U.S. Open aces and faults

ACE: American Sam Querrey, on top-ranked Roger Federer’s unwavering confidence: “I feel at times he can go out there and swing away because he’s, like, ‘Hey, I’ve got 17 Grand Slams, $500 million; who cares if I miss this?’ And, most of the time, it’s going to go in.”

ACE: Serena Williams, reminded that she previously had been quoted that she didn’t like tennis or practice sessions, despite 14 career major tournament titles: “I tell someone, ‘You be careful; I’m going to start loving tennis.’”

FAULT: (Provided by Rony Kessler of Franklin Square) Handicapped parking, previously free, has been moved from adjacent to the tennis center to a lot across Grand Central Parkway, (where there now is a $20 charge.

ACE: (Provided by Eileen Masciale of Bay Shore) American teenager Jack Sock signed every autograph request after his first-round opponent, No. 22 seed Florian Mayer of Germany, retired. “How can you not be a fan?” Masciale said. “Anyone this fan-friendly can only help the growth of U.S. tennis.”

By the Numbers

4 The men’s record for number of Grand Slam tournaments finals lost before finally winning a championship. It is held by Andy Murray (currently 0-for-4) and Murray’s coach since January, Ivan Lendl (who followed his four losses by winning eight of his next 15 finals).

9 of 32 women’s seeds who lost in the first round, the highest being No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki, the 2009 Open runner-up to Kim Clijsters.

Furthermore. . .

Today is the 34th anniversary of the first day of U.S. Open tennis at the current Flushing Meadows site, in 1978, after the Forest Hills move. The best match of the day was won by Arthur Ashe, who saved three match points against Ross Case and called the new tennis center “the greatest thing since sliced bread.”