Game Face

Darrelle Revis (24) and Dwight Lowery celebrate an interception earlier this season. (Photo by Getty)

Two weeks ago, you might have been licking your chops over the prospect of the dependable, punishing Patriots defense facing the inept Dolphins offense.

New England was sure to rack up solid, if not ridiculous, fantasy numbers against a team that averaged just 12 points in its first two games. No way could you lose, right?

Then Miami running back Ronnie Brown gutted the Patriots like a dead fish and had a hand in five touchdowns — four rushing and one passing.

The Patriots, who rank 24th among fantasy defenses in standard scoring leagues, aren’t alone. Jacksonville and Dallas are also among the highly regarded units on draft day that have not lived up to expectations.

It may be time to move in another direction, or at least add a second defense and play the best matchups week to week.

Don’t think defenses make a huge difference in fantasy football? In Week 3 against Pittsburgh, the Eagles allowed just six points, forced three turnovers, amassed eight sacks and scored a safety — a total of 24 fantasy points.

Here are some defenses likely still available in your league that are worth taking a chance on.

Jets
After allowing 83 points in their last two games, the Jets are surprisingly the eighth-best fantasy defense to date. Gang Green has made up for its shortcomings by forcing nine turnovers and scoring two touchdowns.

Six of the Jets’ next nine contests are against offenses ranked 20th or worse, including Cincinnati, Oakland and Kansas City in consecutive games after this week’s bye.

Redskins
While their fantasy numbers don’t look stellar, the Redskins have held some high-octane offenses — the Giants, Saints and Cowboys — in check thus far.

Things are about to get easier for Washington. After a tough game this Sunday against the Eagles, the Redskins will enter a stretch in which they’ll play four of the NFL’s seven worst offenses: St. Louis, Cleveland, Detroit and Pittsburgh.

Colts
The Colts were the league’s stingiest in points allowed last season. Seven of their next nine games come against offenses ranked in the bottom half of the league, including the Ravens, Browns and Bengals. However, don’t expect monster fantasy numbers from the Indianapolis defense until safety Bob Sanders returns from ankle and knee injuries. He’s expected back in late October.

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BYE WEEK FILL-INS
Some options to replace any of your prized players who have Week 5 off:

Warrick Dunn, RB, Buccaneers (vs. Denver). The 33-year-old wonder has been a top-30 fantasy running back thus far.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints (vs. Minnesota). With Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey out with injuries, Moore is developing into Drew Brees’ favorite target in the interim.

Anthony Fasano, TE, Dolphins (vs. San Diego). The Chargers have given up a TD to a tight end in each of their first four games.

Joe Nedney, K, 49ers (vs. Patriots). Nedney has already booted 10 field goals, two from beyond 40 yards.

Carolina defense (vs. Kansas City). The Chiefs have scored 14 or fewer points in three of their four games.

Kyle Orton, QB, Bears (vs. Detroit). Orton has thrown five scores in his past two games.

I dare you to download and read every word of this intensive newsletter treatment of the game that featured the original bonehead play. Cubs vs. Giants, Sept. 23, 1908. It features a disquisition by Keith Olbermann. "[I]t can justifiably lay claim to being the most memorable
baseball game ever played," he writes of the key game in the 1908 pennant race.

— Max

The final Yankee Stadium baseball game on Sunday, the Mets' playoff chase this week, Jets at San Diego Monday night ... there is plenty to write about. And we may be doing just that. But for now, let this suffice as a fresh blog post.

— Max

Dara Torres throws out the first pitch at Yankees Stadium Tuesday night. Photos by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

It doesn't get much better than this, as 41-year-old five-time Olympic swimmer Dara Torres brought a Yankees Stadium crowd to its feet as she threw out the ceremonial first pitch in tonight's game against the White Sox.

Torres, who competed in Beijing after taking 8 years off--during which she had a kid--won three silver medals this time around.

In all, she has 12 Olympic medals--four each of gold, silver and bronze.

