Where Are They Now? Part Two

Donald Young. The last time we checked in with America's Next Best Hope he had not only won his first ATP match in New Haven, but then followed that up with a third round performance at the US Open. The 18-year-old has gone 5-2 since the Open and has reached a career-high number 144 in the rankings. With continued fall success, Young may hope to get an automatic bid into the Australian Open.

Gustavo Kuerten. Guga has continued to nurse various injuries, and was last on the court for the Brazilian team in a doubles loss. The former world number one has been somewhat of a doubles specialist this year. Unless the beloved star can show physical and tennis improvements in the near future, however, we may hear the 'R' word from our favorite South American.

(Kuerten looked good in Davis Cup play, but won just six games in his doubles rubber loss. Photo by Marcio Nel Cimatti via Flickr.)

John Isner. After his inspired run at the US Open, Isner left fellow big-serving up-and-comer Sam Querrey in the dust. The 6'9" star came back down to earth this past week after losing in the second round in Tulsa, where Donald Young was a finalist. After his loss to Federer at the Open, Isner lost to another #01 in Tulsa: Fritz Wolmarans, ranked 401st in the world.

Li Na. China's best hope for a medal in Beijing is currently a hobbled hope. The 25-year-old hasn't played since prior to Wimbledon and is dealing with a re-occurring muscle injury. Meanwhile, the Chinese deal with the possibility that the Olympics might be a flop a year from now.

Madison Brengle. After winning her opening match in LA as a wildcard, Brengle lost to another petite American, Bethanie Mattek, in the first round of the US Open. Brengle is set to graduate this spring from high school and the 17-year-old is still listed as an "Amateur" on her WTA biography. If anything, it looks like the Delaware native is taking the slow track to the pro tour.

Tennis Chatter: Week Two Begins

After having a successful 2007, the Bryan Brothers couldn't keep their momentum going, falling in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the doubles draw.

Kudos to Americans John Isner and Donald Young. Isner won two well-played matches before giving Roger Federer a run for his money in the third round. Young posted his first-ever slam win before benefiting from a walkover against Richard Gasquet in the second round.

Anna Chakvetadze advanced to the quarterfinals at the Open for her first time, beating Monica Seles look-alike Tamira Paszek. Gustavo Kuerten was in Paszek's box, as Larry Passos, Kuerten former coach is now working with Paszek. Pasos couldn't make the trip to NYC, so Kuerten sat in for support of the Austrian who went 7-2 in the second two Majors of the year.

On Goes the Open

Last night I got to catch a rare glimpse of tennis on the tube, watching John Isner boom his way into a third-round match-up with Roger Federer. It was also the first time I've watched Fed play since Wimbledon, and I forgot how easy and fluid he makes everything look.

The game of tennis seems to be blooming at the US Open this year, at least on the men's side. You've got rising American stars, top players holding on to their precious status, champions struggling to stay on their game and veterans making one last stand. The story lines are aplenty, hopefully the good tennis will be, too.

It was great to see Tim Henman post a victory in a Slam other than Wimbledon yesterday, and against a seed no less. A week-two run for the Brit? Maybe.

And while my boy Frank Dancevic couldn't quite hold on against Safin, I think it's safe to say he's on his way up. I predict at least a third round appearance at the Aussie...and that he finishes this year in the top 50(!).

But if Isner wants to crack the cream of the crop, he can't miss shots like this one in DC:

Tennis Chatter: The Open Begins

John Isner served an impressive 34 aces in his upset win in the first round of the US Open.

2007 Roland Garros junior champ Alize Cornet snacked on 29th seed Samantha Stosur in just 68 minutes.

Andy Murray hushes critics and shrugs off injury to lose just five games while advancing to the second round.

Other than Venus and Serena, American women went just 2-6 on the day. The other two winners? Meghann Shaughnessy (who beat American Vania King) and Asha Rolle, who upset 17th seed Tatiana Golovin.

Rolle's win put an exclamation point on African American tennis for the night following the wins of the Williams sisters and the honoring of Althea Gibson for her tennis legacy.