USO Crisis Center, Day 8

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By Rosangel Valenti, TW Contributing Editor

Good morning - or, for those of us here in the sleep-deprived European zone after last night's/this morning's four-set tussle between Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic, good afternoon. We're into the second week, and a bunch of fourth-round matches are being played today. The Order of Play can be located on this link. As usual, please use this Crisis Center post to discuss or match-call today's tennis. We'd appreciate it if you could steer clear of off-topic chat until after the day's tennis is over.

Matches of the Day:

Men, Fourth Round. There's just time to briefly comment on all four matches. First on Ashe Stadium, Gael Monfils and Mardy Fish will play each other for the first time. Some nice contrasts - the ultra-bendy athletic defender versus the attacker. Following on, Rafael Nadal takes on Sam Querrey. Their head-to-head is 1-0 in Nadal's favour. Querrey took the first set in a tiebreaker during that one match, in Cincy back in 2006, and we could see a tiebreaker or two today. Then, last on Armstrong Stadium, Kei Nishikori takes on Juan Martin Del Potro. Both survived five-setters in the last round, so at least they're even on that front. The teenagers have never played each other before.

Lastly, Andy Murray meets Stan Wawrinka for the second night match on Ashe Stadium. These two are friends off the court, and have a 3-3 head-to-head. Murray won their last match, in Toronto, a scrappy victory during which Wawrinka required a trainer for an ongoing injury, and Murray was bagelled in the second set. He afterwards voiced the thought that perhaps their off-court friendship made it tougher for Stan to be ruthless with him that day. We'll see what happens tonight.

Women, Fourth Round. First on Armstrong Stadium is Anna-Lena Groenefeld, taking on Dinara Safina. The head-to-head is 2-1 in Groenefeld's favour, though they haven't played since 2006, and that was on green clay. The newer, fitter version of Safina should be the favourite. Following this, Amelie Mauresmo plays Flavia Pennetta. Surprisingly, these two have only played each other once before, during a Fed Cup tie in 2006. Mauresmo won that encounter, 6-1, 6-1, in the same year that she captured her two grand Slam titles. Pennetta is capable of being a tough customer, and I'd expect today's score to be less one-sided. Pennetta is, after all, seeded 16th to Mauresmo's 32nd, so more of a challenge than Julie Coin, in the previous round.

Third on Ashe stadium is Agnieszka Radwanska up against Venus Williams. The head-to-head is 1-0 in Radwanska's favour, with a 6-3, 6-0 scoreline. It means nothing - I remember the match well; Williams was visibly suffering from a wrist injury that didn't even allow her to hit her backhand with both hands. In addition, the Wimbledon Champion has looked very good indeed during the past week. Lastly, Serena Williams plays Severine Bremond during the evening session on Ashe stadium. There's no previous head-to-head. I expect to see Serena meeting Venus in the quarterfinal.

Player of the Day:

Gilles Muller, after pulling off an unexpected victory over Nicolas Almagro, in a five-setter. This after defeating Tommy Haas in the second round, also in a five-setter, coming back from two sets down.

Weather Report:

Hot and sunny again. The weather is one department in which the US Open has so far completely thrashed Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year.

Talking of the weather, let's hope that all Tribe members who are anywhere near Louisiana and the path of Hurricane Gustav keep safe.

As always, enjoy today's tennis.