U.S. Open 2011 Day Five Recap

September 3, 2011 | By Eric C. Peck
Rafael_Nadal_02_0
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

In Friday action at the 2011 U.S. Open, an all-American battle of native Nebraskans under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium closed out another great day of action, as 2003 U.S Open Champion Andy Roddick defeated 18-year-old Jack Sock, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Roddick, the number 21 seed, advances to play unseeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau who defeated Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

"I didn’t think I’d ever play another guy from Nebraska in my career," said Roddick. "It was just cool, and I could draw so many parallels to what he was going through. I had a good time."

Sock earned a wild card entry into the U.S. Open each of the last two years by winning the Boys National Championship.

"I think he’s grown about a foot in the last year," said Roddick of his opponent Sock. "His forehand has got some serious speed on it … you cannot teach that. You can’t teach 135 mph in your arm and you can’t teach the ball jumping off the court. He’s going to have to learn some of the subtleties in the game, but those are things that you can teach and learn. Between Jack and Ryan [Harrison], I think we have a couple of legit American prospects."

Earlier in the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the number two seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain led his opponent, France’s Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 6-2 before Mahut was forced to retire due to an abdominal strain.

At Louis Armstrong Stadium, another all-American battle too place as John Isner, the number 28 seed, defeated the unseeded Robby Ginepri, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. The number four seed, Andy Murray of Great Britain gutted out a 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4 win over the unseeded Robin Haase from The Netherlands.

Two more Americans moved on in the tournament as Donald Young defeated the number 14 seed, Stanislas Wawrinka from Switzerland in a hard-fought, 7-6(7), 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(1) battle. Alex Bogomolov Jr., also of the United States defeated Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Da Silva, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

On the women’s side, the Cinderella run of Englewood Cliffs, N.J. native Christina McHale came to an end Friday under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the hands of the 25th-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko, 6-2, 6-3.

"This one … it’s disappointing," said McHale after the loss. "But, I think I just kind of have to take the positives from it and keep working hard and keep going."

McHale has seen a great deal of success of late, most recently, knocking off the number eight seed, Marion Bartoli of France, in the second round, and knocking world number one-ranked Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark out of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

"I knew there was going to be a lot of people supporting her, and I was ready for it," said Kirilenko. "I think it’s great that the people come out and support here … I think it’s great for the sport of tennis here in America."

The big upset of the day came in the afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium, as the number three-seeded Russian, Maria Sharapova, was eliminated by the number 26 seed, Flavia Pennetta of Italy, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6.

"It’s disappointing," said Sharapova on her loss to Pennetta. "It’s disappointing to lose in the middle of nowhere. It’s disappointing to lose in New York. Losing isn’t fun for anyone because we work to win. We don’t work to try to lose."

Also advancing is the number two seed, Vera Zvonareva from Russia who was a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues. Zvonareva advances to face the number 22 seed, Germany’s Sabine Lisicki. Lisicki defeated local product, the unseeded American Irina Falconi, 6-0, 6-1.

Click here for full results from Day Five action of the 2011 U.S. Open on the Men’s Singles side.

Click here for full results from Day Five action of the 2011 U.S. Open on the Men’s Doubles side.

Click here for full results from Day Five action of the 2011 U.S. Open on the Women’s Singles side.

Click here for full results from Day Five action of the 2011 U.S. Open on the Women’s Doubles side.

 

 

Credit all photos to Kenneth B. Goldberg

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

John Isner, the number 28 seed, defeated the unseeded Robby Ginepri, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday at the 2011 U.S. Open

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Great Britain’s Andy Murray during his Friday win over Robin Haase from The Netherlands

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg 

American Irina Falconi saw her run at the 2011 U.S. Open end on Friday after her loss to the number 22 seed, Germany’s Sabine Lisicki

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg 

American Donald Young defeated the number 14 seed, Stanislas Wawrinka from Switzerland, 7-6(7), 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(1)

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg 

19-year-old Christina McHale’s U.S. Open run ended Friday in her loss to 25th-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko, 6-2, 6-3

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg 

American James Blake fell to the number five seed, David Ferrer of Spain on Friday

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg 

The number 25 seed, Russian Maria Kirilenko defeated American Christina McHale under the lights Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Eighteen-year-old American Jack Sock under the lights in his nightcap match against fellow American Andy Roddick

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

 

 

Rocker Lenny Kravitz taking in the action at Arthur Ashe Stadium

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

 

 

2003 U.S Open Champion Andy Roddick defeated fellow American Jack Sock on Friday night, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4


Eric C. Peck

Eric C. Peck is Editor-in-Chief of Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by e-mail at eric@litennismag.com

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