Hewitt was hitting with Matosevic. Hewitt doesn’t play his first rounder until Wednesday vs. Berdych.
Simona Halep, WTA world number two ranked player, was asked if she’s been recognized much in and around New York City and she said so far just one person noticed her: “A policeman. He told me, You are Simona Halep, no? Yes I am. Only one.”
Angie Kerber edged Ksenia Pervak in the first match on grandstand. The #6 seed cruised through the first set 62 but then found herself in a battle. Pervak, coached by Dusan Vemic since last October, and also a lefty began to outhit Kerber from the baseline. Pervak, who has a win over Wozniacki, took the match all the way to 55 in the third but then Kerber seemed to play it more safe and conservative. Experience the difference. A funny thing I remember from this match was after the first set Pervak took a bathroom break and took her racquet with her along with some kind of energy bar.
I saw three different WTA players in tears, disconsolate after losing in various parts of the grounds. One was huddled with her coach just inside one of the entrances near the kitchen area. Another walking back through an Ashe stadium entrance. The agony of losing is a part of tennis that doesn’t often rear it’s head in public view but it happens quite a bit. All of the players were unrecognizable so I can’t share any names.
There was some controversy in the Murray-Haase match. Haase was unprepared to go on second on Armstrong after Radwanska breezed through Fichman in under an hour. Murray, who lost to Haase before, jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Haase told the media he needed another half hour to prepare properly but he accepts it’s a part of the sport to be ready anyway. Haase found himself two sets down then suddenly woke up and blitzed Murray in the second set. In the fourth set Haase said he was up 42 and then missed “two stupid smashes” and then subsequently lost the set and match 57.
I saw the end of the fourth set, both players seemed tired and wilted under the heat. Haase saved a couple of match points to level it at deuce, at which point he tried to rally the crowd with the hand by ear sign and the Djokovic arm waves. He also did an elongated Nadal fist pump uppercut but he looked very fatigued while doing so. I commented to Callum who was with me at the time that it was the most tired looking fist pump I ever saw.
Murray seemed to be bothered by some kind of shoulder pain but on the next point he hit a backhand winner on the first ball. Some shoulder injury. Haase never won another point. But after the match Haase seemed rather annoyed with the media about being denied treatment when he asked for it after the first set because of a foot injury. He said he’s going to address the issue with the ATP.
Tommy Robredo won in straight sets vs. Vasselin and after the match he was asked by the media in the room six cubicle about the Spanish Armada and the differences of it now and ten years ago. Robredo said in the prime years of the Armada, most of the players were based in Barcelona so they were always battling it out with each other in practice, the best vs. the best, on a daily basis. Now, the Spanish players are spread out over different regions of Spain, Madrid, Valencia, etc. Could this be a reason why Spain has not been producing as many top top players as it used to? There was a hint of wistfulness in Robredo’s words as he explained this.
Robredo, the number sixteen seed, also said when he was a young player there were so many top Spanish players to be inspired by. Now there are less. When you think about it, Spain has struggled to produce premier talent since Nadal. Agut, Granollers, Andujar, Busta, GG Lopez, Ramos-Vinolas, Traver are good solid players but it’s a far cry from the prime years of the “Spanish Armada.”
I spoke with a Yonex rep. Yonex is about to sign Wawrinka to a near $20 million deal to continue to wear and use Yonex equipment. He also told me a story about how Hewitt was having some problems with a new Yonex racquet he was using. In San Jose a few years ago, Hewitt switched his Yonex in the match. It was a bad match by Hewitt and he was verbally complaining about the racquet. A video surfaced, which found it’s way to Yonex, with Hewitt criticizing the racquet. Yonex put a stop to that. Hewitt also voicemailed some negative comments about the equipment, “What’s wrong with this racquet mate? I can’t hit a forehand with it mate.” Hewitt is also said to have had problems in Cincy with his Yonex equipment. Hopefully he’ll have it sorted out when he takes on Berdych tomorrow.
Vasek Pospisil may be jinxed here in NY. He lost a bad match last year up seven or eight match points. Yesterday he lost a five setter to ATP #85 Simone Bolelli.
Maria Sharapova dominated Kirilenko. She was asked who she would like to play mixed doubles with on this the tenth anniversary of when she last played mixed doubles. Maria said, not friend Grigor Dimitrov, but Johnny Mac. If he’d be interested. Johnny Mac are you listening?
No tags
EddietheEagle · August 26, 2014 at 9:32 am
Murray acting out, as usual. Haase had him on the ropes but choked, bigtime.
Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2014 at 10:15 am
Looks like Haase did choke Eddie. He was quite perturbed with the press after, definitely biting his tongue and holding back some words. Some of the big boys were there too, Mike Dickson, Chris Clarey, Kevin Mitchell.
Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Former Delray Beach doubles champ Hugo Armando: “I feel Federer’s confidence is pretty high. Rafa is out. Djokovic has not looked great, same for Murray. I feel like he smells the blood in the water and when Fed is like that it’s dangerous.”
Mike · August 27, 2014 at 12:58 am
“Haase had him on the ropes but choked, bigtime.”
We’ve seen that same story on that same court (up 2 sets love on Murray, USO, Armstrong court, 2011).
Mike · August 27, 2014 at 1:25 am
“I spoke with a Yonex rep. Yonex is about to sign Wawrinka to a near $20 million deal to continue to wear and use Yonex equipment.”
Fantasy-land. I wouldn’t believe Yonex is paying Stan $20 million without reviewing the actual contact and perhaps not even them. That rep is either uninformed or blowing smoke up your rear. Stan is what, 29 ? Completely unknown outside of tennis and moderately popular within. There is no way those dollars are real. Maybe $20 million including the $19.5 million bonus if and when Stan wins a Calendar year grand slam. Seriously, did you just fall off the turnip truck ? You need to have your B.S. meter calibrated because it is way off.
Mike · August 27, 2014 at 1:26 am
contract (not contact). Would you guys PLEASE use a tool that allows users to edit for a certain period after posting.
Ken · August 27, 2014 at 8:37 am
Do you know why Frew McMillan is not on the English-language Eurosport program I receive in Switzerland — probably through the German feed — this year?
In the past, one has been able to switch from the German commentary (often non-sensical) in order to listen to him on the English language commentary.
Perhaps he is on the British-only version of Eurosport or Sky or whatever.
Do you have any idea?
Scoop Malinowski · August 27, 2014 at 9:06 am
Ken, I will try to find out why today.
Bryan · August 27, 2014 at 8:25 pm
All three of my favorite men Isner, Gulbis and Jerzy advanced so it’s a good start. Janowicz can never seem to win in routine fashion. Had that dude beaten in the 3rd with no answer to his superior firepower and he lets him win the set. I’ll be surprised if he makes it through another round.
Scoop Malinowski · August 27, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Gulbis romped and so did Thiem, they meet next round. Saw Wayne Bryan roaming the grounds as his boys were playing Mirnyi and Youzhny. Thought he might want to see his boys play US Open night match on Armstrong, no?