1. Semi Surprise
The women’s draw at the US Open is guaranteed to produce at least one surprise semifinalist. Petra Kvitova, Yanina Wickmayer, Kateryna Bondarenko, or Gisela Dulko will reach Friday’s final four from the top section of the draw.
2. Book Signing with Serena
Three-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams will be autographing copies of her new book on Monday at the USTA membership booth. Books may be purchased in advance at USTA Membership in the Indoor Training Center, the US Open Bookstore located in the South Plaza of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, or USOpenShop.org today.
3. Apology for Safina
World number one Dinara Safina has received an apology (of sorts) from the USTA. Chris Widmaier, a spokesperson for the USTA, has admitted that “we owe her an apology” after failing to give the top seed more notice that her match was being moved from Arthur Ashe to Louis Armstrong on Saturday.
4. Midland Wins Tennis Honor
Midland, Michigan has been named the “Best Tennis Town” in America. Despite a small population of 41,685 people, over 10,000 players hit the courts each year in the city.
5. The Believe Shoes
Melanie Oudin’s pink and yellow tennis shoes have become nearly as popular as Oudin herself. Check out the Believe shoes yourself at the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour web site.
6. Jada Enjoys New York
Jada Lynch is having the time of her life in New York City as she has explored the Central Park Zoo with her parents and enjoyed a carriage ride in the city. According to her mother, Kim Clijsters, the carriage ride especially was a hit. “She got to hold the reins,” Clijsters said. “Here as well she gets to play with other kids here on site in the family room. That’s fun as well. It’s an adult world, and you don’t want her to just be around adults. That’s why it’s nice here that she can play with some kids her age as well.”
7. Lindsay Back at the Open
Former champion Lindsay Davenport has returned to the US Open, but not as a player. Davenport, the 1998 singles champion, is commentating for Tennis Channel and according to Steve Tignor at Tennis, she wins the Most Improved On-Air Presence award.
8. Serena Sides with Safina
It’s not often that Serena Williams sides with her chief rival Dinara Safina, but on Sunday, Williams spoke out about the USTA’s decision to force the world number one to play in Louis Armstrong at the last minute.
9. Best Comment of the Tournament
If you are not participating in OTB’s comment discussions, you are missing a fun—and informative—time. The best comment of the US Open so far goes to Wilson Spaulding for this explanation of why Safina’s loss was not much of a shock:
“However, it must be said that even a blind man sitting in the deepest, darkest cave in the earth on a moonless night with a bag over his head could see that Dinara Safina was headed for an early exit at this year’s US Open.”
10. Monday’s Matches to Watch
Enjoy Labor Day with a blockbuster line-up of matches. American Melanie Oudin is up against Nadia Petrova and Caroline Wozniacki will take on Svetlana Kuznetsova in the night session. As for doubles, do not miss Ai Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchova vs. Zi Yan and Jie Zheng.
On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 US Open is brought to you by Grand Slam Tennis Tours.
