All righty then.
And there will NOT be a third straight Bannerette crowned the U.S. Open girls singles champion.
#16 Lea Ma was ushered out by #3 Wang Xinyu in the resumption of their 3rd Round match today, and then #1 Coco Gauff was upset in three sets in the QF by Ukrainian qualifier Dasha Lopatetskaya, who'd already knocked off #6 Clara Tauson and Eli Mandlik earlier in the tournament.
“I came through the qualies, and New York has my heart.”
— Victoria Chiesa (@vrcsports) September 7, 2018
Lopatetskaya through to the girls’ semis. Gets a high-five from Best Guy Ali™ who was sitting in the front row, because of course.
Lopatetskaya had us laughing heartily as she spoke about the "The best" fan. "He's the best," she said. Her English, which she used when at Mouratoglou, is great; she said she actually prefers it. Now living back home with her family, she's returned to coach at her club#usopen
— Colette Lewis (@zootennis) September 7, 2018
Also advancing to the semis was #11-seeded Pastry Clara Burel, who defeated Brit Emma Raducanu. Burel reached the AO girls final in January, losing to Liang En-shuo. #3 Wang (CHN) defeated #9 Naho Sato of Japan, giving her a semifinal result in Melbourne, London and New York this year. And #4 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano took out #8-seeded Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez, as the Colombian makes it back-to-back years with at least one South American girl in the junior semis (and the second straight year with a Colombian, as well).
...wheelchair play finally started, and the top seeds had little difficulty reaching the semis. After losing to Aniek van Koot in Chicago last week, #1 Diede de Groot defeated her fellow Dutch today, 6-1/6-2. Japan's #2-seeded Yui Kamiji double-bageled Marjolein Buis (NED), and Germany's Sabine Ellerbrook won love & 4 over Dana Mathewson of the U.S.. South Africa's Kgothatso Montjane, moving up of late, took out Brit Lucy Shuker 4 & 4.
Can she go one step further to #USOpen women's wheelchair singles glory?
— ITF (@ITF_Tennis) September 7, 2018
Last year's runner-up Diede De Groot beats Aniek Van Koot 61 62 in the quarterfinals#wheelchairtennis pic.twitter.com/fsDdUlx1PU
#1-seeds de Groot & Kamiji also advanced to the doubles final, where they'll take on #2 Buis/van Koot.
LIKE ON DAY 12: From before the start of the U.S. Open. So far, the weight hasn't been too much.
LIKE ON DAY 12: Yep, sort of knew that the Big Sascha/Osaka pairing might end up being HUGE by the end of 2018.
Coach @BigSascha watches Naomi Osaka’s on court interview after she made the @usopen final pic.twitter.com/kMxYcQ2vQH
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) September 7, 2018
LIKE ON DAY 12: Building the Perfect Madison, Pt.56
Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. #backtowork pic.twitter.com/CkVG4zSsah
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) September 7, 2018
AND IF THAT ONE WASN'T TO YOUR LIKING... ON DAY 12: ...then try *this* post-tournament perspective-showing tweet on for size, courtesy of the (for about 24 more hours) reigning Open champ.
If things don’t work out the way you had hoped, hold your head high and be proud you gave it your all. #usopen pic.twitter.com/KiNN4lM1Mw
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 7, 2018
MEMORIES (& *the* "what if"" of the last quarter century... ON DAY 12:
#USOpen OTD: On this day In 1991, a 17-year old Monica Seles took the US Open by storm, defeating 34-year old Martina Navratilova 7-6(1), 6-1 to lift her first US Open trophy and fourth overall Grand Slam title. pic.twitter.com/T2ZwbaDHST
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2018
Seles then won four of the *next* five slam titles (giving her 7 in 8 slam appearances from the '91 to '92 AO), then was stabbed in the back during a changeover in Stuttgart in spring '93. She missed over two years, and only won one more major from then until her final season in 2003.
LIKE ON DAY 12: A suggestion for Ash & CoCo...
This. Is. Amazing. ?? https://t.co/k2INVkiC1j
— Ash Barty (@ashbar96) September 7, 2018
LIKE ON DAY 12: Finally, time for the party...
??????3??0???????? pic.twitter.com/Tuy0LYCkzI
— Carla Suarez Navarro (@CarlaSuarezNava) September 7, 2018
(ROLLS EYES)... ON DAY 12: Further proof that the old, tired two-pronged take on women's tennis still exists, no matter what actually happens between or outside the lines. Either...
