Barcode Tennis

A barcode (also bar code) is an optical machine-readable representation of data. Originally, bar codes represented data in the widths (lines) and the spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1D (1 dimensional) barcodes or symbologies. They also come in patterns of squares, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns within images termed 2D (2 dimensional) matrix codes or symbologies. Although 2D systems use symbols other than bars, they are generally referred to as barcodes as well.

The first use of barcodes was to label railroad cars, but they were not commercially successful until they were used to automate supermarket checkout systems, a task in which they have become almost universal. Their use has spread to many other roles as well, tasks that are generically referred to as Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC). Other systems are attempting to make inroads in the AIDC market, but the simplicity, universality and low cost of barcodes has limited the role of these other systems. It costs about US$0.005 to implement a barcode compared to passive RFID which still costs about US$0.07 to US$0.30 per tag.

Barcodes can be read by optical scanners called barcode readers, or scanned from an image by special software. In Japan most mobile phones have built-in scanning software for 2D codes, and similar software is becoming available on smartphone platforms.

H. G. Wells

Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946), was an English author, best known for his work in the science fiction genre. Wells and Jules Verne are each often referred to as "The Father of Science Fiction".

Wells was an outspoken socialist and a pacifist, and his later works became increasingly political and didactic. His middle period novels (1900-1920) were more realistic; they covered lower middle class life (The History of Mr Polly) and the 'New Woman' and the Suffragettes (Ann Veronica). He was a prolific writer in many genres, including contemporary novels, history, and social commentary.

H. G. Wells
Wells pictured sometime prior to 1916
Born	Herbert George Wells 21 September 1866 Bromley, Kent, England(1866-09-21)
Died	13 August 1946 (aged 79) London, England
Occupation	Novelist, Teacher, Historian, Journalist
Nationality	British
Genres	Science fiction
Notable work(s)	The Time Machine, The First Men in the Moon, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Shape of Things to Come

Amazing shot sends Federer to US Open final

NEW YORK (AFP) – Hitting the greatest shot of his amazing career on the penultimate point, Roger Federer advanced to the US Open final on Sunday by defeating Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-5.

World number one Federer will play for his sixth consecutive US Open title and record-stretching 16th career Grand Slam crown on Monday against Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro, who is 0-6 lifetime against Federer.

But the moment everyone will be talking about from Federer's semi-final triumph will be the back-to-the-net, between-the-legs running forehand which the Swiss superstar swatted past the stunned Serbian for an astounding winner.

"I do (practice) them a lot actually but they never work," Federer said. "That's why I guess it was the greatest shot I ever hit in my life."

Viewing a television replay moments after the match, Federer exclaimed, "That's unbelievable."

Djokovic was serving at 0-30 and lured Federer to the net, then lofted a lob to the back line that sent Federer dashing to run it down.

With no chance to spin, look back or otherwise set himself, Federer leaped above the ball, brought his right hand down the middle of his body and smacked the ball between his legs, just over the net and into the empty part of the court.

"I was in a difficult position. I had nothing to lose," Federer said.

The crowd roared its approval and Federer won with a forehand winner on the next point to end it after two hours 34 minutes.

"In these moments he comes up with some great shots," Djokovic said. "That shot. You heard the crowd. What can you say? You say well done. Too good. What can you do?"

Djokovic was broken only in the last games of the second and third sets and lost the tie-break by dropping five of the last six points.

Federer, trying to match the all-time US Open record of six titles in a row by Bill Tilden from 1920 through 1925, stretched his US Open unbeaten streak to 41 matches and will play for the 1.6 million-dollar top prize.

Federer, in the semi-finals for a record 22nd Grand Slam event in a row, completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open crown in June and set a record with his 15th career Slam title in July at Wimbledon.

Not since Rod Laver's 1969 Grand Slam sweep has anyone won three Slams in a row in the same year.

Djokovic was denied a third career Slam final after his 2007 US Open final loss to Federer and his 2008 Australian Open title run. Federer, 28, also beat Djokovic, 22, in last year's US Open semi-finals.

The rain-delayed final marks the first time in 40 years that back-to-back men's titles will be decided on Monday, Federer having captured last year's final over Britain's Andy Murray a day later than usual thanks to rain.

Federer, 9-4 all-time against Djokovic will make a 21st Slam finals appearance and his 17th in the past 18 Slams, missing out only at the 2008 Australian Open, when he lost to the speedy Serbian in the semi-finals.

Djokovic saved a break point in the 11th game of the first set to hold for a 6-5 lead despite losing an ace to an incorrect overrule by umpire Norm Chryst.

