Bottom half set for quarterfinals

Shahar Peer, always a good defensive player, is suddenly finding her aggression

Of the four phenoms in the bottom half of the U.S. Open round of 16 draw, only one, Agnes Szavay (when, oh when, will the commentators pronounce her name correctly?), who defeated Julia Vakulenko, 6-4, 7-6, remains in the draw. I expected Vakulenko to come through, and was disappointed that she did not. Kuznetsova easily took out Victoria Azarenka, 6-2, 6-3, and Anna Chakvetadze defeated Tamira Paszek, 6-1, 7-5.

Agnieszka Radwanska, who achieved overnight fame by defeating defending champion Maria Sharapova, was taken out by Shahar Peer, 6-4, 6-1. The Peer I have seen the last two days is a new Peer--not just a tough-as-nails fighter and counter-puncher, but suddenly a player with some aggression, also. This new-found aggression could cause problems for Chakvetadze, who plays Peer in the quarterfinals. On the one hand, I am really looking forward to this match; on the other hand, I hate it when two players I really like play each other.