-Check out 41 photos of Dara Torres through the years

Carson Palmer has some tough matchups ahead. (Photo by Getty)

So that can’t-miss draft pick can’t do anything right, and you’re already contemplating a move to help salvage your season.

It’s true that some of the NFL’s biggest names have accounted for fantasy football’s biggest disappointments through the first two weeks. But that doesn’t necessarily mean success isn’t just around the corner for them.

Here’s a glimpse at some of those stars and their prospects for snapping out of early-season funks.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego
L.T.’s ailing toe can be blamed for his slow start (he ranks 34th among running backs in standard-scoring leagues), but the injury isn’t considered serious. People also tend to forget that Tomlinson stumbled out of the gates in 2007, only to finish yet another season as the top fantasy running back.

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
Manning missed the entire preseason with a knee injury and then returned to find his security blanket, center Jeff Saturday, out with his own knee problems — a torn MCL. Since 2000, Saturday had started all but two games for the Colts entering this season. Saturday opted out of surgery on his knee and could return this week, meaning Manning will soon get his groove back.

Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati
Yes, Palmer has encountered tough matchups this month against Baltimore and Tennessee. But 228 yards passing, three interceptions and no touchdowns through two games? Something is clearly wrong in the Queen City, and it starts with the Bengals’ inept running game. The schedule doesn’t get much easier for Palmer. His next five opponents include the Giants, Cowboys and Steelers.

Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City
Johnson only managed 22 yards rushing against a Raiders defense that yielded 146 yards per game on the ground in 2007. L.J. appears to be a victim of the Chiefs’ lack of a threat at quarterback and poor blocking from the offensive line.

Randy Moss, WR, New England
While the “Freak” will undoubtedly see his stats take a hit without Tom Brady around, Moss still racked up 116 yards with Matt Cassel at quarterback for most of the season opener. The key to Moss’ success will be for Cassel to get No. 3 receiver Jabar Gaffney more involved in the offense so that defenses worry a little less about Moss.

Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis
The Rams have the NFL’s worst offense and defense thus far. As a result, St. Louis will find itself down big on the scoreboard often, limiting Jackson’s second-half carries. Jackson, thanks in part to his pass-catching skills, should probably stick around in your starting lineup, but you should lower your expectations.

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WEEK 3: PLAYERS TO START AND SIT
Start
Brett Favre, QB, Jets (vs. San Diego). Favre’s completing nearly 70 percent of his throws, and the Chargers’ pass defense is ranked 31st in the NFL.

LenDale White, RB, Titans (vs. Houston). White is clearly the goal-line back in Tennessee, and Houston gave up three rushing scores in Week 1.

David Patten, WR, New Orleans (vs. Denver). The Saints and Broncos are in the bottom five in pass defense, setting the stage for a shootout at Mile High.

Sit
David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville (vs. Indianapolis). Garrard will continue to struggle if the Jags can’t establish their running game.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina (vs. Minnesota). The rookie is off to a good start, but just ask the Colts’ Joseph Addai (15 carries for 20 yards in Week 2) about the Vikes’ run defense.

Roy Williams, WR, Detroit (vs. San Francisco). Williams says he feels like just “a role player.” With just six catches through two games, he’s probably right.

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Send your fantasy comments or questions to me at ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com.

If there's one song that should never be turned into an artists personal showcase, it's the National Anthem. Kat DeLuna did just that last night, in TEXAS of all places. It started off ok, but as soon as she starts with the diva fingers and the runs, the Texas crowd completely turns on her. Check out the video above. Next time she should take a lesson from Roseanne Arnold.

Kat De Luna attended some of last week's Fashion Week shows, so check out the photos.

-Click here for all the photos of celebrities at Fashion Week.

EDITORS NOTE After spending time on YouTube, it appears this is not the first time Kat DeLuna has destroyed the National Anthem. See below at a Celtics playoff game from back in May.

--Lizzy

Unlike his injured predecessor Tom Brady (16), new starting New England quarterback Matt Cassell will not typically score 50 points a game. Or showboat for that matter.

