Flushing Meadows - US Open 08

[SAFINNO1]

Tournament Name: 2008 US OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA
Dates: AUGUST 25-SEPTEMBER 7, 2008
QUALIFYING: AUGUST 19-22, 2008
Prize Money: US $9,600,000
128 DRAW

SITE: USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER
FLUSHING MEADOWS-CORONA PARK
FLUSHING, NY 11368
SURFACE: HARD DECO TURF II
BALL: WILSON EXTRA DUTY/REGULAR DUTY FOR MIXED DOUBLES
PRIZE MONEY: USD PAID THROUGH ATP
WEB SITE: www.usopen.org

ATP Ranking Points/ATP Race Points
W: 1000/200
F: 700/140
SF: 450/90
QF: 250/50
R16: 150/30
R32: 75/15
R64: 35/7
R128: 5/1 (WC: 0/0)
Q: +15/+3
Q32: 8/0
Q64: 4/0
Q128: 0/0

MENS SINGLES DRAW
R Nadal v Qualy
Qualy v O Rochus
V Troicki v C Ball
L Horna v P Kohlschreiber
T Berdych v S Querrey
P Andujar v N Devilder
R Schuttler v Serra
Qualy v I Karlovic

J Blake v D Young
D Grememayer v S Darcis
M Fish v Qualy
S Grosjean v PH Mathieu
G Monfils v Qualy
E Korolev v R Soderling
JC Ferrero v B Evans
M Daniel v D Nalbandian

D Ferrer v MV Arguello
Qualy v J Isner
Qualy v R Karanusic
K Nishikori v J Monaco
JM Del Potro v G Canas
O Hernandez v T Belluci
M Berrer v J Acasuso
M Granollers v G Simon

S Wawrinka v S Bolleli
W Odesnik v F Fognini
N Lapenti v YS Lu
Qualy v M Youzhny
F Lopez v J Melzer
J Vanek v Qualy
T Gabashvilli v M Llodra
S Roitman v A Murray

A Roddick v F Santoro
E Gulbis v T Johannson
GG Lopez v D Hrbaty
HT Lee v A Seppi
N Kiefer v I Minar
S Jenkins v J Nieminen
B Reynolds v Qualy
I Navarro v F Gonzalez

T Robredo v M Zverev
V Spadea v M Safin
Qualy v C Moya
S Ventura v JW Tsonga
M Cillic v J Benneteau
R Ginepri v A Delic
Quali v N Mahut
A Clement V N Djokovic

N Davydenko v D Sela
A Kraijeck v A Calleri
A Montanes v V Hanescu
E Schwank v D Tursunov
N Almagro v F Dancevic
S Warburg v J Tipsarevic
L Recourdec v Qualy
T Haas v R Gasquet

F Verdasco v I kunitsyn
Qualy v Qualy
F Gil v J Chardy
M Giquel v I Andreev
R Stepanek v P Starace
J Levine v C Guccione
Qualy v Qualy
M Gonzalez v R Federer

Marat reached the 2nd round last year lets hope for a better showing this time round at the place of his first Slam Victory
COME ON MARAT!

[maratsmaiden]

Let's hope a weekend of fishing, relaxation and healing of the neck work their magic and Marat is able find his game again in Flushing.. Praying for a good draw!!

[zolazk]

Is anyone going to US Open besides me? I'd like to have some company there..!

[Natasha]

to whoever is goin, have fun and take lots of pics if you can...

[Barbarella]

Maaaan ... Zolazk, if there was any possible way of accompanying you the USO for a spot of Marat-appreciation then whole forum be there LMAO! ;D ;D

So, in your role as TGFR's most privileded current member, we are relying on you for piccies, vids and a generally a very tasty account of all 6'4" Russian Tatar!

Have a FABULOUS time!!

