Odd's and End's

 Iowa Pinkeyes?

-- As much as I dislike the University of Iowa, I find it hilarious they have the away locker room colored pink (lockers, walls, carpet, etc) to upset, I mean calm, their opponents.  How great is that?  They should put up a poster of Billie Jean King and a vase of flowers too.  More power to them.

 Hey John, worry about the Hurricane victims, not baseball.

-- Is it me or does Senator John McCain (R-AZ) need to stay the heck out of what happens with baseball and steroids?  McCain...when did you become an authority on baseball?  Go back to running for President which obviously went extraordinarily well.  Read about the Senate hearings on steroids here.

 Eli, Eli, He's our man, He won't play for you, But he'll surely be your fan.

-- Has anybody else seen the 'Be A Saint' commercials Eli Manning has been doing?  It's for a good cause, Katrina victims, and Manning is a New Orleans native.  Thinking about this...if the Saints had had the # 1 pick in the 2004 draft, would he have played for the Saints?  I highly doubt it.  For those of you who don't remember...Eli was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, but said he wouldn't play for them.  The Chargers then traded him to the New York Giants.  Just recently, Archie Manning, Eli's wonderful father, said he received a call before the draft from inside the Charger front office saying 'Don't let your son play for this organization.'  Right, that happened.

-- The NHL season starts next week.  YES!!  Couldn't be more excited.  I can't name more than five players who play hockey, past or present.  Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Howe and um, well....there's this one guy...he played for this one team at one time...yeah, I forget. 

-- Being that I don't work a normal 9-5 day I'm able to see some live soccer, the real football, from Europe.  I rushed home from Madison to see a huge UEFA Champions League game between Chelsea and Liverpool.  Two of the best teams in England playing in the biggest tournament in Europe.  Crespo, Duff, Lampard, Gerrard, Cisse...goals galore right?  I fall asleep in the second half and wake up with five minutes left thinking I've missed a ton of goals.  Nope.  Zero-zero draw. 

-- On a non-sports note I was thinking this afternoon, does ABC's Extreme Makeover show make the people of the houses they are remaking sign something so they don't sell their house right after they redo it?  I imagine some little shack getting redone for people who have next to nothing and the family turns around and sells the house for ten times what it was worth before the renovations.  Don't think it couldn't happen.  This is America where people sue over spilled coffee...and not other people's, their own.

Why is there a deer on the Packers sideline?

 'Can you ask that question again sir?'

Okay, so our beloved Packers have started out 0-2.  Many of us knew it was going to be a long year.  The defense doesn't have any studs, the offensive line is shot and Favre is well, getting old.  I'm sorry, but I dont think any of that is to blame.  If I was Jerry Jones (owner of the Dallas Cowboys) and had all say over my team and coach, Mike Sherman would be the first person to go. 

 Not to be funny, because Bubba Franks is the man but Sherman always has that look on his face.

Here's the deal Sunday vs the Browns at Lambeau.  First of all, the Browns completely stink.  Second, it was the Packers home opener.  Third, they were retiring Reggie White's number 92 at halftime.  All of the above should have guaranteed a victory over the awful Browns.  What happened then you ask?  Picture this.  Packers down 19-10 with 6 minutes left in the game.  Tick tick tick.  Favre and the offense are on the field taking their sweet ol' time in between plays.  Tick tick tick.  No hurry up offense.  No sense of urgency.  Tick tick tick.  Yes, they scored a touchdown on this drive but it took nearly three minutes.  There were a couple dumb penalties and CBS shows Sherman on the sidelines like 'Duh....what should I do?'  He has his headphones on, his arms crossed and his playlist in his hands thinking 'Hmm....now there's a penalty I was not expecting....' 

Are you serious?  Get the club going already.  If this is happening vs the Patriots do you think Bill Belichik is just standing there like a deer in headlights?  Not quite.  Bill Cowher and the Steelers?  Not so much.  It's called intensity.  Sherman has zero. 

Listen, I love the Packers.  Always have and always will, but it's hard to watch Favre's last few years go down the drain because of Sherman and his coaching style and play calling.  I understand Favre makes some mistakes on his own and has a tendency to throw up a couple extra wounded ducks then he has to, but Sherman has to do something.  Get in somebody's face, scream, throw something, etc.  Just make it look like you care out there Mike Sherman.  That's all I want.

