1. The Fed Cup didn't exactly threaten the Super Bowl -- or, for that matter, UFC 109 -- as the weekend's biggest sporting event. But the competition served up some spirited tennis and intriguing results. In Lievin, France, the U.S. team pulled an upset grande. Melanie Oudin played the best tennis since her U.S. Open breakthrough, winning both her matches. And Bethanie Mattek-Sands won in singles and in doubles alongside Liezel Huber. The Williams sisters didn't play and can't really be blamed; the competition isn't exactly a top priority, even within the sport. But the U.S. B-team earned a solid "A." Well done.
What will it take to get Nadal back into game shape ... for the long run? Take time off? Retire then unretire? Knee surgery? Change his game? Please tell that a six-time Grand Slam champion isn't done at 23. --Yves, Montreal
So it has come to this in the world of big-time tennis: You're 28 years old, absolutely in your prime, cherishing the game -- and you're some kind of mythical superhero, a miracle of longevity and commitment.
Britain's Andy Murray came from a set down to see off the bold challenge of Croatian outsider Marin Cilic to reach the final of the Australian Open with a 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory in Melbourne on Thursday night.
Men's semifinals: Andy Murray of Great Britain came from a set down to see off the bold challenge of Croatian outsider Marin Cilic to reach the final of the Australian Open on Thursday.
Reigning Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal was forced to retire hurt from his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray in Melbourne on Tuesday.
So much about the Australian Open suggests a year of intrigue and fresh storylines, but there is disturbing familiarity to the biggest story: Rafael Nadal's fading invincibility, and the notion that we've seen the best of his rivalry with Roger Federer.
U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro was sent crashing from Australian Open by 14th seed Marin Cilic of Croatia in a marathon five-set match in Melbourne on Sunday.
Defending champion Serena Williams cruised into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday after comfortable win over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets.
Kim Clijsters crashed out of the Australian Open on Friday along with eighth seed Jelena Jankovic, but fellow former world No. 1 Justine Henin continued her winning return to tennis.
1. The Fed Cup didn't exactly threaten the Super Bowl -- or, for that matter, UFC 109 -- as the weekend's biggest sporting event. But the competition served up some spirited tennis and intriguing results. In Lievin, France, the U.S. team pulled an upset grande. Melanie Oudin played the best tennis since her U.S. Open breakthrough, winning both her matches. And Bethanie Mattek-Sands won in singles and in doubles alongside Liezel Huber. The Williams sisters didn't play and can't really be blamed; the competition isn't exactly a top priority, even within the sport. But the U.S. B-team earned a solid "A." Well done.
What will it take to get Nadal back into game shape ... for the long run? Take time off? Retire then unretire? Knee surgery? Change his game? Please tell that a six-time Grand Slam champion isn't done at 23. --Yves, Montreal
So it has come to this in the world of big-time tennis: You're 28 years old, absolutely in your prime, cherishing the game -- and you're some kind of mythical superhero, a miracle of longevity and commitment.
Britain's Andy Murray came from a set down to see off the bold challenge of Croatian outsider Marin Cilic to reach the final of the Australian Open with a 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory in Melbourne on Thursday night.
Men's semifinals: Andy Murray of Great Britain came from a set down to see off the bold challenge of Croatian outsider Marin Cilic to reach the final of the Australian Open on Thursday.
Reigning Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal was forced to retire hurt from his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray in Melbourne on Tuesday.
So much about the Australian Open suggests a year of intrigue and fresh storylines, but there is disturbing familiarity to the biggest story: Rafael Nadal's fading invincibility, and the notion that we've seen the best of his rivalry with Roger Federer.
U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro was sent crashing from Australian Open by 14th seed Marin Cilic of Croatia in a marathon five-set match in Melbourne on Sunday.
Defending champion Serena Williams cruised into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday after comfortable win over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets.
Kim Clijsters crashed out of the Australian Open on Friday along with eighth seed Jelena Jankovic, but fellow former world No. 1 Justine Henin continued her winning return to tennis.
Tour officials would have you believe that the 2009 Grand Slam season was another compelling, fun-filled display of women's tennis, but it was hardly that. It was a mess. If there was an overriding theme, it was something along the lines of "I'm An Emotional Wreck."
