"Also, do Serbian ticketholders not count?"
Of course they do. But there may have been maybe 100 in a crowd of 18,000 or so (guesstimating Ashe around 80% filled) ?
So we'll agree to disagree at this point as to whether the crowd favored one player or the other.
As for Nole winning back the NY fans. He never lost them as far as I could tell. The phony contrived "Roddick controversy" manufactured by the press was a non-event by the next year.
I think I missed one match (his loss to Hewitt) since he first played in the main draw in 2005 and also have seen many of his practice sessions. He's always been very popular with the NY crowd because he's very personable and he plays to the crowd (during practices).
He shows up for Kids Day, even picking up the microphone for a song. He sticks around (much like Nadal) and signs more then the obligatory amount of autographs for kids after practice sessions.
I would say his match with Stepanek in 2007 made him a lot of fans in NY. Anyone that thought before the Fed match that he lacked heart did not see that match (or, for that matter, his five set loss to Verdasco in 2005). He's always had heart. Yes, in the past he's used the injury rule almost (or past) the breaking point and sometimes has physical issues, but he's always had heart.
But he happened to be playing Nadal. A huge fan favorite.