Istomin has confidence against Nadal

If Hurricane Earl doesn't get in the way Friday, then Denis Istomin will get a chance to storm Arthur Ashe Stadium court against the Open's No. 1 seed, Rafael Nadal.

This is the second time they have met this year, and the first time Istomin gave Nadal a real test before losing in three sets. The 23-year-old from Uzbekistan who lives in Moscow had chances to break Nadal in the final set and couldn't close the deal. Still, being able to hang with one of the world's best players gives Istomin hope that he can do it again.

"It was on grass, different from here, but yes, I got confidence from that match," said Istomin, who has risen to 39th in the world rankings.

Istomin's mother, Klaudiya, will be in her son's box when he takes on Nadal. But she is not just there to provide moral support. She is also Istomin's coach, a rarity among male players.

Jimmy Connors was coached early on by his mother, as was Marat Safin. American Donald Young still works with his mother, Illona.

"I have never been in the top 50 until now," Istomin said. "It's because of her, not because of me."

Mixed results for Oudin

Although Melanie Oudin is out of the singles draw, she remains in the tournament with her mixed doubles partner, Ryan Harrison.

Oudin and Harrison beat Andrea Hlavackova and Michal Mertinak, 6-1, 7-5, Thursday. They next get the No. 1-seeded team of Leizel Huber and Bob Bryan.

Federer has an edge

Roger Federer is the only man left in the tournament who has won a U.S. Open. Of the two other former champions in the draw, Andy Roddick went out in the second round to Janko Tipsarevic and Lleyton Hewitt went out in the first to Paul-Henri Mathieu. Juan Martin del Potro, who beat Federer in the final last year, had not recovered from wrist surgery sufficiently to play.

"I would consider it an advantage," said Federer, the five-time Open champion. "But again, I'm not at match point serving for it, so still a lot of hard work to do."