Querrey Hit With Great Expectations

Heat Is on U.S.'s Potential 'Next Sampras'; Fish Surprises Close Friend Blake

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Aug. 30 -- Sam Querrey gravitated toward tennis just in time to remember when the United States produced many of the game's most dominant players.

And like so many who began playing during that golden era, he couldn't help but idolize Pete Sampras, who always seemed to be playing televised matches on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

"I mean, 1970 to 2005, America pretty much had a number one ranked player, someone who was always [in the] running," Querrey said.

As he grew older, and his focus turned to up-and-comers Andy Roddick and James Blake, the production of Grand Slam-caliber players increasingly became outsourced to other countries. As the search for "The Next Sampras" intensified, so did the clamor for the next great American hope.

Perhaps that's why Querrey's surprising run in this U.S. Open has generated the same key question that has surrounded virtually every promising American player to come along the last several years. Is he the one?

The expectations will only grow for Querrey, who stunned No. 14 Ivo Karlovic, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. "Feels good," said Querrey, whose performance before a raucous crowd just made the early morning telecasts he used to watch as a kid. "You know, I made it to the CBS weekend. That was the goal."

Querrey's win triggered a Saturday filled with upsets. Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori ousted fourth-seeded David Ferrer, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5. The upset earned Nishikori a meeting with No. 17 Juan Martín Del Potro, who advanced with a minor upset of No. 16 Gilles Simon, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

The night ended when Mardy Fish shocked the ninth-seeded Blake, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), before another boisterous crowd under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Not only was the matchup an all-American affair, but a meeting between best friends.

Playing before a crowd that heavily favored Blake -- who is scheduled to be a groomsman at Fish's wedding later this year -- Fish felt the pressure as he tried to close out his comrade.

Up 5-4 and serving for the match in the third set, Fish double faulted twice, critical errors that allowed Blake to break. But Fish gained control in the tiebreaker, closing out Blake with his 16th ace of the match.

"It's tough to figure out the perfect way to react, to have some respect for James and to kind of show how much I cared about that match and how much of an opportunity it was for me," said Fish, who looked to the heavens before starting to the net, where he shook Blake's hand.

Much like Fish did against Blake, Querrey used his big serve to advance. Querrey next plays top-seeded Rafael Nadal, who also advanced on Saturday.