1) the top players win all the majors, so that means "no one else is any good"; or
2) everyone is good and different players win, so that means the top players aren't good enough.
Lol I’m just gonna leave this worst sports take here https://t.co/OZtwtrdbhw
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) September 7, 2018
...and, finally... the end of this two-week long musical mash-up has arrived.
Of course, I couldn't leave without playing something from Madonna. Seemingly built for controversy, she's been an affirming force, a conversation-starter (and ender) and, in the end, a survivor of the music and culture wars for over three decades (and not just because she's now unbelievably the last living member of the four-headed 1980s/90s pop music "royal family" that included herself, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Prince, either.).
Why, just the other week, the Michigan native stirred the pot again simply by paying tribute to the late Aretha Franklin at an awards show. Speaking of the influence of the Motown legend on her own dreams and career, the whole thing turned into a biographical recap of Madonna's life. Presented with irony by Madonna herself.
So many people were shocked. But, come on, was anyone really surprised that Madonna managed to make the moment about Madonna? Wouldn't it have been disappointing if she hadn't? I mean, she wouldn't be Madonna if the moment wasn't made to be viewed by everyone else through her own personal Madonna-colored glasses, right? Isn't that sort of why so many people love her, or hate her, or blow hot and cold about her, depending on the decade?
She's Madonna. She was born for this. Or she's created the legend that she was, at least. And even that, too, is so Madonna.
My personal Madonna Louise Ciccone countdown...
[#9 - "Material Girl" - mostly because of the Marilyn Monroe-inspired video]
[#8 - "Into the Groove"]
[#7 - "Ray of Light"]
[#6 - "Vogue"]
[#5 - "Papa Don't Preach"]
[#4 - "Cherish"]
[#3 - "Express Yourself"]
[#2 - "Like a Prayer"]
[#1 - "Borderline"]
#17 Serena Williams/USA vs. #20 Naomi Osaka/JPN
=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#13 Barty/Vandeweghe (AUS/USA) vs. #2 Babos/Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
Mattek-Sands/J.Murray (USA/GBR) vs. Rosolska/Mektic (POL/CRO)
=GIRLS SINGLES SF=
(Q) Dasha Lopatetskaya/UKR vs. #3 Wang Xiyu/CHN
#4 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL vs. #11 Clara Burel/FRA
=GIRLS DOUBLES SF=
[ (#1 Gauff/McnNally (USA/USA) or #7 Osorio Serrano/Price (COL/USA) ] vs. #5 Garland/Uchijimi (TPE/JPN)
Beck/Navarro (USA/USA) vs. Baptiste/Hewitt (USA/USA)
=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES SF=
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
Kgothatso Montjane/RSA vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES=
#1 de Groot/Kamiji (NED/JPN) vs. #2 Buis/van Koot (NED/NED)
Blue steel ?? pic.twitter.com/mgXS3ZCAoe
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) September 7, 2018
**U.S. OPEN "JUNIOR BREAKOUT" WINNERS**
2007 Kristina Kucova, SVK
2008 Gabriela Paz, VEN
2009 Heather Watson, GBR
2010 Yulia Putintseva, RUS & Sloane Stephens, USA
2011 Grace Min, USA
2012 Vicky Duval, USA
2013 Tornado Alicia Black, USA
2014 Marie Bouzkova, CZE
2015 Dalma Galfi, HUN
2016 Viktoria Kuzmova, SVK
2017 Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG & Emiliana Arango, COL
2018 Dasha Lopatetskaya, UKR
[2018]
AO: Liang En-shuo, TPE
RG: Leylah Annie Fernandez, CAN and Caty McNally, USA
WI: Wang Xinyu, CHN and Wang Xinyu, CHN
US: Dasha Lopatetskaya, UKR
**50 YEARS OF OPEN ERA TENNIS AT THE U.S. OPEN**
[FRA Champions]
-
[FRA Finalists]
2005 Mary Pierce
[FRA Semifinalists]
2002 Amelie Mauresmo
2006 Amelie Mauresmo
[FRA Quarterfinalists]
1970 Francoise Durr
1994 Mary Pierce
1997 Sandrine Testud
1999 Mary Pierce
2000 Nathalie Tauziat
2001 Amelie Mauresmo
2003 Amelie Mauresmo
2004 Amelie Mauresmo
2005 Amelie Mauresmo
2006 Tatiana Golovin
2012 Marion Bartoli
2015 Kristina Mladenovic
[FRA Rd. of 16]
