U.S. Open Notebook

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Players raising a racket – and they're tossing them

Stars, teens not hiding their anger. So far, 12 players have been fined for racket abuse.

Associated Press
Posted: Friday, Sep. 05, 2008
US Open Tennis

Roger Federer reacts against Gilles Muller at the U.S. Open Thursday. Federer won 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (5) to reach the semifinals in a record 18th consecutive Grand Slam tournament. ELISE AMENDOLA – ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

NEW YORK Miffed at a miss, Mardy Fish held the racket right in front of his face and spit through the strings. Still stewing, he took a swing at his equipment bag and wound up for another whack.

“I was just so frustrated,” he said Thursday after his quarterfinal loss to No.1-ranked Rafael Nadal.

Andy Roddick was among a dozen players fined $500 apiece for such abuse. Novak Djokovic and even sweet Lindsay Davenport launched ‘em. Nikolay Davydenko broke four in one match and almost ran out.

The list also included qualifier Gilles Muller, who lost to Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.

Then there was Chris Harrison.

He slung so many rackets during a first-round loss that a tennis official was dispatched to Harrison's court with a message: Stop! You're damaging the signs of the corporate sponsors!

Oh, by the way – Harrison is 14, and was playing in the junior tournament.

“I think it shows a lack of self-control,” said Wayne Bryan, whose twins sons will play for the men's doubles title.

Elsewhere


Nadal beat Fish 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, getting past the quarterfinals for the first time in six trips to Flushing Meadows with a victory that started Wednesday and ended with the scoreboard showing 2:10a.m. Thursday. It was the third-latest finish in tournament history.


U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe selected Andy Roddick, James Blake and the doubles pair of twins Bob and Mike Bryan for this month's semifinal against Spain.

The group will comprise the U.S. team for a record-extending 11th consecutive Davis Cup contest.


Tropical Storm Hanna could affect the finals at the U.S. Open scheduled for this weekend, the U.S. Tennis Association said.

The forecast for New York calls for rain Saturday, when both the men's semifinals and women's final are scheduled, the USTA said.


U.S. Open semifinalists Serena Williams and Dinara Safina clinched berths in the women's tennis tour's season-ending championships.

The top eight singles players qualify, and Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic already earned their spots. The event is Nov. 4-9 in Doha, Qatar.

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