A team's star quarterback hits the ground with a debilitating injury. A fan base holds its breath. The news is as bad as can be expected. Quarterback will be sidelined for the entire season. An unknown steps up to take over the Patriots offense.

Is it 2001? Or 2008. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you've heard this before from Pats fans in denial. But what the Patriots fan have become in recent years, depending on its explosive offense to win games, was not the basis for the Patriots rise to the dynasty that they have become.

If you remember correctly, when Brady stepped up for Drew Bledsoe back in September of 2001, the Belichick playbook depended entirely on strong defense. It didn't matter how much the offense scored, as long as it was one point more than the other guys. Well, look at their performance yesterday against the supposed heirs to the AFC east throne, the Jets. Ridiculous red zone defense, holding the Jets to 1 TD and a scattering of field goals. While Matt Cassell, who certainly lacks Brady's pizazz, listened to the football minds on the sidelines, and probably most importantly, didn't put the team in any bad positions.

Look for the Patriots to return to what they were 7 years ago. Depending a lot on Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney to run the ball. Short screen passes to Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and pray for a good long run. Putting points on the board, but not to blow anybody away. Just enough to beat the other guy. Bill Belichick is a defensive mastermind, and, maybe more importantly, a ginormous egomaniac. Do you think he's going to sit back and listen to all the press about how he's nothing without Tom Brady? I didn't think so.

--Lizzy

Another good sign for Knicks/Nets fans today as LeBron was getting cozy inside the tents at fashion week. 2010 can't come fast enough.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

(Photo by Max J. Dickstein)

... this photograph of Roger Federer just before 9 p.m. on Monday night might help you imagine what it's like.

— Max

Willie Parker scored more touchdowns in Week 1 than he did all of last season.

Week 1 is always the trickiest week to set your fantasy lineups. After all, it’s in the season openers when we learn the true roles of many players, news that can send an athlete’s stock soaring or plummeting.

Here are several revelations from Week 1:

Jay Cutler is poised to join the elite quarterbacks. The third-year Bronco made a statement Monday night when he passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns against a strong Raiders secondary – and that was with his favorite target, Brandon Marshall, serving a suspension.

Willie Parker is far from done. Many fantasy footballers backed off Parker because the Steelers spent their first-round draft choice on running back Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall’s preseason case of fumble-itis, however, opened the door Sunday for Parker to run for 138 yards and three touchdowns, one more score than he had in all of 2007.

Laurence Maroney shouldn’t be in your starting lineup. The Patriots running back had just as many carries (10) as teammate Sammy Morris. Maroney doesn’t catch many passes (just four last season), and when Morris was healthy in 2007, Maroney didn’t score touchdowns. Those shortcomings qualify him as a fantasy liability.

There’s a time-share in Denver. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has fooled us again when it comes to his running game. While everyone assumed Selvin Young was Denver’s featured back, it was Andre Hall who led the team in carries, with 10. Young had seven attempts.

Hold off on the Reggie “Bust” talk. Reggie Bush may not have panned out as a great traditional running back, but the Saints star is still dynamic enough to gain yards in a variety of ways. That was evident by his performance Sunday against Tampa Bay, when he had 51 yards rushing, 112 yards receiving and a touchdown.

Ahmad Bradshaw is not the Giants’ No. 2 running back. Derrick Ward had 11 offensive touches while Bradshaw had none, despite that Bradshaw was drafted higher in virtually all leagues. Giants coach Tom Coughlin says he botched the rotation and Bradshaw should see more playing time in the future. But Bradshaw’s lack of action speaks louder than Coughlin’s words.

NFL FANTASY WEEK 2: PLAYERS TO START AND SIT

Start
Eli Manning, QB, Giants (vs. St. Louis). Manning faces a Rams pass defense that gave up 414 yards to the Eagles last week.

Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh (vs. Cleveland). Ward is coming off a two-TD game and is playing against a lousy Browns secondary.

