US Open: Day 2 - The train is pulling into the station!!!

Yup, that's right, Wayne 'the train' Odesnik advanced to the second round of the US Open with a FIVE set win over Danai Udomchoke and a score of 7-6 in the fifth set (what with the US Open being the only grand slame that allows a fifth set tiebreak). Odesnik's next opponent will be Juan Ignacio Chela, and again, I think he's got a chance. Go Wayne!

Today's Insane Score Award also goes to a men's match, that of Arnaud Clement and Ivo Karlovic. This is the match that I, along with many others, dubbed David vs. Goliath. You know what happens in that story, right? David wins. And he did today, as well, but it took a lot of hard work. Clement wins 7-6(5), 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(6), 7-6(2).

Amer Delic lost in straights to Lleyton Hewitt. This was not unexpected, but Peter Bodo has a nice article up on his site about the 'fall' of Delic. Good reading - Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Other winners today included Djokovic, Xavier Malisse (hey, where's he been?), qualifier Pavel, and the 'magician' Fabrice Santoro. James Blake advanced, but not without being tested 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 by American grinder Michael Russell. Stepanek is in a tough match as I type this.

Who didn't win today? Well, Sam Querry. A disappointing loss in straights to Koubek. Somewhat unexpected after a strong hardcourt summer, but this may point to possible improvements that need to be made on his mental game.

The ladies side suffered its loss of a high seed today when #9 Daniela Hantuchova lost in three sets to Julia Vakulenko (who was one of the last people to beat Kim Clijsters before her retirement). Daniela...well, see above comment about mental improvements.

Some question marks surrounded Nicole Vaidisova's return after a lengthy absence from the tour with mono. She had an easy win today, but the questions will remain until she faces stiffer competition. A possible quarter with Sharapova may loom in the future.

Sania Mirza backed up some solid summer hard court play with a tough three set win ove Kai Kanepi. Also winning today were Virginie Razzano (continuing to play some of her best tennis this summer), Victoria Azarenka (the promising junior is slowly but surely making progress in both singles and doubles), and Pauline Parmentier (a qualifier who is now into the second round).

I know there's plenty of matches still going on or yet to be played tonight, but I have a late match, and then must be off to bed. School night!