Tennis US OpenBrutality and lack of grace were the themes of a dramatic session that saw Spain's Rafael Nadal, the world number two, beaten 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 in the fourth round by his fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, the 15th seed, while Justin Henin, for the third successive quarter-final in a grand slam, defeated Serena Williams.
Afterwards an acutely disappointed Williams, this year's Australian Open champion, suggested the little Belgian, who won 7-6, 6-1, had "made a lot of lucky shots", which was, by any judgment, a crass remark.
Williams had not played since Wimbledon, where she damaged a thumb before losing to Henin, and clearly ran out of gas.
When asked about her fitness she retorted, "I'm very fit. I can run for hours."
The Williamses have always had a seemingly endless capacity to ignore the rigours of the WTA Tour and parachute into the slams with instant winning form. Serena amazed everybody in Melbourne, and Venus performed with equal aplomb at Wimbledon.
On this occasion Richard Williams, their father, had hinted all was still not quite well with Serena. What Henin lacks in height she makes up for with wonderful movement, perseverance and an exceptional one-handed backhand. Williams may have regarded her many winners to be "luck", but this was certainly not the view of others in the Arthur Ashe stadium, no matter how partisan.
Henin is now on track for her seventh slam title, one fewer than Serena. Much will now depend on how quickly she recovers before tomorrow's semi-finals. At Wimbledon she was emotionally drained after beating Serena, and consequently lost to France's Marion Bartoli. "I learned a lot from that," said Henin.
The US media have turned on Serena Williams, saying she was "classless" and "graceless".
"(Williams) met the media afterward like a rattlesnake meets a ground squirrel," wrote Bill Dwyer in the Los Angeles Times.
"If anybody was expecting perspective afterward, or maybe a gracious nod to a better effort by an opponent, forget it. We had sullen Serena. Snippy Serena. Snarly Serena."
In the New York Times, under the headline, "Williams needs a lesson in etiquette", Selena Roberts wrote, "Who's classless now? The grumpy, borderline-nasty disposition that Williams displayed after her loss was a little jarring considering she had her own lack of preparation to blame for giving in so easily to Henin.
"Serena was bitter, angry and upset. She directed some of that at Henin. Who could use charm school now?"
It was all a far cry from the altogether more sedate second quarter-final, which saw Russia's 20-year-old Anna Chakvetadze, the number six seed, reach the last four of a slam for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Shahar Peer of Israel.
The US hardcourts are brutal towards anyone with back or knee problems. Nadal arrived here with tendinitis in both knees, and almost failed to cross the start line.
Laser treatment, and not having to play his opening match until the first Wednesday, eased him into this year's fourth and final slam, although it became increasingly obvious he was likely to struggle once the intensity of competition increased.
Ferrer has reached one previous quarter-final, at Roland Garros two years ago, where he was beaten by Nadal on his way to the first of three successive French Open titles.
When Nadal won the opening set it appeared the youngster's dominance was about to be maintained. Instead Ferrer increased his level of sustained and controlled aggression, and Nadal could not respond.
Unlike Williams, Nadal, obviously in pain, would make no excuses: "David played very well. This isn't a surprise. He's having an unbelievable season."
