Fifty parting shots from U.S. Open (cont.)

An ailing Rafael Nadal was classy in defeat after losing in the semifinals. David Lobel/Icon SMI

• Just as Federer revealed plenty about himself when that idiot accosted him during the French Open final, how telling was Nadal's playful reaction to the fan who tried to kiss him? We hear that after the match the USTA apologized profusely to Nadal. He waved them off, saying it was no big deal and hoped no charges would be pressed. Also, how do you not love a guy who loses (badly) in a Grand Slam semifinal and still signs autographs before leaving the court?

• Walking through the tunnels, I'm always struck by how many players --even winners -- are limping, grimacing, heavily wrapped. Yes, "injuries happen in sports," the fallback line for the apologists. But the emperor is wearing new attire and it is an ice pack! Might someone address this in a meaningful way?

• This was Federer's sixth different opponent in the last six U.S. Open finals. He had beaten, in order, Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

• The most entertaining match? My vote goes to Taylor Dent vs. Ivan Navarro, two serve-and-volleyers going five sets on the Grandstand in the second round. (It should have been broadcast in black and white.) You kept hearing about Navarro, the "Spanish serve-and-volleyer," and it sounded like a punch line.

• Many of you are still hammering ESPN's Pam Shriver for her awkward interview with Melanie Oudin's younger sister and her dig at Wickmayer. My take: I agree it was not her finest hour. But consider her overall body of work and cut her some slack. Plus, listening to Shriver, I often learn things, something one can't say about all of her colleagues.

• The ESPN coverage was generally excellent. Darren Cahill continues to do superior work. Mary Carillo calls it like she sees it. Patrick McEnroe brings a lot to the table. The network didn't cut away from tennis for higher-rated events. My one critique: It feels like people were playing out of position. Former players should not be doing Michael Barkann's old job at USA Network, interviewing the celebs. Patrick and John McEnroe are both great, but benefit from a Ted Robinson setting them up -- the brothers' partnership felt strained. Plus, it was awkward when Patrick McEnroe and Mary Joe Fernandez, who both draw a check from the USTA, were weighing in on the appropriateness of the tournament response to Serena-gate.

• Full disclosure: I did some work for Tennis Channel. Those who get it, love it. Those who don't get it, don't love it. Direct your outrage to your cable operator.

• Note to all broadcasters: Unless you're specifically describing melons, grapes, kumquats and the like, it's probably best to avoid use of the adjective "fruity."

• Sam Querrey, your U.S. Open Series winner, bowed out quietly with a third-round loss to Soderling. Not a bad loss, but a bit of a letdown after his summer success. Still, check out Querrey's results from last fall and I'd say odds are good he finishes the year in the top 15.

• Speaking of Querrey, the documentary Unstrung is out on DVD.

• It's time to take a long, hard look at the U.S. Open Series. Let's see: It's done nothing to lure top players; in fact, the fields in locales such as Indianapolis were weaker than ever. The TV is still iffy -- big matches are tape-delayed in favor of the Little League World Series; the Cincinnati final was on CBS, yet the Toronto women's final was on ESPN. One event, in Carson Calif., has already announced a relocation and another is pending. The "bonus money" is a joke, benefiting no one other than a few players. And every four years, the Olympics throw a monkey wrench into things. We don't have the answers --apart from a suggestion to take the ridiculous bonus money, currently yielding no return on investment, and applying it to inner-city coaching and racket distribution -- but let's go back to the drawing board here.

• Not to harp on the ridiculous U.S. Open Series bonus money ... but if Elena Dementieva had won the title, she would have earned a $1 million bonus. As it was, she lost in the second round (thanks, Melanie Oudin!) and pocketed only $25,000 in bonus money. Just curious: Where does that $975,000 in savings go? (Down payment on a roof, perhaps?)

• A theme this year: "The plots change in a hurry." One early storyline was how the American men had stormed through the first few rounds, and how John Isner was a breakout star. Then, suddenly, there were no Yanks in the quarterfinals for the first time.

• If you get a chance, check out Austrian Daniel Koellerer, a third-round loser to del Potro. Primus wants its drummer back. Think we have our next bad boy.

• I'm thinking Vera (Crimea River) Zvonareva needs to drink Gatorade simply to replace the fluids she loses by crying each match.

• That yellow tape you see is for the Ana Ivanovic crash site. This has gone from a slump to a full-fledged disaster.

• Anyone else having a hard time figuring out Maria Sharapova? Fighting instincts, yes. But no matter how bad the shoulder is, don't 21 (!) double faults in a three-set loss to Oudin suggest some mental issues in need of maintenance?

• This Donald Young saga continues to deteriorate. He received a letter from the USTA essentially telling him he'd no longer have access to training assistance until he showed more commitment.

• Note to the deejay: You do a great job and your subtle music jokes are appreciated by many. But there is no place for Right Said Fred's I'm Too Sexy at a sporting event. Let alone a major. Ever.

• The Edward R. Murrow Award goes to the intrepid journalist who saw Andy Murray's attire and asked, "Who's Fred Perry?"

• From reader G. Miller of New York: "A little after midnight [during Roddick's second-round match against Marc Gicquel], an Open staffer roamed the upper deck shouting, 'Anyone with kids?' When I responded, he gave us green cards to go with about 25 other people and sit courtside. Although there wasn't much time left, the gesture was appreciated. It gave 13-year-old Gail Quintos the opportunity to almost brush up against the handsome Dominic Cooper, of the films Mamma Mia and The Duchess, who was leaving, and the chance to see Roddick up close, which she was still talking about on Friday night during a trip to Boston."

• We're helpless to stop the Bryan brothers media juggernaut: 60 Minutes will devote a segment to the twins this fall, hosted by Leslie Stahl. We eagerly await the book deal, reality show and action figures.

• R.I.P., Jack Kramer.

• Programming note: New England readers, I'll be giving a talk at 6 p.m. ET Thursday at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. Consider yourself invited.