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Sunday, September 6, 2020

US.7 - Brady Jen-trifies Flushing Meadows

Tom Brady returns to the U.S. sports headlines *next* Sunday. Today, though, was all about Jennifer Brady.



The #28-seeded Bannerette, after showing flashes of potential three years ago when she reached a pair of slam Round of 16's, has proven to be *the* most improved player in the Restart, winning in Lexington before her U.S. Open run. But her thoughtful step-by-step journey goes back further than that.

Since choosing to play college tennis at UCLA in order to mature and build her tennis confidence, a decision she's called one of the best of her life, Brady has smartly constructed a station-by-station development of her career. After helping the Bruins to an NCAA Team title in 2014, after having played pro events during the summer and getting near the Top 200, she turned pro after her sophomore year. In 2017, she reached those two slam second weeks and climbed into the Top 40, but then slumped badly in the two seasons that followed due to (as is often the case) injury and inconsistency.

Late last year and during the offseason, Brady teamed up with coach Michael Gerserer in China, then had a five-week winter training stint with physiotherapist Daniel Pohl in Germany. After working on her fitness/movement, as well as serve tactics, she was *ready* for the 2020 season. She got off to a good start, returning to the Top 50 after having fallen outside the Top 100 as recently as eleven months earlier. In Brisbane, she knocked off Maria Sharapova and #1 Ash Barty, and gave Simona Halep a good 1st Round effort at the Australian Open. After practicing with (and then playing) Top 10 players in the early weeks of the season, her confidence grew still more. In Dubai, she got her second Top 10 win (Elina Svitolina), and three straight Top 20ers, and reached her biggest tour-level semifinal.

Then came the shutdown.

But rather than languish during the pandemic, Brady flourished. While the 25-year old never met with Gerserer or Pohl in person, they stayed in touch via conference calls and she continued to work on her fitness. And she played tennis. Well. In fact, she went 19-0 in exhibitions, then burst into the Restart in midseason form. She won Lexington, in her first WTA final, without dropping a set.

She came into Flushing Meadows as the #28 seed, but had a string of eight 1r/2r exits in majors since her pair of 4th Rounds three years ago. But Brady was virtually peerless during the first week of play at this Open. She dropped just fourteen total games while knocking off Anna Blinkova, CiCi Bellis and Caroline Garcia, setting up today's Round of 16 match with 2016 title winner Angelique Kerber.

Again, Brady was dominant, controlling the match with her serve and forehand and forcing the German to work overtime to keep up.

An early break gave Brady a 1st set lead, and she coasted to a 6-1 victory, winning twice a many points as Kerber and converting on 75% of first serve points. She never face a break point, and took the set in just twenty-two minutes.

Brady broke to open the 2nd, as well. But after leading 40/love a game later, she suffered a bit of a lapse as Kerber stormed back, redirecting a backhand from the baseline for a crosscourt winner to reach BP, then getting the break back. But Brady broke the German's serve again in game #3. She then saved BP and held for 3-1, as Kerber continued to look for a crack in Brady's armor, but seemingly could find none. In game #6, Brady came back from 15/40 down to hold for 4-2.

Kerber saved two BP to avoid a 5-2 hold, keeping close at 4-3, then carved out BP chances in game #8 after Brady had taken a 40/15 lead on serve. But Brady didn't buckle, holding for 5-3. Serving for the match two games later, the Bannerette fired a big serve up the middle on MP, eliciting a long Kerber return that ended the 6-1/6-4 match.

Brady dropped her racket and raised her hands.

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Jen Brady displaying the finesse and power ??

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Even without what surely would have been a huge roar from the U.S. crowd in a *normal* Open, Brady just completed another step.

Tom will soon have a slew of Sundays to shine. By the time he plays his first game of the NFL season, Jen's fate at this Open will have been decided.

But don't be surprised if *both* are playing next weekend.



=DAY 7 NOTES=
...also during the day on Sunday, #23 Yulia Putintseva won a momentum-shifting encounter with #8 seed Petra Martic, and will advance to face Brady.



