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Friday, September 4, 2020

US.5 - The Messenger

Two years ago, Naomi Osaka burst onto the tennis scene. As a grand slam winner, but also, mostly by simply *being*, as a messenger for diversity. In Japan, as well as everywhere else she became a sudden star with her big results, quiet voice and offbeat (and sometimes juvenile-seeming) take on life.

Two years later, she's spent twenty-five weeks at #1, won another major, become the highest-earning woman in sports, and developed into a far more active messenger for equality, having fully found her "adult voice" during the shutdown after having grown impatient waiting for *someone else* among her tour brethren to step up and assume a leadership role.

Providing both generational and absorbing commentary on issues of that day as she watched a series of Black men and women die unnecessarily in police shootings in the U.S., where she's spent most of her life, Osaka joined the Black Lives Matter protests during the summer, and (along with Coco Gauff) was the loudest voice of support in the sport, garnering public support from the likes of no less than Billie Jean King, who has spent her adult life using her position within the game to become an influential voice (something she continues to be) regarding issues both inside and outside the lines of a tennis court.

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When Billie Jean drops in your messages. ??

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While such things have become part of the life story of Billie Jean, they're becoming a consistent aspect of Osaka's profile, as well. Born of a Haitian father and Japanese mother, Osaka's multi-ethnic background allows her to speak from a position of significance. And she continues to take advantage of that fact. In the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, and the resulting protests, Osaka at first announced a supportive boycott of her semifinal match in the Western & Southern Open, the Cincinnati event held on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center last week. Her action ultimately led the tournament to "pause," along with many other team sports in the U.S., and pick up action a day later. She won her semifinal match, but then pulled out of the final with a hamstring injury.

Thus, Osaka began play this week at the U.S. Open with a bit of underlying "unfinished business." On the court, but off it, as well.

Through three days, she's walked on court donning a face mask bearing the names of three different Black individuals -- Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and Ahmaud Armery -- killed in police shootings, hoping to prompt viewers to Google their names and learn their stories. She's said that she has seven different masks on hand for this Open, meaning that -- if things go as hoped -- she might sport the last before playing for another U.S. Open title two weekends from now.

The #4 seed took another step toward that possibility today, playing with her hamstring heavily strapped while dealing with an oft-dangerous opponent in teenage Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk and ultimately coming out on top to reach her third straight U.S. Open Round of 16 via a 6-3/6-7(4)/6-2 victory.



It was hardly a walk in the park for Osaka, and she has obvious work to do in order to make her final weekend date. She should have gotten off the court in three sets versus Kostyuk, but a series of opportunities frustratingly lost (0-for-7 on BP chances in the 2nd set, and a 2-0 in the set's tie-break) put her in danger of an upset. Osaka often slammed or tossed her racket in response (not as "expertly" as Garbine Muguruza yesterday, but still). Kostyuk's issues-orieted serve, as well as possibly the ankle she twice had re-taped during the match, helped along Osaka's cause, but in the end it was the former champ's experience in such tight circumstances that pulled her through.

In game #4 of the 3rd, the first after Kostyuk's second taping, Osaka quickly fell behind love/40 on serve while down 1-2. After saving five BP, her confidence and newly positive attitude finally brought the very game Kostyuk down to earth. By the time the teenager fell behind love/40 a game later, the finish line was clearly near. Osaka won eight straight points as she raced to a 4-2 lead, and she never lost another game.

Afterward, she admitted to being tired and needing an "emergency" ice bath because she was going to "pass out," but also said that her hamstring is something that she's able to handle, or else she wouldn't be playing.

Whether the 22-year old Osaka will be able to complete her "dance of the seven veils" by the end of this Open remains to be seen, but any questions about whether she'll continue to perform in her role of messenger does not.

While Osaka, as advanced as she played in 2018 in New York, seemed to still have some "growing" to do a short while ago, her very natural process of doing just that in the public eye in such a short period of time might qualify as one of the more unexpected -- in a refreshing way -- developments in women's tennis in quite a while. Maybe decades.

But, then again, such a thing *is* a tradition in these parts, isn't it? Someone has to take pride in maintaining it, and Osaka has most definitely stepped up.





=DAY 5 NOTES=
...sometimes the trains run on time. Sometimes they don't.

