US Open Quarterfinals

In men's Singles Quarterfinals action, unseeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia defeated Rafael Nadal of Spain 3-6, 7-5, 6-7(5), 1-6. Youzny's reaction? "Unbelievable." Rafa said, "I am trying to fight, but I wasn't," Nadal said. "I was not my best in the fourth, no? I know I lost a big opportunity. And after that, Mikhail is playing unbelievable ... all winners."

Don't you just love the way this guy wades fearlessly into English? It can get a bit confusing at times, but for the most part, we understand him just fine.

Youzhny just would not be discouraged. He took heavy blows but took them in stride and hung in there -- time and again. As if unimpressed, answering great play with great play. The result was a seesaw battle through the tiebreak in the third. Then it was Rafa who became discouraged, dropping the first five games of the fourth set.

Though neither of these men is a pusher, what happened is what happens in a match where a pusher can't discourage his opposnent. THAT eventually discourages HIM. And he then loses the same way his opponents usually do.

Mental toughness is everything in this game.

In another unbelievable effort, Youzhny paired with Leos Friedle of the Czech Republic to defeat the top-seeded defending champs Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States in the men's doubles.

In other men's action, top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland and fifth-seeded James Blake of the United States both advanced into the quarterfunals and will play each other.

Ah, he makes it look so easy, doesn't he?
Andy Roddick of the United States has already reached the semifinals by defeating Lleyton Hewitt of Australia.

Both Roddick and Blake are playing well, and Blake performed very well under pressure, saving all 15 break points in his match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.

(Da! Look at all those good players from the Czech Republic!)

On the women's side, Amelie Mauresmo of France, Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium, and Maria Sharapova of Russia, and Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro advanced to the semifinals.

Sharapova is getting away with gamesmanship in her screaming "grunts" at her opponent on every shot. I suppose that's because there's no machine to diagnose a scream at your opponent, differentiating it from a natural grunt of effort in hitting the ball. The officials obviously don't want to make the call.

Asked whether she realizes that she's bothering opponents, her anti-answer was "I don't worry about it."

Yes, dear, of course it's no bother to YOU. How's that for pure, unadulterated, in-your-face narcissism?

And here's more mockery: Observers thought that her father had coached her during a match when he pulled a banana (rich in potassium) out of his bag and she did then did likewise at the next opportunity. Asked whether this was just a coincidence, she replied, "Probably."

But in the latter case I don't blame her. Haven't reporters anything better to do than try to make something out of nothing like that? The reply she gave them is what they had coming.

And, hey, how about Navratilova? Martina Narvratilova of the United States and Nadia Petrova of Russia defeated Ana Ivanovic Serbia-Montenegro and Maria Kirilenko of Russia to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will meet the Number One seed, Lisa Raymond of the United States and Samantha Stosur of Australia.

See the schedule here.