Nielsen pulling for fellow Dane

 Since I already brought you one random athlete connection today, I might as well throw another one your way.

Islanders center and Denmark native Frans Nielsen has a vested interest in one match tonight at the U.S. Open. Nielsen, who is friends with top-seeded women's player Caroline Wozniacki, will be pulling for his fellow Dane as she faces off against Dominika Cibulkova in the quarterfinals. Most recently, Wozniacki beat Maria Sharapova Monday to advance.

Nielsen, who attended the match vs. Sharapova, met Wozniacki a couple of years ago and has enjoyed watching her success as a rising tennis star. Given her play thus far in the tournament, he likes her chances to go the distance and bring home a championship.

"Hopefully, she will," Nielsen said. "She's playing really well and she's tough to beat."