 

 

A Down Year For The Sooners

 The best player in the country still, All Day Adrian Peterson.  

It's finally happened.  I've raved about my Sooners for the past five years or so.  I should have thought through my words more when I was completely ripping apart Florida State, USC, Florida, Iowa (Yes, Brian, I know..), etc.  Now I'm on the wrong end of the stick.  My Sooners are struggling with a capital S. 

Why is this happening exactly?  It all starts under center with the exit of quarterback Jason White.  The Heisman Trophy winner of a couple years ago finally used up his eligibilty and said goodbye to Norman.  I never would have believed White's leaving would have completely dismantled the Sooners, but that, in my opinion, is the main reason why they have started the season 1-2.  They have slid directly out of the Top 25 and look like a .500 team. 

When USC romped all over my Sooners for the National Title last January, 55-19, I thought to myself 'Goodbye and good riddance Jason White.'  After seeing White lose two straight National Championship games I hoped things would get better WITHOUT White. 

I am not alone in this.  Trust me.  A billion Sooner fans out there thought the same.  What the heck were we thinking?  Hello.  How many teams can say they went to two straight national title games?  Not many.  In Rhett Bomar, one of the top 2 signal callers in high school in 2003 (behind sophomore sensation Brian Brohm who has erupted for Louisville), I figured the Sooners were in great hands come Spring practice.  Bomar was surely thinking he could just come in, hand off to All American Adrian Peterson and the Sooners would win the Big 12 title.  Not quite.  See Rhett, here's the thing...When you can't throw it doesn't open up room for Mr Peterson to run for 2,000 yards.  I have faith in you Rhett.  You'll get us back to respectability next year.  I have no doubt. 

Just yesterday Paul Thompson, who started the first game of theyear vs TCU (a17-10 loss in Norman), switched from quarterback to wide receiver.  Stoops has made it clear the job for the next couple years is Bomars and with Thompson being athletic (and flat out not good at QB) they wanted him to get on the field in some capacity.  Let's just hope he can catch better than he can throw (Think pitcher Nuke in Bull Durham accuracy).

Remember also Coach Stoops lost their top four wideouts, including Mark Clayton and Mark Bradley, many of the top defensive players (Dan Cody, Donte Nicholson), etc.  They also expected defensive end Larry Birdine to step in and take over.  Yeah, he's hurt and not coming back anytime soon.  The Sooners also have 24 freshmen and sophomores on this year's two-deep roster. 

All I want this year is a win over Texas.  If we win one more game this year, just make it that one.  Lose the rest.  I don't care.  The rest of the Big 12?  Enjoy a year of the Sooners a little down because with the Adrian Peterson, the young talent they have and will have coming in next year, it won't take long for them to get back in the Top 5. 

Boomer Sooner!

My Brother, The Ironman

September 11, 2005. 

Ironman Wisconsin. 

2.4 Mile Swim. 

112 Mile Bike. 

26.2 Mile Run

To read more on why this is so important to me, click here.  This is an article I wrote in May, 2004.

Please click on the 'View Larger' then 'View Album As Guest' to see the pictures bigger in an album.

Andre Agassi vs James Blake

 Can you say legend? 

At 6-6 in the fifth set, before the tiebreaker that would decide which player would move on to the semifinal's, James Blake just stood back with a smile on his face and took it all in.  It was 1:15am eastern time and 20,000 fans were still in the crowd.  The tiebreak went the distance with Andre Agassi pulling it out 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(8-6).  Agassi now faces another American, Robby Ginepri who dispatched Guillermo Coria in five sets of his own, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. 

Agassi looked set to get thrown off the court in just over an hour.  He lost the first two sets in an about seventy-five minutes and looked all of the 35-year-old he is.  But in the blink of an eye, he turned it around.  He started seeing the ball more clearly, got a bounce in his step and with his never say die attitude, just willed himself to victory.  In just as much time as Blake had won the first two sets, Agassi won the next two.  In the fifth set, Blake went up a break and looked set to serve it out at 5-4. 

