Liguori: Americans Are Making The US Open Fun!
By Ann Liguori
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Friday's day session produced the most compelling results so far at the US Open.
First, 3rd seed Maria Sharapova, US Open champ in 2006, exited early when she was ousted by the 26th seed from Italy, Flavia Pennetta. Sharapova knew the match would be tough. All three previous matches they've played went the distance and Pennetta beat her in three sets the last time they played in 2009. Sharapova did not help her cause with 60 unforced errors and afterwards, she said she just did not feel comfortable the entire match. Certainly not, when the Italian was pummeling her with winners from the baseline!
What a satisfying victory it must be for 22-year-old American wild card Donald Young. Young ousted the 14th seed, Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, 7-6, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, 7 points to 1 in that fifth set tie-breaker. The match took four hours and twenty minutes and had the fans on court 17 pulling for the young American. Donald Young has been here before. He reached the third round here as a wild card in 2007 but this was a break-through win for Young. Perhaps this will be the year that the talented Young can make some noise here!.
Before the day started, USA had the most number of players into the 2nd round of any nation and 7 of those 8 players were on the schedule to play on Friday.
Donald Young advanced. Irina Falconi did not. Falconi managed to win only one game against 22 seed Sabine Lisicki. 28th seed John Isner beat fellow American Robby Ginepri in straight sets.
James Blake succumbed to 5th seed David Ferrer in straight sets.
Can Jersey girl Christina McHale continue her magical run here? And can young Jack Sock make a 'stink' against fellow American Andy Roddick? Will the teen-ager pull off an upset? Stay tuned. All of a sudden, the Americans are making this tournament fun!
