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Wednesday, September 8, 2021

US.9- Maple Syrup in the City

Maple Syrup Manufacturers of Canada (MSMC) unite... you've found your new queen.




It's funny how the goings-on during a major are capable of so quickly changing perceptions, often turning things that would have rightly been considered totally unexpected just days earlier into suddenly somehow almost "normal," and causing would-have-been-even-more-outlandish things to be viewed by all as now being entirely possible, if not likely.

Case in point, one Leylah Fernandez.

Just a few weeks ago the now 19-year old Canadian was losing in the 1st Round in Montreal to Harriet Dart. It was a disappointing result, for sure, but one that we'd come to not be unusually surprised by over the previous few months. The former junior champ remained a promising member of the "PDQ Generation," but "her time" to truly shine seemed to be a bit down the line. Fernandez gave no indication that she was ready *now* to consider shocking the tennis world. Progressive improvement, taken step by step over an extended period of time -- be it a full season or multiple ones -- can lead to the same destination that sudden star-turns arrive at in one grand rush of brilliance. And that's perfectly fine. You do you, right?

Last year, in the February before the pandemic-related shutdown of tennis, Fernandez had flashed a fiery on-court presence and (as the world #185) shocked #5 Belinda Bencic in Fed Cup play, then backed it up by reaching her first WTA final in the final days of that same month. She was immediately tagged as one of the many new young tour stars to watch. Once play resumed last summer, the then 17-year old won her first slam MD match at the U.S. Open, then reached the 3rd Round in Paris in the fall. It was great progress. After falling in the 1st Round at this year's Australian Open, Fernandez rebounded by picking up her first tour title in Monterrey in March, doing so without dropping a set. It was another step, albeit a relatively small one. But also an important milestone for her future... you know, as far as pointing her toward the time when she'd really start to get good in 2023 or '24, or '22 if she took a *big* leap.

But the expected follow-up in the aftermath of Fernandez's title didn't happen. She went 1-2 at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, lost early in the aforementioned home event in Montreal and arrived in New York with barely a .500 record on the season, having gone 7-10 since Monterrey, and with her ranking (#73) still in same #70's range where it'd been when she won that maiden WTA crown six months earlier. Fernandez seemed to be in a "holding pattern," perhaps looking toward the 2022 season for her next step up the tour ladder.

And then the U.S. Open began.

Nine days later, Fernandez is one of the most accomplished players in Canadian tennis history, and if someone says that she's going to be newly listed alongside '19 Open champ Bianca Andreescu as the nation's only grand slam singles champions by the end of this weekend, well, it doesn't sound like too far-fetched a notion at all. And with what she's been doing, if she can keep it up, it's most definitely not.

#5-seed Elina Svitolina tried the step-by-step process, and up until a couple of years ago it seemed to be working. Always an iffy presence in slams, in recent seasons the Ukrainian has lost the big-event and big-match edge in regular tour events that had originally served to place her on or at the top of the list of the "best slam-less players on tour." While Fernandez's eye-opening Open run, on the backs of stepping stone wins over former champs Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber, has made her one of multiple teens in the U.S. quarters for the first time since 2009 (Wickmayer, Oudin & Wozniacki), the now veteran (though still only 26) Ukrainian is still waiting for *her* game level to rise significantly in a major.

Even when Svitolina *has* performed better, including finally reaching two slam semis in '19 after seeing her best regular tour success having come in the 2-3 seasons prior, she's usually exited in discouraging fashion. In her last nine slam appearances since the start of '19, she'd lost in straight sets in her final match eight times, winning an average of just five total games per match in those outings. In 2018, three of her final parting sets in defeat had seen her win one or fewer games. In her two semifinals two seasons ago, she won just four games in each.

So, even with her experience advantage in the QF match-up with Fernandez on Tuesday, Svitolina was the one in the position of having to "prove" she belonged. Somewhat surprisingly, for once, the Ukrainian wasn't a no-show with her late-stage slam life on the line. But it still wasn't enough to tame the crowd-pleasing (and stoking) game of the speedy scrambler with the eye-opening lefty forehand, surprising power and unique powers of anticipation.

After dropping the 1st set against Osaka and Kerber, Fernandez was the one to hit her stride in the opening stanza this time around. Up 3-2, the Canadian saw Svitolina turn a 40/15 lead on serve back against itself with a series of shaky errors. Reaching BP, Fernandez missed on a down the line shot, but got a second look at taking a break lead with a second serve return winner. Running Svitolina from side to side in the following point, the teenager grabbed the edge with a forehand into the open court to lead 4-2. She celebrated with a raised fist and with what has been her *go to* celebratory move for all occasions at this Open -- a series of "we are the world" sweeping upward gestures with both arms to the crowd.