Both players grabbed early leads in the three-set match, with Putintseva racing out to a 5-0 advantage in the 1st en route to taking the set at 6-3, followed by Martic leading 4-2 in the 2nd on her way to a 6-2 win. Again Putintseva took a big lead in the 3rd, breaking to open the set and then leading 5-1. She served at 5-2, but had to try again (after a Martic MTO after game #9) at 5-4. She quickly locked away her third career slam QF berth, but first away from Paris (2016 & '18).



...late in the afternoon/early evening, while a bit of excitement was taking place on Ashe, #6 Petra Kvitova faced Bannerette Shelby Rogers on Armstrong. While most attention was diverted elsewhere, Rogers was in the process of joining countrywoman Brady in the quarterfinals, the second of her career ('16 RG).

Rogers claimed the 1st set after having lost an early break lead and being forced to hold from 4-5 and 5-6 down to force a TB. She won it 7-5, then again had to fight against fate in the 3rd after the Czech had knotted the score. Down 4-5, Rogers saved three MP to hold, then forced a TB. There, Kvitova led 5-3, served at 6-5 and DF'd on her fourth MP chance.



Two points later, Roger prevailed, 7-6(5)/3-6/7-6(6).



...on the day after the #1 women's doubles seeds -- Babos/Mladenovic -- were removed from the draw because of a change in the Nassau Country of New York rules that forced Kristina Mladenovic into quarantine due to previous contact with Benoit Paire, who'd tested postive for COVID-19 (then, I guess, *didn't* soon afterward), the defending champs -- #2 Elise Mertens & Aryna Sabalenka were sent packing by the first-time pairing of veterans Laura Siegemund & Vera Zvonareva.

After having a poor showing in singles, Sabalenka's troubles carried over today. She was having a hard time as Siegemund/Zvonareva grabbed a 6-4/3-1 lead. Mertens/Sabalenka battled to get back into the match, though. They failed to convert five BP chances in game #8, as the vets held for 5-3, but the defending champs saved two MP in a long game #9 in which Sabalenka twice DF'd on GP. They then broke at love a game later as Sabalenka briefly supercharged her game (likely out of anger, at one point seemingly almost decapitating "pulling a Djokovic" on Siegemund w/ an overhead) and took a 6-5 lead en route to a tie-break.

But then after all that work, Mertens/Sabalenka barely showed up for the final eight points. Sabalenka DF'd to start, then Mertens did, as well, three points later as they fell behind 3-1. They never won another point, losing 7-1.



Both Siegemund and (mostly) Zvonareva have successful doubles histories in majors. The Russian, of course, reached two singles finals in 2010, but also has three WD finals (winning two, including the '06 U.S. title) and two MX titles ('04 U.S.). Siegemund won the U.S. Open MX crown four years ago.

With the "withdrawal" of the #1 seeds, and today's upsets of #2 and #4 (Peschke/Schuurs lost to Blinkova/V.Kudermetova), the only seeded pair remaining (with two QF set to be played Monday) is #3 Melichar/Xu.

...tonight, #4 Naomi Osaka appears in her third featured night match through four rounds at this U.S. Open, facing #14 Anett Kontaveit. Last year as the defending champ, Osaka had just *one* such match on Ashe, and it didn't come until Night 6 (vs. Gauff).

The Estonian is looking to reach a second straight slam QF, while Osaka is seeking her first since winning the Australian Open last year.

...in Prague, Kristina Kucova (SVK) defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-4/6-3 to win this week's large-draw WTA 125 Series title. It's her biggest career title.




Lidziya Marozava & Andreea Mitu won the doubles.



...Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia picked up the title at the $25K challenger in Montemor-o-Nova, Portugal with a 6-1/6-4 win over Brit Jodie Anna Burrage. It's the former WTA finalist's ('17 Seoul) first singles title since 2017, when she won a $100K crown in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France and cracked the Top 100 for the first time. This was her first event since last year's Wimbledon, as she failed a drug test at the Croatia Open and has now served her suspension.



A week after winning her first pro title in Cordenons, Italy, 17-year old Zheng Qinwen got another this weekend in Marbella, Spain. The girls Roland Garros and U.S. Open semifinalist from a year ago, the Chinese teen defeated Russian Alina Charaeva 4-6/6-4/6-4 to take the $25K challenger crown. She's currently on a 14-1 run (12-1 in the Restart, with her only defeat a three-setter to Clara Tauson).

