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Saturday, September 12, 2020

The Woman in the Mirror

"O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?"

Yes. Yes, we can.



The 2020 U.S. Open was always going to be memorable. Set amidst a pandemic that eliminated draws and fans in the stands, it came complete with testing protocols, "bubble living" and an overall sense that we haven't come this way before, and hopefully never will be forced to journey down this same path again.

That wasn't necessarily the case when it came to the women's singles final, though.

One of the unique things about tennis, and maybe especially women's tennis since the stars often arrive in such a young and "unformed" state of existence, is that if you follow it long enough you see individuals transform right before your eyes. Sometimes the change is nearly imperceptible, happening so gradually that you only really notice it when recalling old images, interviews and perceptions of personality.

But the changes in finalists Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka seem stark, and almost "sudden."

Since she won her maiden slam title in New York two years ago, the previously almost "child-like" Osaka, now 22, has seemed to mature almost overnight. This summer, she discovered her social consciousness during the protests against racism and police brutality in the U.S., then "led" a one-day pause of play in the Western & Southern Open (at Flushing Meadows) in light of another such period of unrest in the nation. In every round of this Open, she's walked onto court with a mask sporting the name of a different victim of such violence (today: Tamir Rice, as her "dance of the seven veils" reached its intended conclusion), hoping to spur curiosity and honest conversation regarding their memory.

Meanwhile, 31-year old Azarenka reached her peak in the sport, reaching #1 and winning two majors (and reaching back-to-back U.S. Open finals nearly a decade ago), while often being seen as a cocky competitor who didn't much care if she was fully embraced by the masses. Fans at the "happy slam" Down Under booed her, and she often faced not just an opponent on the other side of the net but (occasionally) herself as the stress of her overt intensity sometimes snapped back at her and made her miserable if things didn't go her way. After a four-year stretch in which she's become a mother, endured a long custody battle and travel restrictions, became frustrated over bad draws and a lack of on-court progress as she worked hard to find her way back into the mix of a sport in which she was once one of the dominant forces, the Belarusian arrived in New York a few weeks ago without a tour-level win in a year... and all she did was win her first title in four years, display a still-fiery intensity now equipped with a much-needed "safety valve" (her son Leo and the example she wishes to set for him) that allows her to maintain an inner calm (she assumes a meditative-like position during changeovers) and have more "fun" on the court as she happily embraced not only long-awaited success but the simple ability to finally play tennis again without a seeming Sword of Damocles dangling over her head.

After Osaka's hamstring injury (which she's had strapped this entire Open) prevented their meeting in the W&S Open final, that she and Azarenka -- both agents of change, personal and wide-ranging, inner and outward -- somehow found their way to a meeting *anyway* at Flushing Meadows is almost enough to make one believe that rather than play a round robin atop the clouds the Tennis Gods spent the shutdown locked in a tiny, cramped room (they don't require social distancing, of course) coming up with all sorts of great storylines to tell (and hook everyone with) once the Restart happened.

(I mean... Pironkova. Need I say more?)

Representing Japan and Belarus while both having spent most of their years in the U.S., and having been "overshadowed" by Serena Williams in New York in the past (both in winning and losing scenarios), Osaka and Azarenka finally had the Ashe Stadium court stage all to themselves on Saturday. Almost literally, as this was the *least*-attended slam final in history (well, until the men's final on Sunday, I guess).

Azarenka carried over her near-perfect play vs. Williams in the closing sets of their semifinal in the *opening* set of the final, while Osaka seemed to remain stuck in shutdown mode, with even the first serve prowess that had helped her power her way past Jennifer Brady in *her* semifinal having suddenly abandoned her against Azarenka's returning skills.

Azarenka immediately went up 15/40 in game #1, and when Osaka missed an inside out forehand the Belarusian got the match-opening break. She didn't let up, firing a forehand up the line to end a rally and hold for 3-1. Vika clenched her fist and did a sweeping uppercut motion in the air, firing from her hip the way she used to do in the past (only back then it was with her oft-punky attitude). An Osaka double-fault handed Azarenka a BP chance for a double-break lead a game later, and Naomi's own error made it a reality.



Up 5-1, Azarenka's crosscourt backhand return winner leveled game #6 at deuce, and she reached set point with an Osaka error. She broke with a winner to take the 1st set at 6-1, the most lopsided opener in a U.S. Open final in thirteen years (2007: Henin def. Kuznetsova).



Of course, it wasn't going to be that simple. Though it *might* have been.

Azarenka grabbed a break lead in the 2nd set in game #2 with a forehand return that took Osaka wide, then Vika blasted a backhand down the line to go up 2-0. Getting in nearly every first serve she attempted, Azarenka led 40/30 and had a GP for a 3-0 lead. But Osaka got the game to deuce, and on her first BP of the match saw an Azarenka forehand sail long to get things back on serve. A pair of aces helped Osaka back up the break a game later.