Were you surprised at the Elena Dementieva-Justine Henin result? Henin has dominated Dementieva in past meetings (nine wins in 11 matches), but they last played in 2007 and Dementieva has been performing pretty well of late. What does this say about Henin's chances moving forward? --Stephen Males, Devonshire, Bermuda
Isn't it surprising, Jon? Roger Federer only came up with the "Hit for Haiti" idea on Saturday morning. Television only advertised it on Saturday afternoon and evening, and the papers the next morning. I was there and we had a great time. It is quite astounding that they were able to organize it in one day -- and good on people for coming. Laver was full capacity and it still surprises me, even with the realization that Down Under is a sports-mad society. Props for Tennis Australia, players and fans. A chunk of change was donated, too. -- Deepak, Melbourne
Former champion Maria Sharapova was the biggest name to fall as she lost an epic three-set match with fellow-Russian Maria Kirilenko on a wet and windy opening day at the Australian Open.
SI.com's Jon Wertheim breaks down the men's and women's seeds at the Australian Open. Read on for the top first-round matchups, dark horses to watch and his predicted winners.
SI.com's Jon Wertheim breaks down the men's and women's seeds at the Australian Open. Read on for the top first-round matchups, dark horses to watch and his predicted winners.
In Doha last October Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki provided one of the most harrowing moments ever seen on a tennis court. Battling through cramps in the third set of a match against Vera Zvonareva, she fell to the court, her tear-streaked face a portrait of agony, her body contorted in pain.
In his powerful autobiography, "Open," tennis legend Andre Agassi shows us that the language of tennis is much akin to the language of life -- advantage, service, fault, love. With unflinching honesty, Agassi reveals that his seemingly charmed life as a tennis giant was one he deeply hated. He talks to Oprah.com's Jenn Horton about looking back at his journey, facing his demons and finding empowerment and love through family, philanthropy and even tennis.
You can lament the length of the season. You can mourn a confusing ranking system, greedy administrators and tape-delayed broadcasts. You can mourn the corruption of the word "retirement." But say this about tennis: It's never boring. This year's episodes included cocaine kisses, crystal meth cover-ups, unraveling hairpieces, no-fault foot faults, and $9 million payoffs.
A few thoughts as the season comes to an end ...
1. Move over, Kim Clijsters. The Belgian may have won the U.S. Open but she didn't even stage the most impressive tennis comeback result this month. Out of the sport since the mid-'90s, Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan returned in full this year and steadily climbed the rankings. On Sunday, a day before her 39th birthday, Date Krumm won her first title in 12 years, beating Daniela Hantuchova and Maria Kirilenko, among others, to take the Korean Open. "I honestly don't know where I get the energy from at my age," she says. And does anyone really doubt whether Justine Henin, a sapling at 27, can make an immediate impact?
Four thoughts from the never-ending drama of the tennis world:
Roger Federer has been hit with a $1,500 fine for swearing at the umpire during his shock U.S. Open final defeat to Juan Martin Del Potro.
I feel as though tennis has never been so popular. Lead segments on the news, hot topics in the blogosphere, hundreds of questions rolling in here. Were it not for Kanye West, we might have even had the president weighing in on Serena-gate. We may as well ride the wave with a quick post-U.S. Open mailbag.
The man who dethroned Roger Federer brings a fascinating background to the tennis world
NEW YORK -- The U.S. Open felt like two separate tournaments. The first was an exciting, spirited 10-day party, played amid ideal conditions. The second was a soggy circus. But in the end, the sun came back out and we were treated to some compelling finals. Herewith, some scattered observations and opinions:
Unseeded Belgian former world number one Kim Clijsters' return to women's tennis culminated in a U.S. Open women's singles title after she beat Danish ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki 7-5 6-3 in New York on Sunday night.
Former women's champion Kim Clijsters has claimed her biggest victory since her comeback from retirement after beating third-seed Venus Williams at the U.S. Open on Sunday.
Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal quickly wrapped up victory in his U.S. Open quarterfinal against Fernando Gonzalez as the predicted continued rain in New York briefly held off on Saturday.
The Williams sisters have reached the women's doubles final at the U.S. Open for the first time in a decade after being taken to three sets on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic has reached the U.S. Open semi-finals for the third year in a row after beating Fernando Verdasco in four sets at Flushing Meadows.
Fourth seed Novak Djokovic cruised to a fourth-round victory over 15th seed Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, winning 6-1 6-3 6-3 at the U.S. Open.
At a bare minimum, when you've represented Robert Kennedy, Arthur Ashe, Michael Jordan, and Jimmy Connors, among others, you ought to have some good stories. And Donald Dell doesn't disappointment. A well-known figure in the tennis world for being the sport's first agent, helping to found the ATP Tour and serving as a U.S. Davis Cup captain, Dell, 71, mixes practical advice and war stories in his new book, Never Make the First Offer.
Fourth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia became the first big-name casualty of the 2009 U.S. Open when American teenager Melanie Oudin claimed another grand slam scalp at Flushing Meadows.
