.

Irina Falconi v Sabine Lisicki

Why? Because Falconi has a great name and Lisicki is one of the hardest hitters out there. Should be interesting.

Andy Roddick v Jack Sock

Old takes on new in this all-American duel. Roddick needs to stamp on Sock from the beginning. But can he?

Also in action

Juan Martin Del Potro (v Diego Junqueira), David Ferrer v James Blake, David Nalbandian v Ivan Ljubicic, John Isner (v Robby Ginepri), Sam Stosur v Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva (v Annabel Medina Garrigues), Julia Goerges v Peng Shuai.

The daily click

Djokovic on song. In case you missed it.

U.S. Open: Roger Federer, Serena Williams making things easy

 

Serena Williams on Thursday served 10 aces, hit 25 winners to five from her opponent, won 30 more points than outgunned Michaella Krajicek and pounded her way into the third round of the U.S. Open, 6-0, 6-1. It took the 28th-seeded Williams only 49 minutes to win.

Asked about her older sister, Venus, who pulled out of the tournament Wednesday because of an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's syndrome, Williams said, "I'm praying for her to be fine."

Serena now advances to a match with either fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka or Gisela Dulko.

Equally impressive was third-seeded Roger Federer, who was little tested in his 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Israel's Dudi Sela.

"Not much trouble on my serve," Federer said, "and from the baseline I also thought I had the upper hand. When it's like that, obviously it's tough for the opponent, but I just think I was superior today. It was a good match for me in the breezy conditions. It was a bit tricky early on to find the rhythm. That's why I was happy to get the first break."

MORE:

Serena Williams, no smiles, 22 winners, easy victory

Venus Williams exits U.S. Open because of autoimmune disease

Venus Williams shakes off rust to win in first round at U.S. Open

-- Diane Pucin in New York

Photo: Serena Williams. Credit: Nathan Denette / Associated Press.

US Open 2011 diary: ups and downs

Rafael Nadal berating himself against Andrey Golubev

YESTERDAY

What’s happened to Rafa?

The overwhelming sigh of relief emanating from every corridor inside Arthur Ashe said it all. Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, the former world No 1, is still in the US Open. Why such a worry? After all, he’s never lost a Grand Slam first round. And he won in straight sets. But his 6-3, 7-6(1), 7-5 win over world No 98 Andrey Golubev was tighter than the world’s greatest washing line. Nadal just does not look himself. He let Golubev crunch 41 winners past him, struggled to hold serve, and even admitted he was “lucky” to win in straight sets. Vamos Rafa. We need you.

The opposite was true of Serena Williams, who wasted no time at all in crushing Bojana Jovanovski 6-1, 6-1. Watch out.

Passing through

Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Francesca Schiavone (in three sets), Ana Ivanovic (in emotional fashion after revealing her grandfather had died over the weekend), Novak Djokovic, James Blake (re-born?), Jelena Jankovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Sabine Lisicki.



Over and out

Li Na (with 54 unforced errors), Mikhail Youzhny, Anne Keothavong, Conor Niland.

Special mention to Niland, who retired trailing Djokovic 0-6, 1-5 – his body chose the biggest match of his career to inflict food poisoning on him. Sometimes life is just cruel.

Not just a mean girls’ game

Elena Baltacha proved that tennis players may snarl at each other, but actually, underneath it all they are pretty nice people. Suffering the ignonimy of being a set down against a young American, one she had struggled to beat in Australia no less, you might think that the Brit would have breathed a sigh of her relief when her opponent began to cramp. Other players have done it. But not Bally. She crossed her side of the net and went to offer poor Hampton, in the most horrible-looking pain, some help.

“It’s really difficult because over the clay court season we got to know Jamie and her coach because they were at a lot of tournaments,” Baltacha said. “We got pretty friendly. It was quite difficult because I wanted to beat her, but it’s kind of like playing a friend, and she’s going through all that.”

Despite the retirement, Baltacha’s win gave GB two women in the second round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 1991. She also became the first British woman to reach the second round at all four Grand Slams since Jo Durie in 1983. Pat on the back.

Soundbite

“I mean, normally I like hard court a lot.  But I think these two years I just doing s–t.”

Li Na on what was behind her dismal first-round defeat to Simona Halep. Saying it like it is.

Somewhat opposite was Caroline Wozniacki’s rather bizarre update on her new coaching situation.

“If he wants to be in the background and not have his name out, I have to respect that,” the world No 1 said, explaining that her new coach does not want anyone to know who he is. Very odd.

Stat attack

1971

The last time that the reigning women’s champions at the first three Grand Slams of the year did not reach the second round at Flushing Meadows. AO champ Kim Clijsters (injured), RG champ Li Na (lost 1R), Wimby champ Petra Kvitova (lost 1R). Oh well.



