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At the Open: Djokovic tops Monfils to reach semis

September 08, 2010 , ι By EDDIE PELLS, AP

A point that meant little on the scoreboard Wednesday in the U.S. Open offered a clue about the difference between a player struggling to reach the top and another who’s much closer.
	 
Though a regular swing would have sufficed, 17th-seeded Gael Monfils jumped up, brought his racket around his body and through his legs and hit a trick shot — straight into the bottom of the net.
	 
It was a telling moment in his 7-6 (2), 6-1, 6-2 loss to No. 3 Novak Djokovic — “The Joker” — who can be equally entertaining on the court, though usually more discerning about when to put on a show.
	 
Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion who can do impressions of everyone from McEnroe to Nadal to Sharapova, reached his fourth straight semifinal at Flushing Meadows. The Serb has been eliminated the last three times, including in the 2007 final, by Roger Federer, who was scheduled to play Robin Soderling later Wednesday.
	 
Djokovic fought through gusty winds at Arthur Ashe Stadium to roll to his victory and now gets two days of rest before the semifinal on “Super Saturday” at the Open.
	 
“These are the worst conditions so far in the tournament,” he said. “I don’t think the crowd really enjoyed the tennis too much. We did have some acrobacy on the court.”
	 
Monfils, he of the long limbs, the stylin’ clothes and unending charm, was hoping to make his second Grand Slam semifinal. But he was overmatched. After getting up an early break in the first set, he didn’t do any damage. He finished with 17 winners and 37 unforced errors — one of them more memorable than the rest.
	 
The Frenchman offered the following explanation for the trick shot he tried while leading 40-0 early in the first set.
	 
“No, I think it was going too fast, and I was like leaning the other way,” Monfils said. “So the ball came, and I just stopped and tried to do it, because I think, ah, I don’t have enough time to do that or to do that, so I try between the legs.”

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At the Open: Zvonareva into semis as Kanepi hits 60 unforced errors

September 08, 2010 , ι By EDDIE PELLS, AP

Vera Zvonareva let her opponent self destruct in the wind, taking advantage of 60 unforced errors to defeat No. 31 Kaia Kanepi. No. 7 Zvonareva, who made the Wimbledon final earlier this year, will... Read on

Vera Zvonareva let her opponent self destruct in the wind, taking advantage of 60 unforced errors to defeat No. 31 Kaia Kanepi.
	 
No. 7 Zvonareva, who made the Wimbledon final earlier this year, will play the winner of Wednesday quarterfinal between No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and unseeded Dominika Cibulkova.
	 
Kanepi struggled, hitting 18 winners to go with her 60 unforced errors.
	 
“The weather was definitely not for the good tennis out there,” Zvonareva said. “But no matter what match had to be played, we were both trying our best.”
	 
The tone for the match was set early, when the players traded service breaks right away to make it 1-1, and they combined for 12 unforced errors and one winner through the first two games.
	 
Asked how much she could blame on the wind and how much on her own play, Kanepi said, “Well, 50-50, I think.”
	 
“I think I can’t blame the wind for everything,” she said. “I didn’t play well. Vera obviously played very well.”

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Back Page: Mets missed opportunity in NL East

September 08, 2010 , ι By JUSTIN TERRANOVA

The Mets started the second half one-half game ahead of the Phillies and four games behind the Braves. The second half has deteriorated into meaningless baseball for the second straight season for... Read on

The Mets started the second half one-half game ahead of the Phillies and four games behind the Braves.
	 
The second half has deteriorated into meaningless baseball for the second straight season for the Mets, while the Phillies got back into first place Tuesday night as the Braves have been little more than a .500 team this second half. Which just shows how wide open the NL East was and how vulnerable Atlanta was as the division leaders.
	 
It would be easy to look at how far the Mets have faded out of the race — now 11 behind the Phillies, 10 1/2 behind the Braves and two behind the Marlins. If they didn’t get an excellent starting debut from Dillon Gee on Tuesday night the conversation could have shifted to holding the Nationals off for last place.
	 
But the Mets played well enough in the early parts of the year where the front office should have been more aggressive, should have given them some help when things started slipping away after the All-Star break. The players earned that chance.
	 
Instead GM Omar Minaya and COO Jeff Wilpon did nothing and crossed their fingers and hoped that Carlos Beltran would shake off a year’s worth of rust and help carry the lineup. It’s a month and a half later and we are just now starting to see a hint of the old Beltran.
	 
