OVER AND OUT FOR ISNER
In complete contrast to the hubbub surrounding Andy Roddick, John Isner’s farewell to the U.S. Open was seen by few.
Isner, who has inherited the mantle as America’s top men’s player, finished off his third-round match yesterday at 2:26 a.m., getting upset in the third round by Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, leaving Roddick as the lone American man still playing. A USTA official estimated no more than 800 fans were left in the seats and only three reporters were left to interview Isner afterward. It’s probably a good thing few were awake as Isner melted down in the fifth set, bashing a ball into the crowd, yelling at a line judge, and shattering his racket by slamming it to the ground in disgust.
The 2:26 a.m. wrapup tied for the latest finish in U.S. Open history, matching the previous late show of Mats Wilander against Mikael Pernfors in 1993. Because of a rain delay that interrupted Maria Sharapova’s earlier match, Isner’s didn’t start until 11:05 p.m.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I probably would choose Althea [Gibson] because being the first African-American tennis player and having to do what she did sleeping in cars and just everything. I think it would be really cool to just hit with her.
— Serena Williams, when asked if there was one women’s tennis legend she wished she could have played.
UPSET OF THE DAY
Louis Armstrong Stadium became a nightmare for women’s top seeds. No. 6 seed Angelique Kerber of Germany, the chic pick to win the Open, failed to make it out of the fourth round yesterday, falling to No. 10 Sara Errani of Italy in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-3. Poland’s No. 2 seed, Agnieszka Radwanska, later stepped onto the Armstrong court and promptly lost to 20th seed Roberta Vinci of Italy.
Kerber’s loss was the bigger surprise. She had risen up the rankings this year after making the French Open quarterfinals and Wimbledon semifinals. Kerber, an Open semifinalist last year, lost four of 10 service games and committed 38 unforced errors in losing to Errani.
TODAY’S FEATURED MATCHES
Arthur Ashe Stadium, 11 a.m.
Victoria Azarenka (1) vs. Samantha Stosur (7)
Maria Sharapova (3) vs. Marion Bartoli (11)
Stanislas Wawrinka (18) vs. Novak Djokovic (2)
Louis Armstrong Stadium, Noon
Richard Gasquet (13) vs. David Ferrer (4)
Janko Tipsarevic (8) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (19)
Arthur Ashe Stadium, 7 p.m.
Juan Martin Del Potro (7) vs. Andy Roddick (20)