[jenhatter06]

the change is official ... Rafa & Roger have switched ends of the draw:

2008 US Open Seeds
1. Rafael Nadal, Spain
2. Roger Federer, Switzerland
3. Novak Djokovic, Serbia
4. David Ferrer, Spain
5. Nikolay Davydenko, Russia
6. Andy Murray, Great Britain
7. David Nalbandian, Argentina
8. Andy Roddick, U.S.
9. James Blake, U.S.
10. Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland
11. Fernando Gonzalez, Chile
12. Richard Gasquet, France
13. Fernando Verdasco, Spain
14. Ivo Karlovic, Croatia
15. Tommy Robredo, Spain
16. Gilles Simon, France
17. Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina
18. Nicolas Almagro, Spain
19. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France
20. Nicolas Kiefer, Germany
21. Mikhail Youzhny, Russia
22. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic
23. Igor Andreev, Russia
24. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France
25. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany
26. Dmitry Tursunov, Russia
27. Feliciano Lopez, Spain
28. Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic
29. Juan Monaco, Argentina
30. Marin Cilic, Croatia
31. Andreas Seppi, Italy
32. Gael Monfils, France

[jenhatter06]

Lleyton out of the Open

Lleyton Hewitt, who captured his first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in 2001, withdrew from the tournament after undergoing left hip surgery last Saturday. The 27-year-old Aussie will be sidelined the rest of the season.

It is only the second time in Hewitt's career he has withdrawn from a Grand Slam tournament ('05 Roland Garros). The US Open was his most successful Slam with a 39-8 career record. In addition to his singles title, he won the doubles crown in 2000 (w/Mirnyi) and advanced to the singles final in 2004 (l. to Federer). Overall, he reached the quarterfinals or better seven times.

Hewitt, who last week lost in the second round to eventual champion Nadal at the Beijing Olympics, said on his website, "Surgery was always the last resort, but unfortunately that’s what it came down to.”

The surgery consisted of a hip arthroscopy and repairing of a hip labral tear.


Get better soon

[justsafin]

Aug 20, 2008 17:21:40 GMT 3 jenhatter06 said:

Lleyton out of the Open

Lleyton Hewitt, who captured his first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in 2001, withdrew from the tournament after undergoing left hip surgery last Saturday. The 27-year-old Aussie will be sidelined the rest of the season.

sigh....even though I have never been a Lleyton's fan, still feel sorry for him. Hope he gets well soon. Hip surgery....

recently, New Balls generation have been plagued by injuries...Juanqi, Marat, now Lleyton.....and Roger was dethroned after 4 years of dominance.....

How I miss those good old days.

[Natasha]

it was bound to happen justsafin

[Dina]

Opening-Night Celebration To Feature Past Champions, Star-Studded Entertainment
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Opening Night Ceremony of the 2008 US Open on Monday, Aug. 25, will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of tennis’ Open Era with a parade of more than 25 former US Open singles champions. The on-court ceremony will be hosted by the Oscar-winning actor/director Forest Whitaker and will feature special musical performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind & Fire and the Tony® Award winning Jersey Boys.

USA Network will carry the ceremony live. Throughout the tournament, the US Open will feature additional celebrations and special tributes to past champions.

“Opening Night will be a memorable and historic evening at the US Open with the celebration of the Open Era,” said Arlen Kantarian, Chief Executive Officer, Pro Tennis, USTA. “We look forward to honoring the tournament’s rich history with some of the game’s greatest champions ever to play the game.”

Among the tennis greats expected to be on-hand for Opening Night are Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, Tracy Austin, Martina Navratilova, Stan Smith, Boris Becker, Gabriela Sabatini, John Newcombe, Ilie Nastase, Guillermo Vilas and Mats Wilander.

The celebration will include a look back to the very first US Open in 1968 and will include Virginia Wade, the first women’s singles US Open champion, and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe and her daughter Camera Ashe, who will represent their late husband and father Arthur Ashe, who won the 1968 men’s singles title.

