Aces & faults

ACE

Rafael Nadal, during his brief postmatch words to the Arthur Ashe Stadium fans, interrupted a question to say, "One thing, I don't want to forget, this is a very special day for everybody, my support for the victims of 9/11 and their families."

ACE

For fans who hope for tennis ball souvenirs: Attend a doubles match, where the slam-dunk shots at the net tend to wind up in the stands fairly often.

FAULT

Tennis matches never, ever start at the scheduled time. For yesterday's men's doubles finals, with a posted noon start, the players didn't arrive on court until 12:12 and didn't begin play until 12:21.

Numbers

3 Consecutive Grand Slam tournaments Rafael Nadal would win in a single year if he prevails in today's final, following titles in the French Open and Wimbledon. The last man to do that was Rod Laver, who won all four in 1969.

3 Number of women who have completed the yearly Grand Slam: Maureen Connolly (1953), Margaret Smith Court (1970), Steffi Graf (1988).

3 Surfaces (grass, clay, hardcourt) on which Jimmy Connors won U.S. Open titles - the only player, male or female, to do so.

Furthermore . . .

Though the winner of yesterday's second men's semifinal has been assumed to be at a disadvantage for the final because of less rest between matches, the winner of the first semifinal is only 14-12 the next day, dating to 1984.