For Andy Roddick, who has shouldered the burden of being for a long time not only the top American male player but also, for lack of a better phrase, “American Men’s Tennis”, 2010 has been something of a turning point, for better and worse. Despite having a decent run this spring getting to the finals of Indian Wells and winning Miami, beating Rafael Nadal in the process, many thought Roddick had an excellent chance to succeed later in the summer in the Grand Slams. But instead of continuing with his aggressive play that saw him use his once feared forehand more often as if by instinct, Roddick has lately reverted back to a more passive backcourt style that many, including his former Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe, have viewed as a step backwards. Read More…
Day 3 of the U.S. Open saw more extreme heat and humidity with some outside courts reaching 110 degrees or more. While some players like new darkhorse favorite Ana Ivanovic, who cruised into the third round with an easy win over Jie Zheng, said later it didn’t bother her, others like veteran Ivan Ljubicic who lost to American teenager Ryan Harrison, cited the steamy conditions as a factor for their early exit from New York. Throw in gusty winds from approaching Hurricane Earl and it made for a wild weather day. But the biggest story wasn’t the weather at all, but a shocking exit by pre-tourney favorite Victoria Azarenka, who was literally knocked out of the U.S. Open. Read More…
Plenty of long matches today on Day Two of the U.S. Open, but the biggest story was the over 100 degree on-court temperatures the players had to deal with as for the first time in the event’s history, an extreme heat policy was put into effect to stop play as needed. But what was needed by some big names today wasn’t an air conditioner enough times and set as possible to find their games as many exhibited first round rustiness despite the long hard court season. But probably the biggest win was for a guy many have ragged on in the past as not being able to handle the heat. Instead of folding over as expected, Novak Djokovic instead fought back and showed everybody that to count him out of contention just yet in New York would be a foolish mistake. Read More…
Serena Williams may not be playing at the U.S. Open, but she’s dominating conversation on the opening day.
Defending women’s champion Kim Clijsters, who struggled a bit in her first round match against Greta Arn before pulling out a 6-0, 7-5 win, was probably expecting a few questions about Williams in her press conference since it was during her exhibition match in Belgium against Williams that the first reports of Williams’s injury started coming in. So for Clijsters to field questions about the injury was a given, but the fact that tennis journalists still can’t get a final, straight answer from Clijsters, Williams, the WTA, or anyone about what actually happened says a lot about how pro tennis players are more protected than other athletes from media inquiries. Read More…
The impact of defending champion Juan Martin Del Potro being unable to defend his title in New York is huge, not just for the U.S. Open itself and his many fans, but probably more so for the two men del Potro defeated along the way to his first Grand Slam title, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. In a similar plotline to the one happening on the women’s side, the absence of del Porto, who would have been a clear favorite to repeat as champion, now opens up the men’s draw to allow a few contenders to take care of some unfinished business. Whether it’s winning in New York for the first time, winning a Grand Slam for the first time, or proving you’ve still got it after hearing you were past it, the guys know that this is one opportunity they must seize now. But if you’re expecting another installment in the friendliest rivalry in all of sports, don’t be surprised if a former “Deal or No Deal” briefcase model and a grinning Scottish mum end up sitting near each other in the friends box on the final Sunday. Read More…
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