On the grapevine

Adam Scott and Ana Ivanovic back together? Maybe.

Tweet of the day

Fyi I asked Wozza if her green leggings had been inspired by her recent link with Ireland.She said “haha. No. Very funny”. I like 2 think so

@judmoo on the ball as always

TODAY

Ones to watch

Andy Murray v Somdev Devvarman (second match, Arthur Ashe)

Two days after the 2011 US Open officially kicked off, Britain’s best, Andy Murray begins his campaign against Mr Devvarman. It seems to be Murray’s luck that he’s generally the last of the Big Four to get going, Mr Federer getting a whole extra two days grace, but there we go. Som-Dev is no pushover at No 64 in the world, and he likes to take the fluff off the ball, but in the end it will come down to Mr Murray.

Venus Williams v Sabine Lisicki (third match, Arthur Ashe)

Venus’s unseeded status means we get this clash far earlier than we might have liked. Miss ‘Boom Boom’ Lisicki has catapulted her way from Wimbledon wild card to 22nd seed, so the odds are heavily in her favour. But then Venus is Venus. Could be a corker. Could not be.

Laura Robson v Anabel Medina Garrigues

The young Miss Robson made it into her first Grand Slam second round at Wimbledon this summer. And now here she is in a second-consecutive Slam second round. Not bad for a teen considered to be slumping. Can she turn it into a third round? Her Spanish foe has a tricksy, unexplosive style, so Laura will need to do the hard work. And prepare to retrieve a lot of drop shots.

Louk Sorensen v Robin Soderling

After the stomach woes that befell his compatriot Conor Niland, Ireland’s hopes rest on fellow qualifier Sorensen, who will be little to Soderling’s large. But the Swede has not been firing on many cylinders lately. So opportunity knocks, perhaps.

Also look out for: Marion Bartoli v Christina McHale (Marion v Mini Marion), John Isner v Marcos Baghdatis (thundercruncher), Juan Martin Del Potro v Filippo Volandri (Is DelPo back?), Andy Roddick (past it?), Maria Sharapova, Gilles Simon, Feliciano Lopez, Vera Zvonareva, Agnieszka Radwanska.

The daily click

If you needed evidence, Serena’s back

U.S. Open: Serena Williams, no smiles, 22 winners, easy victory

Serena Williams, a three-time U.S. Open champion playing the tournament for the first time since she had left Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2009 after unleashing an obscenity-filled tirade against a lineswoman who called a foot fault that resulted in Williams losing a semifinal match to Kim Clijsters, took a decisive 6-1, 6-1 win over Serbian teenager Bojana Jovanovski Tuesday night.

It was the final first-round match of the women's draw and Williams dominated from the start. She won 54 total points to 27 by Jovanovski and was ahead 3-0 within the first 10 minutes.

Williams is only seeded 28th because her ranking had dropped so low during her absence from tennis for nearly 12 months beginning in July of 2010 because of, first, a toe injury and then from a pulmonary embolism. But since her return to the pro circuit in an event just before Wimbledon, Williams has gone 17-2 and she is undefeated on hard courts this summer after losing in the first round on the grass at Wimbledon to Marion Bartoli.

In the second round Williams, 29, will play 183rd-ranked qualifier Michaella Krajicek and seems headed for a third-round meeting with fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who beat Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-3 in Tuesday's very first day match on Ashe Stadium.

-- Diane Pucin, reporting from New York

US Open preview: Novak Djokovic and co ready for another grapple in the Apple

Bright lights: Who will come out on top inside the bowels of Arthur Ashe?

August really is a rather strange month. This knocked me on the head the other day as I was taking my morning constitutional in the pouring rush hour rain, running the gauntlet of umbrellas processing solemnly to tube and bus stop. It is a deadwood time, when the majority of folk are either on holiday, or wishing they were on holiday.

For the travelling tennis caravan of players, physios, press, and public who traipse from airport to stadium and back again, August is almost like December. It is a month of build-up, the only really extended period of time when players have a chance to step back, sit down, and start all over again, allowing for tucks and tweaks on and off the court.

In fact, such has been the gap between Wimbledon’s leafy surrounds and the hot dog-infused hard courts of the US Open that we’re entering Flushing Meadows with some intriguing yarns, an earthquake and a hurricane to keep an eye on.

Top of the list is the various machinations of the Big Four. The 125^th Championships ended with a very clear pecking order. Top, the new No 1, Novak Djokovic, an injured (although he claimed not) Rafael Nadal, a resurgent but reflective Andy Murray, and a wounded (in mind) Roger Federer.

Two months on, the four planets have jiggled a bit. Djokovic is still at the top, succumbing to just one more loss, a retirement at that, his 57-2 the best win-loss record since John McEnroe entered New York with 59-2 next to his name in 1984. He’s also the first man ever to lift five Masters Series shields in a season. Yes, he has a shoulder niggle. But is it serious?

