No more mojo

Player who upset Roddick falls in second round


NEW YORK (AP) -- Gilles Muller was the toast of the U.S. Open just two days ago. Now, he's just toast.

Muller fizzled in the encore to his shocking upset of Andy Roddick, going down in straight sets Thursday afternoon. Looking like the best player in tiny Luxembourg again, he fell 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 to doubles partner Robby Ginepri.

"It's nice when you come to the club the next day and the people are screaming all the day, 'Muller' here and 'Muller' there," he said. "But I wasn't ready for that."

Most players were long gone from the National Tennis Center by the time Muller beat Roddick in the last match Tuesday night. But the match has been the talk of the tournament since, another reminder that any player can be beaten.

Roddick, the highest-ranked American man, won the Open two years ago. He came in with the second-best record on hard courts this year, trailing only No. 1 Roger Federer, and had gotten to the quarterfinals or better in each of the previous four years. Muller is ranked 68th, and was playing his first Open.

And then there was the poster boy factor. Roddick's face was plastered all over New York before the Open, courtesy of an ad campaign asking if people had seen his mojo. He's on posters outside the subway, on kiosks throughout the National Tennis Center and in ads in the local papers.

"I think it was too much for me," said Muller, inundated with phone calls after his win. "I played great against Andy but today I played -- of course I played worse, but it wasn't the tennis. I think it was something in the head. ... I have to learn how to deal with this thing, with these kind of moments."

It didn't help that Muller got only a few hours of sleep before getting up for his doubles match with Ginepri on Wednesday. They lost to the 10th-seeded team of Frantisek Cermak and Leos Friedl from the Czech Republic.

"I felt pretty tired this morning when I woke up," Muller said. "Then when I was warming up in the court, I was feeling heavy and the balls were not going out of the racket that much like last time. ... Everything was going too fast for me."

It showed. Against Roddick, Muller was energetic and creative. He had nice touches on his angled groundstrokes, and was crafty with his shot selection and placement. A left-hander, he kept Roddick off-balance with his serve.

But against Ginepri, he simply looked lost. He sprayed the ball all over the court and duffed the surest of shots. He made 39 errors to Ginepri's eight, and won only 58 percent of his first-serve points. He had a measly four breakpoint chances the entire match, and didn't convert any of them.

Ginepri, meanwhile, broke Muller in six of the 10 chances he got.

"Coming into the match, I didn't think (a rout) would be the case," Ginepri said. "But as the match was progressing, I felt if I just held serve and kept making my shots, then good things would happen. And it did."

During one second-set changeover, Muller sat with his face buried in a towel, utterly beaten.

"I cannot only say that I played bad. He made me play bad, also," Muller said. "He was returning so many balls, and Roddick didn't return them. He was running to every ball, so I think you have to give him lots of credit for what he did today."

Muller finally mustered some fight in the third set, rallying from being down 3-1. But having already broken Muller, Ginepri only had to hold his serve for the win.

The match was over in a mere 80 minutes, and Muller went from a star toa footnote.

"It's good to beat Roddick," he said. "But then if you play in the next round ... like I did today, it doesn't change anything."

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ah, kaya pala nung tuesday, wala akong napanuod na match before 7 ng umaga


honestly speaking, i wont be bothering myself to watch the US Open this year since marat withdrew from the tournament. siya lang naman ang reason kung bakit nanunuod ako. although i did plan on watching the finals had it been a roddick - federer match but roddick is out, so... and i dont like watching the women's matches since steffi retired

and speaking of roddick, when i read his results sa newspapaer, naawa ako sa kanya, 3 sets, puro tie breaker, and he lost it, but then some people just have their off days and some dont

Happy birthday? Not for Roddick

68th-ranked Muller stuns former U.S. Open champion 7-6, 7-6, 7-6

NEW YORK - The worst birthday of Andy Roddick’s life ended with three straight tiebreak losses and a shocking first-round exit from the U.S. Open against a player making his debut in the tournament.