But, really, the Ashe Stadium fans didn't need such encouragement, as they've been collectively on their feet and on her side since (and even during) her upset of Osaka last week.



Fernandez soon served out the 1st set at 6-3, with Svitolina offering little in terms of intensity or answers. That would change somewhat in the 2nd, though, as Svitolina increased her aggressiveness, kept her balls inside the lines and took advantage of Fernandez's temporary loss of edge.

Svitolina broke the Canadian for a 3-1 lead and seemed about to coast to a winning set until late. She was broken when serving at 5-1, and had to save three BP two games later. She held firm, though, and this time *didn't* blow the sort of big lead she'd lost vs. Simona Halep in the Roland Garros QF back in '17 (the defeat that she's always seemed to re-live on some level in the latter stages of majors ever since). An ace on SP gave the Ukrainian the 2nd at 6-3, and things went to a deciding 3rd.



For a bit, it looked as if the 3rd set would play out the way Svitolina's slam exits usually do, in short order and with her winning a paltry half-handful of games. Fernandez fell behind love/30 in the opening game of the set, but the Ukrainian failed to take advantage of the moment (totally missing a return) and the teenager held. Fernandez went up a break at 3-1, and Svitolina seemed ready to fall. Only a small push was needed. Instead, she received a helpful bounce off the net cord that gifted her a 15/30 lead on the Canadian's serve a game later, and she soon reached BP. A Svitolina return winner put the set back on serve, but it didn't last. Fernandez, leading love/30, pounded a second serve return to reach triple BP, converting on her second try to get the break advantage back. She then held for 5-2.

But with her back against the wall, and Fernandez edging close to victory, Svitolina continually pushed her way back into the match. From 30/30 in game #8, she fired back-to-back aces up the "T" to hold. From 30/30 on Fernandez's serve as the teenager served for the match at 5-3, Svitolina again swept back-to-back points, this time outlasting the Canadian in a pair of rallies and putting away a shot at the net to close to 5-4. Again from 30/30 in game #10, Svitolina won the final two game-closing points to knot the set at 5-5. A Svitolina DF again put Fernandez two points from the win at 6-5, but Svitolina held to force a final tie-break.

It was there that Fernandez finally was able to find her closing stuff. She took a 4-1 lead, only to then miss a shot down the line and see Svitolina fire an ace. For the fourth time, the teenager got to within two points of the semifinal at 5-4, and two points later finally reached MP with a forehand passing shot down the line that skipped off the net and landed inside the sideline as Svitolina watched from behind its path. Svitolina's sailed backhand return officially ended things a point later, giving Fernandez a 6-3/3-6/7-6(5) win to make her the youngest U.S. Open semifinalist since 2005 (Maria Sharapova in her "Exquisite in the City" run) and just the third Canadian woman (Carling Bassett 1984, Andreescu '19) to advance so far in the event. The teenager is the youngest woman to defeat two Top 5 players in a major since 1999 (Serena Williams).



For Svitolina, even after an admirable effort, there are no Olympic-style "do-overs" for a medal. At the same time, Fernandez's fairy tale run will extend at least another round. Much like her countrywoman two years ago, the teenager's ability to astound the masses and rightly visualize her wildest dreams coming true seems to grow exponentially with every "upset" win, every claimed set, and almost every fantastic shot off her racket. In fact, such a thing has not only become a legitimate talking point, it's very much close to becoming an accepted truth. How much longer until the word "destiny" is being thrown around?

Ten days ago that would have been "crazy talk." No longer.

Regarding the continued rise of Canadian tennis -- with herself, Andreescu and now men's semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime all reaching the money stages of this U.S. Open -- Fernandez was asked by Rennae Stubbs after the match what the "secret" was to their collective success.

Her answer? Why, Canadian maple syrup, of course. Oh, out of the mouths of babes.



Whether or not she becomes women's tennis' next maiden slam champion this weekend or not, Fernandez has her future employment with either the Canada Tourism Board or as the spokesperson for the group of Canadian maple syrup manufacturers all locked up.

Or, you know, she could just go and win the U.S. Open, too. And she just might.




=DAY 9 NOTES=
...Tuesday's nighttime women's quarterfinal held none of the drama and quality of the first, but Aryna Sabalenka won't care.