...by the way, Kerber's loss today eliminated one of my (unnamed) pre-Open four semifinal picks, but three still remain.




=WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16=
#28 Jennifer Brady/USA def. #17 Angelique Kerber/GER
#23 Yulia Putintseva/KAZ def. #8 Petra Martic/CRO
#4 Naomi Osaka/JPN v. #14 Anett Kontaveit/EST
Shelby Rogers/USA def. #6 Petra Kvitova/CZE
Alize Cornet/FRA v. (PR) Tsvetana Pironkova/BUL
#15 Maria Sakkari/GRE v. #3 Serena Williams/USA
Victoria Azarenka/BLR v. #20 Karolina Muchova/CZE
#16 Elise Mertens/BEL v. #2 Sofia Kenin/USA

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES QF=
Riske/Dabrowski (USA/CAN) v. Muhammad/Townsend (USA/USA)
#3 Melichar/Xu (USA/CHN) v. Carter/Stefani (USA/BRA)
Blinkova/V.Kudermetova def. #4 Peschke/Schuurs (CZE/NED)
(PR) Siegemund/Zvonareva (GER/RUS) def. #2 Mertens/Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)




KARMA IS UNDEFEATED, BABY ON DAY 7:





And let's not have a year(s) long discussion about what the rules are, and how they are applied. As *some* of us argued two years ago, if the rule says you're punished, you're punished. Whatever your name is. Whether you're world #1 or #201. Serena's issue two years ago was a case OF THE RULES BEING FOLLOWED. This was, as well. So let's not go through this sh** again, please... and someone on the ESPN set needed to throw a blanket over Brad Gilbert before he embarrassed himself. Eventually, I *think* Rennae Stubbs got through his skull.



I guess 2020 was just *not* going to stand for having the first Covid Slam won by a player that put together the Covid Summer Follies. But, hey, THE MEN WILL *FINALLY* GET A FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPION NOW. "U.S. Open: Thunderdome Edition" is a reality!

If Denis Shapovalov, he of that infamous '17 Davis Cup default after he hit a ball that struck the chair umpire, wins the title now, 2020 will be laughing its butt off.

Oh, and by the way, ESPN's Chris McKendry needs to stop with the tone of voice that makes it seem as if a player being defaulted from the U.S. Open is akin to a terrorist bombing or, you know, just about *everything* that's happened in the U.S. over the last six months. Just sayin'.


Hmmm... ON DAY 7:

Does this count half-credit toward my Prediction Blowout prognostication of a Top 10 player being defaulted from a slam singles match? (Crossing fingers.)


KARMA IS *STILL* WATCHING, Mister Man. So... ON DAY 7:



via GIPHY



BUIS UPDATE ON DAY 7:





"MOMMA!" ON DAY 7:




THOUGHTS ON DAY 7:

The Cornet Experience vs. the Pironkova Effect. Can one U.S. Open match handle it all?




SAYS-IT-ALL ON DAY 7:





WORDS ON DAY 7:




IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WATCH... ON DAY 7:

Now go break some more records.




JORDANNE WHILEY (5 years late) HAS ARRIVED TO DEFEND HER TITLE ON DAY 7:

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24hr isolation life

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"IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE DO, IT'S ABOUT THE TRY" ON DAY 7:





The title combination here is kind of self-explanatory.

First, I'm always game to play a little Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Here's "American Girl" (1976) from the 1985 Live Aid (with horns... and those glasses and sideburns... and a middle finger with a smile). It's already almost been three years since Petty died.

"Well she was an American girl
Raised on promises
She couldn't help thinkin' that there
Was a little more to life
Somewhere else
After all it was a great big world
With lots of places to run to
Yeah, and if she had to die tryin'
She had one little promise
She was gonna keep

Oh yeah, alright
Take it easy baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl"


When most people think of the song "American Woman" they probababy think of the Lenny Kravitz version from 1999. Here's the original version from The Guess Who from 1970 (with some "groovy" American Bandstand dancing). The lyrics sound like a pandemic tune now...

"American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come a hangin' around my door
I don't want to see your face no more
I got more important things to do"











kosova-font

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Longest legs on @wta tour ??

