No. 4 and 5 seeds ousted by youngsters; Sharapova through after easy night session match on Day 4 in N.Y

The first big upsets at the U.S Open began on Thursday, as teenager Melanie Oudin and 21-year-old Yaroslava Shvedova caused major upsets to two of the top 5 seeds, while top seed Dinara Safina nearly suffered the same fate.

No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva was beaten by 17-year-old Oudin in three sets, with a score of 57 64 63.

"The whole thing was just amazing," said Oudin, who first burst into prominence with a fourth round run at Wimbledon, where she ousted Jankovic along the way for her first Top 10 win; this was her second. "This was pretty big, too. I think this means more to me though, because this is the US Open. I had the whole crowd cheering for me, so much support. I can't believe I won."

"For sure it's disappointing. I was really hoping to play well here. But maybe I overplayed a bit in the summer," said Dementieva, who had by far the best US Open lead-up of the field, placing first in the Olympus US Open Series. "Melanie played really well, though. She was very positive and going for shots, going for winners. It was a solid game from her."

No. 5 seed Jelena Jankovic succumbed to failure after getting beaten in a nail-biter by Shvedova, who made an ace on match point, with a score of 63 67(4) 76(6).

"I like to do aces on match points. I did it twice at the French Open. It was a nice way to end it," Shvedova said. "I told Oudin after my match, 'You inspired me.' I was watching her game. I thanked her. We are good girls today."

The night match featured No. 29 seed Maria Sharapova ousting wildcard Christina McHale, 62 61.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Kristina Barrois (GER) 67(5) 62 63

Melanie Oudin (USA) d. (4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 57 64 63

Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (5) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 63 67(4) 76(6)

(6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 64 62

(9) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (Q) Petra Martic (CRO) 61 60

(13) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. Julie Coin (FRA) 64 76(3)

Sara Errani (ITA) d. (19) Patty Schnyder (SUI) 75 62

(21) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Alizé Cornet (FRA) 16 63 63

(Q) Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) d. (23) Sabine Lisicki (GER) 63 36 75

(24) Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. Stéphanie Dubois (CAN) 64 57 64

(29) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (WC) Christina McHale (USA) 62 61

Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. (30) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 64 60

Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Peng Shuai (CHN) 26 61 64

Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (Q) Shenay Perry (USA) 61 61

Shahar Peer (ISR) d. Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 62 60

Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Tathiana Garbin (ITA) 61 63

Venus, Serena and Kim advance to third round on Day 3 in N.Y

No. 2 seed Serena Williams wasn't challenged by her Hungarian opponent in the night session on Day 3 in N.Y, while older sister and No. 3 seed Venus easily dispatched her American opponent in straight sets to advance to the third round.

Serena had no troubles against Melinda Czink in her second round match, and easily ousted her with a score of 61 61.

Venus had a similar result against Bethanie Mattek-Sands, winning with a score of 64 62.

Wildcard Kim Clijsters had a rematch from Cincinnati against No. 14 seed Marion Bartoli, winning with a score of 57 61 62.

Other top 10 seeded players who won were No. 7 seed Vera Zvonareva, who ousted Anna Chakvetadze with a tough score of 36 61 61; and No. 8 seed Victoria Azarenka, who screamed her way past qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 61 62.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. Melinda Czink (HUN) 61 61

(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 64 62

(7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 36 61 61

(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (Q) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 62 61

(10) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Sania Mirza (IND) 60 60

Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 64 26 64

(WC) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (14) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 57 61 62

(WC) Vania King (USA) d. (15) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 75 64

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. (17) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) 64 60

(18) Li Na (CHN) d. Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) 61 63

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. (20) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 61 63

(26) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 64 64

(31) Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Jill Craybas (USA) 76(6) 61

María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. (Q) Angelique Kerber (GER) 75 63

Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. (Q) Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 46 62 62

Ivanovic ousted in three sets on Tuesday

Ana Ivanovic was the first big seed to be ousted in her debut match, as the Serbian went to three sets against Kateryna Bondarenko and failed to win, while No. 1 seed Dinara Safina nearly suffered the same fate as Ivanovic, winning a tough three setter against a wildcard on Day 2.

Ivanovic was in her worst form, and despite winning the first set and having a match point in the third set in the tiebreak at 6-5 on serve, Bondarenko was strong enough to win, demolishing the former French Open champion with a score of 26 63 76(6).

Safina was in the same position but had a better chance of winning against wildcard Olivia Rogowska of Australia. The Russian was able to go through after a 67(5) 62 64 win.