The #2 seed finally authored her slam breakthrough with a long-awaited major semifinal appearance at Wimbledon earlier this summer, and her next task is to play in and/or win her maiden slam crown. She took another step toward that tonight with a 6-1/6-4 win over #8 seed Barbora Krejcikova, still quite obviously not anywhere near back to 100% after finding her way -- by any means necessary and "legal," or at least allowed -- past Garbine Muguruza the other night. But considering the Czech could barely walk herself off the court after winning that match, I suppose just showing up tonight already made her a "legend" (I think someone said something like that *before* this Open, right?).

Sabalenka's win makes her 15-3 in majors in '21 (Krejcikova falls to 15-3, as well), and her 43rd overall match win passes Ash Barty (and Krejcikova) for the tour lead this season.

Roland Garros champ Krejcikova's exit means that we'll once again have a first-time slam champ at this major. Whomever she turns out to be, she'll be the 14th maiden winner in the last nineteen slams.

...after an unusual 1st Round bye, the junior seeds finally got into action on Tuesday. Whatever the experiment was that gave the those sixteen girls a 1st Round pass, it seems to have saddled many of them with a disadvantage against their "most experienced" 2nd Round foes. Seven seeds lost today to players who'd already played a match at Flushing Meadows.

Two Top 4 upsets occurred, as Bannerette Alexis Blokhina knocked off #3-seeded Hordette Diana Shnaider, and Solana Sierra (ARG) took out #4-seeded Wimbledon girls champ Ane Mintegi del Olmo. Additionally, Sebastiana Scilipoti (SUI) defeated #8-seeded Pastry Oceane Babel, Waffle Sofia Costoulas knocked off #10 Madison Sieg of the U.S., and lucky loser Katja Wiersholm of the U.S. upset #11 Mara Guth of Germany. Belarusian Jana Kolodynska defeated #14 Dana Guzman of Peru, and Croatia's Petra Marcinko eliminated #16 Ashlyn Krueger, who'd been the youngest player (as a WC after winning the USTA 18s title) in the women's main draw.

Two U.S. players who had success as wild cards in the Open's women's qualifying tournament faced off in the 2nd Round, with #12 Elvina Kalieva defeating 16-year old Reese Brantmeier, who'd actually gotten within a win of her MD slam debut a week and a half ago before losing to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the final Q-round. Kalieva and Brantmeier are playing doubles together at this event, as well.

One interesting note from the girls doubles draw. The #1 seeds are Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva ('20 AO jr. champ) and SW19 winner Mintegi del Olmo, and they could face off in a rather significantly star-studded (now, but maybe even more so in a few years) junior QF with the #5-seeded Sisters Fruhvirtova (Brenda and Linda) if both duos win their opening matches.




*WOMEN'S SINGLES QF*
(Q) Emma Raducanu/GBR vs. #11 Belinda Bencic/SUI
#4 Karolina Pliskova/CZE vs. #17 Maria Sakkari/GRE
Leylah Fernandez/CAN def. #5 Elina Svitolina/UKR
#2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR def. #8 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES QF*
#1 Hsieh/Mertens (TPE/BEL) vs. #11 Gauff/McNally (USA/USA)
#15 Bouzkova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) vs. #5 Dabrowski/Stefani (CAN/BRA)
#14 Stosur/Zhang (AUS/CHN) def. #10 Dolehide/Sanders (USA/USA)
#7 Guarachi/Krawczyk (CHI/USA) vs. Niculescu/Ruse (ROU/ROU)

*MIXED DOUBLES SF*
Olmos/Arevalo (MEX/ELS) vs. (Alt.) Yastremska/Purcell (UKR/AUS)
Pegula/Krajicek (USA/USA) vs. #2 Krawczyk/Salisbury (USA/GBR)

*WOMEN'S WC SINGLES*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Angelica Bernal/COL
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. Dana Mathewson/USA
Momoko Ohtani/JPN vs. Jordanne Whiley/GBR
KG Montjane/RSA vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

*WOMEN'S WC DOUBLES*
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. Mathewson/Montjane (USA/RSA)
Bernal/Ohtani (COL/JPN) vs. #2 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR)






...2021 VIBES ON DAY 9:

I see your Canadian maple syrup, and I raise you a giant Cinnamon Toast Crunch.





...GOOD NEWS (right?) ON DAY 9:




...Hmmm, yeah that sounds about right... ON DAY 9:




...HMMM, THIS IS A SOMEWHAT INTERESTING TAKE ON THE WHOLE "GOAT" THING ON DAY 9:



Not that it'll be something that the various warring factions -- even those who weren't being called on -- can agree about. Case in point...



It was pretty clear it was an attempt to sort out the three-headed men's tennis debate (and even if it wasn't, it's not worth the argument, frankly). But how about, in a women's version, substitute Serena, Graf and Navratilova for those three and it's just as interesting, even if it means nothing other than something to start a conversation/argument with.


