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Thursday, August 30, 2018

US.4 - The New York Adventures of the Most Interesting Tour in the World

While Serena Williams continues to be scheduled under the cover of night at this Open (her match vs. Venus will make her 3-for-3, something which even that Roger Federling guy surprisingly can't match this year), the bulk of the rest of the contenders in the women's draw have been engaged in a battle of attrition in the afternoon heat this week.

On Thursday, some of them displayed a more "adventurous spirit" than others.

#5 Petra Kvitova held an early double-break lead on Wang Yafan at 4-1 in the 1st set, only to see the Chinese woman come back and have things tied at 5-5. Wang's double-fault put her break point down, and Kvitova soon grabbed the 6-5 lead. Down 15/30, the Czech fired an ace, and used big groundstrokes to reach set point. Wang saved it with a big return and aggressive follow-up put-away. Kvitova's multiple volleys a game later got her another SP, which she then squandered with a DF. She missed a crosscourt forehand on SP #3, then fired one long on SP #4. Finally, on SP #5, her wide lefty second serve elicited an error from Wang and Kvitova took the set 7-5.

Having had enough adventure for the day, Kvitova got the early break in the 2nd for 2-0, and rode out the advantage for a 6-3 win to advance to the 3rd Round at the U.S. Open for the seventh straight year, her best run at any single major in her career.



Meanwhile, #4 Angelique Kerber seemed to be set for a drama-free afternoon. The only player to reach at least the QF at all three previous '18 slams, the '16 U.S. Open champ somehow managed to slide into the year's final major under the radar, having not played often in the hard court summer, and only going 1-2 when she did. On some level, it was similar to her recent SW19 experience, where she spent most of the fortnight content to play in the relative shadows of others and then walked off with the Venus Rosewater dish even while most were still busy lauding Serena for her efforts to have just reached the final.

When the German led Sweden's Johanna Larsson 6-2/5-2 today, it looked as if she'd slip into the 3rd Round mostly unnoticed just one year after her most recent New York experience had ended after one round in her attempt to defend her '16 title.

Kerber held two MP, only to see Larsson's aggression increase right as Angie seemed to take a step back, perhaps frustrated at her inability to close out the match, perhaps proving that even she can be faced with the notion of buckling under the summertime NYC heat. Larsson won five straight games to take the set 7-5, breaking Kerber's serve three straight times.

After both players left the court for the scheduled 10-minute heat break, Kerber quickly won the first three points on the Swede's serve, only to see Larsson battle back to hold with three winners. Kerber went up a break at 2-1, but gave it back a game later. As the German's pace slowed, it looked as if the weather might get the better of her. But the former #1 and three-time slam champ had another surge left in her.



A squatting baseline redirected winner down the line en route to a hold for 3-3 seemed to begin to effectively turn the tide in Kerber's favor. She went up love/40 on Larsson's serve in game #7, and broke on her third BP of the game when the Swede missed on an attempt of a backhand winner down the line. Larsson got the break back a game later, but the German then set up for her closing push. She won several brutal rallies to take a 15/40 lead in game #9, reaching BP with a down the line pass after having brought Larsson to the net with a drop shot. It proved to be the blow that wobbled Larsson for a final time. The Swede's weak second serve hit in the middle of the net, with the resulting DF giving Kerber a 5-4 lead. Falling behind love/30 a game later, the German's into-the-corner winner and dying-in-the-service-box volley got things back to even. At 30/30, Larsson wrongly believed her deep return had landed out, and didn't immediately move to retrieve Kerber's reply into the vacant side of the court. Her flat-footed non-response handed Kerber her third MP, a hour after she'd failed to put away her initial two of the day. Another extended rally followed, ended by a long Larsson shot off a short Kerber ball.

Kerber's 6-2/5-7/6-4 win officially cracks the publicity shell of the German's 2018 U.S. Open. Having survived her own mid-day tightrope-walking experience, she's now "on the map." No one can say they weren't notified of her presence on the grounds.