Again Agassi returned amazingly.  As the match commentators put it 'If Agassi is going to go down, he is going to go down swinging.'  Well, he didn't go down.  His groundstrokes were crisper than ever when he needed them most.  At 6-5 in the tiebreak, Agassi had a serve for the match.  The players went back and forth Blake nailed a phenominal forehand winner down the line to bring the score to 6-6.  Agassi went up 7-6 on a beautiful backhand passing shot then blasted a forehand winner of his own to win the match and bring a massive smile to his face. 

 I will never forget Blake's smile in the fifth set before the tiebreak.

It's hard to root against Blake with all that has happened to him in the past 18 months.  It's all been discussed; his father passing away, breaking his neck, not able to practice for five minutes just 12 months ago, etc.  After the match, Blake went up to Agassi, shook his hand, gave him a hug and said 'I've never had so much fun losing.' 

Nothing better than a tiebreak in the fifth set to decide which American would move on to face another American (Ginepri) in the semifinal's.  Tennis the way it ought to be played. 

Down To The Nitty Gritty

Day 7 Review

Sunday was another great day at the Open.  Five setters.  Great comebacks.  Friends playing friends.  The Open is definitely taking shape. 

 Hewitt had just enough to get past Dent.

First on Arthur Ashe Stadium was Lleyton Hewitt facing a more dedicated Taylor Dent.  This match went the distance with Hewitt pulling it out in the fifth set 7-5.  Staying focused throughout the match, Dent was patient and took advantage of his opportunities.  Dent's game is at the net.  He tried to keep Hewitt deep and when a short ball came, he's slice a ball to Hewitt's backhand and rushed the net.  Hewitt stayed patient and hit brilliant passing shots and wonderful topspin lobs.  Dent had his chances, but in the end it was Hewitt moving on to the round of 16. 

The battle between Serena and Venus turned out to be much less than a battle.  USA commentator Tracy Austin hit the nail on the head when she said 'Each one knows exactly what the other is going to do and to overcome that they just hit the ball harder than they would normally do.'  Venus was victorious, 7-6, 6-2, being more consistent and moving much better than little sister Serena.  Plus, being out of shape doesn't help Serena.  In defense of the sister's, John McEnroe said 'I played my brother, Patrick, three times winning them all and hated every minute of it.  I couldn't enjoy beating my brother.'

 Venus was cool as a cucumber today vs lil sis Serena.

Three other round of 16 matches on the women's side were played today with only one of the higher seeds getting tested.  No. 1 Maria Sharapova destroyed Sania Mirza, 6-2, 6-1.  No. 7 Nadia Petrova beat 16-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova, 7-6(4), 7-5.  I have never seen a crybaby like this Vaidisova.  She had chances to win the first set, lost it and chuckedher racket at her chair.  Once sitting, she threw her water bottle, then her gatorade bottle.  Okay, it happens.  We lose our temper.  What really upset me was after she lost the second set and the match, she picked up a ball and hit it into the crowd.  I don't mean she just hit it, she nailed it as hard as she could towards the people in the first couple rows.  Grow up already.  You win some, you lose some. 

No. 4 seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium completely dismantled Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela, 6-1, 6-0.  McEnroe made a funny comment saying the 'last three games of the Srichaphan/Sanguinetti match lasted longer than the entire Clijsters match.'  That match I will discuss right about now.

The match of the day was Italian Davide Sanguinetti versus Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand.  This match was amazing going to 7-6 in the fifth set.  Sanguinetti is a completely push (he doesn't miss) and Srichaphan goes all out for everything.  At deuce at 5-5 in the fifth set, neither player was giving an inch.  Each player just kept hitting backhands to each other.  Over thirty shots were played.  Paradorn missed a backhand down the line and fell over jokingly on his stomach.  He just laid there for two minutes. 

Sanquinetti was waiting for Srichaphan to play the next point with a big smile on his face.  Srichaphan looked at him with a smile and sarcastically screamed out 'COME ON, LETS GO!!'  Best moment of the tournament.  Over four hours into the match and both players were having a laugh.  Sanguinetti eventually pulled it out 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 7-6(5).  Fantastic match and to see these two hug at the end of the match was great.  It was said earlier today 'You don't have to hate your opponent to want to win.'  That says it all.

 The cramping Sanguinetti couldn't sit down on change-overs in the fifth set.