Djokovic won a review challenge on the line call overrule but was given only a first serve not an ace even though lunging Federer appeared to have no hope at hitting it.

"My serve was a winner," Djokovic argued.

"I thought he had a chance to get it," Chryst replied. "I thought he had a play."

Federer won five of the last six points tie-breaker points to take the set, two on errant Djokovic backhands and three on his own winners, the last on a drop volley.

In the second set, Djokovic won a review challenge to get credit for a forehand winner and hold serve to 4-4.

Djokovic made five stabbing volley returns in a row during an amazing point in the 11th game, answering Federer with lunging forehands and backhand until just turning his back and bending over, unable to handle the frenzy of shots.

Federer seized command by breaking Djokovic in the 12th game to win the set. Federer won the penultimate point off a net cord, Djokovic unable to backhand volley the ball over the net, and hit a forehand winner to take the set.

Juan Martín del Potro crushes Rafael Nadal to meet Roger Federer in final

Juan Martín del Potro will have the chance to cement his reputation as the coming man in world tennis today when he faces Roger Federer in the final of the US Open. Meeting the world No1 is his reward, if it can be so described, for performing a rare double at the semi-final stage yesterday by not only beating Rafael Nadal but in doing so crushing the spirit of the hitherto indefatigable Spaniard.

The Argentinian, whose No6 world ranking has looked more absurd with every passing day of this championship, swept aside the No3 seed in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 victory that was as short as it was shockingly one-sided. He was followed into the final shortly afterwards by Federer, who produced an equally emphatic performance in dismissing Novak Djokovic in three sets.

The seedings might suggest otherwise, but there can be little doubt that today's meeting is a contest between the best two players in the game. Federer has never lost to Del Potro but he has come close, most notably in the semi-final of the French Open this year, which he won in five sets.

"Juan Martín has emerged as a real contender in the grand slams. It should be a good match'' said the Swiss, who is attempting to win a sixth successive US Open. Del Potro will be trying to win his first grand slam title, although he was more inclined yesterday to bask in the euphoria created by his victory over Nadal. "This is the best moment of my life,'' he said.

For Nadal, it was humbling occasion, a reminder that tennis waits for no man, not even a great one. The Spaniard, who was out of the game for over two months during the summer with a knee injury and who suffered an abdominal injury during this tournament, has never been beaten so comprehensively at a grand slam. Typically, he refused to cite either his relative lack of match practice or his injury as an excuse for the result. Del Potro has won the last three meetings between the two.

"He played really well today, much better than me," the Spaniard said. "The first two sets were 6-2, but I had a lot of chances to keep the score tighter. You have got to take your chances to play well against these players, top players. If I had done that you never know what would have happened."

Today will be Del Potro's first appearance in a grand slam final, but it will not be his last. With the trend in the men's game heading towards the more physically imposing players – the generational exception of Federer excepted – the Argentinian is perhaps the most physically imposing of the new breed.

For a long time he and Andy Murray have vied for the title of "man to watch". Both have progressed rapidly over the season, but it could be that Del Potro has gone further. Still, he will have to play the match of his life to overcome Federer, who beat Djokovic 7-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a devastating performance that was highlighted by the penultimate point of the match. The No1 seed won it with a winner hit between his legs. "They never work," joked Federer. "That's why, I guess, it was the greatest shot I ever hit in my life."

The prospect of playing him is daunting for Del Potro. "It will be difficult for me because I have never played in a grand slam final before,'' the Argentinian said, "but I will try my best." He will have to.

Clijsters' win marred by controversial finish

By Steve Ginsburg

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Belgian comeback queen Kim Clijsters knocked out Serena Williams in a wildly controversial finish on Saturday to advance to the final of the U.S. Open and become the poster girl for working mothers.

Just weeks after returning to the tour from a two-year break to start a family, Clijsters beat the defending champion 6-4 7-5 after a day-long rain delay at Flushing Meadows.

At 5-6, 15-30 down in the second set, Williams whacked her second serve but the lineswoman called her on a foot-fault that put her at match point down.

The American's subsequent expletive-laced tirade directed at the lineswoman resulted in a point penalty -- and the end of the match.

"I swear to God I'm... going to take this... ball and shove it down your... throat, you hear that? I swear to God," Williams said.

After the line-judge reported the second seed to the umpire for verbal abuse, Williams added: "I never said I would kill you, are you serious?"

In Sunday's final, Clijsters will face Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki, who defeated unseeded and error-prone Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-3 6-3 in the other semi-final.

Earlier on Saturday, third seed Rafael Nadal needed just 34 minutes to complete a rain-delayed 7-6 7-6 6-0 victory over Chile's Fernando Gonzalez and gain a spot in the semi-finals.

