Though the fans (and CBS) would have preferred an all-Williams final, Serena (above) will play Venus in the quarterfinals. AP

I heard you talking on television about Venus and Serena playing each other so early in the tournament. You stated that the draws could not be rigged. My question is, Why not? Simply putting them on other sides of the draw would not give either an unfair advantage. It would just mean they wouldn't meet until the final, which would be better for the whole sport.
-- Monty, Toronto

• I think any time you bend a rule or make a special accommodation for the sake of money/television/marketing, you not only create a credibility gap with the public but also become susceptible to slippery-slope arguments. "Hey, you made an exception for Venus and Serena," says James Blake. "Why do I have to play Mardy Fish in the third round?" These "exceptions" are short-sighted and generally bite you in the posterior in the end.

That the Williams sisters -- for my money, the two most impressive players in the women's draw at this point -- have to face each other in the quarterfinals is unfortunate for everyone. But short of them achieving the first and second ranking, which would assure them of inhabiting opposite brackets (not impossible), an early encounter is simply an unfortunate risk each time they enter the same event. Enjoy Wednesday's match. Feel free to wish it were on Saturday's final instead. CBS sure does. But I don't think you can manipulate the draw to make it a reality in the future.

Does Elena Dementieva lose the title "Best player to never have won slam" now that she has won the Olympic gold?
-- Max, London

• Ask me again in four days.

I noticed you did not include Nikolay Davydenko in your list of top players going on to the second week. To my knowledge, Davydenko is ranked higher than Andy Murray and Andy Roddick in both the ATP rankings and the ATP 2008 Race. Any reason for your omission?
-- Jose Herrera, Cincinnati, Ohio

• He's still in the draw. But have you seen his results these past few months?

The media is a beast? Come on, Jon. The media are beasts. Media is a plural.
-- James Donahoo, Summit, N.J.

• I thought you were going to say: "The media is a beast? Come on, Jon. The media is/are talented, vital and unfailingly fair." But you're right: plural, we are.

What did you make of Stanislas Wawrinka's performance against Andy Murray last night? I was looking forward to an exciting match between two young top ten players. Instead, Murray, who was pushed to five sets by Jurgen Melzer, was hardly tested. What was up with Wawrinka?
-- John, New York

• I shared your disappointment with Wawrinka. I expected Murray to win that match, but certainly not by such a lopsided scoreline. There obviously are countless reasons why players come up flat, but consider this: that stadium was filled with more than 20,000 fans last night. I suspect that can be more than a little jarring for most players.

Is anyone else offended by Gael Monfils doing his little dance after match point, but BEFORE the postmatch handshake against Nalbandian? To me, that's completely disrespectful of your opponent. Not to mention, the kind of showboating I'd rather not see in tennis.
-- Chris, Rockford, Minn.

• Disagree. I like Monfils' emoting and "showboating," particularly since it's done with a sense of fun. If he were a jerk it would be one thing, but this is just an expressive kid enjoying himself. I vote to give him a pass.

I have enjoyed your appearances on the USA Network, but have noticed Jim Courier is not so nice to you and appears to discount your opinions. It was really noticeable prior to the Cilic/Djokovic match. What is Courier's problem?
-- Letha, Durham, N.C.

• He's transparently jealous of my sharp Brooks Brothers blazer.

Why didn't you give Mary Fish top grade for first week of the U.S. Open?
-- Terry Shargel, New York

• Another omission. Fish absolutely deserved an "A." And if he plays against Nadal half as well as he did against Monfils, he has a real chance in that match. (Hi, Terry, by the way. I seem to have deleted your email, but so nice to hear from you!)

Shots, Miscellany

Today's entry in the "Random Encounters With a Pro Tennis Player" contest (sponsored by Prince) is Jess of Portland, Ore.:

"In 2000, I was living with my grandparents in Philadelphia. It was early November and I had just gotten out of night school, heading to work. I was a waiter at the time and took the bus to the cafe I waited tables at. It was about two blocks away from the old Advanta Championships venue, so I usually walked the two blocks the rest of the way. Well, I'm wearing my waitstaff apron and lugging a heavy bag with my books and change of clothes in it when who do I pass but Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis, walking out a side exit with their mothers and coaches, trainers, etc.

"I just keep on walking, because I'm pretty tired, but Kournikova notices my apron and asks if the restaurant is near by. I tell her it's about a block away. They ask what kind of food it has, and I tell them it's Italian and French. SO, they come along! There are 12 people at their table, they insist I wait on them, and they have a great time. I got to chat it up with both of them, found out they were playing doubles together, and got a pretty amazing tip. The day went from slow and tiring to the best celebrity sighting of my life."

• More than one dozen tennis Hall of Famers with a combined 184 Grand Slam titles (singles/doubles/mixed) will be on hand for the 28th annual "Legends Ball" to benefit the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Sept. 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

• Baby Nadal!

• Tom Hart of Summerville, S.C. sends this touching random encounter in a baseball context.

• R.Z. of Los Angeles: Here's a link that might help readers who want to recycle used tennis balls

• Steve S. of Calgary, A.B.: Why did Roger Federer insist on using his high school graduation photo for the ATP website?

• The USTA today announced that the City of New York will rename the base of the pasarelle just outside the East Gate public entryway to the U.S. Open, the "David Dinkins Circle."

• Nikki of Hobbs, N.M. has a couple of Olympic/tennis twins for you ...

Elena Vesnina and Nastia Liukin.