On Day 5, #8 Petra Martic derailed the Gracheva Train on Friday, as 20-year old Varvara Gracheva's maiden slam appearance run ended with a 3rd Round loss to the Croat, 6-3/6-3. Of course, Gracheva *was* able to make a mini-run in the 2nd set, getting back on serve at 4-3 before the inconsistencies that plagued her throughout the day saw Martic regain her edge and close out the match.

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Petra power. ??

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The Round of 16 appearance is the second straight at the U.S. Open for the 29-year old Martic, who before last year hadn't posted a MD win at Flushing Meadows since 2011. She's reached the second week in four of the last five majors, and done so seven times since 2017. Her best slam run so far was a QF at last year's Roland Garros.

The three 2nd Rounders suspended due to rain yesterday were completed today, and one of those involved another Russian as #21 Ekaterina Alexandrova looked to follow up her 1st Round win over Kim Clijsters with another against Caty McNally. The two had split sets on Thursday.

The 18-year old McNally grabbed 4-2 lead in the deciding set, but saw Alexandra run off three straight games. Twice, at 4-5 and 5-6, McNally had to hold to stay in the match. She did, then raced to a 6-1 lead in the concluding tie-break (to 7, of course, not to 10 like in Melbourne... and just as a reminder, at RG later this month the final set will be played out until its natural conclusion), winning 7-2 to advance to her first career slam 3rd Round.

Alexandrova's 2nd Round loss actually occurred *after* Gracheva's 3rd Round exit today, but they combined to remove the final Hordettes from the women's draw. Gracheva's 3rd Round result made it back-to-back slams with Russians in the Final 32 of a slam, after the 76-event streak of such occurrences was snapped at last year's Wimbledon (then followed up with another in NYC). So that makes it 78-of-80 heading into Paris.

At one point, Russians had reached the *4th* Round in 63 of 64 majors from the '00 U.S. to the '16 Wimbledon. With this Open, that stat is now 72 of 79, and 78 of 87.

McNally's win made it eleven Bannerettes in the 3rd Round, the most at the Open since 1989, and the most at any major since 1994. Of course, with a whopping 32 women in the MD, I suppose such results aren't exactly a *huge* surprise.

In all, the Final 32 included those eleven U.S. women, two each from Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, France and Poland, while eleven other nations were represented by just one player each.

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Friday feels ?? at the #USOpen _ #TeamUSATennis

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A round ahead of her countrywoman on Day 5, #28 Jennifer Brady continued to be one of the most in-form players in the Restart. The U.S. woman, who was undefeated in double-digit matches in shutdown exhibition tennis and then won Lexington a few weeks ago, handled #32 Caroline Garcia, 6-3/6-3 to reach the Round of 16 at a major for the third time in her career (her previous two results came in '17, at the AO and US).



...wild card Sachia Vickery and Iga Swiatek completed their 2nd Round today, as well (also: #16 Mertens d. Sorribes Tormo). Played in very hot conditions (Vickery seemed particularly impacted, as during the small portion of the match I watched she was leaning against the back wall in the shade, looking like she'd just completed a two-mile sprint, though they hadn't yet played two sets -- Vickery had won the 1st set on Thursday).

Vickery held a break lead mid-way through the 3rd, but the Pole broke back for 3-3. Swiatek broke Vickery's serve again to close out a 6-7(5)/6-3/6-4 win, advancing to her first U.S. Open 3rd Round. The 19-year old is now 10-5 in her brief slam career, and will next be looking to reach her third Round of 16 in six majors when she faces Victoria Azarenka.



Vickery ties with Katrina Scott and CiCi Bellis as co-winners of the Last Wild Card Standing with their 2nd Round results.

...#17 Angelique Kerber seems to be living the good life at this Open, reliving old (good) memories at every turn. She won in straight sets today over Ann Li, 6-3/6-4, though the 20-year old Bannerette (as so many of the younger U.S. players have, even in defeat) showed well for herself today.

Li threatened to push Kerber into a 3rd set, and held a BP at 3-3. It was in that game that Kerber seemed to pull up behind the baseline on one leg, skipping across the backcourt. She never called a trainer, but didn't seem the same in the closing games of the match. Trying to get the match over with, she got a tough hold for 5-4. Kerber then led love/30 on Li's serve a game later, and had two MP. On the first MP, Kerber's crosscourt backhand took Li into the side court, where she netted a forehand to end the match. In just twenty games, though, Li had 36 winners.

