Rafael Nadal

Russia's Dinara Safina easily saw off Flavia Penetta of Italy at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York to advance to the semifinals. Dinara plays eight-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams today. In the men's section, ATP No. 1 Rafael Nadal progressed to the semis to continue his U.S. Open campaign with Andy Murray of Britain.
 

 Rafael Nadal turned dream wrecker at Flushing Meadows when he downed American favourite Mardy Fish 3-6 6-1 6-4 6-2 in a rowdy late late show that closed Wednesday's programme at the U.S. Open.

In a match that started on Wednesday and did not finish until 2.10 am local time on Thursday, world number one Nadal drowned out the deafening roars on Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows for the first time.

The U.S. Open should really come alive on Wednesday when the Williams sisters clash in a blockbuster quarter-final and men's top seed Rafael Nadal bids for a semi-final place.
 
In a repeat of this year's Wimbledon final, seventh-seeded Venus takes on No. 4 Serena, their 11th meeting in a grand slam event and 17th overall.
 
The two former U.S. Open champions are tied at 5-5 in grand slams and 8-8 overall, so something has to give when they clash under the lights.
 

Spain's tennis world number one Rafael Nadal has won Spain's Prince of Asturias prize for sport, the online edition of daily Spanish newspaper el Mundo reported.

The winner of the prize, which last year went to seven times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, will be officially unveiled later on Wednesday.

Nadal officially became the new world number one last month, ending Swiss superstar Roger Federer's run of 237 weeks atop the ATP rankings.

Wednesday, 3 September
Arthur Ashe Stadium
 2 Women's Singles - Qtr. Finals
  Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[16]    v.      Dinara Safina (RUS)[6]
 3 Men's Singles - Qtr. Finals
  Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)[17]    v.      Andy Murray (GBR)[6]
 
Arthur Ashe Stadium

7:00 PM Start
1 Women's Singles - Qtr. Finals
  Serena Williams (USA)[4]    v.      Venus Williams (USA)[7]

Reaction from the eighth day at Flushing Meadows, where Dinara Safina continued her relentless march through the women's draw.
 

Q. How difficult was that match?
RAFAEL NADAL: It was difficult, no? It was very difficult, especially after my big mistake in the second set. I was playing normal, fine. Nothing special, but nothing bad.

I had the match under control, no? 6?4 break, but he break back for me. But I can't understand exactly, because I was serving against wind and was difficult because the wind was heavy today.

 Roger Federer has almost forgotten what it is like not to compete in the closing stages of a grand slam and will aim to continue that run when he faces Russia's Igor Andreev in the U.S. Open fourth round on Tuesday.

The four-times champion has contested 17 consecutive slam semi-finals and, despite critics predicting his early demise in New York after a lean season in which he has won just two low-key titles, Federer said he was ready to silence his detractors.

 Top seed Rafael Nadal secured a place in the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open with a 6-2 5-7 7-6 6-3 win over American Sam Querrey on Monday but a string of unforced errors showed he was not invincible.

Chasing his first U.S. Open title, Nadal made light work of the first set but found himself under pressure in the second.

The American served 20 aces in the match and used his powerful forehand to take advantage of some uncharacteristic mistakes by Nadal on his trademark forehand.

Monday, 1 September
Arthur Ashe

11:00 AM Start
 1 Men's Singles - 4th Rnd.
  Mardy Fish (USA)    v.      Gael Monfils (FRA)[32]
           

2 Men's Singles - 4th Rnd.
  Rafael Nadal (ESP)[1]    v.      Sam Querrey (USA)
 3 Women's Singles - 4th Rnd.
  Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[9]    v.      Venus Williams (USA)[7]