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Ailing: David Nalbandian gave the thumbs-down sign to his coach during his semifinal math Saturday at the U.S. Open. It was only the first set. Perhaps Nalbandian's body already was beginning to feel the effects of playing three matches in as many days. Minutes earlier, he had called for the trainer to wrap his aching wrist. Fourth-seeded Andy Roddick prevailed in the fabulous five-setter, 6-7 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1, 6-3 to reach his first Grand Slam final. Nalbandian's wrist problem started Saturday, while he was also dealing with an abdominal muscle that had become troublesome during his 7-6 (2), 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 quarterfinal victory over Younes El Aynaoui on Friday night. Nalbandian blew match point at 6-5 in the third-set tiebreaker Saturday.
Healthy official: Chair umpire Lynn Welch was well enough to be chosen for the women's final Saturday night, her second straight year officiating the ladies' championship match at Flushing Meadows. Welch, from Hilton Head, S.C., was hit in the side of the head on an errant throw by a ballboy Thursday during a women's fourth-round match between Francesca Schiavone and Ai Sugiyama that stretched over four days because of the rain. The blow caused her glasses to bounce into her nose, cutting her. Three minutes later, it started raining again and Welch spent the delay icing her injury and getting taped up in two spots.
What a shot: Juan Carlos Ferrero hit the shot of the tournament during his semifinal victory over Andre Agassi. At 15-all and 1-1 in the third set, Ferrero was at the net when Agassi hit a backhand lob that landed just inside the baseline. Racing with his back to the net, Ferrero flicked the ball through his legs. The shot surprised Agassi, who still managed to hit a well-angled volley. Changing directions, the Spaniard moved up to smack a crosscourt forehand passing winner. Here was Agassi's play-by-play on the exchange: "Well, when I got the lob over his head, I started moving forward. And I said, 'Why am I doing this? I don't really want to hit a volley. Screw it, I'll do it anyhow.' Then he made a shot between his legs. As it left my racket, I said, 'I told you so, you jerk.' As he was running for it, I said, 'I deserve this.'"
-- Associated Press