While summertime Dutch heroine #15 Kiki Bertens had an easy time of things vs. Bannerette qualifier Francesca Di Lorenzo, winning 6-2/6-1, and #29 Dominika Cibulkova needed three sets to take care of Hsieh Su-wei's Traveling Death-Defying Roadshow of Tennis Sudoku, #6 Caroline Garcia's match with Monica Puig pretty much boiled down to one monster game late in the 3rd set.

Puig rebounded from a disappointing season by reaching the New Haven semis last week, defeating Garcia to get there. It was her third win in three career meetings with the Pastry. Today, though, Garcia was the Marathon Woman. Serving at 4-4 in the 3rd, she managed to hold what rightly felt like a "match game" that lasted 19 minutes, 28 points and 11 deuces as Garcia saved six BP in what be the best single game of the women's competition so far. It wasn't a game where loose errors ruled the day, and most GP/BP were held via winners or strong play by the competitors.

Not surprisingly, since Garcia's dad couldn't come onto the court for a "coaching session" that would throw a sudden spanner in the works, Puig had a hard time regaining her footing when it was her turn to serve to stay in the match. A DF put her down 15/30, and an error gave Garcia double MP. While the players had combined to go 0-for-11 in BP chances in the set up to this point, Garcia converted the only one she'd need when Puig's mid-rally backhand went long, giving the Pastry the 6-2/1-6/6-4 win.



Garcia's next foe? Well, that depended on the final result of #30 Carla Suarez-Navarro's late afternoon/early evening match up with Kristina Mladenovic.

As it turned out, a week after Mladenovic's loss in New Haven prevented their first on-court meeting since the former doubles partners bitterly parted ways and then Mladenovic chose to attack Garcia's intelligence and patriotism via social media and elsewhere, the conclusion of that (by now) over-extended plotline had the chance to *finally* be put to bed for good in the city that doesn't sleep. But then Mladenovic lost a break lead in the 3rd set and the Spaniard served out a 6-1/4-6/6-4 victory

I guess *that* adventure will have to wait for another day.




=DAY 4 NOTES=
...the daytime hours of Day 4 allowed many members of Generation PDQ to find their footing (or slip on the proverbial banana peel) in the multi-headed battle to become the *second* from the group, after Alona Ostapenko last year in Paris, to reach the winner's circle at a major.

Since Ostapenko's Roland Garros triumph, or maybe since she and Dasha Kasatkina broke "new" ground with their all-teen final match up in Charleston last season (won by the Russian), the age group has produced additional singles champions named Barty, Danilovic, Kontaveit, Mertens, Osaka, Sabalenka, Siniakova, Vekic and Vondrousova. Ostapenko and Mertens have reached slam semis, while Kasatkina has reached back-to-back major quarterfinals. So far, though, none have followed Latvian Thunder into a slam final, let alone track in her footsteps with an ultimate victory.

Today was something akin to a college "Rush Week" for Gen PDQ, with the "contenders" edging ever closer to initiation into the club of daring-do. Within hours of each other, some of the top members of the would-be heroic clan of competitors both rose and fell in the Open spotlight.


#20 Naomi Osaka was the first to render a (temporary) verdict on her prospects at this slam with her 6-2/6-0 crushing of qualifier Julia Glushko. The shore continues to wait for Osaka to ride The Great Wave to superstardom, but her refreshing spring title run at Indian Wells surely hinted at what might be coming from the big-hitting (but still medium rare) 20-year old from Japan. She has the promise, personality and crossover appeal to be just what the tour needs to break down a few *new* barriers of interest. But that won't happen until she has a truly breakout slam run. Even so, Osaka has done well in the majors so far. This is her sixth straight slam 3rd Round result, and third consecutive at the Open. She's reached at least the 3rd Round in nine of the eleven slam MD in which she's appeared.




