Ferrer and Rain Only Winners on Day 9 at U.S. Open

There were only two winners today on Day 9 of the U.S. Open on the men's side: David Ferrer and the rain as steady showers caused havoc with all the day's matches.

By Erik Gudris

(September 4, 2012) -- There were only two winners today on Day 9 of the U.S. Open on the men's side - David Ferrer and the rain.

First the rain. After an hour and half long rain delay during the start of play in the day session, the clouds cleared off long enough for matches to get underway. No. 4 seed David Ferrer was able to start his match against Richard Gasquet and it was the Spaniard who earned the first set 7-5.

But Gasquet, despite having a losing record against Ferrer, didn't back down and used his trademark flair, especially on his backhand wing to leap out to a 5-2 lead. But it was Gasquet's resolve, tested by Ferrer's steady backcourt game, that broke as the Frenchman allowed multiple set point chances to slip out of his hands. Ferrer eventually leveled the set and then took it in a tiebreak for a two sets to love lead thanks to a plethora of errors from Gasquet.

Multiple rain delays forced the third set to start and then stop before a clear window of weather in the evening allowed the set to resume at 4-all. Ferrer once again seized the moment and though Gasquet fought off several match points, it was a final backhand error from Gasquet that gave Ferrer safe passage into the quarterfinals 7-5, 7-6(2), 6-4.

Del Potro and Roddick Match Suspended at First Set Tiebreak

The anticipated fourth round match between Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Roddick got off as planned during the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium with a late arriving crowd hoping to see Roddick win yet another match in his final career event.

It was Roddick who came out firing early while a sluggish Del Potro took his time getting settled in the very humid conditions. Roddick got out to an early break thanks to some clever net rushing that eventually forced a Del Potro error, giving Roddick the break at 3-2.

But serving for the set at 5-3, Roddick misfired on several forehands that allowed Del Potro to earn the break back. Roddick fought off a break point at 5-all and after Del Potro later served out his game to push the set into a tiebreak, Roddick won the first point before a steady rain shower forced both men off of the court. Play was eventually suspended for the evening 30 minutes later.

The evening rain shower also suspended several other fourth round men's matches including Novak Djokovic against Stanislas Wawrinka with Djokovic up 2-0 in the first set and Philipp Kohlschreiber versus Janko Tipsarevic with Tipsarevic up 5-2 in the opening set.

(Photo Credit: Andy Kentla)