Phenomenal tennis... Istomin battled well in sets 2+3 but what heart Rafa had to win the tie-break and win the match absolutely refusing to be broken. Vamos! champ.

Impressive of Rafa that his serves were not broken even once in the two matches he played. He had two tough opponents for his first two round matches and he pass with flying colors, without dropping a set and winning all three tie breaks. His serve is a revelation this tournament, and I wonder what other tricks he has in his bag!

Istomin played well and gave a good account of himself. I hope he can improve from hereon and see himself moves up the rankings. It is a good competitive match, though nerve wracking for Rafa fans.

Yes luckystar, phenomenal serve by Rafa, where did all that come from............up to 132 mph, unbelievable. When you think that last year this time he was serving in the 90s, because he was hampered by his stomach tear. I always believed that in Toronto and Cincy, he wasn't too fussed about taking those titles, he just wanted to do enough to get him to the USO in one piece.

VAMOS!

I hope that Rafa and Nole make it to the final to make up for the tough early rounds they've had.

A good match, rather a solid match except a few shaky moments that Rafa tends to have sometimes which seem to hang in with him for a couple of games?( like when he saved 3 consecutive break points, after those terrible 3 points!!)
All the aspect of his games are going pretty precisely the way one would wish. The only thing I feel like pointing out is Rafa needs to start breaking those serves!!!!
I mean, yes he did break him thrice, but you know what I mean..
He needs to work on the return I guess? Because as the tournament goes deep, he won?t be able to rely on Tie-Breakers for the top notch players all the time. The return game is also a big part of his game you know..
All n all to say it was just good, the whole feel of the match was a good feeling.. Being confident all the time!!!
Vamos Rafa..

nadline-
I too hope its a Rafa and Djokovic final. Obviously Rafa is my number 1 but if Djokovic were to take it I would be sad for Nadal but happy for Djokovic who also never gets the credit he deserves. He is a great guy, a hard worker, battling players and his health and deserves to win another slam to go with his AO title, so that people take him more seriously.
Baffles me how Murray who has won squat, is called the favourite in every grand slam except the french, over players who have won slams, including Djokovic who is a force on hardcourts and clay. Maybe people need to be reminded of this!

Love what I have seen from Djokovic so far, especially mentally. So if he gets to the semi against Roger if he is on form and mentally strong he has a chance to end that losing streak against Roger at the US Open.
But we will have to see how the rest of the matches pan out...:)

I predicted a Nole/Rafa final, ha ha! (Please see the expert picks thread).

To me, Nole could reach a FO final if he was not drawn into Rafa's half of the draw that often (2006-2008, 2010), especially in 2008 when it was obvious, at least to me, that he fared better than Fed against Rafa during the clay season. He kept bumping into Rafa at the SF, at Hamburg and at RG, but his scorelines against Rafa were better than Fed's against Rafa (remember how bad Fed's score was at the FO final that year?). I'm confident to say that Nole vs Fed in the SF of FO 2008, Nole would beat Fed, though that may sound hypothetical now.

I'm with Isa here, that I hope that Nole will be in the final so that people will take him more seriously, what more if he can beat Fed en route to the final!

To be honest, I fear Rafa meeting Nole in the final more than him meeting Roger. Rafa will down Roger in straights if they meet, but it will be more of a fight with Nole.

Yes, in order to push Murray into the limelight, they are trying to airbrush Rafa and Nole out of the picture. But Rafa and Nole know what they are made of, they just need to keep their head down, and do what they have to do. I was listening to Bob Brett yesterday saying that Murray is the only one who can challenge Roger for the USO, no one else. Maybe he should concentrate on whether he can get his charge, Cilic, to make it past the 2nd round in any tournament, never mind GS.

Rafa is world no 1, for the 2nd time in two years, no one can take that away from him.


VAMOS!

I think that people keep picking Murray because they think he is going to win a GS one day, so they are hedging their bets.

There is no gaurantee that he will, it would be nice if he did, but there have been lots of solid players over the years who never won a GS, take Dimentieva, for example, one of the stalwarts of Women's Tennis, and Olympic Gold Medalist, she has never won a GS, and she's been around for ever, or former No 1 Safina.

