Friday is Just Getting Warm

Novak Djokovic has vanquished the always dangerous Andreas Seppi on Ashe, so we can now begin to focus both on what has finished on Day 5 of the 2015 U.S. Open, and - better, yet - what is yet to come.  2014 men's champ Marin Cilic needed 5 sets - 3 of which were decided by tiebreakers - to finally overcome Mikhail Kukushkin.  It's overcoming that type of challenge, though, that could get the Croatian going in the confidence department, and truly believing that he is turning the corner in what has been a disappointing, injury-plagued 2015.

Venus Williams turned back the clock, today, and the two-time Open champ simply routined the 12th-seeded Swiss, Belinda Bencic, 6-3, 6-4.  Venus will play unseeded Estonian Anett Kontaveit in round 4, and if today's odds hold, she'll be faced with the prospect of wrenching history from her little sister's hands.

Speaking of lil' sis, Serena happens to be one half of the opening act on Ashe, tonight, taking on fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.  This match has created a big buzz, mainly because BMS looked great in her last victory over Coco Vandeweghe, while Serena looked not-so-great in a sloppy win over Kiki Bertens.  The crowd will no doubt pull for Serena to win in 3 bloody, nerve-racking sets.  Those add up over a Summer, so be careful what you wish for, folks!

There's yet another American woman in action tonight, hard-hitting Madison Keys.  Keys will renew acquaintances with the ever-crafty Aga Radwanska over on Armstrong, and we can only hope the quality of play is reminiscent of their 2015 Wimbledon QF that saw Aga prevail in a 3-set war.  Very sharp contrast in styles, here, so who can impose their own to greater effect?  History points to Radwanska - she blanks Madison in the head-to-head, 4-0 - but a rowdy home crowd will be pushing Keys along every step of the way.

Hold onto your bandanna, because we're not done.  It's Friday night in the Apple, and machismo will be oozing all over Ashe when Fabio Fognini attempts to end Rafael Nadal's 9-match win streak at the Open.  These two have traded some massive blows on the red clay in 2015 - see above - with Fognini holding a 2-1 edge for the year.  Familiarity breeds contempt - see below - and there will be no backing down in this one!  Fognini has never done much on hardcourts, but that's only because he's Fabio Fognini, and, hey, he has better things to do with his time.  Rafa has had this one circled since the draw came out, guaranteed.