No. 1 Roger Federer is getting everybody's best shot.  Olivier Rochus, a boyhood friend of Federer, gave him all he could handle.  Federer pulled it out 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-2.  The score doesn't reflect how close this match was.  Rochus had a set point in the second set and the first set was decided by one break of serve.  These two a great friends having one the Wimbledon junior doubles tournament together years ago. 

Day 8, Labor Day, Preview (Schedule of Play)

Four women's matches are left in the round of 16 to complete the quarterfinals.  No. 7 Henin-Hardenne faces hardhitting Mary Pierce, the No. 12 seed from France.  No 3 seed Amelie Mauresmo, also of France, plays No. 19 Elena Likhovtseva.  American No. 2 Lindsay Davenport plays No. 15 Nathalie Dechy.  Swiss Miss Patty Schnyder plays Elena Dementieva.  For all of those young players out there who need to be reminded how important a second serve is, watch Dementieva.  She has the worst second serve in all of tennis and double faulted 19 times in her last round.

Fourth round matches on the Men's side are set.  Monday's matches are:  American James Blake, fresh off his thumping of Rafael Nadal, takes on Tommy Robredo of Spain.  Andre Agassi, the highest seeded player left in the bottom half of the draw plays Xavier Malisse.  Argentinian Guillermo Coria plays Nicolas Massu.  The night match Monday is the best fourth round match.  Robby Ginepri plays the 18-year-old from France, Richard Gasquet.  This match might not be pretty, but it sure will be entertaining.  Both Ginepri and Gasquet will hit out and show emotion on the court.  Especially Gasquet.  Prediction:  If things don't go well for him, he'll break a racquet. 

                                                                                                                                            

AMERICANS MOVING ON!!!

 After beating Nadal, anything is possible for Blake.

James Blake pulled off the upset of the Open so far by beating Rafael Nadal in four sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.  Blake used a huge serve, great groundstrokes and exceptional speed to completely overwhelm Rafa.

If you don't know the James Blake story of the past couple years it's pretty incredible.  He broke his neck which nearly left him paralyzed.  Then his father died.  Less than a year ago, he couldn't play a point out, let alone a match.  He'd hit three balls and get dizzy.  Now look at him.  In the fourth round of the US Open after beating the hottest player on the planet.  He faces Spaniard Tommy Robredo for a place in the quarterfinals.

Robredo upended Frenchman Sebastian Grosjean in four tough sets.  This quarterfinal of the draw has Andre Agassi if you remember.  With Nadal out of the tournament this quarter is wide open.  Agassi, the No. 7 seed, is the highest player left in this region.

Agassi also won in four sets (3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6) over a tough opponent, Tomas Berdych.  Andre openly admitted he was tight at the beginning of the match and his timing was well off.  Berdych had something to do with that.  By completely crushing every ball, he doesn't give his opponent a chance to getting into a rhythm.  By mid-second set though, Andre was seeing the ball better and returned Berdych's 140 mph serve with ease. 

 Would you like some whine with that cheese Richard?

Young French star, Richard Gasquet, needed five sets to take out Ivan Ljubicic, 3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, to secure a place in the Round of 16.  I seem to be the only person who is not a fan of Gasquet.  Maybe it's just that he is French.  Fearing a loss of the first set, he threw his racquet.  After losing the set, he tossed his racquet yet again.  (Good article about racquet throwing on ESPN's Page 2 here).  He has unbelievable talent, but he's just a baby.  He needs to grow up.  Gasquet will next face American Robby Ginepri.  Ginepri fought off Tommy Haas in five sets.  After nearly three hours and twenty minutes, Ginepri won 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.  Four Americans left on the Men's side:  Blake, Ginepri, Agassi and Taylor Dent

On the women's side, another American No. 2 seed, Lindsay Davenport, walked over Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues in Arthur Ashe Stadium 6-3, 6-2.  Davenport will next face France's Nathalie Dechy, the 15th seed, who advanced by virtue of a three-set win over Tatiana Golovin in the third round.

 Another win for the 29-year-old Californian.

A rundown of other matches from Saturday:  Eight seed Guillermo Coria also moved ahead with a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4 victory over Robin Soderling.  Justine Henin-Hardenne, the 2003 champ, had to struggle to overcome South Korea's Yoon Jeong Cho 6-0, 7-6 (4).  Elena Dementieva, who reached the final here last year, overcame a tearful Anna Chakvetadze 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (5). But former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina fell to countrywoman Elena Likhovtseva 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6). France's Natalie Dechy also advanced, as did No. 11 Patty Schnyder and Mary Pierce.