Roddick, the champion two years ago and the No. 4 seed this year, fell 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (1) on his 23rd birthday Tuesday night to Gilles Muller, the first man from Luxembourg to compete in the Open.

The 22-year-old Muller, ranked No. 68, outhustled, outmaneuvered and, most astonishingly, out-aced Roddick 24-17 to claim his second huge upset of the summer. In his first Wimbledon, he beat French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

Sportsplus airs US open at 11 pm but i don't think dere-derecho until the wee hours. Humihinto sila ng mga 3 or 4 am then will resume later on 7 in the morning until 11 am ata.

Grabe, for me ang pangit ng coverage. I still prefer Star sports.

Did you see Nadal's outfit during his first round match against Bobby reynolds? Nagiging "Serena Williams" na siya of Mens tennis which is also good for the tour kasi humihina na ang impact ng tennis sa U.S., he's able pull quite a huge crowd considering that he's a Spaniard Hmmm.. buti hindi siya nahihirapan sa super tight shirt that he's wearing, sobrang humid pa naman. yikes!





But wait... there's also Dominik Hrbaty:

ummm... i think that picture was taken a few months prior to his "treatment", this according to his official website, . so there we have it, treatment and not surgery. besides he already took 6 weeks off plus that 1 week he played in cincinnati


uh, di ko masyadong nagustohan yung mga pictures. kailangan na niya kasing magpagupit ng buhok e

anyway, im very sad right now that marat has withdrawn from the tournament, buti na lang at di nag cover ang star sports. by the way, anybody here saw any match via sports plus? anong oras ba nila pinapalabas ang US Open? thanks

Pics from Men's Vogue Party:


Roger with actress Lindsay Lohan

Roger with Gwen Stefani's husband Gavin Rossdale

Usher, Serena, Gwen Stefani

Roger and Mirka

More pics from Arthur Arshe Kids day:

From www.maratsafin.com

28.08.05
Regrettably we have to announce that Marat is withdrawing from the US Open. Although Marat wanted more than anything to play and has tried whatever he could to be ready, as a professional tennis player he has had to admit that his body is saying it is too soon. So he has made the decision after discussions with all those around him. He is not depressed because he realises this is the right thing to do. He will return to Italy to continue treatment at the Isokinetic and ensure that his knee is fully recovered. His one regret is that he is disappointing his fans who wanted to see him play. It is not known how long he will be out but we will keep you informed. This time he will make sure he does not rush into returning. Marat still wants to play his tennis and he will be back. As his fans he needs your support more than ever.
Peace

For all those who might feel that we were giving the wrong impression, please note this was because Marat himself was saying he was fine. Marat has to make his own decisions and we have to abide by them. As with if anyone is ill, the medical people always tell you "He'll be fine!" We were always hopeful but in the end one's body is the one that makes the final decision.

Hopefully, Marat would be able to recover as soon as possible mas lalo na for this upcoming indoor- hardcourt season na wherein napakagaling niya para assured na makaqualify siya sa year-end tennis masters cup ang cute pa na man niya sa facing federer na dvd.

sayang naman..ang bata bata pa nya

UNICEF Praises ATP for Tsunami Relief Donations

ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer accepts special recognition from United Nations Children’s Fund at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day

Rafael Nadal adds another $15,000 to the new ACE Program
© Getty Images
UNICEF, the world's leading children's organization, today presented World No. 1 Roger Federer with a plaque as a token of its appreciation for the efforts of the ATP and pro tennis to rapidly raise funds to support UNICEF's relief efforts in south Asia immediately after the tsunami struck the region.

Federer accepted the framed photograph at the US Open's Arthur Ashe Kids' Day on behalf of all players, while World No. 2 Rafael Nadal added to the growing tally of ATP contributions by donating an additional $15,000 today.

“I'm very honored to accept this from a great organization like UNICEF,” said Federer, top seed at next week's US Open.

