But, you know, Serena Williams wore *this*, and that was probably really all one needed to give the proceedings a passing grade:
While Williams' purple reign today once again didn't exist in the airy altitude to which she lifted her game in the 1st Round, the #8 seed overcame a slow start and inconsistent serving to move yet another round closer to possible history.
Serena didn't see her first break point on Karolina Muchova's serve until game #7 of the opening set, but she converted it to take a lead that she never surrendered. With the Czech serving again down 5-3, Williams quickly went up love/40 and soon whacked a return winner to take the set 6-3.
Muchova's double-fault immediately put her down a break again one game into the 2nd set, and Williams went about running her consecutive games won streak to seven. In game #5, though, a pair of DF (her sixth and seventh on the day) saw her give up a service break to the Czech, who closed to within 3-2. But it was but a blip on the radar, as Serena won 6-3/6-2 to improve her career U.S. Open record to 98-12, reaching her 61st career slam Round of 16, and 18th in 19 appearances in Flushing Meadows.
The only time she didn't go that far? In her 1998 debut, when she lost in the 3rd Round (at 16) to Williams Family Antagonist Irina Spirlea.
Not only is she now four wins away from Margaret Court's record of 24 majors, but Williams is also three wins from matching Chris Evert's all-time U.S. Open women's win total (101-12), and four from breaking it. Winning the title would would take care of *all* that, by the way.
I'm just sayin'.
Purple goes with red, white and blue, right?
#3 Karolina Pliskova outlasted an injured Ons Jabeur in three sets, 6-1/4-6/6-4, reaching the Round of 16 in New York for a fourth straight year. It's the first time the former world #1 has done such a thing at *any* major in her career.
The draw lost a 2018 semifinalist today as #12 Anastasija Sevastova fell to #22 Petra Martic, 6-4/6-3, ending the Latvian's string of second week Open results at three years (QF-QF-SF). This marks the third time that Martic has matched (WI/U.S. 4th) or bettered (RG QF) her previous career best slam finish during the 2019 season. The Croat came into Flushing Meadows having not won a MD match there since 2011.
Meanwhile, #2 Ash Barty has rarely had her "A"-game since she won Roland Garros, but she's still won 14 of 17 matches (8-1 grass, 6-2 hard court) since Paris after she advanced past #30 Maria Sakkari today. Barty served at just at 46% on her first serves, but played a far more balanced game (17 W, 4/7 on BP, 11 aces) than Sakkari (39 UE vs. 12 winners) to win 7-5/6-3. She's the first Aussie to reach at least the Round of 16 at all four majors in a season since 1973, and the *only* player on tour in '19 to do so (Simona Halep was the only other player who'd done so at Melbourne, Paris and London this year).
The win also keeps alive another streak that speaks to Barty's consistency. This marks the 9th straight slam at which she's matched or exceeded her previous career best at the event, as she also reached the Round of 16 in New York in '18. If she reaches her first QF, she'll have carved out new career *best* slam results (for each individual tournament) at the last six majors. To extend the run next January in Melbourne she'll have to reach the QF to match her personal best (2018), or the semis to better it.
#16 Johanna Konta defeated #33 Zhang Shuai 6-2/6-3, reaching her third U.S. Open Round of 16 (2015-16) after falling in the 1st Round the last two years. The Brit is now one win away from a third straight QF-or-better slam result after having three such results in her first 21 career MD appearances in majors.
In the last day session 3rd Rounder to conclude, #18 Wang Qiang reached her maiden slam Round of 16 with a 7-6(1)/6-3 win over Fiona Ferro. The last Chinese woman to go so far in New York was Peng Shuai, who went all the way to the semis in 2014.
...in doubles, Washington champs "McCoco" were in action, as Coco Gauff & Caty McNally staged a rally from 6-2 down in the opening set TB, saving four SP, en route to a 7-6(6)/6-2 win over Julia Goerges & Katerina Siniakova.
The all-Polish duo of Iga Swiatek/Magda Linette defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands/CoCo Vandeweghe, winners with different partners of two of the last three U.S. Open WD crowns, in a 7-5 3rd set.
Taylor Townsend returned to action on Friday, this time in doubles on Court 9 with Whitney Osuigwe. Together they took out Canadians Bianca Andreescu & Sharon Fichman in straight sets. So, essentially, it was competitive practice session for the Indian Wells/Toronto champ.
Also winning were all the Top 4 seeds: #1 Babos/Mladenovic, #2 Hsieh/Strycova, #3 Dabrowski/Xu and #4 Mertens/Sabalenka. #8 Azarenka/Barty advanced, as well.
...as noted the other day, the bottom half of the women's draw is the one that -- unless Serena is involved -- needs a bit of goosing to get some attention, as the far more dramatic storylines (Osaka, Gauff, Andreescu, Townsend, etc.) reside in the top half. Wednesday's rain served to avoid that half having to carry a full day's worth of action on its own, as when the top half was mixed into the leftover schedule on Thursday you could hardly notice the disparity. Today... not so much.