Day 7 Preview (Schedule of Play)

Sunday brings the much anticipated matchup between Serena and Venus.  Let's hope these two go after each point like they do when they aren't playing each other.  It doesn't happen often but when they do fight to the finish it's fun to watch.  No. 1 seed Maria Sharapova plays Sania Mirza of India and No. 4 seed Kim Clijsters plays Venezuelan Maria Vento-Kabchi. 

The Men's side is full of third round matchups worth watching.  Top of the list is No. 3 seed, Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who plays American Taylor Dent.  Is this finally the year Dent makes a dent (no pun intended) in the Open?  No. 11 seed David Nalbandian plays Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.  Italian Davide Sanguinetti plays Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand.  No. 17 seed David Ferrer of Spain takes on Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty, the 15th seed.  Arnaud Clement, fresh off a five set win over Andy Murray, faces tough German Nicolas Kiefer.  The night match on Sunday features No. 1 Roger Federer vs Olivier Rochus. 

One thing I mentioned in my Open preview article is starting to annoy me.  If you are watching the tournament, you'll notice fans screaming whenever they feel like it.  During a serve, right in the middle of a forehand or coming to the net for a volley.  I completely understand this is New York and it's unpredictable, but it's going a bit far.  If you watch closely it never happens to an American.  Tomas Berdych got annoyed during a serve while being screamed at.  Same with Tommy Haas.  Same with Rafael Nadal.  It needs to stop.  Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox.  Goodnight and enjoy the matches Sunday.

Day 5 Review / Day 6 Preview

Day 5 Review

 Prediction:  Venus over Serena.

On Friday, Serena and Venus were both victorious to set up a big fourth round matchup.  After Venus defeated Daniela Hantuchova (6-3, 6-3) and Serena swept aside Francesa Schiavona (6-3, 6-4), the two will play Sunday for a spot in the quarterfinals.  The winner of that match more than likely will face the No. 4 seed, Kim Clijsters.

Top seed Maria Sharapova was on the court for over an hour for the first time at the Open when Julia Schruff pushed the world No. 1.  Sharapova overpowered Schruff 6-2, 6-4, but earned acclaim for fighting toe-to-toe with the 6-foot-2 inch Russian.

In a battle of two qualifiers, Arnaud Clement took out 18-year-old Scot Andy Murray in four sets.  In a match which lasted over four hours, Clement finally put away Murray 6-2, 7-6, 2-6, 6-7, 6-0.  The match mirrored almost exactly what happened to Murray at Wimbledon two months ago.  Murray seemed to have David Nalbandian on the ropes but faded in the fifth set.  Being just 18, Murray has not played many five set matches and clearly looked tired double faulting four times in the fifth set. 

 I know he lost, but he's a Scot.  You go boy.

"You're going to see a lot from this guy in the future," John McEnroe said of Murray on the USA Network's telecast of the match.  As mentioned earlier in the week, the Brit's are looking for somebody to step up with Tim Henman lacking.  I personally can't wait to see more of the teen from Dunblane, Scotland.  Clement now faces Nicolas Kiefer who overcame a two-set to love deficit to beat Radek Stepanek.

 Personally, Clijsters scares me...

Kim Clijsters, the No. 4 seed from Belgium, took out her old doubles partner, Ai Sugiyama, 6-1, 6-4.  Clijsters has had a great summer and just keeps overpowering each opponent with punishing groundstrokes and non-stop hustle. 

 Hewitt doesn't make friends on the court with his personality.

Clijsters' ex, Lleyton Hewitt, fought off a tough Argentinian, Jose Acasuso, 7-6, 7-, 6-2.  Hewitt now faces American Taylor Dent.  Dent has a big game, but Hewitt will fight to the end making Dent win every point.  You won't find a tougher player on tour than Hewitt and Dent will find that out in the next round.  Dent played very well in beating Spain's Nicolas Almagro in four sets. 

Want to read something funny?  Hewitt's wife, Bec Cartwright, a soap star in Australia, wrote a wonderful (sarcasm) poem to Lleyton at their wedding.  Need a good laugh?  Click here.