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee (vs. Cincinnati). Fresh off his 127-yard coming-out party against the Jags, the rookie goes up against the Bengals, who gave up 229 yards on the ground in Week 1.

Sit
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle (vs. San Francisco). The Seahawks are without receivers Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Bobby Engram and running back Maurice Morris.

Greg Lewis, WR, Philadelphia (vs. Dallas). Don’t be fooled by his 100-yard game against the Rams.

Chris Perry, RB, Cincinnati (vs. Tennessee). The new Bengals starting running back faces a Titans defense that gave up just 1.9 yards per carry to Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor last week.

Here’s a humorous side note to Curt Schilling’s rant yesterday that “the Yankees suck” so “New York’s excited” that Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury: The Patriots’ MVP quarterback is a Yankees fan!

Brady was spotted by the Boston Herald last year wearing a Yankees cap.

In 2001, Drew Henson, Brady’s former teammate at Michigan who also briefly played for the Yankees, outed Brady to reporters: “Tom’s a huge baseball fan and a big Yankee fan,” Henson said.

Scuttlebutt has it that Brady used to wear his Yankees cap around the Pats locker room until he was told not to.

So using Schilling’s logic, Tom Brady is happy that Tom Brady got hurt.

Roger Federer of Switzerland at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2008. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein
mdickstein[at]am-ny.com

For Roger Federer, there’s nothing like two late-summer weeks in New York to get things right.

The Swiss star dismissed Scottish challenger Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 Monday evening to clinch his fifth straight U.S. Open title and 13th Grand Slam championship.

-Click here to see photos from the Federer-Murray match

-Click here to see photos of Roger Federer through the years

Only an hour and 51 minutes after the match began, Federer cracked an overhead on his second match point; a ragged Murray shunted his forehand reply into the net and Federer fell to the hardcourt in celebration. Federer had coverted his seventh of 10 break points before the set over the packed and adoring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

"To take this home is incredible," Federer said on the court before he received another seven-pound, Tiffany & Co. trophy and a check from the USTA for $1.5 million. "It means the world to me."

Federer thanked the 23,763 fans “from the bottom of my heart” for answering the call to support him in his quest to finally win a major title in 2008. With this one, the five-time Wimbledon champion became the only man to win five consecutive titles at two major tournaments.

Federer’s 12th title came at this time last year, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in a more suspenseful straight-sets victory. But a semifinal loss to Djokovic in Australia, and painful losses to top-ranked Rafael Nadal in finals at Roland Garros and an epic match at Wimbledon this season had tarnished Federer's sterling record. The 27-year-old was ranked No. 1 for 237 weeks before being unseated by Nadal last month.

But Federer had his flourish back at this tournament, which culminated in a dominant dismissal of Murray, a first-time Grand Slam finalist who appeared ragged at times playing his third straight day of tennis.

"I've got the better of him the last two times we played," Murray said of his 2-1 career edge against Federer entering the match, "and he set the record straight today."

Whether Murray was serving or returning, Federer’s all-court attack often sent Murray staggering after booming ground strokes from either wing and sharp volleys at the net, where Federer won 31 points on 44 approaches.

"Today, I think I really chose the right tactics against Andy, who himself is a good tactician," Federer said.

Tropical Storm Hanna dealt the 21-year-old Murray a scheduling blow, forcing him to play two straight days of high-level tennis against Nadal in their semifinal, which he won on Sunday. Federer dispensed with his semifinal opponent, the third-seeded Djokovic, on Saturday, enabling him to rest on Sunday.

— Max

-Click here to see photos from the Federer-Murray match

-Click here to see photos of Roger Federer through the years

A P.R. release of note:

2K Sports and the NHL will celebrate the launch of the highly anticipated hockey title, NHL 2K9, by offering fans an exclusive opportunity to play and purchase the video game at the “NHL Powered By Reebok” store a day before it becomes widely available at retail.

As part of the celebration, fans can register to take part in a NHL 2K9 single-elimination tournament on Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, with the finalist going head-to-head against NHL 2K9 cover athlete and Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash in the final elimination. First prize is a Nash-signed jersey and second prize is an autographed copy of NHL 2K9 on the winner’s choice of platform.

