$31,500 – that’s the total amount of fines being collected at the 2009 US Open according to tournament spokesman Chris Widmaier.

The majority of this is obviously covered by the $10,000 fine incurred by Serena Williams for unsportsmanlike conduct for abusing a line judge during her semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters.  Williams was also fined $500 for racquet abuse during the same match. 

This amount is only 3% of her prize money for reaching the Semi-finals.  However, the fine coul...

World number three Rafael Nadal was given a stern test by Nicolas Kiefer before coming through in four sets to reach round three of the US Open.

The Spaniard dominated the first set but a number of unforced errors allowed the veteran back in before he regained control to win 6-0 3-6 6-3 6-4.

The 23-year-old will next face 32nd seed and compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

Elsewhere, sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro and seventh seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga eased through in straight sets.

World number...