Aces and faults: U.S. Open day 4

ACE

2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, asked which she preferred between Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows, said, "Ay, when I win here, I will tell you the difference and which one I prefer."

FAULT

For entertainment value, the first-round loss of top-seeded doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan (to Ivo Karlovic and Frank Moser) leaves a void in the Open’s second week.

LET

ESPN commentators’ running gag on veteran Michael Russell’s name, calling him "Jack Russell" during his four-set loss to Andy Roddick, appeared meant to praise Russell’s persistence in figuratively biting Roddick’s ankles. But, in passing, it sounded like they were hinting that Russell was a dog.

By the numbers

10:59 -- Starting time of the Maria Sharapova-Anastasiya Yakimova second-round match Wednesday night. (They finished at 12:09 a.m.)
12:00 -- (midnight) The latest starting time of a U.S. Open match, Gabriela Sabatini vs. Beverly Bowes in 1987. (They finished at 1:30 a.m.)

2:26 a.m. -- Still the latest-ever Open finish. Mats Wilander’s five-set victory over Mikael Pernfors in 1993.

Furthermore

The Hawk-eye replay system continues to be an ideal element in tennis, allowing fans and players a quick, definitive verdict on close in/out calls. It also continues to reinforce linespersons’ overall competency: Since the system was introduced in 2006, the percentage of calls overturned has remained in the 30 percent range.