How far can Venus go on a bum knee?Rafa Nadal is showing no ill-effects from the double knee tendonitis that kept him on the sidelines for the majority of the summer. He jumped on top of Richard Gasquet from the start and never let up. He has lumbered into the last several U.S. Opens looking a little bit haggard. Not this year – he’s playing with purpose and I think he wants his number one ranking back. He certainly has his work cut out for him, but if Rafa were to win the title here, he would regain his number one status.
In a tale of three knees, Venus Williams has a much darker prognosis. She is struggling with her left knee and her opponents will only get tougher from here. Early on in her 6-4, 6-2 win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands, she lunged for a ball that left her grimacing for the next five minutes. It was unclear which upset Venus more, the pain in her knee or the terrible knee-high socks that her opponent was strutting around the court in.
Assuming that Venus fights her way past her 3rd round opponent, Magdalena Rybarikova, she could potentially meet a recharged and hungry Kim Clijsters in the fourth. Clijsters had to fight back from a set down to beat the 14-seeded Marion Bartoli from France 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. She has fire in her eyes and is looking to reestablish herself at the top of the women's game.
Two-time grand slam winner and 17th seed, Amelie Mauresmo crashed out in the 2nd round today after being soundly beaten and bageled by Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-0. 15th seeded Sam Stosur also made an early exit today after a 7-5, 6-4 loss to the 20-year-old American, Vania King.
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