No. 29 seed Maria Sharapova kicked off the night session on Tuesday, and easily breezed past Tsvetana Pironkova with a score of 63 60.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Singles - First Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (WC) Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 67(5) 62 64

(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (Q) Camille Pin (FRA) 61 62

(5) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 62 63

(6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. Julia Goerges (GER) 63 62

(9) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 64 60

Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (11) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 26 63 76(7)

(13) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) 63 63

Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. (16) Virginie Razzano (FRA) 64 63

(19) Patty Schnyder (SUI) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 46 63 76(6)

(21) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 63 62

(23) Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. Aravane Rezai (FRA) 76(4) 67(4) 61

(24) Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 61 63

Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. (27) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 67(4) 63 62

(29) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 63 60

(30) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 36 63 62

Shahar Peer (ISR) d. (32) Agnes Szavay (HUN) 62 62

Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 26 63 62

Alizé Cornet (FRA) d. (Q) Monique Adamczak (AUS) 46 64 75

Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 63 57 64

Sara Errani (ITA) d. Arantxa Rus (NED) 60 63

Peng Shuai (CHN) d. Jarmila Groth (AUS) 62 63

Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. Masa Zec Peskiric (SLO) 63 63

Tathiana Garbin (ITA) d. (WC) Mallory Cecil (USA) 60 61

Julie Coin (FRA) d. (Q) Eva Hrdinova (CZE) 63 63

Kristina Barrois (GER) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 64 64

Melanie Oudin (USA) d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 61 62

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA)

Stéphanie Dubois (CAN) d. (WC) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 60 64

(Q) Shenay Perry (USA) d. Monica Niculescu (ROU) 64 62

(Q) Petra Martic (CRO) d. Severine Brémond Beltrame (FRA) 64 62

(Q) Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) d. Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) 60 46 61

(WC) Christina McHale (USA) d. Polona Hercog (SLO) 63 61

Venus survives first round challenge on Day 1 in NY

As the favorites who were in action on Day 1 advanced to the second round, Venus Williams had a tough time in her match against Vera Dushevina, while younger sister and defending champion Serena easily cruised through.

Venus suffered knee problems during her debut match in Flushing Meadows, but managed to execute her win against Dushevina with a score of 67(5) 75 63.

"She was playing very well. I had a challenge on my hands today. But I wanted to win," Williams said. "Each good shot and each not-so-good shot I put behind me and looked forward to the next one. Most of all, I just enjoyed the moment."

Serena was not challenged by American wildcard Alexa Glatch, and easily went through after winning 64 61.

Williams is now 40-0 lifetime in Grand Slam first rounds. Only two active players who have played at least three Grand Slam main draw matches are perfect in Grand Slam first rounds (Ana Ivanovic is 15-0 in Slam openers).

Kim Clijsters was also on the winner's list on Monday, as the Belgian wasn't troubled by Viktoriya Kutuzova, and easily beat the Ukrainian with a score of 61 61.

"It was really good today. Now it's a matter of trying to keep this going," said Clijsters, who hadn't played at the US Open since winning the title in 2005. "I'm definitely comfortable where I am right now, but I still feel like I can improve. The match rhythm is something I have to get used to again. Matches like today I didn't really get tested in, but the biggest key is playing those tough matches and when it becomes close, how do I react in those kinds of situations."

Monday, August 31, 2009

Singles - First Round

(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (WC) Alexa Glatch 64 61

(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. Vera Dushevina (RUS) 67(5) 75 63

(7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 60 64

(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) 61 61

(10) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Edina Gallovits (ROU) 60 64

(12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Patricia Mayr (AUT) 61 62
(14) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Rossana de los Ríos (PAR) 61 60

(15) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 64 46 64

(17) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) d. Tatjana Malek (GER) 63 64

(18) Li Na (CHN) d. Ioana Raluca Olaru (ROU) 76(4) 63

(20) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) d. (WC) Gail Brodsky (USA) 64 64

(22) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) 62 46 61

(Q) Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) d. (25) Kaia Kanepi (EST) 60 26 62

(26) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 61 62

María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. (28) Sybille Bammer (AUT) 64 16 76(5)

(31) Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 64 76(5)

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Laura Granville (USA) 61 76(7)

Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. (Q) Valérie Tétreault (CAN) 63 46 61

Melinda Czink (HUN) d. Maria Elena Camerin (ITA) 63 64

Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) 62 61

Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) d. (Q) Yurika Sema (JPN) 46 61 62

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. (Q) Vesna Manasieva (RUS) 63 64

Sania Mirza (IND) d. Olga Govortsova (BLR) 62 36 63

Jill Craybas (USA) d. (Q) Carly Gullickson (USA) 63 76(5)

Stefanie Voegele (SUI) d. Alberta Brianti (ITA) 67(10) 61 63

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. Jelena Dokic (AUS) 63 64

Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) d. Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 16 75 61

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 63 64

(Q) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) 64 57 63

(Q) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) d. (Q) Marta Domachowska (POL) 26 62 63

(WC) Vania King (USA) d. Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) 21 ret. (left foot injury)

(WC) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 61 61