No player thrust herself into the summer spotlight with more vim and vigor than #26 Aryna Sabalenka, "Belarusian Boom" herself. The fiery, fireballing 20-year old won her maiden tour title less than a week ago, but has so far shown herself to not be ready for her summer fling in North America to be over. Playing today against veteran Hordette Vera Zvonareva, Sabalenka was nearly forced into a deciding set in the 2nd set TB, as the Russian got to within two points of victory. But Sabalenka got the TB back to even at 5-5. She sprayed a backhand (sometimes she's little "medium rare," too, but no longer "raw" after the hard court summer she's had) to again put the course of her afternoon in jeopardy, but then fired a *huge* forehand return to save SP. She failed to put away a volley moments later and was SP down again, but a *booming* serve and then a return winner tied the score at 7-7. A shot off the baseline gave her a MP, and then she let her power finish Zvonereva off, pushing her back into the court and wrapping up a 6-3/7-6(7) win. Sabalenka had 39 winners on the day as she extended her stay at her maiden U.S. Open into (at least) the 3rd Round.

The battle over and her game face put away, Sabalenka seamlessly slipped into "all-purpose PDQ star" mode as she smiled and laughed with ease with the fans surrounding court hoping to get a glimpse of *maybe* the Most Interesting Tour's "best big thing."



Things didn't so quite as well for "The Swashbuckler," as #11 Dasha Kasatkina was sent packing by Sabalenka's countrywoman, Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Three years ago, the Russian reached the 3rd Round at Flushing Meadows as a lucky loser, then advanced to the Round of 16 in '17. In 2018 she's posted seven Top 10 wins, including five over Top 3 players as she's edged to within a eyelash of reaching the Top 10 herself for the first time. Kasatkina reached the QF at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in recent months, but the player capable of pulling off every shot in the "How-To-Tennis" guidebook (even the ultra-rare jump slice crosscourt backhand drop shot) was simply unable to escape her own inconsistencies on Thursday.

Kasatkina was fortunate to scrape by Timea Babos two day ago, overcoming a 3rd set break deficit and saving a BP while down 4-3. She was just 2-3 after Wimbledon coming into this U.S. Open, and was virtually schooled by countrywoman Maria Sharapova in Montreal just a few weeks ago, winning only two games off the veteran. Sasnovich, meanwhile, was seeking her best U.S. Open result just weeks after reaching the Round of 16 at SW19, a career first in a major.

Kasatkina was slow out of the gate. Sasnovich got an early break for 2-0, led 4-1, and converted on her third BP/SP on the Russians's serve, firing a backhand return winner down the line to win the 1st set 6-2 in 28 minutes. Kasatkina had four winners to twelve unforced errors, three DF and zero BP opportunities in the set. Sasnovich won 88% of her first serves, and was 5-of-5 at the net.

Kastakina broke to start the 2nd, and saved BPs in game #2. Sasnovich broke to even things at 3-3, but the Russian got the break back (the Belarusian DF's on BP in game #7) and held for 5-3. Kastakina held set point on serve in game #10, but failed to convert it, and then saw Sasnovich's successful drop shot get the break to even the score at 5-5. The two exchanged two more breaks and headed into a tie-break. Sasnovich took the early double-break lead thanks to a Kasatkina forehand error, leading 3-0. The frustrated Russian pummeled her thigh with multiple punches... then got on the board with a slice drop shot. Soon it was 3-3 and a 3rd set seemed possible again, but back-to-back forehand errors from Kasatkina put her down 5-3. A Sasnovich volley gave her double MP, and another forehand error from the Hordette ended the 6-2/7-6(3) match.



After four players from Belarus reached the 2nd Round of a major for the first time two days ago, three of them have advanced into the 3rd Round for the first time after today, with Sabalenka and Sasnovich joining former #1 Vika Azarenka.

Who knows, when the dust settles the player who ultimately follows in the footsteps of Ostapenko could be... Latvian Thunder?

