US Open Tennis

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/6/20 at 10:16am

The 2020 US Open Tennis tournament is ending the first week of the tournament today and so far so good. Only 1 player has come down with the virus and was quickly out of the tournament. The "bubble" appears to be working and it looks like other tournaments can be played following this example. It does look weird on TV seeing matches with empty stadium but it effects the players more than people watching on TV. Looking forward to a more normal US Open in 2021.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/6/20 at 7:19pm

I have been enjoying it. Their "audience reaction" sounds are done much better than the NBA is doing with those video screens.

Of course today was pretty jaw dropping with Djokovic. The men's field is wide open now. Kinda sucks that he left the grounds without making a statement and opted for a twitter post regarding the incident.

Some really good matches today. That Shelby Rogers comeback this afternoon was a great match.

[Huss417]

Posted: 9/6/20 at 8:17pm

djokernole Verified This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I’m not disclosing her name to respect her privacy. As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior. I’m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Thank you and I’m so sorry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0AzAOH2cp/?igshid=1nq6g46h7bvdm

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/6/20 at 9:15pm

1) I think it's a pretty classy response to a lose/lose situation.

2) Why do people who are on an active field of play NOT wear more protective equipment ?

Hockey refs can wear helmets, neck protectors, face shields, shin guards, shoulder pads as well as the all powerful whistle!

 

Updated On: 9/6/20 at 09:15 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/6/20 at 11:05pm

I am sure it was a sincere response but he could have done it live instead of on twitter on the way to the airport almost two hours after it happened.

sabrelady, the lines people should not have to wear protective gear in tennis. It isn't as dangerous as other sports. Players are not supposed to hit balls toward any of the linesmen as it is. They shouldn't have to wear protective gear in case a player is upset as with what happened this evening.

I also meant to mention the fan cam. It is kind of funny when the players step up, get the question and answer it and then realize it isn't live.

[javero]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 7:47am

"2) Why do people who are on an active field of play NOT wear more protective equipment ?"

During the event on-court temperatures routinely top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. There's usually a heat rule in effect at the US Open similar to the one at the Australian Open.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 12:28pm

"Of course today was pretty jaw dropping with Djokovic. The men's field is wide open now. Kinda sucks that he left the grounds without making a statement and opted for a twitter post regarding the incident."

Personally, I would like Thiem to win especially after losing three tough Grand Slam finals previously. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 12:35pm

"2) Why do people who are on an active field of play NOT wear more protective equipment ?"

I don't think you will have to worry about this much longer. The Western Southern Open held at the same site the week prior the US Open did not have any lines persons and all calls were made electronically (Hawk Eye). There was a judge in the chair to announce the score and handle possible rule violations. The players get their own towels now (about time !!) and the there are still ball persons to chase down the tennis balls. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 12:42pm

"I also meant to mention the fan cam. It is kind of funny when the players step up, get the question and answer it and then realize it isn't live."

If they can't do this thing live than IMO it is pretty stupid. Actually all pre and post matches interviews are lame because the responses are mostly the usual tennis/sports cliches -lol.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/7/20 at 2:41pm

yankeefan7 said: ""Of course today was pretty jaw dropping with Djokovic. The men's field is wide open now. Kinda sucks that he left the grounds without making a statement and opted for a twitter post regarding the incident."

Personally, I would like Thiem to win especially after losing three tough Grand Slam finals previously."

The commentators share your thoughts on that. His name came right up after the discussion over Djokovic. 

I agree, it would be nice to see him in the finals. Would love to see him and Coric.

And Go Serena! (She just won her match as I was typing)

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/8/20 at 10:18am

"And Go Serena! (She just won her match as I was typing)"

That was tough match against Sakkari who had beaten Serena last week in 3 set match. I would like to see semi of Serena vs Azarenka with both of them being Mothers and they had good matches against each other years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/8/20 at 11:14am

yankeefan7 said: ""And Go Serena! (She just won her match as I was typing)"

That was tough match against Sakkari who had beaten Serena last week in 3 set match. I would like to see semi of Serena vs Azarenka with both of them being Mothers and they had good matches against each other years ago."


I was thinking the same. They keep mentioning that they are both mothers. They could dub it the "Mom Match".

