TENNIS in DEPTH.

The US Open tournament director Jim Curley said that the weather forecast has given the U.S.T.A. hope that more matches will be played today, despite the rain that started again shortly after the men’s quarterfinal between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez finished.

Curley said breaks in the rain are expected and the schedule was shifted, moving the men’s doubles final off Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Next up there, when play can resume, will be the women’s semifinal between Caroline Wozniacki and Yanina Wickmayer. The other women’s semi between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters, is still set for tonight at 8 p.m. in Ashe Stadium.

Curley did acknowledge the tournament’s good fortune that Nadal and Gonzalez finished their match before the rain started. Nadal finished out the resumed match, leading 3-2 in the second set tiebreaker, in less than 33 minutes. The men’s doubles finalists had barely gotten on the court for warmups following them when play had to be suspended.

“I have to admit I’m very pleased that that match is finished,” Curley said.

That means, in a worst-case scenario with the rest of Saturday being washed out, the women’s and men’s semifinals could be played Sunday and both the women’s and men’s finals could be played on Monday. As of now, the women’s final is scheduled for Sunday night and the men’s final would be played Monday afternoon.

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