While Ostapenko is still trying to find ways to corral her error totals just enough -- or at least time them differently, along with her ballooning DF totals -- to allow her brilliant and powerful shotmaking to rule the day, she'll have to be content with fighting tooth and colored nail each round in order to advance at this Open. She did so in the 1st Round vs. Andrea Petkovic, and was forced to repeat the feat today against Taylor Townsend.

Townsend, the recent Female MVP in World Team Tennis play for Philadelphia who ousted teenager Amanda Anisimova in the 1st Round, was on her game early vs. Ostapenko, grabbing a break lead, then doing it again after the Latvian had pulled even at 2-2. A love hold (with a serve-and-volley tactic on GP) gave the Bannerette a 4-2 edge, and she eventually served out the set at love to win it 6-4. In the 2nd, Ostapenko got somewhat better control of her shots, but still had to ride a wave of shifting momentum (often of her own doing) throughout the remainder of the match. She broke Townsend for a 4-2 lead, overcoming her DF's with groundstroke winners. She reached SP a game later, but three errors allowed Townsend to hold serve. Ostapenko DF'd on her second SP, but fired a service winner on #3 to win the 2nd set 6-3.

Ostapenko broke serve in game #1 of the 3rd, and led 3-1. Serving at 3-2, she missed on a swing volley and continued to donate enough DF's to keep Townsend from falling behind. After her 14th DF of the day, she was BP down, then fired a forehand into the net as set went back on serve. It stayed that way up until 4-4, when the Latvian took a 15/40 lead on Townsend's serve. On her second BP, Ostapenko's hard shot at Townsend's feet created a backhand error into the net. Serving for the win up 5-4, Ostapenko held at 15 to win 4-6/6-3/6-4 and reach the 3rd Round at Flushing Meadows for a second straight year. She had 52 winners (vs. 47 UE) on the day (vs. Townsend's 20/26), enough to overcome her fifteen DF.



A possible match-up with Sharapova awaits, as we'll see on Night 4 whether the Russian can be sharper against Sorana Cirstea than she was on Night 2 vs. Patty Schnyder.

Late in the day, Marketa Vondrousova made sure that *her* nomination for inclusive in this discussion didn't get lost in the mix, while her countrywoman Katerina Siniakova was still being put through the motions by Ajla Tomljanovic when things were last updated.



"Initiation ceremonies" for Generation PDQ continue for a few more days, and maybe deep into next week. We'll soon see, at the very least, who might make the cut for a possible Week 2 star-turn in the big city.

...in case you missed it when the WD draw came out, Latisha Chan's Spinning Wheel of Doubles Partners somehow landed on "Azarenka" for this slam (who saw that coming?). The pair opened play in women's doubles today, getting a three-set win over Yulia Putintseva & Ana Bogdan.

So we'll see how *that* goes.

LIKE ON DAY 4: Another Czech...



Qualifier Karolina Muchova wrapped up the second big upset in the women's field late on Night 3, or early on Day 4, really. In a match that ended at 1:08 a.m. on Armstrong, the 22-year old Czech (#202) continued to make her slam debut a memorable one, defeating former #1 and two-time slam winner Garbine Muguruza in a star-making three set triumph. The Spaniard had led 2-0 in the 3rd, with four BP for a double-break lead, but once she failed to secure the double break the tenor of the match as a whole was forever altered. Muchova, a three-time ITF challenger finalist this season (she's just 2-8 in career finals), arrived in New York having played in just one tour-level MD (qualifying in Seoul last September, then losing to Priscilla Hon) in her career. She fired eight aces vs. Muguruza, had 41 winners and was 21-of-37 at the net in the match.

With Genie Bouchard's Day 4 loss, Muchova is the "Last Qualifier Standing."

LIKE ON DAY 4: Chakvetadze (+Plus) Sighting!



LIKE ON DAY 4: The Dutch Artist still has some tennis left in her...