Updated On: 9/8/20 at 11:14 AM

[javero]

Posted: 9/8/20 at 3:02pm

I watched a couple of the televised Western Southern Open matches on TV until I became bored to near death. Tennis doesn't do it for me right now. I too am glad to see players fetching their own towels. Some of the top players were becoming somewhat entitled pre-covid. Tennis in general has come a long way since Billie Jean King and a few other pioneers had the gall to launch the women's pro tour against incredible odds. Despite being united by a greater cause, some of those gals hated each others' guts & lead very colorful lives.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/9/20 at 10:59am

"I watched a couple of the televised Western Southern Open matches on TV until I became bored to near death. Tennis doesn't do it for me right now. I too am glad to see players fetching their own towels. Some of the top players were becoming somewhat entitled pre-covid. Tennis in general has come a long way since Billie Jean King and a few other pioneers had the gall to launch the women's pro tour against incredible odds. Despite being united by a greater cause, some of those gals hated each others' guts & lead very colorful lives"

Just curious why tennis does not doesn't do it for you now? Is it the style of play or you don't like the players today? It is amazing that it took COVID19 for players to get their own towels and notice not one player is complaining. As much as I like Nadal, he is over the top with needing a towel. My goodness, he hits an ace and has to wipe himself off - really.  Tennis back in Billy Jean's day was more intense because they were fighting to survive financially.  In a way, tennis was a bit more fun when players really did not like their opponent. 

[javero]

Posted: 9/9/20 at 4:55pm

"Just curious why tennis does not doesn't do it for you now? Is it the style of play or you don't like the players today?"

Combo of the two. I miss players who can serve-n-volley more than twice in a 5 set match. And, I wish that the two-hander were banned from both pro tours. Thanks to the latest racket & string technology the men now hit their ground strokes and serves so hard that it's difficult for tv viewers to track the ball during a point. Similarly, the pace of the women's game is now so fast that most can't run down more than 3 of the opponent's groundies in a rally, while flailing about in the process.

I'll really miss Federer whenever he moves on. His game is a throwback to a beautiful bygone era. I admire Nadal's hustle but he makes tennis look painful & ugly similar to LLeyton Hewitt in the past. Nole's tennis is boring like Sharapova' on the women's tour. Longtime Serena fan here but her superdiva act grew stale at least a decade ago... and when her serve checks out her fundamentals degrade quickly. Naomi Osaka and Garbine Muguruza are vying for the title of tour head case now that Mauresmo has moved on. The only player who does it for me now is Ash Barty. Her game is a thing of beauty on several levels similar to Federer's at his best.

Nearly forgot, Nadal's towel drill is annoying but Stan Wawrinka's towel-mania is some next level OCD. The guy used to stack piles of towels in front of him in various formations.

Updated On: 9/9/20 at 04:55 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/9/20 at 5:59pm

"Combo of the two. I miss players who can serve-n-volley more than twice in a 5 set match. And, I wish that the two-hander were banned from both pro tours. Thanks to the latest racket & string technology the men now hit their ground strokes and serves so hard that it's difficult for tv viewers to track the ball during a point. Similarly, the pace of the women's game is now so fast that most can't run down more than 3 of the opponent's groundies in a rally, while flailing about in the process."

I miss the serve and volley also and understand with the ground strokes being hit so hard it is become a thing of the past. That being said, I never understood why big guy like Isner did not serve and volley all the time with his big serve. I don't see many huge returns on his serve, most players block it back at best. As a guy that still plays tennis with two hand backhand (lol), I would not like to see it banned - ha ha. Although, there is no prettier shot in tennis than the one hand backhand of Federer or back in the day Justin Hennin.

"I'll really miss Federer whenever he moves on. His game is a throwback to a beautiful bygone era. I admire Nadal's hustle but he makes tennis look painful & ugly similar to LLeyton Hewitt in the past. Nole's tennis is boring like Sharapova' on the women's tour. Longtime Serena fan here but her superdiva act grew stale at least a decade ago... and when her serve checks out her fundamentals degrade quickly. Naomi Osaka and Garbine Muguruza are vying for the title of tour head case now that Mauresmo has moved on. The only player who does it for me now is Ash Barty. Her game is a thing of beauty on several levels similar to Federer's at his best."

Yes, Federer's game is really beautiful to watch, so fluid. Agree totally with you on Nadal, he is a grinder and it is not a pretty game to watch. That being said, he is freaking amazing on clay. Ash Barty is fun to watch and she seems like a neat young woman personally. 

"Nearly forgot, Nadal's towel drill is annoying but Stan Wawrinka's towel-mania is some next level OCD. The guy used to stack piles of towels in front of him in various formations."

Wow, I never noticed that. Very weird -lol.

