U.S. Open Tennis 2011: Recapping Friday's Results

Friday was easily the most eventful and exciting day at the U.S. Open so far. There were Americans on courts all over the grounds and several tournament favorites played as well.

The action was fast and furious and it leads us into what promises to be an incredible weekend of tennis at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

RAFAEL NADAL ADVANCES PAST NICOLAS MAHUT

After being somewhat tested in the first round by Andrey Golubev, Rafael Nadal made much quicker work of his second-round opponent, Nicolas Mahut.

Nadal took the first two sets 6-2, 6-2 before Mahut was forced to retire with an abdominal injury. Coming off a shaky summer hardcourt season, it was important that Nadal come out and play well early in this tournament. He has done that so far and I would expect it to continue.

Nadal will face veteran David Nalbandian in the third round. Nalbandian is a crafty player, but will have to play his very best to have any shot at pulling the upset.

MARIA SHARAPOVA FALLS TO FLAVIA PENNETTA

The error-plagued tennis that had been acceptable in her first two matches of the tournament finally cost Maria Sharapova in a big way as she fell to Flavia Pennetta 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 Friday afternoon.

The wind was playing games with Sharapova's service toss, but to be frank, her serve hadn't been in rhythm since she got to New York.

After great performances in the two most recent Grand Slam events, this is a major step back for Sharapova. She had worked so hard to get back to being a contender and now it appears that she has taken a step back.

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO CONTINUES CLIMB BACK TO TOP

After losing most of the 2010 season to a wrist injury, Juan Martin del Potro looks well on his way to making it back to the top rung of men's tennis.

On Friday, del Potro dominated the overmatched Diego Junquiera by the score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-5.

He will move on to face 12th ranked Gilles Simon in the third round. Simon is the higher-ranked player, but del Potro is the clear favorite. He loves the hard courts of the U.S. Open and he is playing with a lot of confidence.

ANDY MURRAY WINS MARATHON OVER ROBIN HAASE

Andy Murray looks ready to make his move after a win over Robin Haase in what can only be described as an up and down match. The final score line looked like this: 6-7, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4.

Haase came out and outplayed Murray in the first two sets. Murray answered back with the next two sets and Haase looked to have given up. Then, down 0-4 in the fifth set, Haase woke up to tie the set at 4-4.

Murray went on to win and it's a tough match like this that should signal to the other players in the draw that Murray is here to stay.

OTHER NOTABLES

David Ferrer gave a workman-like performance in beating popular American James Blake 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

American Donald Young showed that he might be figuring things out as he defeated 14th-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6.

Andy Roddick showed that the time for the passing of the US tennis torch was not quite yet as he downed Jack Sock 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

Jurgen Melzer, ranked 17th, was upset by Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 2-6, 6-7.

John Isner continued to show that he is dangerous by handily beating countryman Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Second-ranked Vera Zvonareva moved on easily by beating Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4, 7-5.

Sam Stosur, ranked 9th, beat Nadia Petrova 7-6, 6-7, 7-5.

Peng Shuai outlasted Julia Goerges 6-4, 7-6.

Two Americans' runs through the tournament ended as Irina Falconi lost to Sabine Lisicki 6-0, 6-1 and Christina McHale was defeated by Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-3.