Nadal will face sixth seed Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, one of the hottest players on the tour this summer.

"He's a very complete player," Nadal said of Del Potro. "In the past, he didn't serve like he is doing right now. He has an unbelievable serve right now. From the baseline, he is very solid. He doesn't make mistakes."

In Sunday's other men's semi-final, five-times champion Roger Federer faces fourth-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic, both players well-rested after having three days off.

WELL-EARNED WIN

The contentious ending of Clijsters's match marred her well-earned victory.

"It's unfortunate that a match that I was playing so well at had to end that way," said Clijsters, the 2005 Open champion and former world number one.

"Obviously, I still to this point am a little confused about what happened out there, just because I was so focussed. I was trying to win that last point. Things ended a little bit different than I expected."

Clijsters, the first mother to reach a grand slam final since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980, missed out on the thrill of winning match point.

"When you play that last point, whether it is a winner or by mistake from your opponent, it's a great feeling to have," Clijsters told reporters.

"So, yeah, the normal feelings of winning a match weren't quite there."

Williams, the 2009 Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, could not believe her misfortune.

"All year I've never been foot faulted, and then suddenly in this tournament they keep calling foot faults," Williams said. "I said something that I guess they gave me a point penalty for. Unfortunately it was on match point."

In a match delayed more than seven hours because of wet conditions, unseeded Wickmayer made 40 unforced errors, mainly from her booming forehand, against just 14 for Wozniacki.

"I'm in the U.S. Open final, I cannot describe it with words," said Wozniacki, the first Danish woman to reach a grand slam singles final. "I'm so excited. It's a dream come true.

"I have absolutely nothing to lose."

Nadal resumed his quarter-final leading 7-6 6-6 with Gonzalez serving at 2-3. The Spaniard won the first four points to clinch the second set, and Gonzalez unravelled.

The Chilean committed more unforced errors in the third set (21) than Nadal had in the entire match (13).

"I get afraid maybe in the tiebreaker," said Gonzalez. "I went for it. I did a good play, miss one. The next play I miss another one, then I miss another one.

"What else can I do? I try my best."

Nadal rolls over Gonzalez into US Open semis

NEW YORK (AFP) – Rafael Nadal avoided straining his sore stomach muscles Saturday by ripping through the completion of his rain-hit US Open quarter-final in only 34 extra minutes to finish off Fernando Gonzalez.

After waiting through rain since late Thursday to resume at a tension-packed moment in a second-set tie-breaker, six-time Grand Slam champion Nadal took advantage of error-prone Gonzalez for a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 victory.

"It was a very important result for me," Nadal said. "I'm in the semi-finals for the second time in my life at the US Open."

Nadal, trying to complete a career Grand Slam, matched his best US Open run from last year with his sixth consecutive victory over Gonzalez, whom he also beat Gonzalez in last year's Beijing Olympic final.

"I didn't feel the ball like I really wanted," Gonzalez said. "My shot doesn't make the same damage as any other day."

Nadal was bothered by a nagging abdominal muscle strain when the match began but seized a 7-6 (7/4), 6-6 (3/2) lead when rain halted play. Showers washed out all play on Friday, giving Nadal extra time to recover.

"Yeah, lucky for me," Nadal said. "It was important to have one day off for me to be well."

Nadal, assured of returning to the world number two spot, has already pulled out of next week's Spanish Davis Cup semi-final tie against Israel due to the injury.

"I don't think it's going to be a really huge injury," Gonzalez said. "With the abdominals normally you have a lot of trouble putting a lot of serves in and he was serving really well."

Nadal will play for a berth in Monday's final against Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who beat Croatian Marin Cilic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in a Thursday quarter-final.

Five-time defending champion Roger Federer, the Swiss world number one seeking to stretch his record total of Grand Slam titles to 16, will play Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic in Sunday's other semi-final after a three-day layoff.

"You always expect Federer plays the final against Nadal," Gonzalez said. "Today, Federer is playing better than Nadal if you look at the stats. But you never know. I don't think Federer likes to play Nadal."

Play resumed at a tense moment in the match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the drama ended quickly with Nadal taking the first four points to claim the set.

"It was difficult. To start in a tie-break is a lottery. Anything can happen," Nadal said. "Lucky for me I won the first four points. That was decisive in the match."

Gonzalez sent a forehand wide, two more long and netted a backhand to give the Spanish left-hander command of the match.

"I got frustrated in the tie-breaker," Gonzalez said. "I went for it and I miss one, then another one, then another one. I did my best.