Charles J. Lyons, President of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, made the special presentation to Federer. Lyons and Federer were introduced during the ceremony by Kids' Day host Summer Sanders, a UNICEF Ambassador who praised the work of the organization and the players who have helped support it.

Earlier this year the ATP launched a three-year global partnership with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, to harness the power of tennis to ensure the health, education and protection of every child. The partnership, called ACE (“Assisting Children Everywhere”) already has raised approximately $250,000, most of it directed to the survivors of the tsunami.

“The ATP, its players, employees and fans have raised significant funds and awareness to support our mission,” said Lyons. “As soon as the ATP and the players heard about the disaster, they wanted to help in any way they could. This partnership will continue to go a long way in helping children around the world lead happier, healthier lives and develop to their full potential.”

Lyons cited several players and highlighted the work of Federer, who organized a tsunami fundraising exhibition in March at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells—called ATP All-Star Rally for Relief—and secured the participation of nearly every Top 10 player in the world, including Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and several leading Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players. Federer also donated money and memorabilia for fund-raising auctions. His on-going charitable work in South Africa on behalf of the Roger Federer Foundation was featured on the stadium's big screen.

“We all did individual things, but I wanted to get all of us together to do something as a group,” Federer said. “It was great fun, but more importantly it raised more needed funds for the tsunami victims.”

The USTA provided players participating in today's activities with the ability to donate money to the charities of their choice. Nadal donated the $15,000 to the ACE program that he earned as a member of the “losing” team at Kids' Day. “I'm a big supporter of UNICEF and the program that the ATP has developed with them to help children worldwide,” he said.

Among the other 2005 fund-raising activities by ATP players, Carlos Moya donated all of his prize money after winning the Chennai Open in January; Roddick, Hewitt and Agassi were among those donating signed racquets for on-line auctions; Gustavo Kuerten signed a pledge on behalf of the rights of children and adolescents to play sports in July at the Joinville Tennis C lub in Brazil; and ATP partner Penn Racquet Sports donated $50,000 to benefit UNICEF in a special segment on the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show“ in January. A Penn Racquet Sports ball — autographed by Taylor Dent, Jim Courier and Federer — and a racquet signed by Agassi were auctioned on eBay to raise additional funds.

Meanwhile, the ATP and UNICEF are developing a line of teddy bears designed as tennis players to be sold to raise additional funds. Federer and Roddick are among the “bears” being produced for next year. For more information about all ATP charitable activities, visit ATPtennis.com/charity



*Congrats to James Blake who got his second title at New Haven in 3 sets (3-6, 7-5, 6-1) against Feliciano Lopez.*

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day Kicks Off US Open
by Rachel Chang
Saturday, August 27, 2005
The USTA National Tennis Center transformed into every kids' dream world on Saturday for Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, complete with carnival-like performers and games, free tennis-themed activities and clinics, plus appearances by a hot roster of sports and music stars, all in honor of the late Arthur Ashe's legacy to the sport of tennis. The day-long event is the official kick-off of the two-week long 2005 US Open in Flushing, N.Y.

"Kids' Day is what it's all about -- for kids who have never seen tennis before to be exposed to something that's special," men's doubles veteran Murphy Jensen told USOpen.org exclusively. "It's just the best for the love of tennis. This really puts tennis in a light that's by far the greatest exhibit of tennis at its finest."

The gates opened at 10 a.m. with thousands of families pouring in to enjoy a myriad of tennis-themed activities sprinkled with celebrity spottings throughout the grounds.

John McEnroe, Donald Young, Rafael Nadal and Gael Monfils hit the court with the kids on Courts 4 and 5, where NikeGO Tennis showcased their initiative to "get kids moving" by introducing them to basic tennis skills.

Over on the "Beat the Pro Court" on Court 10, kids had 60 seconds to win as many points as they could against US Open players. Alexa Glatch, one of the world's top juniors and a wild-card entrant in the women's draw this year, went easy on the youngsters and rewarded each of them with a smile and a handshake.

