Wednesday 1st September 2010 15

BY HOWARD FENDRICH Clijsters also won on Day 1. Federer That loss at the All England Club, ward results, although two-time hit a back-to-the-net, between-the-legs shortly after Williams turned 30, led runner-up Robin NEW YORK (AP) - Playing for winner and smacked 18 aces while to talk about how much longer she Soderling was stretched to five sets the first time in two months after eliminating Argentina’s Brian Dabul can contend for major champi- before edging 214th-ranked qualifier spraining her left kneecap, seven- 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 at night. onships - and even how much longer Andreas Haider-Maurer, who pound- time champion Venus Federer compiled a 46-4 advantage she intends to play on tour. ed 34 aces. Williams beat Roberta Vinci of in winners, and none was more Roddick turned 28 on Monday,and Other winners included No. 6 6-4, 6-1 Monday to advance to the sec- impressive than the trick shot that after beating Stephane Robert of Nikolay Davydenko, No. 11 Marin ond round of the U.S. Open. was nearly the same as one he hit France 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, was asked what Cilic, No. 13 Jurgen Melzer, No. 17 Williams landed awkwardly on against in the 2009 significance he attributes to his age. Gael Monfils and No. 22 Juan Carlos her recently injured leg after hitting U.S. Open semifinals. Ferrero, while No. 27 Fernando a swinging and grimaced. It “This one was incredible again,” Gonzalez quit in the third set of his was about the only glitch during her Federer said. “I turned around and match against Ivan Dodig because of return to . couldn’t believe the shot landed in the a knee injury. “It was doing pretty good, until I corner.” Women moving into the second landed on that leg ... I was pretty He improved to 16-0 in night round included surprise 2009 U.S. happy to get through after not play- matches at Flushing Meadows and Open quarterfinalist , ing in forever,” said Williams, whose took the first step in his bid to reach a French Open champion Francesca younger sister Serena isn’t playing in seventh consecutive U.S. Open final. Schiavone, French Open runner-up the U.S. Open after surgery for deep But 32nd-seeded Lleyton Hewitt, who Sam Stosur, two-time major finalist cuts on her right foot. won the tournament in 2001, hit 12 Elena Dementieva, No. 10 Victoria “It’s not the same without two dou- Williamses,” the No. 3-seeded

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, hits a winner between his legs during his opening-day match against Brian Dabul, of Argentina, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Aug, 30, 2010. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Federer hits pumps her fist after defeating Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-4, 6-1 to advance at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday Aug. 30, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) between-the-legs Andy Roddick of the United States hits balls shot in Open victory into the stands after he defeated Stephane BY HOWARD FENDRICH Federer has been coy Robert of France dur- about the authenticity of ing the first round of NEW YORK (AP) - the video, and some have the U.S. Open tennis delivered been skeptical, such as two- tournament in New another YouTube-worthy, time major finalist Andy Murray, who said this York, Monday, Aug. 30, between-the-legs shot at the U.S. Open as he started weekend: “There’s not a 2010. Roddick won the with a comfortable victory chance it’s real.” match 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on over Brian Dubal of Told that other players his 28th birthday. “I’m barely older than I was yes- Azarenka, No. 13 , No. Argentina. have wondered aloud about (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) terday,”he replied. 16 Shahar Peer, and No. 24 Daniela The five-time U.S. Open that one, Federer replied: “I Well, he’s seven years older than Hantuchova, who beat former No. 1 champion hit 18 aces in his can’t tell you if it’s real or ble-faults and was upset by 109th- he was when he won his lone Grand and current No. 50 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over 96th- not. That’s up for debate. ... Venus added ranked Paul-Henri Mathieu of Slam title at the 2003 U.S. Open. 6-4. ranked Dabul, part of I’m not going to answer during an on-court inter- France 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1. There’s a reminder of that accom- Another past No. 1 now sitting Federer’s remarkable 46-4 that question.” view. “I have big shoes to fill with just “I wasn’t expecting a whole heap plishment every time Roddick way down in the rankings, No. 40 Ana advantage in winners Could he hit a ball one Williams here.” coming into this tournament, based returns to Flushing Meadows: His Ivanovic, reached the second round Monday night. between his legs and knock Williams hit 10 aces, reaching 126 on my preparation,” said Hewitt, who spot in the locker room bears a spe- by eliminating “There’s nothing you a bottle off someone’s mph (203 kph), and became only the had played only four matches, losing cial plate with his name and the year 6-3, 6-2. can do when he has those ? fifth woman with 200 career victories three, since Wimbledon. he was the champion, a bit of recog- Williams got off to a good start days,” Dabul said. “He’s “That’s kind of tough, at major tournaments. Monday’s loss is Hewitt’s only nition he referred to as “the little deal against Vinci, leading 3-0 and 4-1. But perfect.” the trajectory going up,” Two of Venus Williams’ Grand first-round exit in 11 trips