[Pauly3]

Posted: 9/9/20 at 6:23pm

For the last two decades+ there have been very few players who use serve and volley with any regularity.  I admire those who can do it effectively, but I don't particularly miss that type of player.  I myself play from the base line and much prefer it to coming in.  And I enjoy what current players can do from the base line.  I think racquet technology changed much more from the last two decades of the last century than they have in the first two of this century.  Ever since, the game has gotten quicker, and players are bigger, stronger and faster to boot.  And tennis is still quite popular, and marathon matches still exist (with most tournaments setting some form of restriction to limit the amount of time a match can go).

Three decades ago (or maybe more like four), I didn't care about women's tennis because it was slow and boring compared to today.  I did love the Evert/Navratilova era, or rather those two specifically.  When Venus and Serena began as pros, along with a host of other very talented players, so did the game improve, and I have loved women's tennis ever since.  Watching the previous five grand slam winners was pure joy.  I love watching all five: Sofia Kenin, Naomi Osaka, Ash Barty, Bianca Andreescu and Simona Halep.  Their grit and determination is inspiring.  So many tournaments during this time and prior have also been immensely enjoyable, with countless talented players who are also a joy to watch.  And even with the big three in men's tennis nearly monopolizing the championship in the big tournaments for the last 15 years, men's tennis too is very enjoyable.

I do miss the massive and enthusiastic crowds the US Open typically brings.

[javero]

Posted: 9/9/20 at 7:11pm

I can't get enough of the rivalry between the Big 3 of men's tennis and wish it could last for at least another decade with Stan Wawrinka being the occasional spoiler. Father Time will have to bring it to an end because the other players just don't have what it takes to send them packing yet, not even Dominic Thiem. I still feel like Federer could take out Thiem in a Wimbledon final; Nadal would take his lunch in a French Open final, and Nole would own him in a US Open or Aussie Open final. That is Thiem's dilemma. Good kid, but the Oracle told me that he's not the One.

And I still have a love-hate relationship with women's tennis. I refuse to watch any player on the women's tour who doesn't have a reliable serve. The service is the one opportunity that a player has to be squarely in control of the point. There's just too much mindless ball bashing on the women's tour, especially from M.K. That tactic only worked for Mary Pierce. Graf, Seles, Davenport, Clijsters, Henin, Venus, Serena, Jen Capriati, Vika, and even Sharapova were big hitters who also mastered positional tennis and knew how to construct points. They also played to their strengths and didn't spend two sets waiting for their opponent to commit an error. Jen Cap & Serena HATED each other. That plus the fact that were evenly matched on court made for some interesting tennis & viewing. Henin and Clijsters' camps were not that fond of each other either.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/10/20 at 4:44pm

My brain tells me it will be Osaka-Serena final, my heart wants a Brady-Azarenka final. Would love to see college tennis player like Brady show you can be a US college player and win a major. As for Azarenka, it would be great to see her win again after going through bitter custody battle for her son. Serena winning number 24 to me is not that important. We all know she is the greatest women's player and that most of Margaret Court's 24 titles are a joke.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/10/20 at 4:51pm

"Father Time will have to bring it to an end because the other players just don't have what it takes to send them packing yet, not even Dominic Thiem. I still feel like Federer could take out Thiem in a Wimbledon final; Nadal would take his lunch in a French Open final, and Nole would own him in a US Open or Aussie Open final."

I don't know about that, Thiem lost 2020 Australian Open to Nole in 5 sets and was up 2 sets to 1.  Thiem lost to Nadal at the 2019 French in 4 sets and has beaten Nadal on clay in places like Rome. Actually, I think the guy to watch is Medvedev who showed a lot of heart and game in the 2019 US Open final. If Zverev can correct his 2nd serve issues he can cause any of the big three trouble.

[javero]

Posted: 9/10/20 at 6:41pm

My thesis is that to dominate the sport today a player must have at least two weapons that set him or her apart from the rest of the field. Fed has a nearly unreadable first serve, a blistering forehand, and a biting slice backhand that throws off the rhythm of his opponents other than Rafa & Nole. Rafa has brutal forehand, incredible anticipation, highly effective lefty serve, and the best net game in the top 10. Nole has the ability to break down an opponent's strength like Jimmy Connors eons ago, the best second serve in men's tennis, an underrated first serve, unbelievable mobility, and the ability to pace a match which is why Thiem lost to him in the Aussie Final like Rafa did there in 2012 and Fed did last year at the Big W. IMHO Nole is the least physically gifted of the Big Three but in his own words, "to become the best you have to go through the best". There's a reason he's the only player on tour to hold winning head-to-head records against Fed & Rafa. He's a giant slayer. More to the point, he's now got Fed's number while clay arguably is the only surface that could possibly give a healthy Rafa the edge over him.

