US Open – round 2nd

On 30 August, Andy Roddick [22] appeared on his birthday press-conference (turned 30) and stunned journalists with words: “I’ll make this short and sweet. I’ve decided that this is going to be my last tournament.” He later explained his surprising decision: “It’s been a process. Certain parts throughout the year, I’ve thought about it, just with the way my body feels, with the way that I’m able to feel like I’m able to compete now, I don’t know that it’s good enough. I don’t know that I’ve ever been someone who’s interested in existing on tour. I have a lot of interests and a lot of other things that excite me.” On the following day, the 2003 champion played one of his best matches in the last few years beating Bernard Tomic 6-3 6-4 6-0. Roddick served 13 aces, not committing a double fault, had very good efficiency at the net (22 of 33) and never faced a break point. Two other American veterans advanced to the third round as well: Mardy Fish [25] outplayed Nikolay Davydenko after losing the first two sets on Arthur Ashe stadium, James Blake [114] enjoyed probably his best match since 2008 as he demolished Marcel Granollers 6-1 6-4 6-2 on Louis Armstrong stadium in the night session. The 32-year-old American overpowered his opponent with outstanding all-court game, the Spaniard never got to ‘deuce’ on Blake’s serve. Actually it’s the tournament of veterans so far, Lleyton Hewitt [125] in a battle of five-set specialists outlasted Gilles Muller in four and a half hours. “It’s great,” Hewitt said on 5th set, “That’s why you still play the game. It all happens pretty quick when you’re actually out there playing. Sometimes you wish you had a few more seconds to just sort of soak it up and enjoy the moment a little bit more.” Hewitt avoided a two-sets-to-love deficit railing from 3:5 in the 2nd set. Other 30-year-olds, but being still at the top of the game, Roger Federer and David Ferrer secured their places in the last 32 not losing a set in their two matches, however the Spaniard was forced to play a 3rd set tie-break in both his matches, including the longest one this year in New York – 14/12 against Igor Sijsling. Philipp Kohrschreiber still holds his amazing record of winning five-setters when a 5th set goes to 5-all at least. Against Benoit Paire, Kohlschreiber led 4:1 in the decider but blew two mini-match points and was on verge of being eliminated as the Frenchman served at 6:5 (30-all). The German somehow prevailed 6-7 6-3 3-6 6-2 7-6 in 3 hours 38 minutes though. Also tight 5th sets won other experienced players in these circumstances, both after squandering a two sets cushion: Feliciano Lopez, who saved a mini-match point at 2:4 against Pablo Andujar (6-4 6-1 6-7 3-6 7-5), and Marin Cilic – the winner over Daniel Brands (6-3 6-2 5-7 4-6 7-5) – the Croat was three points away from defeat at *4:5 in the 5th set. Tough conditions (33 degrees, low humidity) brought first big upset on Thursday – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was terribly erratic and Martin Klizan [52] took an advantage of it winning 6-4 1-6 6-1 6-3. It’s arguably the biggest achievement in career of the 23-year-old left-handed Klizan, who is coached by a former Top 10 player, fellow Slovak Karol Kucera.  Tsonga’s earliest elimination in a Grand Slam tournament since Australian Open 2007.

Longest match: 4 hours, 35 minutes. Lleyton Hewitt d. Gilles Muller 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4
Most aces: 35 – Gilles Muller lost to Lleyton Hewitt in five sets

5-set barometer:

31-18 Lleyton Hewitt, 19-13 Stanislas Wawrinka, 16-8 Feliciano Lopez, 14-6 Marin Cilic, 13-5 Philipp Kohlschreiber, 13-10 Nikolay Davydenko, 11-9 Mardy Fish, 11-8 Nicolas Almagro, 8-3 Gilles Muller, 8-8 Philipp Petzschner, 1-2 Benoit Paire, 1-3 Daniel Brands, 1-4 Steve Darcis,  1-5 Pablo Andujar