Additionally, present-day players expected to appear in the celebration include Roger Federer, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Marat Safin and Andy Roddick.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will participate in the opening-night festivities, as he welcomes the tennis world to New York. The US Open and the City of New York share a special relationship that dates back to 1915, when the West Side Tennis Club first hosted the men’s singles U.S. National Championships, a precursor to the modern-day US Open. Since its beginning in 1881, the U.S. National Championships was strictly limited to amateurs until 1968, when the tournament became “open” to both professionals and amateurs and changed its name to the US Open.

Forest Whitaker is one of Hollywood’s most accomplished actors, directors and producers, who has showcased his talents in a multitude of demanding and diverse roles. The year 2007 is a year to remember for Whitaker. After winning almost every Critics Award, he received the Academy Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe for Best Actor, the Best Actor SAG and BAFTA Awards for his performance as Uganda dictator Idi Amin in Fox Searchlight’s “The Last King of Scotland.” Whitaker has garnered critical attention for his performance on last season’s “The Shield” opposite Michael Chiklis, as well as for his appearance on “ER” this season, for which he garnered an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Earth, Wind & Fire is among the most influential, commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the last three decades. Formed in 1969 in Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire's 39-year history resulted in millions of albums sold worldwide and distinguished awards and accolades. Founding members: Maurice White (leader, vocalist, songwriter); Philip Bailey (lead vocalist, percussionist); Verdine White (bassist); Ralph Johnson (drummer and percussionist) have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and are credited with eight Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, honors from the NAACP, the BET Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jersey Boys, winner of the 2006 Tony® Award for Best Musical and the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Recording, tells the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time -- Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The performers are Sebastian Arcelus (plays Bob Gaudio), Tony Award winner Christian Hoff (plays Tommy DeVito), Michael Longoria (plays Frankie Valli) and J. Robert Spencer (plays Nick Massi).

[SAFINNO1]

Men's and Women's Players to Watch
Monday, August 11, 2008

As the 2008 US Open approaches, here are some key players to keep an eye on. The official draw ceremony is Thursday, August 21 and play begins Monday, August 25.

Men

Roger Federer – Putting him on the list is a no-brainer as the four-time defending champion. But it has not been a great 2008 for the Swiss, as he will soon lose his long-time hold on the No. l world ranking to Rafael Nadal and also lost both the French Open and his five-year reign at Wimbledon to the Spaniard. Still, he has made at least the semifinals in each of the Grand Slams this year so we might see the great Swiss win the season’s last major.

Rafael Nadal – Based on his outbreak season, one could argue the new world No. 1 is the favorite this year. However, the hardcourts in New York have not been kind to Nadal in his career – as he has never advanced past the quarterfinals and lost in the fourth round to buddy David Ferrer in 2008. But the Spaniard has proved this year he is a threat on all surfaces as he won his first major outside the clay in Paris with a five-set instant classic win at Wimbledon.

Novak Djokovic – The 2007 US Open finalist started the year with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and followed it up with two Masters Series titles in the next four months. However, the world No. 3 has not won a title since Rome in May and had a disappointing second round loss at Wimbledon to former US Open champion Marat Safin and lost to Nadal in the semifinals at Roland Garros.

Andy Roddick – It has been a difficult spring and summer season for the 2003 US Open champion. The American, who last reached the US Open final in 2006, has been battling a shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from Roland Garros and he has not played much this summer after a second round loss at Wimbledon. But if there is a tournament where Roddick has the chance to bounce back, it is in Flushing, where the fast courts perfectly suit his power-game.

James Blake – The US Open has been the American’s most successful Grand Slam in his career, reaching the quarterfinals in both 2005 and 2006 before a tough five-set loss to Tommy Haas in the fourth round last year. He reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open earlier this year (losing to Federer) – and is still looking for his first title of 2008 - but lost in the second round at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Andy Murray – Murray is coming off a great summer, where he reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in his native Great Britain and upset in the final Djokovic to win the Masters Series event in Cincinnati, to reach a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world. The Scot has not fared too well in his career in Flushing Meadows, with a third round loss in 2007 and his best showing a fourth round appearance in 2006. But look for him to potentially make some noise if he continues his great streak of late.

