USO: Thursday

04 September, 2009 | 03:09

Here's the scene at around 2pm out on the practice courts at Flushing Meadows today. Nice late start for Andy and the team, and another day of beautiful sunshine too ahead of his second round match against Paul Capdeville which will happen Friday evening time in the UK.

Practice court three was the venue today - halfway down the courts, so a little out of sight for the fans peering through the fence.

Ross Hutchins - he of 'Rossgate' - doubled up with Miles at the other end. Strength and conditioning coach Jez Green watches from the shade...

Gael Monfils and his team were on the adjacent court, and they're another group who like a bit of tennis-football to warm-up. There's a few different rules (we think), and a proper football, but it's pretty much the same. Monfils isn't afraid to throw himself around, even on a hardcourt. Fair to say he's a solid athlete.

The serve was looking good in practice. This one looked bang on the money...

And was.

Coach Miles Maclagan stands a few feet up the court when they work on the returns. Andy likes it because it's harder to make the return; the whole 'practice like you intend to play' thing.

Sky Sports did well to get an interview out of Andy as he walked off court. A shower was probably top of the agenda.

And this is the little garden area where players and their teams bide their time waiting for people to come out of the locker room.

Physio Andy Ireland checks his blackberry whilst Matt Little checks out the queue to get a car back to the hotel.

The guys were waiting a little longer than usual, mainly because Andy was on BBC Radio 5 Live talking about, amongst other things, 'rossing.'

If you've been following his tweets and wondering what 'rossing' is, we'll fill you in. Briefly.

'Rossing' is a term that describes any form of copying, particularly copying of other fantasy football teams. it derives from the person who first demonstrated this - Ross Hutchins.

It's become the team's major talking point at the tournament, and Andy even has impassioned pleas from other players to 'stop the rossing' on his video camera.

Our favourite so far comes from Simon Aspelin, who delivers this succinct line direct to camera: "Rossing, give it a rest."

Other contributors to Andy's video campaign include Michael Llodra and Paul Hanley.

This one's likely to run and run.