[DUlrich1227]

Top-Seeded Davydenko Ousted, Blake Wins at ATP New Haven

Six seeds exited the draw Wednesday at the ATP stop in New Haven, with upsets orchestrated by Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela (d. (1) Davydenko), Russian Igor Andreev (d. (8) O.Rochus in two tiebreaks), American wildcard entrant James Blake (d. (10) Volandri), German Philip Kohlschreiber (d. (11) Melzer), France's Fabrice Santoro (d. countryman (13) Mathieu), and Austrian Stefan Koubek (d. (16) Monfils from a set down).

"Today, it was my mistake because we had different balls (than Montreal and Cincinnati)," Davydenko said. "I tried to make it different, my tension for strings was harder here and I tried to make no mistakes because the tension was hard and I had more control. I tried to come back but at 6-5 broke my string. I took my old racket and I lost in the tiebreak. I played really slow, Chela played good today and tried to make winners, and for me, if I play slow I can beat nobody."

Blake, who appears near the top of his game this summer, dropped only fours games against the No. 10-seeded Volandri to set up a meeting with former No. 2 Tommy Haas.

"It was one of those days where everything was going in," Blake said. "I felt like I was able to dictate. He didn't get many free points on his serve, but I was able to get some on mine."

Seeded winners avoiding the upsets were (2) Fernando Gonzalez (d. (WC) Gimelstob in three), (3) Dave Ferrer (d. Zib), (6) Tommy Haas (d. C.Rochus 6-0 in the third), (7) Nicolas Massu (d. A.Ram in three), and (12) Vince Spadea (d. Seppi).

"I had match points in the second set but I played very badly, and I pretty much gave him that second set," Massu said after outlasting the doubles specialist Ram. "I could have ended this match sooner than I did but this is how tennis is, things can turn around really quickly. In the end the most important thing is the result. I am very happy I was able to come through 7-5 in the third today."

Scheduled for Thursday are (5) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. (12) Spadea, (WC) Blake vs. (6) Haas, Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco vs. (2) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez in a slap-fest, (15) Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan vs. (3) Ferrer, Andreev vs. Kohlschreiber, Chela vs. Santoro, (4) Robredo vs. Koubek, and Hanescu vs. (7) Massu.

Hantuchova Advances to Davenport Meeting at WTA New Haven

Willowy Slovak Daniela Hantuchova continued her hot streak Wednesday at the WTA stop at New Haven, coming from a set down to defeat No. 6 seed Patty Schnyder to set up a meeting with top seed Lindsay Davenport.

"I have so much respect for the way she plays," said Hantuchova, who contrarily appeared to show little respect by turning her back a number of times when Schnyder was getting ready to serve. "I just tried to keep fighting for every point. I went for my shots and it paid off."

Hantuchova was eventually cited by the chair umpire for a time violation for her slow play. Schnyder was willing to give the Slovak the benefit of the doubt.

"When I'm ready, I would like to start serving," Schnyder said. "I know she does it and it's her way, but I think on the serve, you should go with the pace of the server. She needs the time, I guess. I don't think it's really to break my rhythm or something, it's just that she needs it."

Also advancing was No. 2 seed Amelie Mauresmo (d. Likhovtseva), and un-seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany (d. doubles partner Shaughnessy), China's Jie Zheng (d. Jackson), and Russian Anna Chakvetadze (d. countrywoman Kirilenko).

"Overall, I'm very happy with the way I played," said Mauresmo who dropped only four games. "I served big and was consistent except at the end where I got maybe a little bit too eager to finish her off."

On tap for Thursday are Davenport vs. Hantuchova, Groenefeld vs. Mauresmo, Medina Garrigues vs. Dementieva, and Zheng vs. Chakvetadze.

15-Year-Old American Glatch Tops No. 1 Seed at WTA Forest Hills

15-year-old high school junior Alexa Glatch stunned top-seeded Akiko Morigami 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Forest Hills Women's Classic in only her second WTA event.

The No. 460-ranked wildcard from Newport Beach, Calif., will also compete next week as a wildcard at the US Open.

Other players into the quarterfinals Wednesday were No. 3-seeded Sania Mirza (d. Peer), Czech Lucie Safarova (d. (2) Smashnova) and Slovak Martina Sucha (d. Diaz-Oliva).