...SORTA GLAD DELPO WASN'T AT THE ANDEREECU MATCH... ON DAY 9:

It'd just been too eerie.





...MORE ON DAY 9:



The many faces of Michael K. Williams' characters all converse with him, and the final line is crushingly poetic, and sad. For one final time, Omar knew what was comin'.



The full version goes a little bit longer, but in many ways the more hopeful response from Williams to Omar's question is filled with enough questioning doubt that it was clear he was scared that his alter ego might be right.








FADE IN:




”Coffee Break”

INT. COFFEEHOUSE
A barista carries a newly-prepared drink out to the counter.

CLOSE on cup, as the customer’s name scrawled on the side of the cup in black marker reads: “COCO.” The barista calls out the name of the person who ordered the drink.

BARISTA
COCO!

The barista sets the cup on the empty counter. Within seconds the cup is seen being grabbed by the hands of not one, but two, customers. The CAMERA pans back to see that it’s both Coco Gauff and CoCo Vandeweghe making a claim on the beverage. They both instantly realize the problem. In unison, they read back to the other their order from memory.

COCO and CoCo
(together)
Tall hot chocolate with soy milk... and... no whip.

Again, they both see another problem. Gauff holds up the cup and stares at the writing on its side. She points at it.

COCO
See, no second capital “C.”

Vandeweghe holds the cup up to within just a few inches of her face, closely inspecting the writing. She’s skeptical.

CoCo
Uhh, I don’t know. It looks like ALL capital letters to me.
And that could mean ANYTHING.
And hardly anyone gets the second capital “C”
thing right anyway.

COCO
(disappointed)
Yeah...
Well, my hand touched it first.

CoCo
(quickly)
Only because I was being polite.

Gauff raises an eyebrow.

COCO
Do you even HEAR yourself talking now?

As their discussion becomes more intense, from behind them Serena Williams is seen swooping in to grab her own drink before the barista can get further than “Se-” in the calling out of her name. Before either Coco or CoCo can see her and drag her into their “conversation” she quickly tip-toes away as quickly as she can, heading for the front door.

EXT. FRONT OF COFFEEHOUSE - DAY
Breathing a sigh of relief, Serena hears the door close behind her. Just then, she sees another customer approaching the store. She reaches out and gently touches the forearm of a smiling Bianca Andreescu, headed into the coffeehouse while carrying her dog Coco in an open carrying case slung over her shoulder.

SERENA
Do NOT go in there.

Without another word, Serena heads off down the sidewalk. As she goes, Bianca and Coco attempt to clandestinely peer through the coffeehouse window to see what is going on inside.



The screen fades to WHITE, with the sound of Coco Andreescu’s tiny bark heard in the background..



END.


To be continued...

















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*UNSEEDED WOMEN IN US OPEN SF, since 2000*
Unseeded - 2000 Elena Dementieva, RUS
Unseeded - 2009 Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
Unseeded - 2011 Angelique Kerber, GER
Unseeded - 2013 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
Unseeded - 2014 Peng Shuai, CHN
Unseeded - 2015 Roberta Vinci, ITA (RU)
Unseeded - 2016 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
Unseeded - 2017 Sloane Stephens, USA (W)
Unseeded - 2020 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (RU)
Unseeded - 2021 LEYLAH FERNANDEZ, CAN
Wild Card - 2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL (W)
--
NOTE: (Q) Raducanu to play QF

*RECENT EARLY-CAREER SLAM BREAKOUTS - SF+, under 10 slams*
2014: Genie Bouchard to Australian Open semis (4th career GS MD, age 19)
2014: Genie Bouchard to Wimbledon Final (6th career GS MD, age 20)
2017: Alona Ostapenko wins Roland Garros (8th career GS MD, age 20)
2019: Danielle Collins to Australian Open SF (6th career GS MD, age 25)
2019: Amanda Anisimova to Roland Garros SF (4th career GS MD, age 17)
2019: Marketa Vondrousova to Roland Garros SF (9th career GS MD, age 20)
2019: Bianca Andreescu wins U.S. Open (4th career GS MD, age 19)
2020: Nadia Podoroska to Roland Garros SF (2nd career GS MD, age 23)
2020: Iga Swiatek wins Roland Garros (7th career GS MD, age 19)
2021: Karolina Muchova to Australian Open SF (9th career GS MD, age 24)
2021: Barbora Krejcikova wins Roland Garros (5th career GS MD, age 25)
2021: Leylah Fernandez in U.S. Open SF in 7th career GS MD; age 19