@nadline, not upto 132mph , upto 134 mph ! vamos !! :P

Bob Brett said that based on what? The recent results at Toronto and Cincy? Or after seeing how Rafa serving 130+ mph and 'struggling' to beat his first two rounds opponents in straight sets? Or after seeing how at ease Murray was in dispatching his first two rounds opponents? Mind you, even us Rafa fans were all surprised by how well Rafa served, and nobody except Rafa and his team, knows what else Rafa can bring to the table later on during the tournament.

It doesn't matter what all these experts say, the players still have to play the matches. I'm not so bothered about what they say. Rafa and Fed both didn't win their warm up tournament before winning their AO titles in 2009 & 2010 respectively. Fed did not win the Toronto/Cincy titles all the time during his five year reign at the USO. Murray won Cincy in 2008 and Montreal in 2009 but he did not manage to win the USO. Who knows which player will win this time at the USO?

Yes vamosrafa, 134 was Rafa's fastest serve last night.

People don't take what the 'experts' say, because we can all make up our own minds, they can wish for who they want to win, but if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Rafamania hits NY hairdressing salon
Back to news archive
September 04.2010, New York, U.S.A

Rafa?s visit to a New York hairdressing salon on Monday evening caused some madness after he got a haircut for his US Open debut.

While in the store, located in Madison Avenue, ?some young girls were seen picking up his hair and taking it as a souvenir?, stated the New York Post. A clear sign that Nadalmania has hit the Big Apple.

The official hairdresser for the US Open since 2006 and also the man responsible for Rafa's new look, Julien Farel, has been friends with the tennis champ for 3 years. He cuts the world No.1 locks every time he comes for the 2-week Grand Slam event.

You can see a picture of Julien at work with Rafa in their official website or through the link below:
http://estaticos03.cache.el-mundo.net/elmundodeporte/imagenes/ 2010/09/03...

Vamos Rafa!

An even more improved performance from Rafa in what was a very entertaining match. Luckystar, nadline, vamosrafa, I emphasise further your views on his serving. In terms of consistency and power it was at a level he would need it to be in any eventual semi final against Murray. How often does he regularly hit serves at 130mph plus?? He can still vary it with slowing it down and spin, so this could be a further evolution in his game. It was a great comeback in the 2nd set tie break, event tho the deficit was of his own undoing, still not sure about the choice of drop shot which hit the net early on. The only criticism was the return of serve, making erros at crucial points whether he was being agressive on the 2nd serve, or just trying to flick it back into play (something Federer is the master of). He shouldn't have too many problems against Simon and Nalbadian will be burnt out if they meet in the quarters. I share Isabeau's point on favourtism towards Murray. Whilst you can't dismiss his results in the hard court masters, he can't be an outright favourite as he has yet to win a Slam - as opposed to Rafa. Roger & Novak. A majortiy of the hype is from the British media, mind. He is a major contender but as Dustin Brown briefly showed, Murray is still susceptible to the big hitters and someone more consistent like Querrey could still cause him problems. Still Rafa's chances looking very good.

BTW I'm waiting to watch the Almagro/Querrey match. Almagro, when his game is on, can also play well on hard courts, as evident by how he pushed Tsonga to five sets at the AO this year. If he can beat Querrey on American soil, then it will be an interesting match if he meets Murray next. Murray did beat him earlier on this year, in either IW or Miami, though Almagro then wasn't in his best form(Murray wasn't either, to be fair). After Rome and RG, and effectively the whole clay season this year, his confidence should be sky high. I think he can provide a good challenge to Murray this time round should they meet.

Vamos Rafa!!! Great to see him serving so well. Although it's a bit like watching a stranger!

Kudos to Istomin for a great effort on a night when he was clearly not feeling his best. Nerves & fatigue? He's played a LOT since Wimbly. Hope he continues to do well.

Lebsta, agree with your points. The other thing is, Murray has an uphill struggle from now on to emerge from his qtr into the SF. Llodra is looking very good, better than ever, so all the players have hurdles to cross step by step before we start thinking about the SF.

VAMOS!

