On Night of Upsets, Blake Falls to Friend

Nadal advances easily, but other leaders get unwelcome shocks
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 31, 2008 11:34 AM CDT
On Night of Upsets, Blake Falls to Friend
Rafael Nadal of Spain shouts during his match with Victor Troicki of Serbia at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008.    (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Despite James Blake's hometown support in Flushing Meadows and recent victory over Roger Federer, the No. 9 seed couldn't move on to the fourth round of the US Open. Standing in his way was Mardy Fish, the friend for whom Blake will serve as groomsman next month, the New York Times reports. The ecstatic Fish joins several other surprise spoilers.

Japan's Kei Nishikori took out No. 4 David Ferrer in five sets, and Gael Monfils of France beat David Nalbandian, the seventh seed, in straight sets. In less surprising news, Rafael Nadal continued his win streak by beating Viktor Troicki, and Venus Williams had no trouble from Alona Bondarenko. French Open winner Dinara Safina just managed a three-set win.
(More US Open Tennis stories.)

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