NEW YORK Plankton no more. All those years of being eaten up in the early rounds of the U.S. Open are over for Mardy Fish, a man suddenly looking ready for prime time.
In the tennis ecosystem, to play a night quarterfinal match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, against the world's No. 1 player – as Fish will do tonight – clearly qualifies as swimming in the big pond. Better than that, Fish's chances of survival against Rafael Nadal might not be as small as his No.35 ranking suggest.
“If he's aggressive and comes in at the right times, especially to Nadal's backhand, I think he could have a shot,” said Californian Sam Querrey, who demanded Nadal's full attention and effort in losing to him Monday.
Sister showdown
Venus and Serena Williams easily won their fourth-round matches Monday to set up their 17th meeting as pros tonight at 7. Each has won eight times in the all-Williams tilts.
STAT OF THE DAY
Gilles Muller is only the third qualifier to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in the Open era, matching the feat accomplished by Nicolas Escude in 1999 and Barbara Gerken in 1981.
TODAY'S TOP MATCHES
Arthur Ashe Stadium (Quarterfinals): Not before 12:30 p.m.: No. 6 Dinara Safina vs. No. 16 Flavia Pennetta. Not before 2 p.m.: No. 6 Andy Murray vs. No. 17 Juan Martin del Potro.
At 7 p.m.: No. 4 Serena Williams vs. No. 7 Venus Williams, followed by No. 1 Rafael Nadal vs. Mardy Fish.
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