US Open Diary: First Lady's First Visit & Big Four In Final Four...

© Getty ImagesFirst Lady Michelle Obama enjoyed the quarter-final action on Friday.

ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at the news and talking points at the US Open on the second Friday.

First Lady’s First Visit
First Lady Michelle Obama visited the US Open for the first time on Friday, and after conducting a 10 and Under Tennis Clinic with the help of James Blake and Serena Williams, had a prime spot on Arthur Ashe Stadium to enjoy the singles quarter-finals.

“I have been trying to get to the US Open my entire life,” said the First Lady, whose Let’s Move! initiative is strongly supported by the USTA. “This is the first time I have been here. I couldn’t get here last year, so, yes, I am excited to be here. I am so incredibly excited to finally be at my first US Open, but I am equally excited and proud to be standing in partnership with the USTA and all they have done for hundreds of thousands of kids across this country. You are an example of what we can do when we put our minds to it.”

Big Four Make Up Final Four
After contesting the semi-finals of Roland Garros earlier in the year, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray will do battle in the last four of the US Open. The last time the World’s Top 4 players all reached the semi-finals of two majors in the same year was 26 years ago, when John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas and Jimmy Connors contested the semi-finals of the same events.

Speaking after his quarter-final win, Murray said, “I think it's good for tennis. I think everyone has played great tennis in the slams this year. At the French it happened, and it nearly happened also at Wimbledon. Roger lost in the quarters. Rafa got injured at the Aussie Open. It's been very close to happening in almost all four of them, so it's been great consistency. Glad to be part of that.”

Nadal added, “Seems like the top four players are doing well. That's the thing. The top four are very solid today. The previous years, too, in my opinion. For the last few years top four players are very solid in almost every tournament. Tennis is a very competitive sport. It's very difficult. In almost every tournament, the top four players are in the semi-finals. So is I think is very good news for tennis.”

Federer Leads US Open Logo Count
Frontiers Sport Marketing reveals that 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer displays the most sponsor logos on his US Open kit, and compares the Swiss to the other members of the Top 4.

“Darren Rovell, CNBC's sports business reporter, tweeted that 10 Nike logos adorned the attire of No. 3 seed Roger Federer: shoes (4), headband (1), wristband (1), shirt (1), shorts (1) and socks (2).

“Frontloaded research found that the No. 2 seed Rafa Nadal sported a mere nine Nike swooshes this week - two on his shoes to Federer’s four, but an extra wristband for the Spanish two-hander. Without a headband, top-seeded Novak Djokovic wears five Sergio Tacchini logos on his apparel and one adidas logo on his shoes, making six logos in total.

“No. 4 seed Andy Murray wears the adidas logo on his shirt (1), shorts (1,) shoes (1) and wristbands (2), but with ankle supports (made by Aircast) covering his socks, his logo count of five is the lowest of the big four.”

Djokovic, Murray Enter History Books
In the space of two days on Thursday and Friday, Djokovic and Murray became the sixth and seventh men respectively to reach the semi-finals of all four majors in the one season. Only one member of the club (Tony Roche in 1969) did not win at least one Grand Slam title during the season in which he reached all four major semis.

Murray’s Famous Follower
Great Britain’s Murray has been receiving support on Twitter from Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. After the Scot’s quarter-final match, the pair shared this exchange:

@rioferdy5: Well done @andy_murray very solid bro!! Want to see you deal with Nadal now + get that trophy! Good luck

@andy_murray: @rioferdy5 thansk big man, All the best for bolton, got ash young in my fantasy team looking for him to do the business again!

@rioferdy5: @andy_murray haha I'll tell Youngy, just hope the pressure doesn't get to him!! Btw Nadal is absolutely working Roddick! Take it easy

In his press conference Murray said, “I think he likes tennis a lot. I never actually got to meet him, but he's sent me messages for the last few years, and he's quite a prolific tweeter, as well.  It's nice.  But if you get sort of into all of that stuff right now, there will be a lot of support back home. You need to just try and stay focused.”

Ferdinand and Manchester United teammate Nemanja Vidic are keen tennis fans, and had the chance to play with Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic, Fernando Gonzalez and James Blake during the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington last month.  

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