But a move, any move, to spark the team could have made a difference. Just look at what the Giants did with bringing in Pat Burrell, Jose Guillen and Cody Ross all at a cheap price. Heck, the Phillies had half their lineup on the disabled list and still went out and got Roy Oswalt. And look at the run the Mets went on when they added Ike Davis to the lineup in April — winning 10 of 11 games.
	 
And it couldn’t be worse than the alternative, which is meaningless baseball in September.
	 
***
	 
Knicks fans who want a sneak peak at Russian center Timofey Mozgov may want tune it to ESPN at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning.
	 
That’s when Mozgov and his fellow Russians take on the United States in the quarterfinals of the World Championships. The Knicks have tempered expectations for the 7-footer, but it will be interesting to see how he fares against a U.S. squad that lacks size down low with Tyson Chandler being the team’s only natural center.
	 
Mozgov did go for 16 points and seven rebounds in Russia’s win over New Zealand that advanced them to the quarterfinals.
	 
***
	 
Two impressive streaks continued at the U.S. Open Tuesday night:
	 
Rafael Nadal held all 15 of his service games against Feliciano Lopez and is now 61-for-61 on serve in the tournament. With no Americans left in the men’s draw it’s time to root for a Nadal-Roger Federer final. The one that we have yet to get at Flushing Meadows.
	 
Also, Kim Clijsters defeated Sam Stosur in three sets to make it 19 straight wins at the U.S. Open. Clijsters won the tournament in 2005 then temporarily retired before returning last year to win again – beating both Williams sisters on her way to the title. The Belgian will go for her 20th consecutive win against Venus Williams in the semifinals on Friday.

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VOTE: Giants game by game in 2010

September 07, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

The Giants are looking to come back from 2009, which started with Super Bowl talk at 5-0 and ended a disastrous 8-8. Do you think they will rebound in 2010 or continue to fall off?... Read on

The Giants are looking to come back from 2009, which started with Super Bowl talk at 5-0 and ended a disastrous 8-8. Do you think they will rebound in 2010 or continue to fall off?
	 
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VOTE: Jets game by game in 2010

September 07, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Are Jets fans as confident as Rex Ryan? Let's find out. Vote on the winner on each of the Jets' 16 games this year.... Read on

Are Jets fans as confident as Rex Ryan? Let's find out. Vote on the winner on each of the Jets' 16 games this year.
	 
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At the Open: U.S. men out after Querrey loses in 5 sets

September 07, 2010 , ι By JUSTIN TERRANOVA

You can take the U.S. out of U.S. Open, at least in the men’s draw.Sam Querrey became the final American to be eliminated from the season’s final grand slam when he lost a grueling five-set match to... Read on

You can take the U.S. out of U.S. Open, at least in the men’s draw.
	 
Sam Querrey became the final American to be eliminated from the season’s final grand slam when he lost a grueling five-set match to Stanislas Wawrinka, 7-6 (9), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. It’s the second straight year their will be no American men in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.
	 
"We're trying our best," Querrey said. " I was very close, next year is another year, and hopefully we'll have a few guys in the quarters."
	 
Querrey fell behind twice, losing the first and third set, only to even the match both times by taking the second and fourth. But Wawrinka pulled out the match, fighting a tight right hamstring and windy conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium, to break Querrey at 5-4 of the final set with a volley at the net that was just out of Querrey’s reach.
	 
“It was amazing the support from them,” Wawrinka, ranked No. 25, said of the crowd. “It was a great experience and a great match.”
	 
But it did not start out that way.
	 
From the ESPN booth, John McEnroe questioned the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd for their indifference as the match began, feeling they should have thrown more support Querrey’s way.
	 
“I don’t get the sense he’s getting any benefit at all,” McEnroe said. “The crowd doesn’t seem to be particularly rooting for Querrey.”
	 
That was not the case by the end as the normally laid-back Californian fed off the crowd’s energy and vice versa.
	 
"It was great. The crowd was unbelievable," Querrey said. "It's fun to play in there. It's so windy in there, which makes it tough, but I thought the crowd was great. You know, tried my best.
	 
"They get me energized. They do that with all the Americans, and I'd much rather play on a court like that with everyone cheering for me."
	 
The first set stayed on serve until a tiebreak with the biggest threat coming at 1-1 when Wawrinka got out of a 0-40 hole -- setting up a theme throughout the match. The Swiss player then climbed out of an 0-3 hole in the tiebreak to eventually claim the opening set after missing out on four set points.
	 
