SB Nation St. Louis - U.S. Open 2011: Andy Roddick Aside, Analyzing Tennis Is Difficulthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2011-09-09T10:30:33-05:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21725452011-09-09T10:30:33-05:002011-09-09T10:30:33-05:00U.S. Open 2011: Andy Roddick, John Isner Advance While Andy Murray Eliminates Donald Young
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<p>The Americans' 2011 US Open run continues, as Andy Roddick, John Isner, and Serena Williams advance.</p> <p>Donald Young's surprise US Open run ended when he was eliminated in straight sets by Andy Murray, but it doesn't mark the end of his resurgence or the American men's—Andy Roddick and John Isner advanced to the quarterfinals Thursday, topping David Ferrer and Gilles Simon, respectively. Isner, 26, needed three tiebreakers to beat Simon and advance to his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal, while Roddick's Court 13 victory sets him up to face Rafael Nadal in his first US Open quarterfinal since 2008. Isner will attempt to avenge Young against Andy Murray. </p>
<p>On the womens' side, Serena Williams and number-one seed Caroline Wozniacki's tournament-long collision course will finally lead to some sparks. Williams <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/tennis/us-open-2011-andy-roddick-advances-as-event-races-to-make-up-for-rain-delays/2011/09/08/gIQAYqEPDK_story.html" target="_blank">hasn't yet lost a set</a> in her return to Grand Slam action. The other semifinal comes down to 23-year-old German Angelique Kerber and 27-year-old Australian Samatha Stosur. </p>
<p>For the first time in a while we're just two rounds away from Americans caring about the US Open all the way to its completion. That's pretty exciting, right? </p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2011/9/9/2413938/us-open-tennis-2011-newsDan Moore2011-09-06T14:53:01-05:002011-09-06T14:53:01-05:00US Open 2011: Rainout Delays Donald Young-Andy Murray Rematch
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<p>Donald Young, John Isner, and Andy Roddick all had their round-of-16 matches delayed due to inclement weather at the 2011 US Open.</p> <p>2011 US Open fans looking to watch as Andy Murray and 21-year-old American Donald Young play their first match since Young's incredible upset earlier this year will have to wait—Tuesday's tennis has been rained out due to inclement weather in Flushing, leaving all six of Tuesday's matches to be rescheduled for Wednesday. John Isner, playing Gilles Simon, and Andy Roddick, who drew fifth-seed David Ferrer, were also set to play Tuesday.</p>
<p>Wednesday's forecast doesn't look much better, which means that we might see still more cascading delays before US Open tennis resumes. We're just a few matches away from the quarterfinals, which makes all of this even more irritating than it might otherwise be. </p>
<p>In the meantime, Grantland has published a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6935132/the-redemption-donald-young">great look</a> at Young, which asks whether we've already published too many looks at the dinged-up would-be star-of-the-future, if I can throw a few more hyphens your way. Given the paucity of American men coming through the ranks it's an easy thing to do.</p>
<p>For up-to-the-minute updates on the Open and its weather-related conflagration, follow the storystream <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/tennis/2011/9/6/2407820/u-s-open-2011-schedule-rafael-nadal-andy-roddick-andy-murray-in">at SB Nation</a>.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2011/9/6/2408511/u-s-open-2011-rain-canceledDan Moore2011-09-06T11:00:51-05:002011-09-06T11:00:51-05:00U.S. Open 2011: In Which I Prove To Andy Roddick That Analyzing Tennis Is Difficult
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<p>Analyzing the 2011 US Open is much harder than Andy Roddick says it is, if my attempt at it is any indication. </p> <p>Andy Roddick, noted Default American Tennis Player and potential 2011 U.S. Open quarterfinalist, recently got into <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/tennis/2011/8/31/2397221/andy-roddick-us-open-espn-tennis-analyst-easiest-job-reaction-interview" target="_blank">hot water</a> by suggesting that tennis analyst was one of the easiest jobs in the world. As someone who has to be a tennis analyst once a year, I must say: I disagree very strongly. Here's what things look like for the remaining Americans in the men's bracket—</p>
<p>Roddick, who is known for hitting tennis balls very hard and for being the only American men's singles player of note for most of the last decade, has long been considered a vague disappointment for winning just one Grand Slam event—the 2003 US Open—and that's been compounded in 2011 by the notion that, at 29, his best tennis is behind him. Personally I can't blame a guy for losing to Roger Federer multiple times—that's a little like dumping on John Stockton and Karl Malone for never beating Michael Jordan—but that's tennis. He's got David Ferrer, the fifth seed, in round four. </p>
<p>Mardy Fish was seeded ahead of Roddick for the first time, but he suffered an injury-plagued loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Monday afternoon to be the first of the four remaining Americans eliminated. He's known for having a cool name, I think? At least, I think it's pretty cool. </p>
<p>John Isner, a 6'9" slugger, is most famous for playing an 11 hour match at Wimbledon in 2010, but has since managed to impress on his own terms. He's never gotten past the fourth round of a Grand Slam, but he'll have to get past 12th-seeded Gilles Simon to do it. </p>
<p>Finally, Donald Young, constantly scrutinized for his maturity and conditioning, has reached the fourth round for the first time despite going into the tournament unseeded. (Not bad after <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/bruce_jenkins/04/26/donald.young/index.html" target="_blank">committing career suicide</a>.) He's got Andy Murray, whom he somehow upset earlier this year. </p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2011/9/6/2406823/us-open-tennis-2011-news-andy-roddickDan Moore