Nadal and Murray Advance to U.S. Open Quarterfinals

September 8, 2011 | By Anthony Pastecchi
Andy_Murray_02
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Matches have resumed after rain had cancelled the last two days of play at the 2011 U.S. Open, with players having a lot to make up in very little time. As Jim Curley, director of the U.S. Open stated yesterday, "Right now, it’s our intention to finish the tournament on time,” many of those advancing today will get little than 24 hours rest before they take courts again tomorrow.

On Thursday afternoon, the number two-seed Rafael Nadal of Spain has defeated the unseeded Gilles Muller from Luxembourg in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1, 6-2. After a close first set, Nadal quickly won the tie-breaker 7-1, and then went on to take the next two sets with ease. Nadal now advances to the quarterfinals where he will face the winner of the Andy Roddick-David Ferrer match which was moved from the 6,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium to the nearly 60–seat Court 13 due to poor court conditions. After taking a beating the past few days of rain, Roddick requested the match be played at the smaller Court 13 citing less than adequate court conditions behind the baseline at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Also in fourth round action on Thursday, Great Britain’s Andy Murray defeated unseeded American Donald Young in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 on the Grandstand. This was Young’s furthest advancement in a Grand Slam tournament where he was eliminated in the Round of 16. Murray advances to the quarterfinals to face either American John Isner, the 28-seed, or the 12th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon who are playing Thursday afternoon on Court 17.


Anthony Pastecchi
Centercourt
USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition