The Whole Delivery

Photo from AP Rafael Nadal has impressively advanced past good friend Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 for the 11th time in as many matchups to reach his third straight US Open semifinal. Unlike the previous two years, Nadal is a heavy favorite to reach the final, as the world number one is both healthy and confident in his game at Flushing Meadows more than he's ever been before. Verdasco came in to try and replicate the form that lead him to his thrilling comeback win over David Ferrer on Tuesday as well as the memorable 2009 Australian Open 5-set semifinal he had with his fellow Spaniard, breaking Nadal's serve in game three of the first set. It was the first time Nadal was broken in the entire tournament, and it was the last time Verdasco made any serious headway into his opponent's serve. From then on, Nadal slowly adjusted to the blustery conditions to hammer and frustrate Verdasco, getting the break back and then taking the first set eventually 7-5. The #8 seed...

(Photo from daviscup.com) Jubilee for Spain as they win the Davis Cup on the road, and without Rafael Nadal Make no bones about it, this was another memorable Davis Cup Final for the ages. And despite the fact that it didn't come to a deciding rubber, it was nevertheless a joy to watch. That's of course, if you were a neutral or, even better, a Spaniard. Because of you were an Argentine that day, it was, and still is, a period of national misery. Without Rafael Nadal, Spain looked destined to remain at two Davis Cup titles, as their counterparts looked poised to capture their first international championship in the city of Marta Del Pata. And that outcome seemed inevitable when David Nalbandian scored his 17th Davis Cup tie victory with a comprehensive beating of David Ferrer in the opener. Ferrer, who whenever he plays Nalbandian usually outworks and frustrates him into defeat (hence Ferrer's 6-3 head to head advantage coming into their match), had nothing, and showed th...