Court 13 featured Vincent Spadea hosting the "Olympus Designed to Win" game, which tested the kids' rallying skills, while on Court 11, Jim Courier hosted the "Hess Express Obstacle Course," where he shouted out to the crowd, "I breathe this game! I love this game!"

The pros also took advantage of the day to squeeze in a few practice sessions. Andy Roddick was spotted rallying at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Carlos Moya and Nicholas Massu at Grandstand, and Nicolas Kiefer and Mariano Zabaleta on Court 8.

An activity highlight was the "USRSA Pro Racquet Round Up" on Court 6, which allowed kids to test out rackets strung to the pros' specifications. Kids fought to try a few swings on Andy Roddick's, Serena Williams' and Andre Agassi's strings.

Other activities included the "Nickelodeon's Let's Just Play" area with a rock wall, jumping castle and sponge-throwing stations; "Barilla Challenge of Champions" on Court 7, where kids scored a box of multigrain pasta for hitting targets; "IBM Speed Zone," measuring the mph of their serves on Court 14; "George Foreman Drill the Grill" aim-testing game on Court 12; and "America Online's KOL Service presents the Princess Natasha Challenge," where kids were rewarded with stick-on tattoos and headbands on Court 15.

The "SmashZone presented by AOL.com" offered another entire world of activities, ranging from booths for kids to e-mail and print out photos on the spot, as well as high-tech, tennis-based games. Rounding out the activities were the "USPTA Little Tennis Obstacle Course" on Court 16, "PTR Speed Tennis" on Court 17 and "USA Tennis Special Populations" on Court 18.









Anna Kournikova (L) is congratulated by Rafael Nadal after winning a point in the mixed doubles during Arthur Ashe Kids Day in Arthur Ashe Stadium, site of the US Open tennis tournament in New York, August 27, 2005. US Open Tennis match play begins Monday.REUTERS/ Chip East



Tennis star Anna Kournikova (2nd L) congratulates Martina Navratilova (L), as Billie Jean King (2nd R) and Rafael Nadal (R) look on, during Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, site of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, New York, August 27, 2005. The U.S. Open tennis tournament begins August 29. REUTERS/Chip East



John McEnroe and Rafael Nadal look like long lost twins in an exhibition match during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day.

Clijsters says she'll quit in two years


Posted: Friday August 26, 2005 12:43PM; Updated: Friday August 26, 2005 12:43PM

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- U.S. Open favorite Kim Clijsters plans to quit tennis in about two years time because of the toll the sport takes on her body, newspapers reported Friday.

"I think I will quit at the end of 2007," the 22-year-old Belgian told Het Laatste Nieuws. "My body already has a lot of problems now."

Competing in the Beijing Olympics is already beyond her, she said. "By that time I will be threadbare."

After missing most of the 2004 season to a wrist injury which needed surgery, Clijsters has come back strongly and has already won a tour-leading six WTA titles so far this season.

She has thrived on the hardcourts in North America and her win at the Rogers Cup in Toronto made her a hot favorite for the U.S. Open which starts on Monday.

From the expression of Safin's face in this pic mukha na-heal na and knee injury niya, however hindi naconfirm kung nagpa knee surgery talaga siya or hindi. Some said that he opt to take the injections na lang kaysa sa surgery, kasi magalelayoff ka pa if you take the surgery and nakakatakot rin. Jeenee, have you seen Marat's GQ magazine pics? ang gwapo niya dun noh?

mojos, ito yung picture na sinasabi ko noon...





cant post the transcript though, coz its in russian. mag-aaral pa ako on how to speak the language

yea, i guess its roger federer again, or maybe andy roddick will finally find a secret formula to win against him as for nadal, i dont think so, and also for andre as for marat, definitely no chance after that surgery

yes, its gonna be another late night early morning tv viewing again. good to know that sports plus will cover it, less commercial breaks, you know, and we'd get to see what happens during each breaks, unlike in star sports