Great match last night!!! I felt sorry for Istomin though, I really felt he deserved to win "AT LEAST "ONE" set. (I had never heard of him before). Roger is coming on too though. If Rafa and Roger meat in the "FINAL" :). Roger will KICK his ASS!!! :) Congrats to Rafa last night. Good Luck to "ALL"!!!

@sky , 9/4/10 2:25 PM

I felt sorry for Istomin when an ankle injury forced him to retire before ending the first set against Federer in Cincinnati. I felt Istomin deserved to win their match.

Istomin is definitely a future contender for the top ranks. He was slightly over-awed by the occasion last night but once he got into his stride he produced some amazing shots and refused to be initimidated by an awesome Rafa! He reminds me a lot of Safin when he was younger.

apparently rafa changed his grip a bit and serves flatter which puts him in a good position to go far.

Augustina08, 9/4/10 3:08 PM,

Great post! Perfect reply to a Fed fan who just wants to find a way to somehow diminish Rafa. No one deserves to win anything! You earn it by doing it and Istomin couldn't manage when he was up 5-1!

Who's going to kick who's ass in the final! Saying it won't make it happen. It's the usual propaganda from a Fed fan!

I'm a neutral tennis fan here. I'm neither a Fed nor a Nadal fan, however, I think that thus far Fed's not been challenged by any strong opponents, whereas, Nadal's been challenged right from the inception of the tourney. That siad, I think, it would be more like Nadal having the edge over Fed if they should meet in the finals.

I've never likes the draws, and this year's USO draw is extremely unbalanced. The way the draws are set up, it's obvious that the powers that be want to see the top 4 in the SF and the top 2 in the finals. I wish there were a better way for the draws to be done, whereby the lower ranked players don't meet the top players in the early rounds.

Von the higher ranked players earn their draw by playing well throughout the year; that's the reward ... you get to play the #80 rather than the #4.
Although the draws can still be somewhat unbalanced for even those at the top.

Von, for once I am liking the way the draw is opening up sweetly for Rafa - and I am on record as having liked it from the off - while Roger has to face his seeded opponent Herr Melzer in R4 and is likely to face Robin as expected at QF stage assuming he wins through. Novak is also looking good to keep his appointed place in the semi-finals. Roger is obliged to play a few daytime match-ups for once this year (at long last) so he is going to have to withstand an awful lot of physiological AND psychological scar-tissue if he is even to get through to face certain finalist Rafa next weekend.

Given that he is left alone as the only former champ in the draw, he may even be feeling a little lonely right now, poor thing.

VAMOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nativenewyorker you have the right to your opinion obviously, but I believe you are mistaken. Istomin did deserve something to show for his performance. It was not as if Rafa blew out of the waters. The performance was very close on many occasions. My saying so does not diminish Rafa's win, it merely points out the truth of the match, that it was close. I would like to see this kid playing 100% in the future. No doubt we will be hearing more of Istomin. I like him, I like him a lot. :)

gorafago LOL what a clown

sky-
Dont assume that Federer will kick anyones of the following players ass if he does meet them (Soderling, Djokovic, Murray or Nadal), because Federer up until this point has not been tested, by tough opposition ie. heavy flat hitters and servers and these are the exact payers that he struggles with..ie Soderling at RG and Berdych at Wimbledon.
Rafa on the other hand has been tested twice already by these type of heavy, flat hitters and his passed with flying colours without dropping his serve!

Based on the matches that Fed has played we cant say anything about his form. We wont know until he comes up against Soderling.

smr: I understand about the ranking and the rolling system, but I still don't like it. I would like to see the rolling system abolished and each year begin from scratch, rather than this carry-over of points. Had it not been for the way the points are carried over, the whole top 10 would be ranked differently. Anyway, that's the way the cookie crumbles, isn't it?.

__________________
Native: your guy is looking just mahvellouzz, too mahvvellouz for words. mazel tov!!

sky,

When you start saying things like Fed is going to kick Rafa's ass, then expect to get some sharp replies. You are making a foolish assumption and risking looking ridiculous when it doesn't happen.