Marat Safin – The Russian, who won the US Open title in 2000, is one of just four former champions in the draw, joining Federer, Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt. Also a former world No. 1, Safin made a splash at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals, where he fell to Federer but lost in the second round of both Roland Garros and the Australian Open. Which Safin will show up at the US Open?

Women


Dinara Safina – Safina enters the US Open as arguably the best player on the WTA Tour this year and has been taking down everyone in sight as she worked her way up to a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world and reached her first career Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. She clinched the Olympus US Open Series women’s title by winning the Rogers Cup and she also won the title at the East West Bank Classic and will now compete for double the prize money at the US Open. Should she win the women’s singles title in New York, she would earn $2.5 million – the largest payout in tennis history.

Ana Ivanovic – After nipping at the top last year, Ivanovic broke through in 2008, winning her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros and reaching the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career. She also reached the final at the Australian Open, falling to Maria Sharapova, who is out of the US Open with a shoulder injury. The US Open has been the talented Serb’s least successful major to date, having never advanced past a fourth round showing in 2007. Could 2008 finally be her year?

Jelena Jankovic – Jankovic is still in search of her first Grand Slam title and in fact, is still looking to even reach her first Grand Slam final. However, that has not stopped her from ascending to the top of the rankings as she recently took over the No. 1 spot from Ivanovic for the first time in her career. The Serb has had a consistent season, reaching the semifinals at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros and has reached the quarterfinals and semifinals at the 2007 and 2006 US Open, respectively.

Venus Williams – It has been an on-and-off season for Williams, who started the year with a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open, missed time in April with illness and then suffered a disappointing third round loss at Roland Garros. However, she bounced back with a sensational performance at the All-England Club, winning her fifth Wimbledon title. She has since been sidelined with a knee injury much of the summer leading up to the Olympics. A two-time US Open champion, Venus will be looking to win her first title in Flushing since 2001.

Serena Williams – Serena was having a good season before a knee injury slowed her as well this summer during the Olympus US Open Series. After losing in the third round at Roland Garros, she had a great Wimbledon, reaching the final where she fell to older sister Venus and has won three titles in 2008. Like Venus, Serena is also a two-time US Open champion, with her last title coming in 2002. She will be looking to improve in Flushing this year, having not advanced past the quarterfinals since her ’02 championship run.

Svetlana Kuznetsova – The Russian is still looking for her first title in 2008 and suffered a disappointing first round loss at the Olympics to Li Na but the US Open has been Kuzentsova’s most successful Grand Slam. She was a surprise US Open champion in 2004 for her first and only Grand Slam title to date and also reached the final in 2007, falling to the now-retired Justine Henin.

Lindsay Davenport – It is now ten years since Davenport won her first Grand Slam title at the 1998 US Open, which remains her only US Open title. The American made a return to the tour this year after taking off much of 2007 to have her first child. However, after a successful start to the season, Davenport has been slowed since Wimbledon with an ailing knee that forced her out of competition until the Olympics, where she could only play doubles. If her knee is feeling better, Davenport could be a large factor in potentially her last US Open.

www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2008-08-11/200808111218483676426.html

[SAFINNO1]

Marat Safin to play Vince Spadea in first round - basically the i can keep my head screwed will win match

Possible 2nd round with Robredo and in a tough section of draw

Draw in first post of thread - and dont forget Rafa is at top and Roger at bottom

Some matches which i find interesting Seb v PHM - Zhenya v Soderling - ARod v Magician - Haas v Gasquet

[Natasha]

Marat should definately beat that hasbeen, Robredo is gonna be tough tho

[invincible1]

i vote for the semifinal lol. At this year's Wimbledon there was a similar pool and i voted for semifinals and ...voila! Of course, i'm not claiming that he's going to repeat the performance( one has to keep his sense of rationality), but i am very superstitious and..

[Barbarella]

Does anyone know whether the USO is going to be shown on terrestrial TV in the UK? (Or even on any broadcasting network?) Or will we have to rely on live-streaming again?