In her 50th career slam, Kerber improves to 28-11 in the U.S. Open. She's reached eleven slam Round of 16's since the start of the '16 season, and had now done so in four of her last five slams while being coached by Torben Beltz (with 3/4 of those coming during his last stint four years ago). But this is her first second week run in New York since her '16 title (she went 2-3 in 2017-19)

Kerber will have to wrestle with an even tougher opponent next in Brady.



...elsewhere in 3rd Round action, #23 Yulia Putintseva rallied from a set down to defeat Aliaksandra Sasnovich to reach her maiden U.S. Round of 16. Her two QF runs in Paris (2016 and '18) are her only other 4th Rd.-or-better results in majors. She'll face Martic.

#14 Anett Kontaveit, who finally made her slam QF breakthrough in Melbourne in January in her 20th career slam MD appearance, is one win away from making it two in a row. She defeated #24 Magda Linette 3 & 2 today, and next gets Osaka.

...tonight, three of the four slots in the women's evening matches are filled by Bannerettes. Shelby Rogers and Madison "Make it a double" Brengle go on Armstrong, while Jessica Pegula gets #5 Petra Kvitova on Ashe.




=WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16=
#28 Jennifer Brady/USA v. #17 Angelique Kerber/GER
#23 Yulia Putintseva/KAZ v. #8 Petra Martic/CRO
#4 Naomi Osaka/JPN v. #14 Anett Kontaveit/EST
x v. x
x v. x
x v. x
x v. x
x v. x




WHAT I POSTED AND SAID ON BACKSPIN THE *LAST* TIME WE HAD A FINAL 16 IN A MAJOR ON DAY 5:



"Well, it's a good thing this country is being led by intelligent people who respect science and facts, and who make big decisions based on the best interests of the entire U.S. population, then. Oh, wait."


*STILL* TOO HIGH ON DAY 5:

So would they be living in the bubble within the bubble inside another bubble?



(Essentially the snowglobe shot at the end of "St.Elsewhere," when the impression was left the entire six-year series had taken place in the imagination of one of the character's autistic son.)



FLIPPER HELD HOSTAGE ON DAY 5:






BUSINESS AS USUAL ON DAY 5:



Trump says he didn't disparage U.S. troops in the past. Well, except for all those times he's disparaged U.S. troops in the past that we *already* know about.







TRANSLATION ON DAY 5:

In other words:

"Yeah, he said it. Of course he did. I mean, it sounds like something he'd say, right?" Then leaves without taking quetions.



When "Even Fox News" is a trending topic...




2021 BALLPERSON CREATURE AUDITION? ON DAY 5:




DORM LIFE? ON DAY 5:

As I said, the without-fans in-match photo opportunities are endless...






HISTORY AND ANNIVERSARIES ON DAY 5:


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On this night 14 years ago, August 28, 2006, I experienced one of the greatest honors of my lifetime when the USTA National Tennis Center, home of the @usopen, was renamed the @usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It had been raining the entire day. And 30 minutes before the ceremony was to begin, it stopped. I often think my father, who had passed away in June, played a part in that. The night was incredibly special. With Ilana (@cooksandking), my mother, and Ilana’s mother Ruth beside me, and on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior’s “I Have a Dream” speech (about which I was thrilled), I felt so honored that this center, one of the largest public tennis facilities in the world, would have my name on it. And what many people do not know is that the center is open to the public for play except during the US Open and select other events. Indeed, it is set within Corona Park. To be a part of something that had never happened before that night was not lost on this lover of history. I became the first woman to have a major sports venue named in her honor. More of this, please! I finished my speech that night by saying, “Mi casa es su casa.” My house is your house. It was true then, and it’s true now. My hope is that once we are through the pandemic (and that day will come!) everyone has the opportunity to visit. It truly is a magical place. ??: Cameraworks USA, Susan Mullane/Fred Mullane #usta #nationaltenniscenter #usopen #gratitude

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LIKE ON DAY 5:





After some heavier musical notes the last few days, a little more "fun" offering (at least sound-wise, as the lyrics are a little different when you actually read them) heading into the weekend in the form of Kim Wilde's "Kids in America" from 1981.