"I felt I cannot do damage at the first break. I didn't know what to do."

Gonzalez swatted 21 unforced errors in the third set. He had a trainer cut extra padding off his feet after falling 3-0 down but never mustered a threat as Nadal improved to 7-3 in their rivalry.

"Fernando had more mistakes than the last day," Nadal said. "That was important for me."

Nadal owns a 4-2 career edge on Del Potro, but the Argentine star has won their two most recent meetings, in Montreal and Miami hardcourt quarter-finals earlier this year.

"He's very solid from the baseline," Nadal said. "It's important for me to play well if I'm going to have a chance to win."

Nadal is trying to become just the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam, joining Federer, Andre Agassi, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only men to win each of the four major titles.

Serena fined for outburst as probe launched

NEW YORK (AFP) – Serena Williams was fined 10,500 dollars on Sunday for her angry outburst at a line judge that ended a US Open semi-final and the incident is being investigated by the Grand Slam Committee.

US Open tournament referee Brian Earley said in a statement Sunday that Williams has been levied the maximum possible fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, 10,000 dollars, plus a 500-dollar fine for racquet abuse.

Williams, in a statement Sunday after the fine was announced, issued no apology or comment on the punishment but stated she "let my passion and emotion get the best of me" and "handled the situation poorly".

The fine is a mere pittance, even at maximum strength, since Williams received 375,000-dollar for her semi-final run at Flushing Meadows, her matches among the top drawing cards for ticket buyers and television viewers.

But the probe underway could bring more penalties.

"The Grand Slam Rule Book also allows for an investigation to be conducted by the Grand Slam Committee administrator to determine if the behavoir of Ms. Williams warrants consideration as a Major Offence, for which additional penalties can be imposed," Earley said.

"This investigation has now begun."

US Open officials were reviewing videotapes of the confrontation and the bizarre ending to her loss to Belgium's Kim Clijsters. Williams and match umpire Louise Engzell were interviewed by Earley on Saturday night.

US television commentator Pam Shriver called for 11-time Grand Slam champion Williams to apologize for threatening the woman who called a foot fault upon the reigning champion to give Clijsters two match points.

Williams walked toward the woman who made the call, waving her racquet before her, and launching into a profanity-tinged tirade of threats that led to the unsportsmanlike conduct violation.

Because Williams had already received a warning after smashing her racquet following the last point of the first set, the penalty point she was assessed handed Clijsters a berth in Sunday's final.

"Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job," Williams said in a statement.

"Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly.

"I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human and I look forward to continuing the journey, both professionally and personally, with you all as I move forward and grow from this experience."

Williams will return to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday afternoon to join her sister Venus in the US Open women's doubles final against top seeds Cara Black of Zimbabwe and American Liezel Huber.

Grand Slam events fall under the purview of the International Tennis Federation, not the ATP and WTA tours, with the four major tournaments collaborating to form the Slam committee.

Rain leaves Nadal, Gonzalez in US Open limbo

NEW YORK (AFP) – Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez waited through a steady rain Friday in hopes of finishing their suspended US Open quarter-final match while the women's semi-finals were postponed to Saturday.

After waiting through nearly five hours of downpours, tournament officials moved matches involving defending champion Serena Williams and Belgium's Kim Clijsters plus Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Nadal and Chilean 11th seed Gonzalez were set to return to Arthue Ashe Stadium should the drenching relent as organizers clung to hopes of finishing on Sunday as scheduled.

Nadal was aided by the break, having aggravated an abdominal muscle strain while seizing a 7-6 (7/4), 6-6 (3/2) advantage before play was halted Thursday.

The men's doubles final and a women's doubles semi-final were also awaiting their scheduling fate after postponements. While breaks in the drizzle had allowed for some attempts to dry the courts, conditions were far from playable.

Five-time defending champion Roger Federer, the Swiss 15-time Slam champion, and Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic are set for one men's semi-final while Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro awaits the Nadal-Gonzalez winner.

Nadal was also hit by rain last year when his US Open semi-final against Britain's Andy Murray was halted in the third set and finished on Sunday.

Both 2008 singles finals were postponed a day, Serena Williams winning on Sunday and Roger Federer in the first US Open men's final pushed to a Monday since 1987, when Ivan Lendl defeated Mats Wilander for the crown.

Nadal hopes to complete a career Grand Slam with a US Open title and such a run would continue a tradition of historic crowns won in rain-hit years.

Don Budge completed the first calendar-year Grand Slam in 1938 after a hurricane halted play for a record six days. Rod Laver finished off the second men's Slam with a Monday win in 1962 and his second Slam in 1969 on a Monday.