*RECENT FIRST-TIME SLAM SEMIFINALISTS*
=2019 AO=
Danielle Collins, USA
=2019 RG=
Amanda Anisimova, USA
Ast Barty, AUS (W)
Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (RU)
=2019 WI=
Barbora Strycova, CZE
Elina Svitolina, UKR
=2019 US=
Bianca Andreescu, CAN (W)
Belinda Bencic, SUI
=2020 AO=
Sofia Kenin, USA (W)
=2020 US=
Jennifer Brady, USA
=2020 RG=
Nadia Podoroska, ARG
Iga Swiatek, POL (W)
=2021 AO=
Karolina Muchova, CZE
=2021 RG=
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
Maria Sakkari, GRE
Tamara Zidansek, SLO
=2021 WI=
Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
=2021 US=
Leylah Fernandez, CAN
--
NOTE: Emma Raducanu to play QF

**BACKSPIN 2021 BJK MVP & AWARD WINNERS**
=PLAYOFFS (April)=
CAN: Leylah Fernandez
GBR: Katie Boulter
LAT: Anastasia Sevastova
POL: Magalena Frech (overall MVP)
UKR: Elina Svitolina
=
CAPTAIN: Paul Haarhuis, NED
RISER: Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA
SURPRISE: Maria Carle, ARG
VETERAN: Anastasia Sevastova, LAT
FRESH FACE: Leylah Fernandez, CAN
DOUBLES: Anna Danilina/Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ
COMEBACK: Katie Boulter, GBR
MOST IMPROVED: Arantxa Rus, NED
DOWN: Romania
DOWN CAPTAIN: Dusan Vemic, SRB
=ZONES (June)=
AMERICAS II: Charlotte Roemer, ECU (overall MVP)
EUROPE/AFRICA III: Ulrikke Eikeri, NOR
EUROPE/AFRICA III: Justina Mikulskyte, LTU
=
CAPTAIN: Andres Gomez, ECU
RISER: Ecuador
SURPRISE: Norway
VETERAN: Ulrikke Eikeri, NOR
FRESH FACE: Francesca Curmi, MLT
COMEBACK: Lithuania
JUNIOR: Helene Pellicano, MLT
MOST IMPROVED: Malta



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TOP QUALIFIER: Rebecca Marino/CAN (first US MD since '11)
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Katie Boulter/GBR def. #8 Kristina Kucova/SVK 7-5/2-6/6-4 (from break down at 4-2, wins final 4 games to reach first U.S. Open MD)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #4 Karolina Pliskova/CZE def. Amanda Anisimova/USA 7-5/6-7(5)/7-6(7) - (Anisimova first on Ashe; Pliskova US reocord 24 aces; Anisimova up 5-2 in 3rd TB, Pliskova saves MP and wins on MP #2 9-7; no Top 20 seed def. in first two round)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Kristina Kucova/SVK (def. Li/USA)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Yulia Putintseva/KAZ (1st Rd./lost to Kanepi)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Valentini Grammatikopoulou/GRE, Rebeka Masarova/ESP
UPSET QUEENS: Russia
REVELATION LADIES: Greece
NATION OF POOR SOULS: USA (8-14 in 1st; Keys/Riske out; Serena/Venus/Kenin/Brady DNP; 3/4 '17 all-US SF out)
CRASH & BURN: #2 Naomi Osaka/JPN (3rd Rd. to Fernandez/CAN; served for match in 2nd set) and #1 Ash Barty/AUS (3rd Rd. to Rogers/USA; led 5-2, double-break in 3rd)
ZOMBIE QUEENS OF NEW YORK: Elise Mertens/BEL (1r vs. Peterson; down 6-3/5-3 and RP served twice for match; saved 5 MP in 2nd, 1 MP in 3rd) and Rebeka Masarova/ESP (1r vs. Bogdan; down 7-6/4-1; saved 2 MP in 3rd TB, on own 6th MP; first slam win) - simultaneously-played U.S. Open women's record 3:40 matches
IT ("Teens"): Leylah Fernandez/CAN and Emma Raducanu/GBR
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR (in QF) (LL 3r: Minnen, Rakhimova)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: none (went 0-8 in 1st Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Shelby Rogers (4th Rd.)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominees: Andreescu, Yastremska (MX)
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Ka.Pliskova, Stosur/Zhang, Hsieh, Hradecka, Niculescu
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Nominee: Krueger (youngest in women's MD), Gauff/McNally
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominee: Rogers (def. #1 Barty on Ashe), de Groot (for Golden Slam)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: Sakkari (wins 3:29 4r match at 2:13 a.m.)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx







All for Day 9. More tomorrow.
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