Serena Williams moved a step closer to defending her U.S. Open title, although she had to produce her best tennis to see off Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
Fifth seed Andy Roddick was knocked out of the U.S. Open on Saturday by unseeded American John Isner in a five-set, nearly four-hour thriller at Flushing Meadows.
Top seeds Dinara Safina and Maria Sharapova crashed out of the U.S. Open to teenagers in each of their marathon three-set matches on Saturday in major upsets at Flushing Meadows.
Ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki ousted sixth seed and French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in a three-set, two-tiebreaker thriller at the U.S. Open.
NEW YORK -- Admiring consistency in the men's bracket, rolling out the red carpet for a rising star and checking your mail on Day 5 ...
Grades for the 2009 U.S. Open after six days:
Third seed Venus Williams stepped up her bid for her third U.S. Open title with a convincing 6-4 6-2 win over fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Wednesday.
World number one Dinara Safina and most of the top women's seeds at the U.S. Open coasted through to the second round, but Ana Ivanovic was knocked out by Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko in a playoff thriller that was decided by the last point.
Roger Federer began his defense of the U.S. Open title with a routine straight sets victory over American wildcard Devin Britton at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
Former world number one, Rafael Nadal, has exclusively told CNN his levels of fitness ahead of the U.S. Open are "better than expected," boosting his chances of becoming only the seventh man in history to win a career grand slam with victory at Flushing Meadows.
SI.com's Jon Wertheim breaks down the men's and women's seeds at the U.S. Open. Read on for the top first-round matchups, dark horses to watch and his predicted winners.
A 'bag before the big dance (and we don't mean this).
Instead of the Ad-In, Ad-Out format, we're going to try something new on Monday, a "best-of-three" recap of the week plus other random thoughts:
With the last Grand Slam of the decade kicking off next Monday, here's a look at five of the most pressing questions entering the U.S. Open:
New world number two Andy Murray is optimistic he can carry the form which gave him victory over Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the Montreal Masters into the U.S. Open.
Novak Djokovic left the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court to jeers and catcalls after his U.S. Open quarterfinal victory over Andy Roddick on Thursday night.
World number one Rafael Nadal wasted little time in seeing off Ryler DeHeart 6-1 6-2 6-4 to reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Thursday night.
Roger Federer, starting a Grand Slam as the ex-world number one, launched his bid for a fifth consecutive US Open title with an imposing 6-3 6-0 6-3 win over Maximo Gonzalez on Tuesday.
First, Serena Williams wins the Australian Open out of shape and ranked No. 87 in the world. Then Venus wins Wimbledon ranked in the 20s after not getting past the quarters of a Grand Slam since she won Wimbledon two years before.
The moment of consolation came late at the 2007 U.S. Open, but it was not for Roger Federer's latest victim. This one was for the crowd, for the 25,230 unsuspecting fans who had come to Flushing Meadows to take in a New York spectacle, watch some tennis and overpay for food and drink, and who suddenly found themselves lacking. This one was for those who'd tracked Federer's elegant ride into history for the last two weeks, who'd seen him rise to every challenge with otherworldly calm and brush aside all comers like lint off a lapel.
The fans came in record droves, the rain didn't come at all, the top seeds won and the Djoker got away. Cleaning out the notebook from a generally excellent 2007 U.S. Open.
NEW YORK -- We caught up with Sports Illustrated senior writer S.L. Price, who is covering the U.S. Open, to get his thoughts on the upcoming men's final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and Justine Henin's 6-1, 6-3 win over Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women's final.
NEW YORK -- Justine Henin and Venus Williams were tied at 5-5 in the first set of their semifinal clash and as hard as Svetlana Kuznetsova tried not to look at the television during her post-match press conference, her eyes kept drifting toward the screen. Why? Because you always want to see what your executioner looks like.
As hilarious after his U.S. Open quarterfinal victory as he was good during it, Novak Djokovic treated an appreciative audience to his spot-on impersonations of Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal.
David Ferrer kept up his surprising run at the U.S. Open, reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal by defeating Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2 6-3 7-5 at Flushing Meadows.
Nikolay Davydenko, a man with a lot on his mind, has reached the semifinals of the US Open for the second year running where he has the awesome task of facing world number one Roger Federer.
So expressionless and serious-minded all night, Venus Williams waited to crack a smile until her victory was complete.
NEW YORK -- The boldface names arrived shortly before the sun dropped down over Flushing Meadows.
Second seed Rafael Nadal was sent packing from the U.S. Open by Spanish compatriot David Ferrer in a dramatic fourth round match at Flushing Meadows that ended in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Russian Anna Chakvetadze reached her first Grand Slam semifinal, taking the last six games Wednesday to beat Shahar Peer 7-5 6-1 at the U.S. Open.
