Loaded non-seeded field with former No. 1s Ivanovic and Safina, and former No. 2 Kuznetsova unseeded; first-round match-ups of interest are (6) Bartoli vs. Hantuchova, (7) Peer vs. (WC) Ivanovic, (8) Wickmayer vs. Kuznetsova, and potential second-round match-ups after seeded byes (1) Jankovic vs. Rezai and Stosur vs. Azarenka or Oudin

“[I] have to play a little bit more inside [the baseline], make less mistakes, serve a little bit better,” Nadal said. “I think all aspects of the game I have to improve. But I hope tomorrow [will] be better.”

Federer is now decidedly less excited after falling to 18-5 on the season, with the 27 year old now in danger of losing his No. 2 ranking.

Safin led Lapentti 4-0 in the third, and served at 5-2, 40-15. Safin snapped his racquet in two and received a penalty point when broken at 5-5, then eventually lost in a breaker.

We have a pretty nice line-up in store at the US Open on this Labor Day Monday in the U.S. Week two opens with Gael Monfils v. Mardy Fish followed by Rafael Nadal and Sam Querrey.

It may not have come in his preferred event, but in his third try Roger Federer finally has his Olympic gold medal.

Pretty nice line-up we have at Wimbledon on Monday with the entire fourth round – men’s and women’s – scheduled. If you could have only one single ticket in tennis you could make a case this is the day to have it.