New York, September 4:

Misfortune’s victim for so long, James Blake punctuated the Hollywood-like turnaround of his life and career by upsetting French Open champion Rafael Nadal on Saturday at the US Open.

Blake, who sank to No 210 in the ATP rankings last spring and needed a wild-card invitation to get into the Open, knocked off the No 2 Nadal, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, as cheers, mixed with more than a few tears, cascaded down from his friends in packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. Andre Agassi, seeded No 7, had a tough time against No 32 Tomas Berdych but reached the fourth round with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 victory. In other matches, No 8 Guillermo Coria and No 13 Richard Gasquet advanced, as did women’s No 2 Lindsay Davenport, No 7 Amelie Mauresmo, No 6 Elena Dementieva, No 7 Justine Henin-Hardenne, No 11 Patty Schnyder, No 12 Mary Pierce, No 15 Nathalie Dechy and No 19 Elena Likhovtseva, who beat 2004 French Open champion and No 13 Anastasia Myskina.