Wawrinka was close to making what turned out to be a memorable match into a romp. He was up a break and had four set points on his serve at 5-4, but Querrey fought off each one to even the set. Wawrinka had another chance to take a two-set lead in the tiebreaker, but Querrey emulated Wawrinka’s task of the previous set by rallying out of an 0-3 hole to square the match.
	 
With Wawrinka’s hamstring noticeably hurting and Querrey gaining momentum from his second-set triumph, the 20th-seeded American broke at 1-1 in the third set. But he could not seize his chance to take control of the match and Wawrinka broke back at 3-2. He would again at 6-5 to take the third set from Querrey, who outlasted other American hopefuls like Andy Roddick (second round), Mardy Fish (third round) and John Isner (third round).
	 
After Querrey took the fourth set, it again appeared he was ready to put away Wawrinka with two break points at 1-1 in the fifth. But again Wawrinka, always in the Swiss shadow of Roger Federer, refused to give it up and won the game.
	 
He wouldn’t miss out on his chance eight games later,
	 setting up a quarterfinal match with Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

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Blazers coach plans on having Fernandez in camp: report

September 07, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Rudy Fernandez wants to get away from Nate McMillan, but the Blazers coach isn't ready to give up on the guard."That's my player,'' McMillan told Fanhouse.com. "He's my player. That's how I'm... Read on

Rudy Fernandez wants to get away from Nate McMillan, but the Blazers coach isn't ready to give up on the guard.
	 
"That's my player,''
	 McMillan told Fanhouse.com. "He's my player. That's how I'm approaching it."
	 
Fernandez reportedly has asked for a trade out of Portland due to the way he is used by McMillan. The Knicks may have an interest,
	 reportedly offering Wilson Chandler in a trade.
	 
With the Bulls and Celtics also reportedly interested, and Fernandez's agent saying the player would return to Spain or sit out the final two years of his NBA contract, McMillan said his plans include the combo guard.
	 
"He's a great player,'' McMillan said. "He's a good player. A talented player. Very talented.' ...
	 
"He is in my notes for training camp. All right.''
	 
McMillan is an assistant coach for Team USA at the World Championships in Istanbul, where Fernandez is playing for Spain.

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At the Open: Russian Youzhny puts dent in Spanish dominance

September 07, 2010 , ι By JUSTIN TERRANOVA

Tommy Robredo seemed in control of the first set and then he lost it. The match soon followed.Robredo -- one of six Spaniards to make it to the fourth round of the U.S. Open -- was ousted by 12th... Read on

Tommy Robredo seemed in control of the first set and then he lost it. The match soon followed.
	 
Robredo -- one of six Spaniards to make it to the fourth round of the U.S. Open -- was ousted by 12th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny on Tuesday afternoon, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
	 
Robredo was cruising on his service games in the opening set -- losing four points in five games and missing several chances on Youzhny’s serve. But Robredo fell apart at 5-5 and was broken by Youzhny when he put a forehand into the net at 15-40. Youzhny, who beat big-serving American John Insner in the third round, took control from there with two early breaks in the second set.
	 
After Robredo rallied to take the third set, Youzhny finished him off in the fourth when he broke at 2-2. The game was at deuce when the Russian hit a brilliant backhand slice that Robredo had no chance to get a racket on and got the break on the next point when his return hit the net and tumbled over to Robredo’s side.
	 
Youzhny held in his next three service games to advance to the quarterfinals. He will now try and return to the semifinals at a major -- where he has not been since 2006 when Andy Roddick took him out in four sets at the Open.
	 
The four other Spaniards into the fourth round will be playing each other Tuesday. No. 8 Fernando Verdasco takes on No. 10 David Ferrer later in the afternoon, and No. 1 Rafael Nadal plays No. 23 Feliciano Lopez in the night session.

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Back Page: Now Revis has to play like NFL's best cornerback

September 07, 2010 , ι By JUSTIN TERRANOVA

Darrelle Revis may have been given the “Rudy clap” on the way to greeting his Jets teammates, but he is no one’s underdog.The mouthy and confident Jets will have a bull’s eye on their backs, but no... Read on

Darrelle Revis may have been given the “Rudy clap” on the way to greeting his Jets teammates, but he is no one’s underdog.
	 