1968 Francoise Durr (3rd Rd.)
1969 Francoise Durr (3rd Rd.)
1971 Francoise Durr (3rd Rd.)
1971 Gail Chanfreau (3rd Rd.)
1972 Francoise Durr (3rd Rd.)
1976 Francoise Durr
1983 Pascale Pararis
1990 Nathalie Tauziat
1992 Mary Pierce
1993 Mary Pierce
1993 Nathalie Tauziat
1996 Sandrine Testud
1997 Mary Pierce
1998 Nathalie Dechy
1998 Mary Pierce
1998 Nathalie Tauziat
1999 Amelie Mauresmo
1999 Julie Halard-Decugis
2000 Sandrine Testud
2000 Mary Pierce
2001 Sandrine Testud
2001 Nathalie Tauziat
2003 Mary Pierce
2004 Mary Pierce
2005 Nathalie Dechy
2006 Virginie Razzano
2006 Aravane Rezai
2007 Marion Bartoli
2008 Amelie Mauresmo
2008 Severine Bremond
2008 Marion Bartoli
**50 YEARS OF OPEN ERA TENNIS AT THE U.S. OPEN**
[ESP Champions]
1994 Arantxa Sanchez
[ESP Finalists]
1992 Arantxa Sanchez
[ESP Semifinalists]
1990 Arantxa Sanchez
1993 Arantxa Sanchez
1995 Conchita Martinez
1996 Conchita Martinez
[ESP Quarterfinalists]
1989 Arantxa Sanchez
1991 Arantxa Sanchez
1991 Conchita Martinez
1997 Arantxa Sanchez
1998 Arantxa Sanchez
2012 Carla Suarez-Navarro
2018 Carla Suarez-Navarro
[ESP Rd. of 16]
1988 Arantxa Sanchez
1989 Conchita Martinez
1993 Conchita Martinez
1995 Arantxa Sanchez
1996 Arantxa Sanchez
1997 Magui Serna
1998 Conchita Martinez
1999 Arantxa Sanchez
1999 Conchita Martinez
2000 Magui Serna
2000 Arantxa Sanchez
2011 Carla Suarez-Navarro
2016 Carla Suarez-Navarro
2017 Carla Suarez-Navarro
2017 Garbine Muguruza
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #13 Kiki Bertens/ NED
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #20 Naomi Osaka/JPN
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): 1st Rd. - #10 Alona Ostapenko/LAT def. Andrea Petkovic/GER 6-4/4-6/6-4
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #20 Naomi Osaka/JPN d. #26 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR 6-3/2-6/6-4
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
TOP NIGHT SESSION WOMEN'S MATCH: 2nd Rd. - (Q) Karlina Muchova/CZE def. #12 Garbine Muguruza/ESP 3-6/6-4/6-4
=============================
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: Katerina Siniakova/CZE (1r: Kontaveit served for match at 5-4, 30/love in 3rd, Siniakova wins set 7-5, taking 12/14 points; 2r: Tomljanovic served for match at 6-5 in 3rd; opponent served for match in 1st and 2nd Rounds and saved MP)
IT ("Court"): (new) Louis Armstrong Stadium (four of top 5 women's seeds -- #1 Halep, #2 Wozniacki, #4 Kerber, #5 Kvitova -- fall in first three rounds on the newly rebuilt #2 show court, as well as slam winner #12 Muguruza and summer stars #13 Bertens and #26 Sabalenka)
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: #20 Naomi Osaka/JPN and #19 Anastasija Sevastova/LAT (first-time slam finalist and semifinalist)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Karolina Muchova/CZE (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Victoria Azarenka/BLR (3rd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: #17 Serena Williams/USA (in final)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominee: S.Williams, Mattek-Sands
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: S.Williams, Mattek-Sands
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Babos/Mladnevic, Barty/Vandeweghe
BROADWAY-BOUND: Kaia Kanepi/EST (new Armstrong Stadium premieres w/ Day 1 def. of #1 Halep)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Carla Suarez-Navarro/ESP (ended Sharapova's undefeated night streak)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Dasha Lopatetskaya/UKR