"Looking out a dirty old window
Down below the cars in the city go rushing by
I sit here alone and I wonder why

Friday night and everyone's moving
I can feel the heat but it's soothing, heading down
I search for the beat in this dirty town (downtown)

The young ones are going
(Downtown) the young ones are growing
We're the kids in America (whoa)
We're the kids in America (whoa)
Everybody live for the music-go-round"


Though Wilde is British (the song was a #1 hit in the U.K.), I found it at least a *little* surprising that this song only (barely) made the Top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. the year it was released. Although, it *has* had several additional lives, including via "Jimmy Neutron" (I'm *not* going to add that video) and even in the "Riverdale" TV series in 2017 (I *will* show that one, as for some reason I've actually seen every episode of that show... though I probably would have stopped watching a few years ago if I'd had more sense).












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kosova-font

**CAREER SLAM ROUND OF 16's, when/slam # completed = active**
Victoria Azarenka - 2009 Wimbledon (15th)
Ash Barty - 2019 Wimbledon (20th)
Genie Bouchard - 2014 US Open (5th)
Kim Clijsters - 2001 US Open (10th)
Julia Goerges - 2018 Wimbledon (42nd)
Simona Halep - 2014 Wimbledon (17th)
Angelique Kerber - 2013 Australian (21st)
Madison Keys - 2016 Roland Garros (16th)
Johanna Konta - 2019 Roland Garros (22nd)
Petra Kvitova - 2011 Australian (11th)
Svetlana Kuznetsova - 2005 Australian (11th)
Petra Martic - 2019 US Open (32nd)
Elise Mertens - 2019 Wimbledon (12th)
Garbine Muguruza - 2017 US Open (20th)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 2017 Australian (37th)
Karolina Pliskova - 2018 Wimbledon (25th)
Sloane Stephens - 2013 US Open (10th)
Carla Suarez-Navarro - 2013 US Open (20th)
Elina Svitolina - 2018 Australian (22nd)
Serena Williams - 2000 Wimbledon (8th)
Venus Williams - 1998 Wimbledon (6th)
Vera Zvonareva - 2004 US Open (11th)
--
ALSO: Jelena Jankovic - 2007 Roland Garros (15th)

**U.S. OPEN "LAST WILD CARD STANDING" WINNERS**
2007 Ahsha Rolle, USA (3rd Rd.)
2008 Severine Bremond, FRA (4th Rd.)
2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL (W)
2010 Beatrice Capra, USA & Virginie Razzano, FRA (3rd)
2011 Sloane Stephens, USA (3rd Rd.)
2012 Mallory Burdette/USA & Kristina Mladenovic/FRA (3rd)
2013 Alison Riske, USA (4th Rd.)
2014 Nicole Gibbs, USA (3rd Rd.)
2015 Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA (3rd Rd.)
2016 L.Davis/USA, K.Day/USA, V.King/USA (3rd Rd.)
2017 Maria Sharapova, RUS (4th Rd.)
2018 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (3rd Rd.)
2019 Kristie Ahn, USA (4th Rd.)
2020 C.Bellis/USA, K.Scott/USA & S.Vickery/USA (2nd Rd.)
[2020]
AO: Priscilla Hon/AUS & Arina Rodionova/AUS (2nd Rd.)
RG: (September)
WI: CANCELLED
US: C.Bellis/USA, K.Scott/USA & S.Vickery/USA (2nd Rd.)



TOP QUALIFIER: DNP
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): Victoria Azarenka/BLR (winning streak to 7 matches)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
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): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
TOP NIGHT SESSION WOMEN'S MATCH: xx
=============================
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 ("TBD"): Nominees: Swiatek, Anisimova, McNally
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
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: in 3r: Anisimova, Brady(W), Brengle, Kenin, Keys, Li(L), McNally, Pegula, Rogers, Stephens, S.Williams
COMEBACK PLAYER: Tsvetana Pironkova/BUL (first event since '17 Wimb; def. #10 Muguruza in 2nd Rd.)
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Kerber, S.Williams, Azarenka
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Nominees: Brady, Pegula, Rogers, Brengle, McNally
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominee: S.Williams, Azarenka, Osaka
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: Osaka (2-0 in night sessions), S.Williams, Azarenka
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 wins after 2nd Rd. victory)



Be Safe. All for Day 5. More tomorrow.
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