Day 1: U.S. Open Match to Watch

Not one, but two great matches back to back on Armstrong during the afternoon session. 

Watch these two matches while Roddick is crushing Robert on Ashe.

Women's Singles - 1st Round   Daniela Hantuchova(SVK)[24] vs.   Dinara Safina(RUS)

Women's Singles - 1st Round   Samantha Stosur(AUS)[5] vs.   Elena Vesnina(RUS) These are important matches for all 4 of these competitors.  Safina has shown signs of life at the end of summer.  Stosur may have some injury isseues and Vesnina is an underachiever in my book. My picks:  Hantuchova and Stosur

Nadal Top Seed at U.S. Open, Federer Lurks

Ranked number one, Rafael Nadal was installed as the top men's seed for the U.S. Open on Monday as the Spaniard bids to complete a career grand slam.

While Nadal chases his first U.S. Open crown, a fit Roger Federer, a finalist at Flushing Meadows the last six years lifting the title five times, is seeded second.

Serb Novak Djokovic is seeded third and Briton Andy Murray, the 2008 U.S. Open runner-up, fourth.

Title holder Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina pulled out of the tournament. He is still recovering from surgery on a right wrist injury that has put him out for almost the whole season.

Andy Roddick is the top American, the 2003 U.S. Open winner seeded #9.

Qualifying for the main draw begins on Tuesday.

Serena Williams out of U.S. Open

Serena Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open on Friday, saying she still is recovering from surgery to repair cuts on her right foot.

The top-ranked Williams has won three titles at Flushing Meadows, part of her 13 Grand Slam singles championships, most among active women. Last year, she lost in the U.S. Open semifinals after a tirade at a line judge over a foot-fault call, an outburst that drew a record fine.

In a statement released by her publicist, Williams called missing the tournament "one of the most devastating moments of my career."

In a freak accident, the 28-year-old American reportedly was hurt by a broken glass at a restaurant while she was in Munich, shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon singles title July 3. Williams had surgery July 15.

It looks like Caroline Wozniacki will be the women's top seed with Serena out of action.

The U.S. Open is Aug. 30-Sept. 12.

Mardy Fish Beats Isner and the Heat in Atlanta

Proving that he is a force to be reckoned with heading into bigger events in Washington, Canada, and Cincinnati, Mardy Fish let his racket do the talking in a 3-set win over crowd favorite John Isner Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. 

Both players were running on fumes in the 3rd set tiebreaker where Fish jumped out to a lead and held on to win it.

It was Fish's second title in 3 weeks and his ranking will jump into the top 40.  Fish still will have a little work to do to get seeded at The U.S. Open.

Isner logged a lot of court time this week as well, and he will take a week off before playing Washington.

Mardy Fish, winner of the 2010 Atlanta Tennis Championships.

John Isner Really is The Marathon Man

This match may have been 9 hours shorter than his Wimbledon epic, but it wasn't any less difficult or demanding for the 6'9" American player.

The match in question was his semi-final victory over Kevin Anderson at The Atlanta Tennis Championships.  With temps on the court over 140 degrees, Isner conserved energy when he could and seemed to get his second wind in the 3rd set to take the win.

Isner said after the match he's glad to be playing in Georgia where many remember his college career in Athens.  He also said he was praying for clouds to cover the sun in the 3rd set.

Isner now will play Mardy Fish who upset Andy Roddick in their semi-final Saturday night.  Fish has been playing extremely well the last couple months, but I still find it hard to bet against John Isner no matter how long the match goes.