NEW YORK -- For anyone not named Nadal or Djokovic, the notion of beating Roger Federer looms as one of life's great pipe dreams, like dating Jessica Alba or trading checking accounts with Oprah.
World number one Justine Henin beat Serena Williams for the third time in a row at the quarterfinal stage of a grand slam with a 7-6 6-1 victory in the U.S Open on Tuesday night at Flushing Meadows.
Early this past March, on the eve of a men's Masters Series tennis tournament at Indian Wells, Calif., the phone rang in Dmitry Tursunov's hotel room. "Would you like to make some money?" the caller asked. It wasn't the first time the 27th-ranked Russian had been asked that question in that particular way. In the fall of 2006, Tursunov was contacted by an unknown voice offering cash for match fixing. "It happened to a lot of players," he said. "I don't know if it's the same person, but I think everybody gets contacted. And whether you act on it or not, it's a problem."
Growing up amid war, a new generation of Serbian stars has taken to the tennis courts and surprised the world
Carlos Moya won the match-up between the oldest and youngest men left in the tournament to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time since 1998.
Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan brothers will once again represent the United States in their Davis Cup semifinal in Sweden later this month.
Roger Federer has had his toughest tests against a Spanish left-hander and it happened again in the fourth round of the US Open.
OK, settle down, settle down. I know. You're all excited about the U.S. Open Cup semifinals taking place Tuesday night, but if you're not careful, you're going to spill your Yoo-hoo on your new Carolina RailHawks scarf.
NEW YORK -- Whether it's Damir Dokic getting thrown off the grounds for creating a row over the price of salmon or Maria Sharapova telling a room full of writers that her life was not about a banana, each U.S. Open provides a handful of moments of strange and unexpected theatre. Yesterday was such a day, though it was the tennis that left you bewildered and drained.
Rafael Nadal kept his U.S. Open campaign on track on Sunday despite a painful knee as Spanish-speaking claycourters clamped a stranglehold on the bottom half of the draw.
When you hear about Serena and Venus Williams overpowering opponents, as happened Sunday at the U.S. Open to two recent Grand Slam finalists, it's easy to forget that the sisters are, indeed, individuals.
Andy Roddick advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open -- and a possible showdown with top seed Roger Federer -- after Czech ninth seed Tomas Berdych retired in the second set of their match due to illness.
Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova moved smoothly into the US Open quarterfinals on Monday, profiting from a bottom half of the women's draw that has been blown wide open.
With Labor Day upon us, we decided to let the players do the work today. Here is the story of the first week of the U.S. Open, as told by the men and women at play:
World number one Roger Federer answered the threat of big-serving U.S. giant John Isner to join top challengers Andy Roddick, Nikolay Davydenko and James Blake in the US Open fourth round on Saturday.
We're at the halfway point of the U.S. Open. The ledger so far: multiple pleasant surprises, one monster upset, one night session classic and no rain. Herewith, our midterm grades. All marks dispensed on the Zac Efron East High bell curve.
Top seed Justine Henin powered into the last 16 at the U.S. Open on Friday with her third straight-sets victory in three matches.
World number three Novak Djokovic battled through painful leg cramps to outlast Radek Stepanek in a gruelling five-set thriller to reach the third round of the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows.
Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska produced a massive upset by beating defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-4 1-6 6-2 in the US Open third round on Saturday.
They broke out odd little dances after hitting big shots, swaying their hips and rocking their arms to music only in their heads.
NEW YORK -- He is the British number one, a designation that carries little weight in New York but the weight of the world at Wimbledon.
Top home hope Andy Roddick moved closer to a US Open quarter-final clash with reigning champion Roger Federer when his second-round opponent Jose Acasuso retired after the third set.
Maria Sharapova produced another display of fearsome big hitting to roll into the US Open third round on Thursday.
NEW YORK -- For the past week, the eyes of the tennis world have been on New York City, for the final piece of the Grand Slam pie, the U.S. Open. What is it about the final major of the year that makes this tournament so unique and a huge fan favorite?
NEW YORK -- During my last year on Tour before I officially retire, there have been a lot of "last" experiences. Tuesday night was the last singles match I'll play at the U.S. Open, and it may have been the most exhilarating experience of them all.
American wild card James Blake produced an inspired performance to beat second seed Rafael Nadal of Spain in the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows on Saturday.
World Sport anchor Candy Reid casts her eye over the favorites in the men's draw at the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 29. For the women's draw, click here.
United States tennis chiefs have splashed out on a new $650,000 men's tournament to act as a warm-up for the U.S. Open.
Only one New York event is big enough to get the jets at LaGuardia to change their course: the U.S. Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament. Every summer--this year, from Aug. 28 to...
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