Yes, this is me.. 14years ago.. just before I won my first junior grand slam here at the Us Open.. before I turned full time pro.. before I won 14x ITF singles and 21x ITF doubles titles.. before I won 3x WTA singles and 6x WTA doubles titles.. and before i had 6x knee surgeries.. all these years that i have spent on and off the court practicing, sweating, working out, fighting, laughing and crying, recovering from surgeries, eating, sleeping and breathing tennis, I have always fell asleep at the end of any day with believing I can be better tomorrow.. not everyone can be world number 1 or win a grand slam.. but as long as you have the will to wake up and give it everything you have, there is a good chance you will retire one day and feel very content.. but I am not there yet.. ???? despite the loss yesterday in our 1st round doubles i arrived here in New York City already feeling like a winner.. because I have proven to myself that despite being born with a “bad” meniscus, I have played and am going to continue playing tennis and pushing my own limits.. my journey is definitely not a regular one and although some days are tough and frustrating with having to balance the amount of tennis, gym and recovery so that my knee is ready for the next day, a match like the one yesterday gives me hope and power and a feeling that if i stay strong and don’t give up, there will be more chances like these in the future. So yes, this is me, age 29, currently ranked 167 in doubles and 749 in singles, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The only way is up, so onto the next one. ?? #NoFairytaleHere #RealLife —> next WTA #Chicago & WTA #Quebec

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LIKE ON DAY 4: In Rinaldi They Trusted



LIKE ON DAY 4: Dani does the Open



NIGHT 5 ON DAY 4:




...and, finally...

The Swedish duo Roxette -- Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle -- always seemed as if they were often underrated and overlooked. From "Joyride" and "Listen to Yoru Heart" to "It Must Have Been Love" (from "Pretty Woman") and "The Look," they were reliable worldwide hit-makers in the 1990s after many successful years in Sweden, with their best efforts highlighted by the powerful vocals of Fredriksson.

The group had formed in 1986 after successful solo efforts from Fredriksson and Gessle fronting a successful boy band (Gyllene Tider) in Sweden. In 2002, Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumor after fainting and fracturing her cranium, for a time leaving her nearly blind and unable to read. While she took time off to recover, Gessle released solo albums before they came together again seven years later. The duo embarked on a 30th anniversary tour in 2014, often with Fredriksson performing while seated in a chair on stage. In early '16, the last leg of the tour was cancelled due to Fredriksson's health, as doctors advised she forego playing live. Her last concert came in February. Later they year, Roxette released their most recent studio album.

[Original "The Look" video - 1989]

[Fredriksson's story - 2012]

["The Look" live in 2015]

[last concert appearance - February 2016]














??

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Ready to kick off Day 3 @usopen ?? Are you ready for some tennis ???

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**U.S. OPEN "LAST QUALIFIER STANDING" WINNERS**
=2006=
Eva Birnerova/CZE
Youlia Fedossova/FRA
Kirsten Flipkens/BEL
Varvara Lepchenko/UZB
Aga Radwanska/POL (all 2nd Rd.)
=2007=
Alize Cornet/FRA
Ekaterina Makarova/RUS (3rd Rd.)
=2008=
Anna-Lena Groenefeld/GER (4th Rd.)
=2009=
Anastasia Rodionova/AUS (3rd Rd.)
=2010=
Lourdes Dominquez-Lino/ESP
Mandy Minella/LUX (3rd Rd.)
=2011=
Silvia Soler-Espinosa/ESP (3rd Rd.)
=2012=
Olga Puchkova/RUS (3rd Rd.)
=2013=
Camila Giorgi/ITA (4th Rd.)
=2014=
Aleksandra Krunic/SRB
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni/CRO (4th Rd.)
=2015=
Johanna Konta/GBR
Anett Kontaveit/EST (4th Rd.)
=2016=
CiCi Bellis/USA (3rd Rd.)
=2017=
Kaia Kanepi/EST (QF)
=2018=
Karolina Muchova, CZE (in 3rd Rd.)
[2018]
AO: Denisa Allertova/CZE (4th Rd.)
RG: C.Dolehide/USA, M.Frech/POL, G.Garcia-Perez/ESP (2nd Rd.)
WI: Evgeniya Rodina/RUS (4th Rd.)
US: Karolina Muchova/CZE (in 3rd Rd.)