Beginning today, the first 100 customers who pre-order or purchase the game at the NHL store will get an exclusive NHL 2K9/NHL Powered by Reebok puck.

WHO: Rick Nash – three-time NHL All-Star, captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets and cover athlete for NHL 2K9

WHEN: Monday, September 8 @ 4pm – 7pm
(4pm-5pm registration, 5pm-7pm tournament)

WHERE: NHL Powered By Reebok store
1185 Avenue of the Americas, (6th Avenue at 47th Street)
New York, NY 10036

NOTE: The first 32 fans to register will receive a wristband that secures participation in the tournament. Registration is free and open to all ages. Fans under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

—Max

Andy Murray (6) versus Roger Federer (2) 2008 U.S. Open men’s singles final simulated with "Top Spin 3" (2K Sports) for the Nintendo Wii

The contestants enter Arthur Ashe Stadium. I'm playing as Roger Federer against a computer-controlled Andy Murray. (all photos by Max J. Dickstein)

First Set

Roger Federer opens as server. He comes out tight but blazing in the opening points. His serve is irregular, including one double-fault, but Federer cracks four Murray-yanking winners to take the game 40-15.
Federer leads 1-0

In Murray’s opening service game, Federer plays aggressively from the baseline, using both the forehand and backhand wings. He robs the serve advantage from Murray at 15-40 on the second break point.
Federer leads 2-0

Roger consolidates the early break at love, keeping the points short with near-line-painting drives to both sides of Murray’s court. Roger has now struck 11 winners against one error. Murray has one of each.
Federer leads 3-0

Federer is better by one star in each category.

The Swiss No. 2 again breaks Murray, who is apparently not gifted with speed enough to chase down Federer’s finishing strikes from the dry white paint of the baseline.
Federer leads 4-0

The 27-year-old Federer, who lost the No. 1 ranking to Spain’s Rafael Nadal Aug.18, holds at love. He begins to feel guilty for wondering whether Murray is doing an early-career impression of late-career Tim Henman. It was Federer, after all, who said after winning his 12th overall Grand Slam in New York last year that his greatest thrill was to beat younger guys who would challenge his dominance, such as 2007 U.S. Open runner-up Novak Djokovic. "New guys challenging me — this is my biggest motivation out there," Federer said then, having just turned back Djokovic in three sets in the 2007 U.S. Open final. "Seeing them challenging me, and then beating them in the finals." Murray, 21, certainly fits the mold of the young challenger to Federer. The 22-year-old Nadal, a five-time Grand Slam champion whom Murray beat to reach this final, is in another class than his young contemporaries — Federer has acknowledged that.
Federer leads 5-0

With more thunderous and precise ground strokes that are impossible for to reach for scurrying Murray, Federer breaks his opponent at love. At first set’s end, with 22 winners against two errors), the four-time defending U.S. Open champion owns a winner-to-error ratio of 2:1.
Federer wins 6-0 and leads Murray one set to love.

Rafael Nadal of Spain
shakes hands with Mardy Fish of the United States after beating him at the 2008 U.S. Open.
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

In case you weren't able to stay up, Rafael Nadal needed until 2:11 a.m. this morning to beat Mardy Fish, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to make the semifinals at the U.S. Open.

See all the photos here, including bonus photos of some of Rafael Nadal's greatest moments through the years.

Serena Williams, right, shakes hands with her
sister Venus Williams after Serena won their quarter final match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Serena Williams beat sister Venus Williams in a 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (9-7) win before a rocking nightime U.S. Open crowd--on an overruled line call via instant replay!

The close match could've gone either way, with Serena somehow surviving the big points to secure her spot in the semifinals where she'll face Dinara Safina on Friday.

-See all the latest U.S. Open photos here

-See photos of Venus and Serena Williams growing up

Deadspin

Unbelievable. (This picture may be a bit too good to be true, but, in all fairness, as a former competitor in the Miss Alaska contest, she likely has worn such outfits in the past... perhaps not with an automatic weapon in hand...)

