Top seeds each lose a set to spirited challengers

[BlackLabelJetsFan]

NEW YORK -- Top seeds Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova advanced at the U.S. Open yesterday after surviving challenges from determined opponents.

Federer defeated Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 in the afternoon, before Sharapova overcame a determined her effort by her Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 last night.

Sharapova won the first four games of the match before Petrova, seeded No. 9, rallied to take four games in a row of her own and push the set to 5-5 before Sharapova broke serve in the 12th game, when Petrova missed a backhand into the net.

The match was a nervy ordeal on both sides with Sharapova complaining angrily about a ball that was thrown onto the court in the fifth game of the second set but was not ruled enough of a distraction to replay the point by the umpire.

After taking a bathroom break at the end of the second set, Sharapova came back the sharper player, grabbing a 3-0 and 5-2 leads in the final set.

The match featured up-tempo rallies with both players reaching high decibels in the screech/grunt category on the really crucial points. Sharapova, 18, had 28 winners and 48 unforced errors to 22 winners and 50 unforced errors for Petrova, 23.

The notion that this year's men's U.S. Open title is a foregone conclusion for Federer has not picked up as much momentum as might have been expected because the world's No. 1 player as not been up to his usual Grand Slam standard.

He looked vulnerable, even flustered, in losing a second-set tiebreaker to Kiefer.

That unexpected ill ease persisted until he trailed 15-40 at 3-3 in the third set. Facing two break points, he saved the first with a service winner and the second with what could aptly be called a Federerian stroke of genius -- an acutely angled backhand cross-court passing shot that dipped over the net past Kiefer, who was frozen.

Two points later, the Swiss smoothie won the game and gave a sharp "C'mon" shout.

The vibe of the match had been altered dramatically by that shot, as he acknowledged later.

"I had been feeling all the momentum was on his side," Federer said. "I was not so happy the way I was playing. That game was huge and I started to feel like I'm really in control again."

Sitting down on the ensuing change-over, Federer watched the replay of his inspired backhand in a dicey predicament for him on a giant screen.

"I knew from the moment I hit it that the ball was going to be in, that he's not going to be there," he said. "I like seeing nice shots in replay, like the one he hit."Federer was referring to a wild slashing forehand that Kiefer hit bolt-straight down the line in the penultimate game of the match. "I don't know how he did it," the smiling top seed said. "It's basically impossible, because it's a smash from the hip. I guess he's also in shock."

The second set was the only one Federer has lost in his four rounds at the U.S. Open. He has blanked opponents Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic, Fabrice Santoro of France and Olivier Rochus of Belgium.

In a media room scrum yesterday, John McEnroe said of Federer's play: "For him, it's been a B . . . B-plus, which for anyone else is an A-plus. He's been unsettled a couple of times, but the important thing is he's gotten through."

Federer expressed ambivalence about his form, saying "it's been not bad, but it's definitely not been fantastic, either."

Basically self-coached (except for consultations with Australian Tony Roche) and self-managed, Federer, 24, revels in his independence.

He probably put things in perspective, maybe ominously for future opponents, when he said, "These are the kind of matches that eventually give me a chance at playing great."

Tomorrow night, Federer may be forced to raise the level of his play as he takes on David Nalbandian in the quarter-finals.

Last night, the No. 11-seeded Argentine defeated Davide Sanguinetti of Italy 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-2.

Nalbandian is one of the few players to hold a lifetime head-to-head (5-2) advantage on Federer, although the Swiss did win their last two meetings -- at the year-end championships in 2003 and at the 2004 Australian Open.

"The last two I won against him but still my record's pretty bad," Federer said.

"I like playing guys who have beaten me early in my career, [to] try to get back at them. I think it will be interesting to see how both of us have improved."

In tomorrow afternoon's quarter-final, No. 3 seed Lleyton Hewitt will play unseeded Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.

In junior boys action yesterday, Philip Bester of Vancouver took the first set in fine style against top-seeded Donald Young, but the sweet-stroking, left-handed American gradually assumed control and won 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

In off-court politics, there appears to be progress in the confrontation involving doubles players and the ATP over new rules to alter doubles scoring and limit opportunities for doubles specialists in ATP circuit events beginning in 2008.

Recently named ATP chairman of the board, Etienne de Villiers, has been playing a conciliatory role from his home in London as he recovers from prostate surgery.

Rule change discussions will continue this week and the "enhancements" announced during Wimbledon are likely to be watered down enough to be acceptable to doubles maestros such as Daniel Nestor of Toronto.

[TomShane]

Federer looks a little bored, IMO. There really is no one out there besides Lleyton Hewitt and Agassi that can even give him a game. Men's tennis is hurting right now. As for the women's draw, as long as Serena and Venus are going to take turns throwing matches against each other there really isn't much to care about. Sharapova is good, but she's no Steffi Graf.

[Green DNA]

Sharapova is good, but she's no Steffi Graf.

But she is a lot easier on the eyes

[faba]

Sharapova will definitely keep me interested in watching-

I play tennis -I am not a great player and primarily doubles.

Tennis is like golf though better to play than to watch it on t.v

[MasonJet]

Federer looks a little bored, IMO. There really is no one out there besides Lleyton Hewitt and Agassi that can even give him a game. Men's tennis is hurting right now. As for the women's draw, as long as Serena and Venus are going to take turns throwing matches against each other there really isn't much to care about. Sharapova is good, but she's no Steffi Graf.

I disagree about the men's game, there have been some fantastic matches to this point. Just because they aren't in the finals doesn't mean they don't count, and it shows how competitive the men's game really is. The women's game always comes down to a few different women and there are few upsets. James Blake is playing amazing tennis right now and has a chance to beat Agassi, and with the way Federer is playing I wouldn't say he's a lock to win this.

And outside of Roddick, the Americans are having a great tournament.