Rafael Nadal

U.S. Open champion Roger Federer was asked tonight whether Novak Djokovic was ready to unseat Rafael Nadal as the second best player in tennis.

"I guess Nadal is still No. 2, but it's getting closer," he said. "It probably depends who finishes better at the end of the year."

"No. 2, No. 3, doesn't matter much," he continued. "It's No. 1 that matters."

And there's no one else close.

While most of the 23,000 fans who came to Arthur Ashe earlier Wednesday night were home and in bed by the time Rafael Nadal finally lost, these four men were among the small handful that remained.

“How about that 8am meeting!” said Steve, a 25-year-old accountant (second from left) from Murray Hill. Moments earlier he was jumping out of his seat doing the YMCA. It was 1:15 in the morning and he was not leaving. In fact, the topic was never raised.

“Maybe at 1:45 we’ll have that discussion,” said Steve.  read more »

Rafael Nadal lost in the fourth round (very late) last night after a 3-hour, 28 minute four-set match with David Ferrer. Nadal wouldn't blame injuries afterwards, but he looked worn down on the court, especially toward the end. Give Ferrer credit. He's having a breakout tournament.

As he was strolling in the players' lounge yesterday after another easy win, I asked Rafael Nadal if his knees were back to normal. “Feeling a little better,” he said.

He’s made it to the fourth round and is looking healthier by the match.

What’s the latest on Rafael Nadal’s bum knees?

While dipping some sushi in soy sauce yesterday, he said, “They’re feeling better.”

He’ll test them out against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Tim Henman slayer, on Ashe later today.

Andy Roddick held an entertaining birthday-edition press conference yesterday.

Two points of interest from it: (1) He had a message for Rafael Nadal, who complained that the hard-court season is too long, which he blamed for causing his tendinitis.

"You play seven months a year on clay if you want to. I'm not going to throw a pity party by any means."

(2) Reporters yesterday were quietly questioning Richard Gasquet's dedication to the game due to his withdraw because of a fever. Roddick said if he were sick, he'd play.

"If you're sick, I don't feel like that's going to get worse. I feel like that's a short-term thing. I'd probably go out there and give it a go."

After last night's exhilarating action, we've got some great tennis to follow up.

At 11am, Justine Henin plays at Ashe while Novak Djokovic plays at Louis Armstrong. In the afternoon, Ana Ivanovic, Tim Henman, Marion Bartoli and Serena Williams all play.

Lleyton Hewitt will play on Louis Armstrong at night, while Venus Williams and the injured Rafael Nadal play at Ashe.

Match to watch for: Mardy Fish v. Tommy Robredo at 1pm on Ashe. Fish is hot and he gets the big stage to take on the nunmber 8 player in the world. A solid chance for a major upset.

In addition to the big news of Rafael Nadal's injury, the big news out of yesterday's play was the number 7 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile lost in five sets yesterday, becoming the highest-seeded player to crash out of the tournament and potentially clearing a path for American Robby Ginepri to move into the third round.

Also last night, boy-giant John Isner won in straight sets, setting up a tantalizing third round match-up with Roger Federer to be played this weekend.
John McEnroe said of Isner: "This guy's gonna be a headache for Federer."

Match of the Day today: Impressive American prospect Donald Young takes on the super-talented and super-emotional Richard Gasquet at Louis Armstrong a little after noon.

On Day Three, we have the biggest story of the U.S. Open.

Rafael Nadal just told the press that he has an injury so severe to his left knee that if this were any tournament other than the U.S. Open he would not be playing. At a practice on Sunday, he said he felt a shooting pain in his left knee that was later diagnosed as an inflammation of the tendon. Today, he limped his way to an unconvincing four set win.  read more »

We've got a major upset watch at Arthur Ashe.

Rafael Nadal and wildcard Alun Jones have won a set each after Nadal only squeaked by to take the first, 7-5.

They've both broken in the third set. Nadal is really struggling and there's some mysterious tape below both his knees. Watch for updates here.

UPDATE: Never mind. Nadal won in four sets, blowing out Jones 6-1 in the 4th. Nonetheless, it looked rough for Rafa and he'll no doubt have something to say about it to the press in a bit.

Here’s Rafael Nadal talking to reporters about 123rd seed Alun Jones of Australia, who he’ll take on this afternoon.

Q. Do you know anything about your first-round opponent?

NADAL: Not much.

Q. Do you know what he hooks like?

NADAL: No, sorry.

After a slow day yesterday, we're back to a really strong lineup of matches today.

Rafael Nadal debuts at the Open at Arthur Ashe, right after Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams finish up against their unknown opponents.

Streaky Marat Safin plays at 11 this morning on Louis Armstrong, followed by Justine Henin. Next door, at the very loud Grandstand there will be a delightful lineup full of Americans: Meghann Shaughnessy, Robby Ginepri, Mardy Fish and upstart Ahsha Rolle.

On Court 11, Elena Dementieva plays the second match, followed by former French Open Champion Carlos Moya. Over at Court 13 there are back-to-back matches featuring Spaniard Tommy Robredo and the lovable Marion Bartoli.

Match of the Day: giant American John Isner takes on South African Rik De Voest (10 inches shorter!) in the battle of 100-something seeds at night time in Louis Armstrong. The winner gets a crack at Roger Federer. Expect electricity.

Is former champion Lleyton Hewitt the dark horse of this year's open?

That's the talk around here this week and if today's match was any indication -- he rolled over University of Illinois grad Amer Delic in straight sets -- he's in his best form in years.

"When you feel confident within yourself, you're happy with where your game's at, you enjoy it a lot more," he said today.

Hewitt, a 26-year-old 16th seed, won his two Grand Slams when men's tennis was in a tattered state -- post-Sampras, pre-Federer.

Since the advent of Federer and Nadal, Hewitt was left in the dust.

"Roger or Nadal, they're consistent and they have the firepower," Delic said today. " I think that's where Lleyton gets lost a little bit."

But Hewitt has made the argument this year that his game -- he's arguably still the best serve-returner in tennis -- is coming back to form.

In his last Grand Slam at Wimbledon, he made it to the 4th round and lost a knock-down, dragout five-setter to Novak Djokovic. And in a tournament in Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago, he brought Roger Federer the distance in a semifinal in which Federer needed two tiebreaks to win.

Hewitt, who last won at Wimbledon in 2002, thinks he's still got what it takes to win another Grand Slam.

"I believe that, yeah, it's in me, that's for sure."  read more »

According to the friendly tennis pro at Paragon, customers come in throughout the year looking for their favorite professional player’s racquet, but it’s nothing like U.S. Open season.

“It happens all the time!” said David Billings, who’s spent the last three years in the tennis department of the sporting goods store, located at 867 Broadway off Union Square. “People come in and ask, ‘What racquet does Federer use?’ ‘What racquet does Nadal use?’”  read more »

Roger Federer  read more »