to the U.S. on your locker that says you’re spe- the Italian reeled off three consecu- No shot was more spec- Federer said with a grin, Slam titles came at Flushing Open. Williams, meanwhile, cial.” tive games and 10 of 12 points to pull tacular than the one before acknowledging, “No, Meadows - in 2000 and 2001. Other improved to 12-0 in opening matches Clijsters is “special,” too. The level at 4-all, 30-all. Federer came up with I wouldn’t be able to do past U.S. Open champions Roger in New York, and 48-3 in openers at Belgian won the U.S. Open each of That’s when Williams took over, while leading 5-3 in the sec- that.” Federer, Andy Roddick and Kim all major tournaments. the last two times she entered, in 2005 delivering an overhead smash on the ond set. OK, so there are limits She hadn’t competed since being and 2009, and she stretched her win- next point, followed by her fifth ace to He was at the net when to his brilliance with a upset in the Wimbledon quarterfi- ning streak in New York to 15 match- hold for a 5-4 lead. Williams then Dabul sailed a lob high racket in hand. Still, nals June 29 by then-No. 82 es Monday despite a brief blip. broke Vinci at love, giving her six overhead. Federer turned Monday’s result made of The No. 2-seeded Clijsters began points in a row to close the first set. and sprinted toward the Federer 16-0 in U.S. Open Bulgaria. Pironkova won her title defense with a 6-0, 7-5 victory In the second set’s opening game, baseline. A few steps from night matches, and he Monday,too, and over 104th-ranked Greta Arn of Williams winced and briefly seemed the wall behind the court in declared afterward, “I feel Williams could face her Hungary.It was an afternoon of uncomfortable when she planted her Arthur Ashe Stadium, and very much at home here.” in the third round. mostly straightfor- left foot on a winner near the net. with his back to the net, “Obviously, I have the “Thankfully,”Williams Federer smacked the ball experience to play under said, “after that, she did through his legs. pressure and with so many most of the running.” The shot cleared the net people, high expectations, Williams came dressed and landed in a corner for a so I guess I can use that to for a night under the winner beside Dabul, who my advantage,” Federer lights at the Open - or raised his eyebrows and said. “Then court speed, anywhere in New shrugged his shoulders. surroundings, the event York, for that matter. “Only he can do that,” and everything helps my Though it wasn’t Dabul would say later. cause to really do well and nearly as risque as At the far end of the play well here. I always her lace French Open out- court, Federer celebrated loved coming here. Never fit, Williams’ sleek black the trick shot by raising his had a bad U.S. Open.” dress had an exposed arms overhead and lifting That perfect mark metal zipper up the his right index finger to under the lights has helped back - the height of signal No. 1. It was nearly Federer reach six consecu- chic these days - and identical to a back-to-the- tive U.S. Open finals; the satin-looking side pan- court, through-the-legs only loss in that stretch els. There were two lay- passing winner Federer hit was to Juan Martin del ers of fringe at the against Novak Djokovic in Potro a year ago. bottom of the skirt, the 2009 U.S. Open semifi- “I’d like to go there and she topped off nals. again this year,” Federer the look with two “This one was incredi- said. “The path is long and of Serbia cele- ropelike strands ble again,” Federer said. “I rough.” brates her win over Ekaterina of necklace and turned around and couldn’t His streak of 23 consec- Makarova of Russia during the a pair of dan- believe the shot landed in utive Grand Slam semifi- the corner.” nals ended with a quarterfi- first round of the U.S. Open gling earrings. Asked if Monday’s shot nal loss to Robin Soderling tennis tournament in New York, Her sister Serena weighed was better than the one at the French Open, and Monday, Aug. 30, 2010. Ivanovic in with an against Djokovic, Federer Federer lost again at that won the match 6-3, 6-2. opinion, tweet- said he’d need to go to the stage at Wimbledon. (AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill) ing: “Dress is videotape to be sure. But Monday’s victory the best ever “In terms of difficulty, clinched a berth in the sea- soooo pret- maybe this one was harder, son-ending ATP World Tour ty!!!!!” because I had the feeling I Finals at London in had to run a longer dis- November, which is for the tance and I was further top eight men. back somehow,” he said. “I If there was anything had to really give the last for Federer to lament about big push at the end. I didn’t his performance against have time to set it up.” Dabul, it was this statistic: And it most definitely The 16-time major champi- was real, no argument on converted only five of 19 about that - unlike the trick break points. shot that has drawn more Federer had an explana- of Belgium celebrates than 6 million views since tion for that, though. after winning a game against Greta Arn being posted on YouTube He recently began work- of Hungary during the first round of the two weeks ago. In that clip, ing with Pete Sampras’ for- U.S. Open tennis tournament in New shot in Zurich shortly after mer coach, Paul Annacone, Wimbledon, Federer is seen York, Monday, Aug. 30, 2010. Clijsters and Federer jokingly said: serving a ball and swatting “Break-point conversion won the match 6-0, 7-5. a metal bottle off a man’s wasn’t very good, so that’s (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) head - twice in a row. (Annacone’s) mistake.