3, off the bowling of captain Jim Allenby, in the final over before the

NEW YORK -- During player introductions before the nights final match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the American received polite applause, the Argentine hearty cheers.Fact is, the U.S. Open faithful clearly consider 2009 champ Juan Martin del Potro an honorary New Yorker. And Steve Johnson is still establishing his credentials as the top mens player from the host nation.Johnson did win fans with a casual behind-the-back shot during his straight-set, second-round loss Thursday. It didnt win him the rally, though, and indeed came at a critical juncture. Del Potro wound up with triple break point, and he converted to get the second set back on serve. That was part of a run of seven straight games as he took control for what would be a 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-2 victory.Had a bad 10 or 15 minutes where shots were kind of going sideways in the second when I was up a break, Johnson said. Kind of unfortunate timing for a bit of a dry spell on my side.The Argentine even did Johnson one better early in the third set with a between-the-legs shot -- he eventually won that point, though not the game.Based on the rankings, Johnson was the overwhelming favorite; hes seeded 19th, while del Potro is No. 142 in the world. Some numbers, however, that were far more relevant to Thursdays matchup:- Johnson has never made it past the round of 16 at a major or been ranked in the top 20.- Del Potro is a former top-five player and a two-time Olympic singles medalist who has defeated three of the U.S. Opens top four seeds since the start of Wimbledon.The fans in New York still remember how del Potro rallied to stun five-time defending champ Roger Federer in the 2009 final. And they appreciate how hes come back from the three left wrist surgeries that had him contemplating retirement.Its amazing for me having this love from there, del Potro said.He upset Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon, then topped Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the Olympics before pushing Andy Murray to four grueling sets in the gold-medal match.Johnson had noted last week that if del Potro received a wild card into the U.S. Open, it was possible the Argentine could eliminate an American in the first round. As it turned out, del Potro knocked Johnson out in the second.Just kind of a bummer I played him today, Johnson said. Thats about it. He deserved the wild card. Finalist in the Olympics and had Andy on the ropes.Johnson is just 15 months younger than del Potro, but when the Argentine was winning the U.S. Open at age 20, the American was playing in college at Southern California. Hes proving that path can lead to a fruitful pro career, reaching a career-best ranking this summer. He briefly overtook his buddy John Isner for the top ranking among American men, though Johnson insists he considers Isner the No. 1 no matter what the numbers say.Thursday was his first career match on Ashe, the court where del Potro won his major title seven years ago. But because of nagging injuries to both wrists, the Argentine hadnt made it to the third round at Flushing Meadows since 2012.On Thursday, del Potros serve -- not his signature forehand -- was the difference. He had 15 aces and won 85 percent of the points on his first serve. Johnson grinded through five sets in the first round, and del Potro said he could tell in the latter stages Thursday his opponent was fatigued, so the Argentine played more aggressively.Ashes new roof was closed for Thursday nights first match, but after that ended, it was opened for del Potro-Johnson with no further rain -- supposedly -- in the forecast. Except in the middle of the first set, a few drops started falling during a changeover. Play was held up for about eight minutes as ballkids toweled off the court, the roof remaining open.Air Jordan 10 Wholesale .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Cheap Jordan 10 For Sale . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. http://www.cheapairjordan10.com/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Air Jordan 10 For Sale . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Cheap Air Jordan 10 . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season.Somerset 587 for 8 dec (Overton 138, Van der Merwe 102*, Abell 79) drew with Hampshire 338 (Ervine 103, McLaren 61, Leach 6-108) and 254 for 5 (Ervine 106, Adams 96)Scorecard Hampshire held on for a draw in their Specsavers County Championship game against Somerset at Taunton thanks to a spot of good fortune and a stand of 159 between Sean Ervine and Jimmy Adams.Needing 249 in their second innings to avoid an innings defeat, the visitors finished the day on 254 for 5. However, they had to ride their luck on several occasions over the course of the final day, with Ervine, who helped himself to a century, dropped three times during an innings that, in the end, was the difference.The day began with Craig Overton surviving a near run out, when on 99, to celebrate his maiden first-class hundred off 123 balls, with 10 fours.Overton, who with Roelof van der Merwe broke the countys record eighth-wicket partnership in the Championship, which had stood since 1983 when Ian Botham and Viv Richards put on 172 against Leicestershire at Grace Road, batted with typical aggression to reach 138.When the young Devonian finally departed, caught on the midwicket boundary by Adams off the bowling of Mason Crane, Somerset captain Chris Rogers declared. Van der Merwe, who passed three figures off 137 balls, with seven fours and two sixes, was left unbeaten on 102.Overtons early morning runs meant Hampshire required 249 in their second inninngs to make Somerset bat again.dddddddddddd. When opener Will Smith departed for 0, off 12 balls, lbw to Jack Leach, that initial target looked a long way off.Ervine and Adams joined forces and managed to steer Hampshire to lunch, albeit somewhat fortuitously. Ervine, who was quick to punish the short ball, was dropped by wicket keeper Ryan Davies, on 43, off the bowling of captain Jim Allenby, in the final over before the interval.The 32-year-old Zimbabwean made the most of that mistake and having been dropped again, on 78, by Overton, he went on to reach three figures off 148 balls. He was dropped again, on 100, before finally departing for 106 at 165 for 2. Adams, who was understandably watchful on a wicket that continued to turn, posted his half century off 169 balls with six fours.However, after tea and with the game seemingly drifting, Hampshire suffered a double blow when James Vince (13) and Adam Wheater (0) were dismissed by van der Merwe in the same over. Sensing their chance, Somerset pushed on in pursuit of the wicket of Adams which finally fell, at 251 for 5, caught by Marcus Trescothick off the bowling of Leach, who now has 45 first-class wickets this season.Somerset made one final push, but Hampshire held their nerve and when the sides shook hands, Hampshire were 254 for 5. ' ' '