2009 mixed doubles champions out in 1st round of U.S. Open

Carly Gullickson and Travis Parrot, the surprise winners of last year's U.S. Open mixed doubles title, were defeated in the first round today in Flushing Meadows. The team of Gisela Dulko and Pablo Ceuvas won the match with a score of 6-2, 6-4.

Australian Open miscellany

U.S. Open junior champion Heather Watson, seeded 2nd in junior girls' competition in Melbourne, was upset today in the first round by Tang Hao Chen, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1. Watson, by the way, is one of five finalists (there were 303 nominations) who could win the Sportingbet Sports Personality of the Year award.

Justine Henin has now won 500 career matches.

Laura Robson and Sally Peers have made it to the quarterfinals, after defeating Vera Dushevina and Anastasia Rodionova in straight sets. Robson turned 16 on January 21.

Yanina Wickmayer, who struggled with back pain in her third round match, has withdrawn from doubles competition.

U.S. Open mixed doubles champion Carly Gullickson and her Australian Open partner, Bernie Tomic, have gone out in the first round. They were defeated today by Agkul Amanmuradova and Rik De Voest.

I finally got to see the U.S. Open mixed doubles final

It was on Tennis Channel today. Unfortunately, it won't be aired again--at least not any time soon. Carly Gullickson was as impressive in mixed doubles competition as anyone I've seen lately, keeping the match lively with sharp volleys and well-placed lobs, and also serving accurately and cleverly, and moving well. I'm keeping my eye on Gullickson as a doubles player who could go places.

Gullickson and Parrott win U.S. Open mixed doubles championship

The unseeded American team of Carly Gullickson and Travis Parrott won the 2009 U.S. Open mixed doubles championship today. To get the trophy, Gullickson (who was a last-minute substitute for Abigail Spears) and Parrott took out almost all the big names in mixed doubles. In fact, they defeated an entire gallery of doubles and mixed doubles champions:

Number 6 seeds Nadia Petrova & Max Mirnyi
Sania Mirza & Daniel Nestor
Number 3 seeds Lisa Raymond & Marcin Matkowski
Number 1 seeds Liezel Huber & Mahesh Bhupati
Number 2 seeds Cara Black & Leander Paes

Gullickson and Parrott defeated Black and Paes 6-2, 6-4.