Rafael Nadal News

Four-star Broad strikes against India MANCHESTER: Stuart Broad took a career-best haul as England dismissed India for 212 in the fourth one-day international at Old Trafford here on Thursday. via Daily Times

More big names are set to play at the U.S. Open Wednesday, with top seeds Roger Federer and Justine Henin, Rafael Nadal and the Williams sisters on the schedule.

Yesterday, it didn’t take Maria Sharapova very long to work her way into the second round. The second seed and defending women’s champ needed just 50 minutes to complete a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Roberta Vinci under the lights at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

Men’s fifth seed Andy Roddick followed Sharapova on stadium court and cruised to a 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Justin Gimmelstob, who is retiring. Read more

“This new uniform has been specifically designed with the players’ comfort and performance in mind.”

Australia are to don sleeveless shirts for their assault on the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa next month, Cricket Australia says. via Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Third-seeded Serbian star Novak Djokovic was an easy first-round winner Tuesday at the 2007 U.S. Open. via WFRV-TV Green Bay

“He’s absolutely one of the best 20-year-olds ever to strike a tennis ball in the history of the sport. I don’t even think Federer played at that level when he was 20.”

His love of the sport was born at a mountaintop construction site, a 4-year-old kid awed by the spectacle of bulldozers and hot asphalt. via New York Daily News

Come on, now. Be fair. Things aren’t really all that bad. The United States does have two players in the top 10, don’t forget. via Tennis

“I would pick Rafael Nadal. Yep, I pick him”

Silly as it sounds nowadays, there was a time when some in the tennis world wondered whether Roger Federer was equipped to handle the U.S. Open. via KARE-TV Minneapolis

“It was an incredible honor to have a top ranked tennis champion like Nadal come to our rum court. For Rums of Puerto Rico it really was a ‘grand slam’ opportunity”

Grand Slam tennis champion Rafael Nadal paid a special visit to the Rums of Puerto Rico “Rum Court” at Dacor Taste of Tennis August 23 at the W Hotel in New York. via Earth Times

“A year later I feel like I made a lot of progress with Jimmy but I feel like we’re still building and working towards something”

Roger Federer has four straight titles in his sights at Flushing Meadow. Roger Federer will chase a fourth successive US Open title next week in his ongoing quest to become the best male player of all time. via Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Tim Henman faces a difficult opening match to what could be the final grand slam of his career after being drawn against No.27 seed Dmitry Tursunov of Russia in the first round of the 2007 US Open.

Henman, 32, will hold a press conference on Thursday in New York to outline his plans for the rest of the year following speculation he is set to retire following Great Britain’s forthcoming Davis Cup tie against Croatia.

The former British number one, now ranked 96th in the world, has won only three times on the ATP Tour this year after another season plagued by back problems. Read more

Sports >> Wednesday August 22, 2007 GRANDSTANDViewRAVIPAN PAVASUTHIPAND Djokovic could threaten Roger-Rafa dominance The world’s top tennis stars will head to Flushing Meadows next week as they gear up for the … via Bangkok Post

Three-time defending champion Roger Federer was seeded No. 1 at the U.S. Open for the fourth consecutive year, and Justine Henin topped the women’s seedings yesterday. via London Free Press

Published 8/17/07 in The Times-Herald Sports column by Tony Jones tony@newnan.com The countdown can officially start. via Times-Herald

Canadian Frank Dancevic has risen 24 places to a career-high No. 67 in the ATP rankings. via Penticton Herald

“That I come on the court and I can’t do it.”

If you believe Roger Federer, his pursuit of Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles happened almost by accident. via Washington Times