September 8, 2011 | By Eric C. Peck
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Rain yesterday at the 2011 U.S. Open again washed out action, creating some interesting scenarios for Thursday’s action at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as Day 11 action begins. All 20 players are still alive in the singles draws, particularly on the men’s side, where the four fourth-round matches will all hit the court at 11:00 a.m. Three matches did begin, but were shortened by rain. Most of the players were on standby all day in the player’s lounge waiting for the weather to break in hopes of getting their scheduled matches underway, but to no avail. If the weather cooperates, many of those still in contention on the men’s side of the draw could potentially play four matches in four days.
“Right now, it’s our intention to finish the tournament on time,” said U.S. Open Director Jim Curley.
The number two-seeded Rafael Nadal from Spain continues his rain-shortened match with the unseeded Gilles Muller of Luxembourg at 11:00 a.m. at Arthur Ashe Stadium to determine who will make a trip to the quarterfinals. After 10 min. of play on Wednesday, Muller led Nadal 3-0 and the match will pick up where it left off.
Starting fresh as their match never even began last night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 28th-seeded American Serena will face the number 17-seed, Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, in an afternoon affair, followed by a quarterfinals match between the top-seeded Novak Djokovic from Serbia and his fellow countryman, the number 20 seed, Janko Tipsarevic.
Under the lights at Arthur Ashe and rounding out Day 11 action at 7:00 p.m., weather permitting of course, will be the second men’s quarterfinals match of the day, featuring the three seed, Switzerland’s Roger Federer facing the 11-seed, France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, to see who will advance to the final four on the men’s side.
At Louis Armstrong Stadium, beginning at 11:00 a.m., fourth round action on the men’s side will feature the number five seed, Spaniard David Ferrer facing the 21st-seeded American Andy Roddick. The match will continue with Roddick having a 3-1 lead against Ferrer before things were called off Wednesday. Following Roddick-Ferrer, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark faces the upstart 10th-seeded German, Andrea Petkovic in a women’s quarterfinals match.
Kicking things off on the Grandstand, the number four-seeded Andy Murray from Great Britain continues his rain-shortened match from Wednesday against the unseeded American, Donald Young, for a shot at the quarterfinals. Murray trailed Young early in the match 2-1 before the skies opened and rain halted the action.
Following Murray and Young on the Grandstand, the number two-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva will face Australian Samantha Stosur, the number nine seed, in a women’s quarterfinals match. And rounding out the day on the Grandstand is a mixed-doubles semifinals match between the American duo of 18-year-old Jack Sock and Melanie Oudin facing the seventh-seeded team of Elena Vesnina from Russia & India’s Leander Paes.
Moved to Court 17 today is the men’s fourth round singles match between the 28th-seeded American John Isner as he faces the 12-seed, Gilles Simon from France. They will be followed by a women’s quarterfinals match between the unseeded German Angelique Kerber and the number 26 seed, Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.
Click here for the full schedule of play for Thursday, Sept. 8, Day 11t the 2011 U.S. Open.