On tap for the Thursday quarterfinals in Forest Hills are Benesova vs. Ondraskova, An.Serra Zanetti vs. Safarova, Mirza vs. Vinci, and Glatch vs. Sucha.

From the LA Times: "The father of a teenage Russian tennis professional was arrested on suspicion of assault after an alleged altercation with his daughter during a tournament earlier this month in California. Evgenia Linetskaya, 18, was treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital on August 5 after suffering a cut on the back of her head, which needed stitches, and mouth bruises. Her father, who is also her manager, was identified in a Carlsbad police report as Semen Linetskiy, 49. In the Women's Tennis Association Tour media guide he is listed as Simon Linetsky. Linetskiy was taken to the Vista jail in North San Diego County and released on bond. Carlsbad police lieutenant Bill Rowland and officials from the San Diego County district attorney's office said no charges had been filed. Linetskaya did not want to press charges, Rowland said. "It is her desire not to follow up," Rowland said. "At this point, she doesn't want to move forward." Linetskaya, through an intermediary, declined to comment."...World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound took a break from rooting through Argentine players' garbage cans for needles to call on cycling officials to investigate the report that Lance Armstrong was doping back in 1999...More entertainment from the ever-optimistic Tennis Canada newsletter: "Also posing a threat to (Keziel) Juneau's national title hopes will be Mississauga, Ontario's third-seeded Kirill Sinitsyn. Sinitsyn reached the finals of the Indoor Championships before falling to Juneau 2-6, 0-6." Sinitsyn lost 2-and-0 in their last meeting? And she's a threat? To what, get double-bageled this time? And what's up with all the Lord of the Rings names for junior girls tennis players in Canada?...Croatia Davis Cup coach Nikki Pilic wants Goran Ivanisevic to play in the Davis Cup final if Croatia beats Russia in next month's semifinals: "Goran deserves to be in the team for the final, he was the main driving force behind our return to the world group. With him, I would always have an extra option," Pilic told the Jutarnji List daily. "Of course, before that we should somehow get those three points against the Russians."...This morning in New York, Roger Federer will ring the opening bell on the NASDAQ Stock Market...From People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): "Tennis legend John McEnroe is raising his well-known voice, this time in defense of cats and dogs. McEnroe, who counts among his monumental achievements seven grand slam titles including three Wimbledon singles victories and four US Open singles championships, has just donated his time to shoot a brand-new public service announcement (PSA) for PETA. In the lighthearted PSA, McEnroe pokes fun at himself by unleashing a trademark tirade that's sure to get people hot under the collar about cat and dog overpopulation. "Neutering is good for his temper, it's good for his health, and it's the most important thing you can do to make a difference for homeless animals!" barks McEnroe after another actor challenges his decision to neuter his dog. "Did you know that shelters have to kill more than 4 million animals every year just because there aren't enough good homes out there? I can't have that on my conscience!" Also starring in the PSA is Roxie, herself a rescued PETA pooch."...Tennisreporters.net's Matt Cronin says Andy Murray rightly did not receive a US Open wildcard and the slam should remain American-centered: "I would have given (a wildcard) to Sam Querrey, who lost to Donald Young in the 18s Super Nationals final, instead of to Jan-Michael Gambill or Mark "The Scud" Philippoussis. The talented Querrey did fall to Antony Dupuis of France 6-4, 7-6(4) in the qualies on Wednesday. But give one to Andrew Murray? Yes as a player, and as an attraction, but if I'm the USTA, I'm not giving away wildcards to the Brits until they consistently do the same with US players at Wimbledon."...Russian Vera Douchevina has withdrawn from the US Open with a twisted ankle...The US Open men's singles champion will be awarded a 2006 Lexus GS 430. But does Fed already have one?...Before winning his first round of qualifying yesterday at the US Open, Andy Murray was in an auto accident when the cab he was riding in was rear-ended...Andy Roddick is a fan of the US Open Series after winning the 2005 edition: "I think it's cool because it's an overall judge of the consistency of the summer. And when people were questioning what kind of summer I was having, to finish No. 1 in the US Open Series gives some factual back-up."