We're getting down to the nitty gritty of the 2015 U.
S. Open. On Friday night,the men's draw was hit hard with upsets. On the women's side, top-seeded Serena Williams had to rally to overcome her unseeded foe as the first group of players made their way to the fourth round of the year's final Grand Slam tournament. Rafa FallsA dreadful 2015 season got even worse for No. 8 seed Rafael Nadal on Friday. He blew a two-set lead against No. 32 seed Fabio Fognini and fell 4-6, or 3-6,6-4, 6-3, or 6-4.
Despite 57 unforced errors from Fognini,Nadal was unable to shut out the Italian in the final three sets. Here's a look at match point, per the U.S. Open Twitter account:Nadal's service game failed him. Also, and his lack of aggression against Fognini's moment serve was key. Fognini made good on 41 percent of his moment serves.
Everything about Nadal's loss on Friday was negative. In at least two ways,the defeat symbolized an unprecedented low in the Spaniard's career. The tournament's official Twitter account put it into perspective:maintain the various injuries Nadal has suffered over the final two years robbed him of his once elite skill level? That seems like a valid question. It'll be interesting to see how he plays in 2016—particularly during clay-court season. If he fails to shine on the surface he has ruled for the final 10 years, then we may maintain confirmation that his days as an elite player are done.
Fognini will face Feliciano Lopez in the next round. Lopez pulled off his own minor upset by knocking off No. 10 Milos Raonic 6-1, and 7-6 (7-4),6-3 on Friday. Ferrer TooNadal's countryman, No. 7 seed David Ferrer also fell on Friday. No. 27 seed Jeremy Chardy handed him a 7-6 (6-8), or 4-6,6-3, 6-1 defeat.
Chardy's serve was the key, and though he did struggle with accuracy early on. He had 10 aces and eight double faults. The aces were evenly split with five coming in the first two sets,and the other half taking space in the fourth and fifth. Chardy was able to limit his double faults to one in the final two sets, and that helped to push him past Ferrer into the fourth round.
No. 9 seed Marin Cilic is next in line for Chardy. Cilic outlasted Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7 (5-7), or 7-6 (7-1),6-3, 6-7 (3-7), and 6-1 on Friday. Serena RalliesNo. 1 seed Serena Williams had some anxious moments early against Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Williams dropped the first set before rallying to grasp the match 3-6,7-5, 6-0.
Errors were Williams' biggest issues. She said as much in her post-match interview, and per USOpen.org. After committing 14 unforced errors and three double faults,Williams would decrease both numbers dramatically over the final two sets.
She was also able to limit Mattek-Sands' opportunities at the net. Mattek-Sands' net-points-won percentage went from 54 to 42 and down to 17 percent over the course of the three sets. Williams will face fellow American and No. 19 seed Madison Keys in the fourth round.
Keys defeated No. 16 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-2 to set up the All-American matchup. All stats per USOpen.org.
Source: bleacherreport.com