Then, in game #6, a sudden handful of Azarenka errors turned the set in favor of the '18 champ. Vika fell behind love/40 on serve, then missed on a crosscourt backhand that gave Osaka a break lead at 4-2. At 30/30 a game later, Osaka just nicked a line for an ace (Azarenka challenged to no avail), then her backhand winner was placed just out of a scrambling Vika's reach to get the hold. Serving to stay in the set, Azarenka saved a BP with an overhead, but Osaka got another chance when she clocked a forehand return winner. Another big forehand saw Osaka take the set 6-3, making the battle for the Open title a one-set affair, with Osaka seeking to become the first woman in twenty-six years (1994: Sanchez Vicario def. Graf) to win in Flushing Meadows after dropping the 1st set.



Thing is, even with history decidedly *not* on her side, Osaka had a big statistical edge of her own at hand. She had won eleven straight three-set matches in slam competition. As it turned out, as Azarenka had begun the final "playing the role of Serena" from her match two days earlier, what would happen in the 3rd largely caused the arc of this match to resemble that semifinal even more. Unfortunately for Vika, she *still* found herself in the role of Williams.

For in the 3rd, it was Osaka who seized control, then was tasked to fight off Azarenka's final attempts to turn back the momentum.

In game #4, down 1-2, Azarenka fell behind 15/30, then double-faulted to give Osaka double BP. On BP #2 Osaka fired a deep ball that led to an Azarenka error, giving the Japanese star the break for a 3-1 lead. Azarenka had a chance to get the break back, taking a love/40 lead a game later. But Osaka didn't allow it. A winner was followed by a big serve, then a long Azarenka return shot. Osaka held for 4-1.

Azarenka managed one final attack. After saving four BP to hold for 4-2, she got Osaka's service game to deuce, bending low to launch a forehand winner down the line to even things up, then reached BP when Osaka's backhand net cord shot bounced out. Another Osaka wide backhand (accompanied by a scream) gave Azarenka the break, and renewed hope as she made a beeline for the changeover area down just 3-4.



But in the final games, Osaka's big shots and (maybe) the (probably overdue) impact of Azarenka's long, tiring journey (11-0) over the last three weeks in New York after having been win-less for a year saw Vika's hopes for her first slam title in over seven years (which would be the longest gap between wins in the Open era) drift away.

After Azarenka went out to a 30/15 lead, Osaka's power shots conspired to get her a key BP chance, then Azarenka's pushed-wide forehand handed her the break and an opportunity to serve out the title at 5-3. Naomi quickly grabbed a 40/15 edge, then on MP #2 Azarenka's netted backhand reply ended a rally, and the match, as Osaka's second U.S. Open title and third major win in the last seven slams came along with a 1-6/6-3/6-3 score (a line identical to Azarenka's semi vs. Williams).



The win improves Osaka's career record in slams to 9-0 when she reaches the quarterfinal stage, and her win makes her the first woman since Jennifer Capriati (2001) to win in each of her first three slam final appearances.

After the customary (in the current environment, at least) racket tap, Osaka left her weapon of choice in the changeover area and walked back out onto the court to lay down on her back and stare into the sky, perhaps sending a final (secret and/or subliminal) message out to whomever chooses to listen.




Having spread her wings off the court in the maelstrom that has been 2020, Osaka now has a tangible on-court prize that attests to her ability to set and achieve goals on it, all while still focusing her sights on things that happen, and drive her forward, when she *doesn't* have a racket in her hand.

It has all been quite an impressive, mature feat.

In fact, with three major titles in her column, and with a full embrace of something "more," one gets the feeling that Naomi will be making a few (maybe quite a few, in fact) such aspirational stands as the years go along.

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Reunited at last. ??

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=DAY 13 NOTES=
...on Louis Armstrong (rather than Ashe, which was hosting the men's WC doubles final), top-seeded Diede de Groot won her third straight wheelchair singles title with a 6-3/6-3 victory over top rival Yui Kamiji, the #2 seed.

De Groot raced to a 5-0 lead in the 1st, but a DF (her sixth in the set) on BP slightly opened the door for a Kamiji comeback. The former #1 from Japan closed to within 5-3, but saw the Dutch woman fire back-to-back return winners to take a love/30 lead in game #9 en route to breaking to claim the set. De Groot took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd, but Kamiji broke back in game #7 to get back on serve at 3-4. But she was unable to hold her own serve against de Groot, who broke her for the eighth time a game later, then served out the title. De Groot held a 32-14 edge in winners, making up for her nine DF on the day.

De Groot, 23, has now won a total of eight slam singles titles.