Oh, and she was an intern and weekend sportscaster at a TV station in Alaska, video of which you can see here. So for all of you 24-year-old former beauty pageant winning sportscasting interns out there, keep the hope alive!

-Click here to see photos of Sarah Palin and family campaigning

-Click here for 19 family photos of Sarah Palin growing up

-Click here for 13 photos of Sarah Palin's daughters, sons, and husband

-- Tim Fiorvanti

(Photo illustration by Nick Stark)

It's Obama over McCain — (Baron Davis over Andrei Kirilenko). This being another partisan work of art created by my friend Nick Stark.

CORRECTION (11:33 a.m. Wednesday): Nick didn't create this image.

— Max

If your fantasy football team stumbles out of the gates this weekend, remember this name: Frisman Jackson.

In 2005, Jackson, a Cleveland Browns wide receiver, had eight receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown in the season opener – just the type of performance that causes a knee-jerk reaction from fantasy owners unsure about their receiving corps.

Jackson proved to be a waste of a fantasy roster spot. He finished the season with 24 catches for 287 yards and never smelled the end zone again.

Far too often, fantasy footballers panic after having a disappointing Week 1. They release a good player who struggled in Week 1 for someone who will more than likely prove to be, well, a Frisman Jackson.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying never to gamble on a relatively unknown player who pops up with a monster game. After all, for every dozen Frisman Jacksons, there's a Maurice Jones-Drew or Ryan Grant – a fantasy stud who emerges from nowhere and turns a good fantasy team into a great one.

The key is to be smart about the players you pick up and release. Don't toss aside a proven or promising athlete who had a lousy season opener so that you can add a player who probably won't pan out.

Before tweaking your roster, ask yourself a couple of questions:

1. Does the player I'm considering adding have a real chance to continue his success?
For example, if Carolina wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett surprises with a big game Sunday, recognize that it would not have been possible if not for the suspension of Steve Smith.

2. Is it really time to give up on the player I'm about to release?
In 2006, many fantasy owners released Buffalo wide receiver Lee Evans after he only had four catches for 44 yards through the first two games.

I know. I was one of them.

Evans, the Bills' first-round draft choice a year earlier, ended up with nearly 1,300 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. I ended up with bruises from kicking myself.

To master the waiver wire, you must find that perfect balance. Rolling the dice here and there can be healthy. Roll them indiscriminately, and you're just begging for a Frisman Jackson.

PLAY
Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona (vs. San Francisco)
Not only did Warner toss 21 touchdowns in the final eight games of last season, he also passed for 484 yards in his only appearance against the Niners.

Selvin Young, RB, Denver (vs. Oakland)
The Raiders gave up 146 yards per game on the ground in 2007, and the Broncos always run the ball well.

Joey Galloway, WR, Tampa Bay (vs. New Orleans)
Galloway has had at least 100 yards receiving or a touchdown in his last seven games against the Saints.

BENCH
Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis (vs. Philadelphia)
Bulger had a poor 2007 and was less than stellar in the preseason. The Eagles defense has a strong pass rush and added Pro Bowler Asante Samuel to an already good secondary.

LenDale White, RB, Tennessee (vs. Jacksonville)
White only averaged 39 yards rushing in two games against the Jaguars in 2007, and now he's expected to lose about half his carries to rookie speedster Chris Johnson.

Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo (vs. Seattle)
I might have regretted cutting him in 2006, but now I find him to be a frustratingly inconsistent player. And the Seahawks defense allowed the fewest touchdown passes in the league last season.

Venus and Serena Williams in England in 1997, in an AP file photo

Venus and Serena Williams are close on and off the court, but as you might expect there's a little bit of separation peeking through as they get ready to face each other Wednesday in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.

From the AP article:

When it came time Tuesday to prepare for their all-Williams quarterfinal at the U.S. Open, the sisters lined up on adjacent courts, hitting beside -- not with -- each other.