There were *two* possible gems in the mix on Friday, though.
So, naturally, the schedule makers, in their infinite wisdom, decided it was a good idea to shove *both* of those match-ups into the night session. With the same first-up start times on Ashe and Armstrong, no less. So, neither the all-Ukrainian (Svitolina/Yastremka) nor the all-Bannerette (Keys/Kenin) clash will really get the full-attention, eyes-on number of viewers that they should.
Set your clocks for tonight's featured match: Sofia Kenin (USA) vs. Madison Keys (USA) https://t.co/3un89o6bcE pic.twitter.com/gUWUwhoQQ8
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2019
The two winners of the four-women section will face each other for a berth in the QF, a stage that only 2017 finalist/2018 semifinalist Keys has previously reached at Flushing Meadows.
LIKE ON DAY 5:
Kristie Ahn on her heavy tape job:
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 30, 2019
“The Robo-Arm? I hyperextended my arm. I can straighten it, I just can’t [go further] and put it through the trauma.
"It looks super dramatic. Just like me. So it’s perfect.”#USOpen#USOpen pic.twitter.com/vXGBKspxB0
No matter what happens in tennis, it's probably happened before... ON DAY 5:
An American teen phenom captures hearts at the @USOpen.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 30, 2019
Sound familiar?
Before Coco...
Before Venus and Serena...
There was @TheTracyAustin. ????#USOpen pic.twitter.com/8iHlWzDo6t
Thanks to my dear friend #MaryCarillo for the feature on ?@TennisChannel? on the 40th Anniversary ?@usopen? ?? Yes, YOU were my 1st big win. ?? pic.twitter.com/xUEkJH6eBt
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) August 30, 2019
HALL OF FAME NOMINEE DISCUSSIONS ON DAY 5:
Conchita starts at 3:49...
The @TennisHalloFame nominees have been announced.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 30, 2019
CEO Todd Martin walks us through their amazing accomplishments.
Vote now for your favorite? https://t.co/H0aUAiFW90#TCLive | #USOpen @Martina @BrettHaber pic.twitter.com/zseyGCfdXX
LIKE ON DAY 5:
Coco has the court covered. Literally. Or maybe it's covering *her*.
If you can't tell: the pattern on Coco Gauff's #USOpen dress is overhead pictures of tennis courts, which is a very, very cool idea. pic.twitter.com/4XdX07xE0L
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 30, 2019
The Go-Go's were a new wave group band formed in Los Angeles in 1978 that rose to prominence in the early 1980's as the first fully-formed breakout all-female rock band. They wrote and performed their own songs as well as played their own instruments. Their biggest hit, and signature song, was 1981's "We Got the Beat."
Though the group "sort of" broke up in the mid-eighties (lead singer Belinda Carlisle had a successful solo career), they've had many reunions ever since, and still perform together at times today (as recently as last year).
As I said yesterday, I really *do* think this song would work great as the centerpiece/anthem of a catchy WTA promotional campaign that would get stuck on a memory loop in your brain as you go through the day. One that might actually break through the tennis bubble and actually be acknowledged by the sort of casual (or less) viewers that the tour *should* be trying to reach to grow the sport.
Think of it... the song interspliced with quick-cut video of big shots and sprints to a ball, various players singing along with the lyrics (one throwing in an "I got the beat!" then several as a "band" yelling "We Got the beat!" in unison), Serena whacking a big serve (seen several times at fast speed as the song lyric is stuttered -- "Yeah, we Go-go-go-go-go-got it!"), Ostapenko gesticulating wildly (at anything), players wielding rackets as "guitars," clenched fists after winners, celebratory leaps, a "Pojd!" for impact... all while the song rings out and the sense of having a good time is emphasized rather than trying too hard to be dramatic and serious (i.e. #ItTakes).
It's not that difficult to visualize in your mind's eye... even right down to Carlisle's ending "See ya later!" at the close of the original performance video. Considering the band's place in music history, even *that* feels like a good fit with the WTA tour and its own origins.
Fall in line just watchin' all their feet
They don't know where they're want to go
But they're walking in time
They got the beat
They got the beat
They got the beat
Yeah, they got the beat
See the kids just gettin' out of school
They can't wait to hang out and be cool
Hang around 'til quarter after twelve
That's when they fall in line
They got the beat
They got the beat
Kids got the beat
Yeah, kids got the beat
Go-Go music really makes us dance
Do the pony, puts us in a trance
Do what you see just give us a chance
That's when we fall in line
'Cause we got the beat
We got the beat
We got the beat
Yeah, we got it
We got the beat
We got the beat
We got the beat
Everybody get on your feet
(We got the beat)
We know you can dance to the beat
(We got the beat)
Jumpin' and get down
(We got the beat)
Round and round and round
We got the beat
We got the beat
We got the beat
I admit, I sort of went part-way down the YouTube rabbit hole on this one. Speaking of that, here's an interesting recent Washington Post story by Chris Richards about how YouTube has become users' "radio (widely accessible), their record store (awesomely vast), their MTV (partly retinal), their Walkman (completely portable), their iTunes (on demand), their online message board (comments abound) — all in one place."
