Moodie Upsets Monfils to Set Nadal Showdown

Strapping South African serve and volleyer Wesley Moodie upset 27th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 to power into the third round of the US Open Thursday. Moodie, who won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2005 with fellow qualifier Stephen Huss, next meets second seed Rafael Nadal.

Beginning with a second-round loss to Andy Roddick at the Australian Open in January, Moodie had lost 11 consecutive matches at ATP-level tournaments before winning three matches to reach the Washington quarterfinals earlier this month. In the quarters he pushed Marat Safin to two-breaks. It was the South African's only appearance of the US Open Series.

Former champion Lleyton Hewitt, seeded 15th, claimed seven breaks of serve en route to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Czech Jan Hernych. Hewitt is playing with knee soreness and came into the US Open having won just three matches in three appearances during the US Open Series.

Belgian Xavier Malisse dropped just five games in a 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 win over German Bjorn Phau. Malisse conceded just three points on his first serve while breaking Phau - who threw in 10 doubles faults - seven times. Malisse has been in solid form during the US Open Series, reaching the New Haven semifinals and the quarterfinals in Toronto, where he pushed eventual champion Roger Federer to three sets.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, seeded 20th, survived a stern test against American Mardy Fish, prevailing 7-6(3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3), despite winning four less points (144-148). Other major statistics, such as unforced errors and aces, also favored Fish, but Djokovic won the points that mattered.

In the third round, he will play No. 25 seed Richard Gasquet of France, who pulverized countryman Gilles Simon 6-0, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic also made it to the third round in New York last year (l. to Verdasco). The Serb has a career high INDESIT ATP Ranking of No. 23, but hard courts have represented his worst surface this year, with a record of 8-5.

As for Gasquet, the stylish 20-year-old broke Simon's serve seven times and held his own all but once. Simon launched 34 unforced errors, compared to only 18 for Gasquet. The victor is on a roll, claiming 17 of his last 21 matches, after starting the year 7-13. That run includes titles at Nottingham and Gstaad. In his New York debut last year, Gasquet reached the fourth round (l. to Ginepri).

German qualifier Benjamin Becker scored a major upset in routing No. 30 seed Sebastien Grosjean of France 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-2. Becker broke Grosjean five times and held serve himself all but once. The German blasted 44 winners to 27 for Grosjean. Becker, 25, is playing in only his second Grand Slam event, having reached the second round at Wimbledon (l. to Verdasco). And he has played only eight ATP matches in his career (4-4).

Spaniard David Ferrer, seeded 11th, scored an easy 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 win over Justin Gimelstob. Ferrer made the semifinals of one hard-court event this year -- Miami (l. to Federer) -- and reached the quarterfinals of two others -- Auckland (l. to O. Rochus) and Cincinnati (l. to Gonzalez). This is his second straight year in the third round at Flushing Meadows, and he faces Mikhail Youzhny next.

Fernando Verdasco of Spain, seeded 22nd, beat Thiago Alves of Brazil 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 and will face No. 9 seed Andy Roddick in the third round. Roddick has a 4-2 career edge over the big-hitting Spaniard, including two wins this year. Last year Verdasco made it to the fourth round of the US Open (l. to Nieminen).
-- ATP