I don't know what on earth you thought Istomin deserved. Should they give him half a win for playing Rafa tough in a tight match? Or for being up 5-1 in the tiebreak? The way it goes is that someone has to win and someone has to lose. That's how it will read in the record books. Unlike you, I don't have any problem with Rafa playing a tight match as long as he is the winner. Rafa thrives on this type of challenge and he is getting some much needed match play so that he can peak in the second week and be at top form. It's not just the scoreline, although I know that Fed fans like to think that way, even though your guy hasn't faced a single player who can even manage to bother him. If he meets Sod, then we will see what he is made of, that will be his first real test. Rafa is facing some tough young players who went out there and played way above their ranking. That only brings out Rafa's best.

Von,

How sweet! Is that your new word? Yes, I am liking what I am seeing from Rafa, especially that serve! Notice how the Fed fans aren't even mentioning that? Maybe Rafa's serve will kick someone else's ass in this tournament! :)

Native: Actually, I say more -- it's simply mahvellouz, dahling, simply mahvellouzz, but this is a tennis blog. anyway, as jackie Gleason used to say: 'how sweet it is".

BYW, are you saying that Rafa has a kicker of a serve = a *kick ass* serve? LOOOOL

Awwwhhhh, I made a boo boo: I meant it's simply mahvellouz, dahhling, too mahvellouzz for words! Hope you like this one better.

A random ball boy tosses the ball to Nadal . Nadal huffs and puffs gets to the ball and drives a winner. All Nadal fans then air punch to proclaim Nadal has been tested.

nirv02-
Fed wins 63 63 62 against players who have weaker serve and game, then Serena Williams, who by the way should would probably beat straights and all of a sudden non Fed fans are meant to be shaking in our boots.

Question: Which man won the French Open and Wimbledon this year and mind you has beaten the mighty Fed in the last two slams they have met in, one on a hardcourt, mind you? That's right...Rafael Nadal!

And which man has never arrived not injured and rested into the US OPen, up until this year, yet still managed to reach the semis, including last year, carrying bunged knees and a torn abdomen ....thats right
Answer: Rafael Nadal.

So if he can go that far with no fuel and injured to the max then I wonder what he is capable of now.

Now back in your box! pfft!!

Who cares about Fed ...A big yawn!. Can we get a ball boy to toss some balls to Rafa.

So nirv02, in your eyes who was tested then? Mr Fed? Murray? Sod?

Why can't some people leave us Rafa fans alone to say what we want about Rafa? Why must irritate us and try to start a war? Whether you irritate us or not, it won't change a thing should Rafa meets Fed. Save your breath to cheer for your guy instead, that is more constructive, for you do not know whether you would still have the chance or not!

Fed ..who? yawn again. It is not my problem you get irritated . This is a public forum and nobodys private space , everyone gets to speak their mind. It is upto you how you take it. Call in the ball boy right now!

luckystar: I SO agree, but some people just seem to thrive on negativity. I guess we should feel sorry for them?

Yes deuce, it seems this nivr02 fella is one negative fella who thinks of negative things all the time, poor fella. Maybe we should show such people some pity and forgive them. Hope they get some enlightenment to help them out of their miserable lives. Amen!

nirv02-
And your point was????
Clearly you're here to annoy Rafa fans and by you not even acknowledging Fed, I would say you are everybodys waste of time and your opinons should be ignored.
Fed who? You are an idiot!

Even I, who am not a Fed fan know that fed deserves RESPECT for all his achieved!

Yes let's all decide not to waste time on this nirv02 fella. Let he/she dwell in his/her own sorrows!

Correction isabeau ".. all he has achieved."

nirv02 this is internet chat site - not an English grammar course.

RE -ATP employer comment
Shame on you !!!!! What about the players PRIVACY and CONFIDENTLY ??
You are in a PRIVELEDGED position working in the ATP so maybe you should keep QUITE about their preferences on any issue !!

and before you correct me nirv02, I meant to write: this is an internet chat site.

ed .. thanks for stating the obvious. yawn !!

You're welcome Nirv. Any time.

Ed- thanks for putting nirv02 in his/her place for me in regards to my poor grammar. I can spell I promise...:) I just don't check what i write properly and should really as my mind thinks quicker than my fingers type so I miss words sometimes and or dont write grammatically correct.

Nirv02-surely you have better things to do than correct my grammar, but then again, who am I kidding.

and isabeau u definitely dont have better things to do than reply to me. I truly am old and retired so I fiddle around.