Roger Federer fought off Fabrice Santoro 7-5, 7-5, 7-6.  Santoro had the crowd roaring with some fantastic between the legs and behind the back shots.  Federer now plays Olivier Rochus of Belarus, then wouldn't play a seed until quarterfinals. 

Follow the US Open here.

Day 6 Preview (Schedule of Play)

Oh, Saturday is going to be a fun day at the Open.  On the Men's side Andre Agassi faces Tomas Berdych, James Blake plays Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet plays Ivan Ljubicic, Sebastian Grosjean plays Tommy Robredo, Guillermo Coria faces Robin Soderling and under the lights Saturday night is Tommy Haas versus Robby Ginepri. 

If you are a fan of women's tennis, Saturday is the day for you.  No. 2 seed Lindsay Davenport plays No. 32 seed Anabel Maria Garriques, Justine Henin-Hardenne plays Korea's Yoon Jeong Cho, Shinobu Asagoe plays Patty Schnyder and Jelena Jankovic plays Mary Pearce.  Two Russians face each other when No. 6 seed Elena Dementieva plays No. 29 Anna Chakvetadze.  The French have two of the top players in the draw facing off when No. 15 seed Nathalie Dechy takes on No. 23 seed Tatiana Golovin.  Yet another Frenchwoman, No. 3 seed, Amelie Mauresmo takes on Anna-Lena Groenefeld. 

Some predictions:  Coria over Soderling, Agassi over Berdych, Ljubicic fights over 18-year-old Frenchman Gasquet, Robredo over Grosjean, Rafael Nadal over James Blake and Robby Ginepri will take out Tommy Haas in four sets.  Not really going out on a limb in any of those matches, but I don't see any upsets so I won't pick any.

Day 4 Review / Day 5 Preview

 Ginepri throttled Muller into submission.

Thursday proved to be an uneventful day at the Open.  One match every one was looking forward to turned out to be a total rout.  Robby Ginepri versus Giles Muller was supposed to be a dog fight till the end.  Well, that wasn't the case.  Ginepri completely squashed Muller 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. 

This happens quite often in tennis.  A player completes a great upset, Muller over Roddick, only to lose in the next round to somebody not nearly as talented.  Not to take anything away from Ginepri, he's a very good player (and getting better), but he's not Roddick.  Ginepri now plays German Tommy Haas who dispatched of countryman, Rainer Schuettler in three sets.

Andre Agassi survived 6 foot, 10 inch Ivo Karlovic, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6.  Karlovic played great and had his chances, but Agassi knows how to turn the screws when he has to.  Good win for Agassi.  Next up is Czech Tomas Berdych.  McEnroe has been raving about how well Berdych has been playing. 

 Agassi's hand-eye coordination is completely amazing.

Lindsay Davenport, the 1998 champion, crushed Frenchwoman Pauline Parmetier, 6-1, 6-1.  Fiesty Spaniard Tommy Robredo beat Gustavo Kuerten in four sets setting up a meeting with Sebastian Grosjean who took out the 14th seed, Thomas Johansson

Thought every American won on Thursday?  Wild card Brian Baker lost to Xavier Malisse, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, and Vince Spadea went down to Guillermo Coria, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.  Coria played extraordinarily well.  He could make a run.  He now plays young Swede Robin Soderling.

To finish out the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, James Blake tossed aside Igor Andreev, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.  Blake seems to be elevating his game at the right time.  Well, he's going to have to pick up even higher.  Next up?  Rafael Nadal.  Watch Nadal take his lefty forehand deep into the ad court with heavy topspin to Blake's one-handed backhand.  Blake is in for a long match.  Nadal in three.

 This pic is for my sis, she thinks Blake is hot. 

Day 5 Preview (Schedule of Play)

Finally, Andy Murray gets his shot at Arnaud Clement (Note to USA Network:  Show this match). Venus plays Daniela Hantuchova and Serena plays Francesca Schiavone.  Both sister's win and they'll play each other this weekend.  Roger Federer plays Fabrice Santoro under the lights.  A good women's match features the 9th seed, Russian Nadia Petrova against American Laura Granville.  (My boss, Paul, said he beat Granville while working at MidTown tennis club in Chicago a few years back in a game to 21.  I'm not buying it, but he's my boss so I guess I have to.)