Americans Experience Ups and Downs on Day Three of the U.S. Open
There were many Americans in action on Day Three at the 2010 U.S. Open on Wednesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Some new stars were born, others faired quite well, while others took an early exit from Flushing Meadows.
In the Open’s biggest upset so far, ninth-seeded Andy Roddick, the top American men’s player, was defeated in his night session match with Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(4). Roddick won the first set fairly easily, but from that point forward, it was all Tipsarevic the rest of the way. He consistently hit his backhand up the line for winners and dictated play more often than not. And in a role reversal of sorts, it was Tipsarevic who had Roddick off balance when returning serve. Tipsarevic, who beat Olivier Rochus in the first round, was strong in sets two through four, and pulled off the major upset under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court. For Roddick, it was the first time he has lost in the second round of the Open, and yet another disappointing result at a major. Last year, Roddick lost to John Isner in the third round.
Another American who fell in Wednesday’ s action was last year’s Cinderella story, Mealnie Oudin. Oudin had trouble finding her game and made too many unforced errors in her loss to Katryn Bondarenko, 6-2, 7-5. Oudin started slow on Louis Armstrong Court and Bondarenko, the 29th seed, took advantage. Bondarenko took the first set 6-2, and while Oudin played much better in the second set, it wasn’t enough. Although the pro-Oudin crowd tried to get her going, Oudin fell 5-7 in the second set.
Young American Vania KIng put up a great fight on Louis Armstrong court against 24th-seeded Slovakian Daniella Hantuchova, winning the first set before losing in three to Hantuchova, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom on the American’s side as some did live to see another day.
Sam Querey, John Isner, and Venus Williams all won to advance to the next round. Isner and Williams won in straight sets , while Querrey needed four to move on. Isner and Querrey are now in the second round, and will carry the torch for the American men with Roddick being out.
Wlliams advanced to the third round with her win and will play on Friday.
Another American to move on was Ryan Harrison. Harrison shocked the 15th seed Ivan Ljubicic in their first round match, winning in four sets on Court 11 in front of a predominant pro-American crowd, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Click here for a complete schedule of Day Four action at the 2010 U.S. Open.
All photos credited to Kenneth B. Goldberg
Serbian Ana Ivanovic takes a break in the action in her 6-3, 6-0 victory against 21st-seeded Jie Zheng of China in Wednesday’s U.S. Open action
Twenty-fourth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in her match against American Vania King
Gael Monfils of France en route to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win in Wednesday Open action against Russian Igor Andreev
American Andy Roddick’s run at the 2010 U.S. Open hit a roadblock by the name of Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia who ousted Roddick under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(4)
American John Isner in his 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win against Frederico Gil of Portugal
2009 U.S. Open Cinderella story Melanie Oudin and her fairy tale run at the 2010 Open ended Wednesday with a defeat at the hands of Ukranian Alona Bondarenko, 6-2, 7-5
The top seeded American doubles team of the Bryan Brothers won their match on Wednesday at the 2010 Open, defeating Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine & German Bjorn Phau, 6-3, 6-2
In a major upset on the day, seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic was sent home by Michael Llodra of France, 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-4
Twentieth-seeded Sam Querrey in his Wednesday afternoon match against his fellow countryman, Bradley Klahn