The mouthy and confident Jets will have a bull’s eye on their backs, but no one more than Revis now. The man who insisted on being paid like the best cornerback in the NFL will now have to play like it, even if he didn’t get the money to match his mindset.
	 
The Ravens’ Anquan Boldin will get the first shot Monday night to see if he can maneuver around a potentially rusty Revis, who will have one week of practice after sitting out nearly the entire offseason because of a contract holdout that was resolved early Monday morning when he agreed to a reported four-year, $46 million deal.
	 
But the real fun will come in Week 2. That’s when Revis’ challenge will be shutting down Randy Moss. Do you think the Patriots’ wide receiver remembers
	 Revis calling him “a slouch” during the Jets’ playoff run last year?Moss will have his chance for revenge not only for that, but for Revis holding him to nine catches for 58 yards in two meetings last year, which the rivals’ split.
	 
Revis was a great story last year going from the Jets’ top cornerback to the NFL’s top cornerback, but now he’s the man who faked dizziness in minicamp to make a statement. Then he disappeared until Labor Day weekend
	 when Rex Ryan and Woody Johnson met with him in what was “the breakthrough” in contract talks, according to Revis.
	 
But now he has the potential to be a scapegoat if the team struggles. If Moss goes for 10 catches, 120 yards and a touchdown in a Patriots’ win, there will be no relief for Revis from the media that tracked his every move.
	 
He’s the best cornerback in the league, now he must prove it for the next 16 games.
	 
SMALL STEPS AT PRACTICE
	 
***
	 
I understand an NFL head coach is ridiculously busy this time of year, as is Woody Johnson, but if Revis was open to meeting with the two, why did it take until 10 days before the season for that to happen?
	 
It’s been portrayed as another brilliant move by Ryan, but I was left wondering what took so long, given how important Revis is to the Jets.
	 
***
	 
I am all for the BCS-busting Boise State. If they go undefeated and two teams from BCS schools can’t do the same, then put them in the national championship game. They’ve earned their chance with a decade of excellence.
	 
But ESPN’s Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit all but crowned them national champions last night and chided everyone who had the audacity to question Boise State. “What do you think now coaches?” Musburger said several times when Boise State jumped out to a 17-0 lead before having to score a late touchdown for a 33-30 win over No. 10 Virginia Tech.
	 
I didn’t realize it was a crime to rank Boise State No. 5 in the polls, the way the coaches did.

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At the Open: No. 1 Wozniacki beats Sharapova to advance to quarters

September 06, 2010 , ι Associated Press

Forehands, backhands, big serves. Caroline Wozniacki got almost everything back Monday, frustrating Maria Sharapova in a 6-3, 6-4 victory to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.
	 
Top-seeded Wozniacki won the way she always does - by chasing down hundreds of balls and forcing the other player into making mistakes.
	 
The 14th-seeded Sharapova, trying to return to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the first time since winning it all in 2006, fought for longer than any of Wozniacki's opponents to this point. But as the pressure of Wozniacki's consistency built, the hard-hitting Russian went for even more, with limited results.
	 
Sharapova wound up making 36 unforced errors. Wozniacki finished with 10 in what was, by far, her biggest challenge of the tournament thus far.
	 
"I knew it wasn't going to be easy," said Wozniacki, who lost to Kim Clijsters in the final last year. "I got a lot of experience from last year, so it definitely helped me today."
	 
Wozniacki improved to 18-1 since Wimbledon and stretched her winning streak to 12 matches. Through her first four U.S. Open matches, she has lost a total of 10 games. Maybe most impressive, though, is this stat: She's made 40 unforced errors, compared to 123 by her opponents.
	 
The Dane, ranked second in the world but seeded first because of Serena Williams' withdrawal, eliminated what is largely considered her toughest opponent remaining on her side of the draw.
	 
Next up, "Woz" plays 45th-ranked Dominika Cubulkova, who defeated No. 11 Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 7-6 (4) earlier Monday. In the other quarterfinal on this side of the draw, No. 31 Kaia Kanepi will play the winner of a late-Monday match between No. 7 Vera Zvonareva and Andrea Petrovic. Kanepi defeated No. 15 Yanina Wickmayer 0-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1 on Monday.

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About the Author

JUSTIN TERRANOVA Justin Terranova joined the Post's sports department in 2006. He covered NASCAR before taking over as the sports media reporter in 2007. He joined NYPost.com the following year and has worked as a reporter, editor and a blogger for the Web site.