Federer has won 5 US Opens however his fading form has many backing Nadal instead.Rafael Nadal wants a career Grand Slam and to complete the feat, he needs only to win the US Open. Nadal has never won the title in Flushing Meadows but with Roger Federer fading and with defending champion Juan Martin Del Potro out of commission, a fantastic opportunity for Nadal is ripe for the picking later this summer.http://www.crunchsports.com/category/Tennis/US-Open-2010-Odds--Roger-Federer-a-co-favorite-with-Rafael-Nadal-201007150002/

World number one Serena Williams will go into the US Open without a warm-up, with her right foot requiring surgery after an unexplained recent accident at a restaurant. The newly crowned Wimbledon winner will not play in Istanbul next week, nor in North American hardcourt events in Cincinnati and Montreal. The Open begins August 30. The decision means the 28-year-old will have played in six WTA events during the first eight months of the season. No explanation was given for what the WTA said was an accident in a restaurant where Williams apparently cut her foot. "I'm so upset I won...

After the men’s singles event at the Australian Open notable for Roger Federer’s dominance and Rafael Nadal’s knees, the new rankings that came out Monday reflected both story lines.After retiring during a quarterfinal match against Andy Murray because of a knee injury, Nadal fell to No. 4 from No. 2, his lowest ranking since May 2005. Nadal is expected to miss at least month because of a tear in his right knee.Novak Djokovic, who lost in the quarterfinals to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, rose to No. 2 from No. 3, his highest ranking ever. He is followed by Andy ...

THREE statements at the official presentation summed up perfectly the overwhelming feeling towards Andy Murray.The first came from Geoff Pollard, the president of Tennis Australia, who said: "We've seen today's champion in Roger Federer and we've seen tomorrow's champion in Andy Murray."Next was by Murray himself. He was gutted and the emotion of the occasion boiled over for the 22-year-old who fought back tears as he was handed the runner-up's trophy.After having to pause throughout the early part of his speech, Murray finally managed a smile when he said: "I can cry like Ro...

CHINESE tennis remains without a Grand Slam finalist, but Zheng Jie and Li Na believe their historic performances at the Australian Open will further enhance them and the game in their homeland.Never before had two Chinese players been in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, and while it ended up being something of a letdown, with both Zheng Jie and Li Na beaten in straight sets, they took plenty of positives from the experience.Unseeded Zheng Jie’s second semi-final appearance – after Wimbledon in 2008 – turned into a nightmare when she managed to win just one game against a ...

Serena Williams and Justine Henin blasted their way into the Australian Open final on Thursday, setting up a dream decider between the current and former world number ones and killing China's hopes of a first grand slam finalist.This tournament may one day be remembered as a watershed moment for Asian tennis with two Chinese making the semi-finals for the first time, but a potential new world order was left on hold a little longer.Williams used all her power and big-match experience to beat Li Na 7-6 7-6 in an absorbing centre court contest to remain on course to defend the title she won fo...

China's Li Na has pulled off a major upset, defeating sixth-seeded Venus Williams to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open.Li fought back to win 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 and reach her first grand slam semi-final.Li could face another Williams - top seed Serena - next with Serena to play Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the last women's quarter-final.It's the first time China has had two players in the semi-finals of a grand slam. Li has joined compatriot Zheng Jie who qualified yesterday and meets former world No.1 Justine Henin in her semi.Williams was off to a blistering start when she bro...

Unseeded Zheng Jie keeps creating history at the Australian Open becoming the first player from China to make the semi-finals in Melbourne.Jie, who turned  26 on Sunday,  downed another unseeded player, Maria Kirilenko of Russia, quite comprehensively 6-1 6-3 to move through to Thursday's semis and a date with seven-time grand slam champion Justine Henin.   Zheng has played only one grand slam semi-final before in singles - 2008 at Wimbledon - but is already a two-time Slam champion in doubles taking both the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon titles with partn...

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) With two Chinese players into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, the search for reasons is getting intricate.Not wanting to get too technical, Li Na joked after her 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 4-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Monday that the recipe for success might be Chinese food.Then she thought better of it. The real cause, she put simply: "No, we are working so hard."Li's win over U.S. Open finalist Wozniacki earned her a third trip to the quarterfinals of a major, following her runs at...

ALL you had to do was take away the table.Cliched, but true, table tennis has long been the image of Chinese sport.But as the country opened to the world and its government recognised the role of sport in gaining international kudos, China's repertoire has expanded rapidly and stunningly.Tennis - women's anyway - is part of that rise.Zheng Jie yesterday became the first Chinese to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals in its 105-year history, and Li Na could make it a double today.Zheng also made history in 2008 when she became the first Chinese to make the last four at Wimbledon, while ...