Frankly, I found way too many things that I wanted to use here, but I'm going to do it anyway. Essentially, it's just a series of more recent "We Got the Beat" performances from the Go-Go's, as well as a bit of the solo work from lead singer Belinda Carlisle, who I always really liked.
Of all the summers in all the seasons in all of her playing years, Serena Williams walked into the summer of 2012 and left it having produced what was likely the greatest contained, short-term stretch of tennis of her entire career as she followed up her Wimbledon and Olympic title runs by coming back home to win the U.S. Open for the first time in four years. Motivated like never before, the run *officially* began her more-focused assault on tennis history.
2012 Recap
x vs. x
x vs. x
x vs. x
x vs. x
x vs. x
#16 Johanna Konta/GBR vs. #3 Karolina Pliskova/CZE
#8 Serena Williams/USA vs. #22 Petra Martic/CRO
#18 Wang Qiang/CHN vs. #2 Ash Barty/AUS
JAN: Julia Goerges, GER
AO: Petra Kvitova, CZE
FEB/MAR: Petra Kvitova, CZE
I.W./MIAMI: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
1Q: Petra Kvitova, CZE
APR: Polona Hercog, SLO
MAY: Karolina Pliskova, CZE
RG: Latisha Chan, TPE
2Q Clay Court: Petra Martic, CRO
JUN: Chan Hao-ching/Latisha Chan, TPE/TPE
WI: Serena Williams, USA and Barbora Strycova, CZE
2Q Grass Court: Barbora Strycova, CZE
JUL/AUG: Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
AUG (pre-U.S.): Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
[2019 Weekly VETERAN Award Wins]
5 - Angelique Kerber, GER
4 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR
3 - Simona Halep, ROU
3 - Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
3 - Petra Kvitova, CZE
3 - Serena Williams, USA
2 - Alize Cornet, FRA
2 - Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2 - Barbora Strycova, CZE
2 - Venus Williams, USA
**BACKSPIN 2019 WTA "COMEBACK" WINNERS**
JAN: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK
AO: Laura Siegemund, GER
FEB/MAR: Alja Tomljanovic, AUS
I.W./MIAMI: Victoria Azarenka, BLR
1Q: Belinda Bencic, SUI
APR: Jordanne Whiley, GBR (WC)
MAY: Victoria Azarenka, BLR
RG: Johanna Konta, GBR
2Q Clay Court: Johanna Konta, GBR
JUN: Alona Ostapenko, LAT
WI: Elina Svitolina, UKR
2Q Grass Court: Elina Svitolina, UKR
JUL/AUG: Patricia Maria Tig, ROU
AUG (pre-U.S.): Peng Shuai, CHN
[2019 Weekly COMEBACK Award Wins]
3 - Johanna Konta, GBR
3 - Patricia Maria Tig, ROU
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2 - Beatriz Haddad, BRA
2 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2 - Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2 - Shelby Rogers, USA
2 - Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS
2 - Marcela Zacarias, MEX
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #10 Madison Keys/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: Isabella Shinikova/BUL def. Sachia Vickery/USA 6-1/4-6/7-6(6) - Shinikova MTO down MP at 6-5 in 3rd set TB, then comes back and wins 3 con. pts. to advance. Shinikova limps to net for her handshake, then Vickery airs out her frustrations on Twitter after the leaves the court.
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - (Q) Taylor Townsend/USA def. #4 Simona Halep/ROU 2-6/6-3/7-6(4)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
TOP NIGHT SESSION WOMEN'S MATCH: Nominee: 1st Rd. - #8 S.Williams d. (WC) McNally - 17-year old takes Williams to three sets in Ashe debut
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Ana Bogdan/ROU (def. Dart/GBR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #27 Caroline Garcia, FRA (1st Rd. - lost to Jabeur/TUN)
UPSET QUEENS: Russia
REVELATION LADIES: United States
NATION OF POOR SOULS: ESP (1-4 in 1st Rd.; seeded Muguruza and CSN/ret. out)
CRASH & BURN: #11 Sloane Stephens/USA (1st Rd. - '17 champ lost to qualifier A.Kalinskaya on Ashe for first career slam MD win)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Nominees: Townsend (2nd Rd. - 1 MP vs. Halep), Goerges (1st Rd. - 1 MP vs. Vikhlyantseva)
IT ("??"): xx
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Taylor Townsend/USA (in 3rd Rd.) (LL: Flipkens-2nd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: In 3rd Rd.: Ahn, Gauff
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: In 3rd Rd.: Ahn, Gauff, Kenin, Keys, Townsend, S.Williams(W)
COMEBACK PLAYER: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): xx
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Nominees: Townsend (Q; def. Halep), Ahn
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominees: McNally (vs. Serena on Night 3), Kalinskaya (upsets Stephens for first slam MD win), Gauff, Townsend (Q; def. Halep)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: S.Williams (2-0)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