**50 YEARS OF OPEN ERA TENNIS AT THE U.S. OPEN**
[SUI Champions]
1997 Martina Hingis
[SUI Finalists]
1998 Martina Hingis
1999 Martina Hingis
[SUI Semifinalists]
1992 Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (ex-BUL)
1993 Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (ex-BUL)
1996 Martina Hingis
2000 Martina Hingis
2001 Martina Hingis
[SUI Quarterfinalists]
1990 Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (ex-BUL)
1998 Patty Schnyder
2008 Patty Schnyder
2014 Belinda Bencic

**BACKSPIN 2018 VETERAN AWARD WINNERS**
JAN: Julia Goerges, GER
AO: Angelique Kerber, GER
FEB/MAR: Lesia Tsurenko, UKR
I.W./MIAMI: Venus Williams, USA
1Q: ANGELIQUE KERBER, GER
APR: Pauline Parmentier, FRA
MAY: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
RG: Angelique Kerber, GER
2Q Clay Court: SERENA WILLIAMS, USA
JUN: Tatjana Maria, GER
WI: Julia Goerges, GER
2Q Grass Court: Julia Goerges, GER
JUL/AUG: Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
AUG: Alize Cornet, FRA
[2018 Weekly VETERAN Award Wins]
5 - Angelique Kerber, GER
4 - Mihaela Buzarnescu, ROU
4 - Julia Goerges, GER
3 - Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
3 - Andrea Petkovic, GER
2 - Kateryna Bondarenko, UKR
2 - Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
2 - Alize Cornet, FRA
2 - Sabine Ellerbrock, GER (WC)
2 - Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2 - Kaia Kanepi, EST
2 - Petra Martic, CRO
2 - Evgeniya Rodina, RUS
2 - Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2 - Barbora Strycova, CZE
2 - Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
2 - Venus Williams, USA
2 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN




TOP QUALIFIER: Genie Bouchard/CAN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: #23 Marta Kostyuk/RUS def. Valentyna Ivakhnenko/RUS 4-6/7-6(6)/7-6(4) (saved 6 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
TOP ASHE NIGHT SESSION WOMEN'S MATCH: xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: (Q) Jil Teichmann/SUI (def. Jakupovic/SRB)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Magdalena Rybarikova/SVK (1st Rd. - Q.Wang/CHN; second con. FSO at major for Rybarikova)
UPSET QUEENS: Sweden
REVELATION LADIES: Belarus (four -- Azarenka, Lapko, Sabalenka, Sasnovich -- into 2nd Round of a slam for the first time ever)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Switzerland (1-4 1st Rd.; Golubic double-bageled, Bacsinszky love 3rd set)
CRASH & BURN: #1 Simona Halep/ROU (lost 1st Rd. to Kanepi/EST; first #1 to lost 1st Rd. at U.S. Open in Open era)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Nominee: Siniakova (1r: Kontaveit served for match at 5-4, 30/love in 3rd, Siniakova wins set 7-5, taking 12/14 points; was "Zombie Queen" for Wimbledon after opponent served for match in 1st and 2nd Rounds and saved MP)
IT ("??"): xx
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Karolina Muchova/CZE (in 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Victoria Azarenka/BLR (in 3rd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: In 3rd Rd.: Kenin, Keys, Stephens, S.Williams, V.Williams
COMEBACK PLAYER: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): xx
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominee: Kanepi/EST (new Armstrong Stadium premieres w/ Day 1 def. of #1 Halep)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: S.Williams, K.Muchova
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx




All for Day 4. More tomorrow.
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