USO Crisis Center Day 15

By Andrew Burton, TW Contributing Editor

Afternoon, all.

Ed McGrogan asked me to let you know that a special Tuesday Net Post is in the works.  I also had a phone conversation with Pete, who's been burning the midnight oil through the many night sessions; he'll have a wrap up of both singles finals, and the tournament in general, later this week.

Rosangel Valenti will, with luck, soon be home after her short trip to New York to see one of her favorite players, Andy Murray, reach his first GS final (in the process defeating another favorite, Rafael Nadal).  Rosangel has done great work over the past couple of weeks on the regularly scheduled Crisis Centers, for which much thanks.

The ATP Final this afternoon between Murray and the four-time champion Roger Federer is a mouth-watering prospect for fans.  To me, Murray has now reached the take-off point - where a young player, having served an apprenticeship, gives notice that he's ready to reach the Elite status, which I define as >5000 ATP Ranking Points and a multi-slam winner (actual or potential).  Last year at Wimbledon I suggested Novak Djokovic was making this transition, and he subsequently went on to reach his first GS final, win the next one, and add three Masters shields to his trophy cabinet.  Murray is assured of being the ATP no 4 next week, and we'll find out soon enough if he's also the first Scot in who-knows-how-long to win a GS title.

His opponent today, Roger Federer, has seen his ATP Ranking Points go in the opposite direction recently.  Federer achieved a career high of 8370 ATP Ranking Points at the end of 2006.  Because the methodology for awarding points has changed over time, comparisons are tricky, but calculations I made last year suggested that only Agassi, Lendl and Sampras had achieved results that would put them over 7000 ATP Ranking Points using today's system.  To their number we must now add Rafael Nadal, who will have 7000 ATP Ranking Points when the new rankings are posted.  A victory for Federer today could act as a counterweight to some who've seen his 2008 season as pointers of a longer term ebb in form, but won't in all likelihood enable him to catch Nadal for the year-end number 1 ranking.

Player of the Day: this can only be Serena Williams, victor in straight sets over no 2 seed Jelena Jankovic last night.  Apparently no US Open WTA final has been to three sets since 1995.  Jankovic served for set two at 5-4, but double faults at set point and game point two games later were, to say the least, untimely for her cause.  Serena Williams now has 9 GS titles: I'm not aware of a more exuberant celebration for any of her previous wins.

Please keep comments focused on tennis until the tournament is concluded.  New York weather is expected to be sunny and warm.  As always, enjoy today's tennis!