US Open Diary Day 3

© Getty ImagesRyan Harrison upstages No. 15 seed Ivan Ljubicic.

Eye On Earl: US Open organisers are keeping their fingers crossed that Hurricane Earl will stay far enough east of New York City so as to not interrupt play heading into the weekend. Current predictions are that the hurricane will pass 150 to 200 miles east of New York City, far enough out that disruptive winds are unlikely to hit Flushing Meadows. There is a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms on Friday evening. “If the showers come they’re likely to be strong and persistent,” said Chris Widmaier, USTA’s Managing Director of Corporate Communications.

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'I Will Finish': Can former ATP World Tour player Justin Gimelstob complete a marathon? Andy Roddick doesn’t think so. The New York Times reported today that Roddick has promised to donate $10,000 to Gimelstob’s Children’s Fund for children with cancer and blood diseases if he finishes the New York City marathon in November.

“My dad offered me twice as much not to do it,” Gimelstob quipped. “Andy wants to see me endure the most physical pain possible. But I will not allow him the satisfaction of holding this over my head. Nothing motivates me more than the thought of Andy lording this over me for the rest of my life. If I have to crawl across the finish line on my hands and knees, I will finish this race.” Gimelstob has pledged to donate $10,000 to the Andy Roddick Foundation for Education if he doesn’t arrive at the finish line.

Handy Harrison: By upsetting World No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic Wednesday in his US Open main draw debut, 18-year-old Ryan Harrison became the first American teenager to beat a Top 20 opponent in a Grand Slam tournament since Andy Roddick (19) at the 2001 US Open (d. No. 11 Alex Corretja). That already gives him a leg up on a quartet of American legends. Sampras, Roddick, Connors and Agassi all lost their debut matches at the Open, while Chang, Courier and McEnroe were successful. In 2008, as a 15 year old, Harrison became one of just 10 players to win an ATP World Tour match before the age of 16 when he beat Pablo Cuevas in Houston.

Bud's Book: Legendary tennis writer and historian Bud Collins, covering his 56th US Open/US Championship, has released the second edition of his encyclopedia, The Bud Collins History Of Tennis ($35.95, New Chapter Press). Collins says that the volume is dedicated to John Isner, Nicolas Mahut and chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, the principals of the famous record-breaking longest match of all-time at 2010 Wimbledon “Has the Isner-Mahut match ended yet? You can find out in this book!” joked Collins. The 816-page second-edition volume is billed as the most authoritative compilation of records, biographies and information on tennis.

Quote Of The Day: "I didn't mean to hit it there. I felt bad because he's my buddy." - Sam Querrey after hitting Bradley Klahn in a delicate part of the anatomy after chasing down a drop shot.