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The @usopen is underway and here are a few of my highlights at the @usopen over the years against Serena Williams,Martina Hingis and Elena Bovina. Thank you @usopen for the highlights and the post. Posted @withregram • @usopen As a teenage tennis phenom, dealing with hidden pressures and abuse, @dokic_jelena soared as high as World No. 4 in 2002. We'd like to showcase some of her blazing young talent in those early years in Flushing Meadows. ??: 2000-2002 #USOpen. _ #tennis #tennis?? #?? #wta #grandslam #memories #usopen #flashback #instatennis #throwback #tb #jelenadokic #australian #aussie #unbreakable #womenstennis #highlights #grandslam #tennisplayer #inspo #flushingmeadows #tennislove #instatennis #tenniscourt #usopentennis #instasport

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One for me, one for you ????

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kosova-font
**WTA "CAREER QF SLAM" - active**
[with slam at which completed]
Victoria Azarenka - 2012 US (28th)
Kim Clijsters - 2002 AO (11th)
Simona Halep - 2015 US (22nd)
Angelique Kerber - 2016 AO (33rd)
Madison Keys - 2018 RG (23rd)
Johanna Konta - 2019 US (24th)
Svetlana Kuznetsova - 2006 RG (16th)
Petra Kvitova - 2015 US (30th)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 2017 AO (37th)
Sloane Stephens - 2018 RG (25th)
Elina Svitolina - 2019 US (29th)
Serena Williams - 2001 RG (12th)
Venus Williams - 1998 WI (6th)
Vera Zvonareva - 2010 US (31st)

**CAREER SLAM QF - active**
52...Serena Williams, USA [to play 4th Rd.]
39...Venus Williams, USA
19...Kim Clijsters, BEL
16...Victoria Azarenka, BLR [to play 4th Rd.]
16...Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
14...Simona Halep, ROU
12...Petra Kvitova, CZE
9...Angelique Kerber, GER
[8...Jelena Jankovic, SRB]
8...Garbine Muguruza, ESP
7...Sara Errani, ITA
7...Madison Keys, USA
7...Karolina Pliskova, CZE
7...Samantha Stosur, AUS
7...Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
6...Kaia Kanepi, EST
6...Johanna Konta, GBR
6...Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
6...Sloane Stephens, USA
6...Elina Svitolina, UKR
6...Vera Zvonareva, RUS

**2020 MAJORS - FIRST CAREER SLAM QF**
=AO=
Ons Jabeur, TUN
Sofia Kenin, USA
Anett Kontaveit, EST
=US=
Jennifer Brady, USA
-
NOTE: Cornet and Sakkari to play 4th Rd. to reach first QF

**U.S. OPEN "BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKOUT" WINNERS**
2019 Kristie Ahn
2020 Jennifer Brady

**UNSEEDED/WC/Q in US OPEN QF w/ 32-SEED DRAW**
[began in 2001]
2001 - Bedanova
2002 - Bovina
2003 -
2004 - Asagoe
2005 -
2006 -
2007 - Szavay
2008 -
2009 - Wickmayer,K.Bondarenko,Oudin,Clijsters(wc)...[W -Clijsters]
2010 - Cibulkova
2011 - Kerber
2012 -
2013 - Hantuchova,Pennetta
2014 - Bencic,Peng
2015 - Mladenovic, Vinci...[RU-Vinci]
2016 - Konjuh,Sevastova,Wozniacki
2017 - Kanepi(q),Stephens...[W -Stephens]
2018 - Tsurenko
2019 -
2020 - Rogers
--
UNSEEDED STILL TO PLAY: Azarenka,Cornet,Pironkova



TOP QUALIFIER: DNP
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): Victoria Azarenka/BLR (winning streak to 7 matches)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): Nominee: #28 J.Brady
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): Nominee: 4r-Rogers d. #6 Kvitova 7-6(5)/3-6/7-6(6) - 4 MP saved
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: Sakkari, Kontaveit, Rogers, (wheelchair?)
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 4r: Brady(W), Kenin, Rogers(W), S.Williams
COMEBACK PLAYER: Tsvetana Pironkova/BUL (first event since '17 Wimb; def. #10 Muguruza in 2nd Rd.)
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: S.Williams, Azarenka, Kvitova, Cornet
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Jennifer Brady/USA
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 wine after 2nd Rd. victory)




Be Safe. All for Day 7. More tomorrow.
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