Nadal slogs into the quarterfinal of US Open with a 3-1 win over Monfils! There is a good chance for Nadal to meet Federer in the final since both are not in the same half. Will Nadal springs a surprise by winning the US Open and above all beating his great nemesis in the final? I hope so. Good luck Nadal!!! See you in the final. Pray pray....
Winning the US Open adds another feather to Nadal's cap since it is the only major title missing from his grasp to complete a career Grand Slam. Pray pray pray.........
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Murray out; Nadal, Serena, Clijsters win at Open
NEW YORK (AP) - Second-ranked Andy Murray was surprisingly knocked out of the U.S. Open by Marin Cilic of Croatia by a lopsided 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth round on Tuesday.
Cilic overcame two set points in the first set, then pounded Murray over the last two to reach his first career Grand Slam quarterfinals. Murray, who lost to Roger Federer in the final at Flushing Meadows last year, will finish 2009 without making a major final.
The match ended in the late afternoon in New York, and just before newspaper deadlines back in England, where the sports sections follow Murray's every move. Certainly, those headlines won't be nice on Wednesday morning.
"Today, I could've been better in pretty much every part of my game, whether it was mental, forehand, backhand, return," said Murray, who conceded that, yes, this was the most disappointing loss of his career.
And now Murray will slide back to No. 3 in the rankings, a spot behind Rafael Nadal, who will move up by virtue of beating No. 13 Gael Monfils 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in Tuesday night's last match to get to the quarterfinals.
Nadal-Monfils featured two men often cited as the best athletes on tour, and it was a spirited contest early, filled with long points, terrific retrieving, powerful hitting - and animated celebrations by both. Monfils eventually began to show signs of fatigue, leaning over to gasp for air between points, and Nadal took control.
Nadal, trying to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the U.S. Open, will meet No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in the semifinals. Gonzalez eliminated No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
NEW YORK (AP) - Second-ranked Andy Murray was surprisingly knocked out of the U.S. Open by Marin Cilic of Croatia by a lopsided 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth round on Tuesday.
Cilic overcame two set points in the first set, then pounded Murray over the last two to reach his first career Grand Slam quarterfinals. Murray, who lost to Roger Federer in the final at Flushing Meadows last year, will finish 2009 without making a major final.
The match ended in the late afternoon in New York, and just before newspaper deadlines back in England, where the sports sections follow Murray's every move. Certainly, those headlines won't be nice on Wednesday morning.
"Today, I could've been better in pretty much every part of my game, whether it was mental, forehand, backhand, return," said Murray, who conceded that, yes, this was the most disappointing loss of his career.
And now Murray will slide back to No. 3 in the rankings, a spot behind Rafael Nadal, who will move up by virtue of beating No. 13 Gael Monfils 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in Tuesday night's last match to get to the quarterfinals.
Nadal-Monfils featured two men often cited as the best athletes on tour, and it was a spirited contest early, filled with long points, terrific retrieving, powerful hitting - and animated celebrations by both. Monfils eventually began to show signs of fatigue, leaning over to gasp for air between points, and Nadal took control.
Nadal, trying to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the U.S. Open, will meet No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in the semifinals. Gonzalez eliminated No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
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Tennis: Rafael Nadal gets past Gael Monfils to reach US Open quarters
Tennis: Rafael Nadal gets past Gael Monfils to reach US Open quarters
NEW YORK (AP): Rafael Nadal could soon be back at No. 2 in the rankings after eliminating Gael Monfils of France to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Nadal appeared to be back to his healthy, hustling self during a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory over No. 13-seeded Gael Monfils on Tuesday night, continuing his bid to complete a career Grand Slam of four majors.
"Well, very happy, no? After the last two matches I played, I had a few problems, but, anyway, I am here. I am in the quarterfinals for the third time," Nadal said.
The Spaniard moved well against Monfils, covering the court during their many extended exchanges. It was a high-quality, high-speed contest over the first two sets, with both men _ considered by many to be the best pure athletes on tour - displaying tireless defense and powerful offense.
"Unbelievable. Sometimes you think you won the point," Nadal said, "and the ball is coming back another time and another time and another time."
Perhaps, but it was Monfils who began to tire late in the second set, sometimes leaning over with a hand on his knee to rest and gasp for air between points.
"Didn't have the miles in my legs," Monfils explained.
Nadal, meanwhile, showed no significant signs of problems from either the sore knees that kept him off tour for all of June and July - forcing him to skip a title defense at Wimbledon - or the abdominal muscle issue that flared up during his third-round victory over Nicolas Almagro. "His defense was very, very strong today," Monfils said.
Nadal did have a small bandage on his stomach again Tuesday, and he did seem to serve conservatively, with no aces and no double-faults.
"I am improving every day. After a month and a half or two months of (not playing), it is not easy coming back," Nadal said. "The knees are very good, so very happy for that."
He is assured of overtaking Andy Murray in next week's ATP rankings, and a victory over No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals would guarantee Nadal a return to No. 2.
Nadal was No. 1 or 2 from July 2005 until three weeks ago, when he dropped to No. 3. But Murray's loss earlier Tuesday, coupled with Nadal's victory, means they'll switch places. There is still a chance Novak Djokovic could pass both of them by winning the title.
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