Courtside with Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer: U.S. Open, September 4th, 2007

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Rafael Nadal was good -- fun to watch -- but David Ferrer was on fire last night. He controlled just about every point, whether he was serving or not, just slamming the ball so hard, catching it on the rise and driving it exactly where he wanted.

Nadal was forced into mere defensive play, standing way too far back, and unsteady when he approached the line (the back line, by the way -- not the net! That either player rarely ever did). In the third and fourth sets, Nadal would look up to the stands and his coaching box (which I was sitting right next to) with the saddest, most endearing face, like he was praying for rain in a dustbowl. But Ferrer was playing too well, and Nadal was playing like an underdog. And, of course, I always root for the underdog.