2010 U.S. Open Day 9 Recap: Clijsters Battles The Elements; Nadal Battles Boredom; Williams Stands Alone For USA

Highlights from Day 9 of the 2010 U.S. Open:

•  No. 2 Kim Clijsters def. No. 5 Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
During the match tonight, Mary Joe called the presence of Clijsters' daughter a good thing, saying it takes her mind off tennis and helps her find balance. Can MJ please be dispatched to cover Federer with a quickness? That's a refreshingly thought-out perspective we don't see much where he's concerned.

•  No. 1 Rafael Nadal def. No. 23 Feliciano Lopez, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Ho-hum. Brush off your lefty jokes for the Nadal-Verdasco quarterfinal!

•  No. 3 Venus Williams def. No. 6 Francesca Schiavone, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
An actual exchange in the ESPN booth during the match, ostensibly concerning Venus' serve:

"Is it big, or is it just well-placed?"
"No, it's big, very big."
"Lots of action on it, too."

As you were.

•  No. 25 Stanislas Wawrinka def. No. 20 Sam Querrey, 7-6 (11-9), 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
Our 2010 U.S. Open clubhouse leader for "longest hyperlink"!

•  No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny def. Tommy Robredo, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
The first of three lengthy matches in the men's fourth round today, this was also the least interesting thanks to the marked absence of either an American player or athletic histrionics. Yawn.

•  No. 8 Fernando Verdasco def. No. 10 David Ferrer, 5-7, 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
The second of Verdasco's unholy tiebreaker shots this evening, his match-point winner, is available for your adulation and children's parties.

For more U.S. Open coverage, visit SB Nation's Daily Forehand.