On Sunday, de Groot (w/ Marjolein Buis) will again face off with Kamiji (w/ Jordanne Whiley) in the doubles final. In her 28 career slam s/d draws, it'll be de Groot's 24th final. A win will give her sixteen total slam titles, and be the sixth time in the last eight majors she's swept both titles. While de Groot has won seven of the last eight slam WD crowns, Kamiji/Whiley will be trying to follow up their Australian Open win from January with their eleventh overall slam title as a duo (they won a Grand Slam in '14). Kamiji's fifteen slam WD wins is behind only Esther Vergeer's total of twenty-one.



...in Istanbul, Genie Bouchard and Patricia Maria Tig advanced to the singles final. It's Bouchard's first tour-level singles final since March 2016 in Kuala Lumpur. Her lone WTA title in six previous finals came in Nuremberg in 2014. Tig is seeking her maiden win, having lost a pair of WTA finals in 2015 and '19.



In Rome qualifying Dasha Kasatkina opened with a 6-0/6-1 win over Arina Rodionova and will face Gaby Dabrowski for a spot in the MD.

...on the ITF circuit, Beatriz Haddad Maia has reached another final in the $25K in Figueira da Foz, Portugal as she looks to win her second straight crown (vs. Georgina Garcia Perez) in her return from suspension. The Brazilian has already picked up the WD title alongside countrywoman Ingrid Gamarra Martins.

In Saint-Melo, France ($60K) it'll be Argentina's Nadia Podoroska against Spaniard Cristina Busca for the title, while Mexico's Renata Zarazua plays Slovenian Jana Cepelova in Prague ($25K).




=WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#4 Naomi Osaka/JPN def. Victoria Azarenka/BLR 1-6/6-3/6-3

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
(PR) Siegemund/Zvonareva (GER/RUS) def. #3 Melichar/Xu (USA/CHN) 6-4/6-4

=WOMEN'S WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 6-3/6-3

=WOMEN'S WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Buis/de Groot (NED/NED) vs. #2 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR)




LIKE ON DAY 13:

Chrissie has Twitter ears...




CUTE ON DAY 13:




LIKE ON DAY 13:

Can we make this a permanent thing from here on out? It's better than a handshake, which is often forced (or worse).




A LITTLE AWKWARD, BUT IT'LL DO... ON DAY 13:

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A kiss earned by a comeback ??

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A REMINDER ON DAY 13:







2020 (if we're lucky) ON DAY 13:




SHAMEFUL ON DAY 13:




IMITATION IS THE MOST SINCERE FORM OF FLATTERY ON DAY 13:




LIKE ON DAY 13:




HONESTLY... ON DAY 13:

I sort of like it better *without* the fans. It made it a more intimate tournament.













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Welcome back to the big stage, Victoria! ??

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Milego weekendu???? Have a nice weekend????

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Raising awareness doesn’t stop for Naomi Osaka.

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*RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS*
2016 AO: Angelique Kerber, GER
2016 RG: Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2016 WI: Serena Williams, USA
2016 US: Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 AO: Serena Williams, USA (2; 23 career)
2017 RG: Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2017 WI: Garbine Muguruza, ESP (2)
2017 US: Sloane Stephens, USA
2018 AO: Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2018 RG: Simona Halep, ROU
2018 WI: Angelique Kerber, GER (3)
2018 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 RG: Ash Barty, AUS
2019 WI: Simona Halep, ROU (2)
2019 US: Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020 AO: Sofia Kenin, USA
2020 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN (3)

*CAREER SLAM SINGLES TITLES - ACTIVE*
23...Serena Williams, USA
7...Venus Williams, USA
4...Kim Clijsters, BEL
3...Angelique Kerber, GER
3...NAOMI OSAKA, JPN
2...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2...Simona Halep, ROU
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2...Petra Kvitova, CZE
2...Garbine Muguruza, ESP

*CAREER SLAM FINALS - ACTIVE*
33...Serena Williams (23-10)
16...Venus Williams (7-9)
8...Kim Clijsters (4-4)
5...VICTORIA AZARENKA (2-3)
5...Simona Halep (2-3)
4...Angelique Kerber (3-1)
4...Svetlana Kuznetsova (2-2)
4...Garbine Muguruza (2-2)
3...NAOMI OSAKA (3-0)
3...Petra Kvitova (2-1)
2...Sloane Stephens (1-1)
2...Samantha Stosur (1-1)
2...Vera Zvonareva (0-2)

*U.S. OPEN FINALS - ACTIVE*
10..Serena Williams (6-4)
4...Venus Williams (2-2)
3...VICTORIA AZARENKA (0-3)
2...NAOMI OSAKA (2-0)
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova (1-1)
1...Bianca Andreescu (1-0)
1...Sloane Stephens (1-0)
1...Samantha Stosur (1-0)
[1...Jelena Jankovic (0-1)]
1...Angelique Kerber (1-0)
1...Madison Keys (0-1)
1...Karolina Pliskova (0-1)
1...Vera Zvonareva (0-1)