They often practice together. Not this time. Not with what's at stake Wednesday night in their 17th meeting as professionals. Their father, who along with their mother coaches both women, went back and forth, keeping tabs on his racket-wielding daughters.

Later, the side-by-side training sessions done, the sisters caught separate rides away from Flushing Meadows. As Serena walked alone to the parking lot, checking for text messages on her pink cell phone, she was asked if it becomes less tough to have to look across the net during a match and see Venus standing there.

"It does," Serena said Tuesday. "Each time, it gets easier."

Tiger Woods and his wife Elin are expecting their second child sometime in the winter. They already have one daughter, Sam.

Though Tiger may be recouping from his knee injury for the rest of the golf year, he has reason to celebrate. Woods announced on his Website this morning that his wife, Elin, is expecting the couple's second child sometime in late winter.

Gotta give them credit, the timing this time around is much better. If you remember correctly, their first child, Sam, was born the Monday following the 2007 US Open. With the biggest golf tournaments on the 09 PGA tour starting in early April, Tiger will have plenty of time to spend changing diapers and burping the new addition before having to hit the golf course again.

Check out nine photos of Tiger and Elin and their first baby, Sam.

See 174 photos of Tiger Woods through his career.

--Lizzy

Kei Nishikori, Japan, 18

Juan Martin Del Potro, Argentina, 19

In a matchup of teenage phenoms, Kei Nishikori, the 18-year-old from Japan, plays Juan Martin Del Potro, the 19-year-old from Argentina, at 6:30 p.m. this Monday — Labor Day — evening at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The two young players set up their clash via five-set victories Saturday night in Flushing Meadows. In Louis Armstrong, Nishikori topped fourth-seeded David Ferrer, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, a triumphant defeat of last year’s Spanish semifinalist. The 126th-ranked Nishikori is the first Japanese to reach the fourth round of a major since 1995, and his likely surge in the rankings represents a huge step forward for his country. With his slight, 5-foot-10 build and precocious sense of the moment, Nishikori plays well beyond the years of an individual born in 1989. Through the first round of the U.S. Open, when Nishikori beat 28th-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina in four sets, the youngster had converted an excellent 42 percent of his break-point chances. He won his first tour event at Del Ray Beach, in Florida, beating James Blake in the final.
Ai Sugiyama, the 32-year-old Japanese pro who has played in 57 straight Grand Slam women’s singles draws, seemed to sense the siginificance of Nishikori’s defeat of Ferrer as she watched from the stands.


Ai Sugiyama, applauding for victorious countryman Kei Nishikori at Louis Armstrong Stadium, had lost earlier Saturday night, 6-2, 6-1, to Serena Williams at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Nishikori blew a fifth-set match point on his serve, but won anyway.

The 6-foot-6, 172-pound Del Potro, is truly a colt (that’s what “potro” means in Spanish), with overpowering force and tactical consistency. His sprawling defeat of the ornery 24-year-old Gilles Simon of France, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, showed the increasing undeniability of Del Potro, who has won the last four tournaments he has entered — 19 straight matches at Stuttgart, Kitzbuhel (Austria), Los Angeles and Washington.

Del Potro’s five-set defeat of Gilles Simon on Saturday represented the Argentine's 22nd straight victorious match.

All of this information and circumstance, presented here clinically to the GameFace reader, imbues Monday’s match with unpredictability, fervor and anticipated excellence.
The winner of the young men's fourth-round encounter would play the winner of the match between 10th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland and sixth-seeded Andy Murray of Great Britain. Top-ranked Spaniard Rafael Nadal, would likely await in the semifinal.

— Max

Fourth-seeded David Ferrer walks to his post-match press conference Saturday night at about a quarter to 11. The Spaniard said his winning opponent, Kei Nishikori, has a bright future. Sixth-seeded Dinara Safina, in the pink shirt, is behind Ferrer, on her way to Interview Room 2.

(all photos by Max J. Dickstein)