Next there’s Murray. After a month lifting weights, modifying his diet, and cutting his hair, it almost looked as if the British No 1 had DeLoreaned his back to March when he slumped his way to a straight sets defeat in Montreal. But, left clutching the ugliest of trophies in Cincinnati a week later, Murray suddenly looked like he had in Australia in January. Focused and fierce and fit. One good week does not a grand slam champion make, of course. But the last time Murray won in Mason, he was in the Flushing Meadows final three weeks later. Fact.

In my view, that leaves the great rivals Federer and Nadal joint third, Roger perhaps a touch ahead because of the hard court conditions. Rafa, who holidayed on a yacht and joined Twitter during July, has also picked up a cold to add to whatever lingering physical issues may or may not have been troubling him. A first-match exit in Montreal was followed by a quarter-final in Cincy, yes, but also a three and a half hour grind against Fernando Verdasco along the way that cannot have helped. Federer, who holidayed on a different yacht, was outplayed by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Montreal, produced some very good goods to beat Juan Martin Del Potro, before allowing himself to be blown off court by Tomas Berdych. But these two are still hungry enough not to do the same in a grand slam situation, one would think.

And then there are the others. At Wimbledon, who was the fifth best player in the world? Tsonga? Feliciano Lopez? David Ferrer? Bernard Tomic? Whoever it was, it’s not him any more. It’s Mardy Fish, the formerly sockless wonder who now tapes his skinny ankles almost up to his equally skinny knees. Fish, the US Open Series champion, reached three finals on the bounce during the American hard court swing, and came credit card-close to making that four against Murray. For a 28 year-old who has only made two grand slam quarter-finals before, that’s pretty damn good.

Jump the gender divide, and instead of the big four, there’s just a big one. Serena Williams. Fleeing SW19 after a fourth-round exit, with an oh-so-lowly world ranking of No 169, and approaching the wrong side of 30, not even Mystic Meg would have tried the Tarot cards. And yet, here she is, US Open Series champion, back-to-back titles in tow, and, yet again, the name at the top of everyone’s favourite sheet. Remarkable.

The USTA have not, unlike Wimbledon, bumped Serena up the seedings, meaning she takes her place in the Flushing Meadows draw as the 28^th seed (one up from her ranking of 29 thanks to the withdrawal of Kim Clijsters). So it won’t be easy. But she is still guaranteed not to run into one of the top eight till the fourth round. By which time the hooped earrings should be flying.

Serena has been helped by the very sad absence of Clijsters, whose dream of a third consecutive New York trophy, fourth in total, was ended by an abdominal tear. The rest of the WTA are in a sort of disarray. World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki coach-less but with a new boyfriend (Hi Rory), the likes of new slam champs Li Na and Petra Kvitova desperately lacking confidence, and many, many others injured. How else could Jelena Jankovic, a self-proclaimed dark horse (before she retracted it), end up in the Cincinnati final?

There is another female with a mission. Maria Sharapova. Who else could serve 13 double faults in a final and still end up winning it? But Sharapova, much like Federer, looks thirsty. Losing the Wimbledon final has been an impetus rather than an impediment. It seems.

Of course, all of this depends on a multitude of things – the draw, the impending weather fronts, the mood of the crowds, and  most crucially, the state of any given player on any given day inside the bowels of Arthur Ashe. There are no second chances.

All in all, it’s set to be another fascinating grapple in the Big Apple.

Andrea Petkovic feels buzz in Serena Williams comeback

Andrea Petkovic, who advanced to the semifinals of the Mercury Insurance Open on Friday afternoon with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win over American teenager Sloane Stephens, said she was impressed with the way Serena Williams won her first tournament since injuring her foot in July of 2010 but cautioned that even with the win in Stanford last week, Williams isn't certain to dominate women's tennis any more.

"Women's tennis has changed," said Petkovic, who said Williams was her idol when she was growing up in Germany. "I still think she's one of the greatest players in the history of tennis. But I also think she's going to have a much tougher time now than she had maybe five years ago because there are so many girls out there.

"I'm thinking of (Victoria) Azarenka, (Petra) Kvitova, Maria Sharapova, who is playing again almost at her best. So I think it's going to be tough."

We were right there with Petkovic until that Sharapova part. Williams beat Sharapova last week on her way to winning the title in Stanford. The score was 6-1, 6-3. Sharapova hasn't beaten Williams since 2004.

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: Andrea Petkovic returns a forehard against Sloane Stephens during their Mercury Insurance Open quarterfinal on Friday at LaCosta Resort and Spa in Carlsbad. Credit: Denis Poroy / Reuters