*U.S. OPEN GIRLS/WOMEN'S SLAM CHAMPS - OPEN ERA*
[won Girls & Women's titles]
Lindsay Davenport (1992 Jr. Champion; 1998 Women's champion)
[others]
Martina Hingis (1994 Junior RU; 1997 Women's Champion)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (2001 Junior RU; 2004 Women's champion)
Victoria Azarenka (2005 Junior champion; 2012-13,'20 Women's RU)

*RECENT WC SINGLES SLAM FINALS*
[2017]
AO: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Jiske Griffioen/NED
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
US: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Diede de Groot/NED
[2018]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Diede de Groot/NED
WI: Diede de Groot/NED def. Aniek van Koot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
[2019]
AO: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
RG: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
WI: Aniek Van Koot/NED def. Diede de Groot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN
[2020]
AO: Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
US: Diede de Groot/NED def. Yui Kamiji/JPN

*U.S. OPEN WHEELCHAIR WINNERS*
[singles]
2005 Esther Vergeer, NED
2006 Esther Vergeer, NED
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 --
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 --
2013 Aniek van Koot, NED
2014 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2015 Jordanne Whiley, GBR
2016 --
2017 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020 Diede de Groot, NED
[doubles]
2005 Korie Homan & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2006 Jiske Griffioen & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2007 Jiske Griffioen & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2008 --
2009 Korie Homan & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Esther Vergeer & Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer & Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 --
2013 Jiske Griffioen & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Jiske Griffioen & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2016 --
2017 Marjolein Buis & Diede de Groot, NED/NED
2018 Diede de Groot & Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 Diede de Groot & Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED
2020 ?

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM SINGLES TITLES*
[AO-RG-WI-US]
21 - Esther Vergeer, NED [9-6-0-6]
8 - Diede de Groot, NED [2-1-2-3]*
7 - Yui Kamiji, JPN [2-3-0-2]*
4 - Jiske Griffioen, NED [2-1-1-0]*
3 - Aniek van Koot, NED [1-0-1-1]*

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
[singles/doubles]
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
22 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (7/15)*
18 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/15)*
18 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4/14)*
16 - Diede de Groot, NED (8/8)*
11 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1/10)*




TOP QUALIFIER: DNP
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): Victoria Azarenka/BLR
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #28 Jennifer Brady/USA
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #4 Naomi Osaka/JPN
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: DNP
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - Varvara Gracheva/RUS def. #30 Kristina Mladenovic/FRA 1-6/7-6(2)/6-0 (trailed 6-1/5-1, 4 MP)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. -Shelby Rogers/USA def. #6 Petra Kvitova/CZE 7-6(5)/3-6/7-6(6) (4 MP saved)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): SF - Victoria Azarenka/BLR def. #3 Serena Williams 1-6/6-3/6-3 (was 0-10 vs. SW in slams; 1st slam F since '13)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #12 Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (def. Minnen/BEL)
FIRST SEED OUT: #32 Rebecca Peterson/SWE (1st Rd.-lost to Flipkens/BEL)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Bonaventure/BEL, Fernandez/CAN, Gracheva/RUS, Scott/USA, Tig/ROU
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: Belarus (5-0 in 1st Rd.)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Australia (0-5 1st Rd.; #1 Barty and former U.S. champ Stosur DNP)
CRASH & BURN: #1 Karolina Pliskova/CZE (2nd Rd.-Garcia; tied for second earliest exit by U.S. Open #1 seed)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Varvara Gracheva, RUS (2nd Rd.: down 6-1/5-1, 4 MP at 5-2 vs. Mladenovic)
IT ("Champion Mom"): Vera Zvonareva/RUS (+Whiley?)
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Buis, Siegemund/Zvonareva
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: DNP Q
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: CiCi Bellis/USA, Katrina Scott/USA and Sachia Vickery/USA (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady (SF)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Tsvetana Pironkova/BUL (first event since '17 Wimb; to QF)
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Serena Williams/USA and Victoria Azarenka/BLR
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Siegemund/Zvonareva, (wheelchair)
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Jennifer Brady/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Three Moms and the QF" (Serena, Vika & Tsvetana in QF; first time three mothers in slam QF)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Naomi Osaka/JPN (5-0 in night session)
JUNIOR UNDER 18 BREAKOUT: Katrina Scott/USA (16; slam debut as wild card, 1st Rd. win)
RG "Légion de Lenglen" HONOREE: U.S. OPEN SPECIAL: Madison Brengle/USA (chugs wine after 2nd Rd. victory)







Be Safe. All for Day 13. More tomorrow.
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