Thiem has put in the work off-court but arguably doesn't have the game to dominate the sport. Like Stan Wawrinka, he has a huge windup on both sides which is often a liability for him on faster surfaces. He also has an extreme forehand grip which does him no favors on surfaces that produce a low bounce like grass. That would explain why in 7 years on tour he hasn't advanced past the 4th round at the Big W which I predict will always be his albatross. Granted Fed will likely exit the sport with 1 French Open title to his name, but he's bagged a whole bunch of other majors. Thiem desperately needs to win this US Open for his own self esteem and to blunt the criticism of his detractors. He's made some remarks in the press which have made some fellow players & tennis fans cool on him. He's now 27 so he'll have to get a move on it if he's going to scorch the record books. Rafa, Nole, and Fed won the first of their major titles at 19, 21, and 22, respectively. The remaining men's field is alphabetic soup until someone breaks out. Sadly, sport (like politics) is made up of winners whom everyone remembers and also-rans.

It's now or never for Serena. I think her lack of fitness will betray her going forward. I don't see her getting past both Vika & a healthy Osaka should she come thru in the other semi. I'm happy too to see Jennifer Brady in the mix. The title is on Osaka's racket. She's not always an example of mental fortitude out there but she's 2-0 in major finals.

Updated On: 9/10/20 at 06:41 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/11/20 at 10:43am

Great post Javero, love your insight and knowledge of the game. Brady has nothing to be ashamed of in her 3 set loss but I bet her coaches will tell her she missed way too many second serve returns. I understand she wanted to be aggressive but after awhile she needed to forget that and just put the return back into the court. This was the perfect time for Serena to win another major with 6 out of 10 of the top players not playing and a couple of early upsets. She had beaten Azarenka 18 out of 22 times so this on paper was a good matchup for her. Kudos to Azarenka for recovering from horrible first set to win match and move into the finals. She is my sentimental favorite, would love to see her add one more slam trophy and Osaka has plenty of time to win multiple majors. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/11/20 at 11:34am

"I do miss the massive and enthusiastic crowds the US Open typically brings."

I agree and I have been fortunate to have attended the US Open 5 times. I got to see what turned out to be Agassi's last win ever at the US Open many years ago. I saw players like Nadal, Agassi, Wawrinka, Del Potro, Navritolova (mixed doubles), Hingis, Sloane Stephens, Pliskova, the Bryan brothers and others. One real cool moment was getting to see Serena and Venus practice up close, got some real neat pictures.

[javero]

Posted: 9/11/20 at 2:03pm

Congrats to Naomi & Vika. Brady acquitted herself well out there. No doubt she's ruing those missed 2nd service returns. She can't afford to do that against a quality server like Osaka who can win a bunch of free points when her serve is clicking.

Now, onto Serena and Clijsters. I'm very fond of both ladies but if they want to return to their winning ways they're going to have to rededicate themselves to fitness. Both have improved in that regard immensely since their most recent returns to the tour. But, in Serena's case, her technique apart from the serve has not improved one iota in the last 15 years; she's never had a lithe figure; and once she tires her footwork goes, then the serve, then the rest of her game. Serena was breathing heavily in the second game of the match, the second game folks. All praise to Vika who recovered from a disastrous first set and then brilliantly turned her match with Serena into a war of attrition. She's my sentimental favorite going into the women's final. If Nervous Naomi shows up for that final, Vika could be leaving Flushing Meadow with some new hardware for her trophy case and a humongous check.

I'm anxious to see whether or not Thiem can finally break thru this year. Does anyone know if he's scheduled to compete in the upcoming French Open??? I suspect he will if he wins the US Open.

One last thing...I LOOOOOVVVVEEEEEEEEEE Jennifer Brady's game. We Americans tend to hype the hell out of any American player who has a deep run at a major. It's so obvious that Jennifer took the time to develop a complete game, by today's standards. She has good instincts and displayed a ton of court savvy during the couple of matches that I was able to catch. If she stays focused on tennis she should be able to at least duplicate Sloane Stephens' success which is a subject for another day.

Updated On: 9/11/20 at 02:03 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/11/20 at 3:55pm

Jennifer Brady is quite impressive. I thought she might take that match. I was rooting for her. Watched her throughout the tournament.

It was a great night of tennis last night. Can't wait for Saturday.