I arrive at 11, walk around to see some juniors – Nicole Gibbs of Stanford is playing Grace Min, also a Californian. It’s a typical baseline battle level at 2-2. It’s going to be a long one.
Wheelchair action is going on too, Peter Norfolk and David Wagner renew their epic rivalry, every time they cross paths it seems to go to 7-5 or 7-6 in the third set. Amazing how every time they wage war it’s the same story with each taking their share of victories.
I spot Robert Federer walking by me right in front of the ESPN station by the fountains in front of Ashe while John McEnroe is a few feet away being interviewed behind a screen. It’s surprising to see Poppa Federer out on the grounds at this time. So I stop and watch to see where he’s headed – to get a hot dog? A Nike shirt at the Nike store? An ice cream cone at Haagen Dasz?
None of the above. Wearing beige shorts, and a striped shirt, with Nike shoes and a red RF hat in his hand, a slightly hobbling Mr. Federer slyly blends into the line at the front of Ashe and enters the stadium like a fan. But Mr. Fed, kind of edged into the line on the side and not the end. No one actually recognizes him, I guess not wearing the hat and being a little bit overweight, is an effective disguise. Or who else would expect to see Robert Federer waiting on line to get into Ashe.
When I enter Ashe and take my seat at 11:45, Mr. Federer is in the Fed camp box, by himself, watching Nadal practice. Rafa is with Uncle Toni and an unidentified junior lefty. Nadal is wearing dark shorts, off white shirt and a black Nike cap on backwards. They bash the ball to each other from the baseline for about ten minutes, quite fiercely too I might add, with Toni keenly watching from inside the court and interjecting his comments and advices.
Then Nadal practices his deuce court serves and when the first ball comes he hammers the first strike. They do this for about 7 minutes, then Rafa serves to the ad court box. When they finish Rafa, hustles over to the other side of the net to thank and shake hands with the other coach and junior player. He then takes off the white overgrip on his Babolat and exits the court, but not before signing for all the people/kids reaching their hands out by the exit corner.
Meanwhile, Mr. Federer is still chilling in the box as the guests of Team Fed arrive. But so does the rain and the high noon starting time is in jeopardy. Roger and Nole have not entered the court yet and it’s just past 12. Suddenly, the drops become a shower and the linespeople scamper off the court as do most of the fans.
Stay tuned for more updates…
Judy Murray out watching junior SF of Kyle Edmond vs. Jiri Vesely a lefty. Sebastien Nadal with another man hanging out in the picnic area watching the second set of Fed-Djok on the big screen in front of Ashe.
What a simply incredible performance by both Federer and Djokovic but this one has to be devastating for Roger. Two more match points at 5-4 in the fifth. I thought the arms in the air reaction by Djokovic after the forehand winner crosscourt at 40-15 to save one match point was the turning point. Before that point, the stadium was 100% with Fed, the roars were deafening. But when Djok raised his arms, many fans roared and he got to hear a huge applause for himself, again. I think that really lifted him. Then he made a return and Fed missed the inside out forehand to go back to deuce. Djokovic survived that game and Fed deflated. Djokovic is just unbeatable right now. One loss on the year – the loss to Murray in Cincy wasn’t a true loss, as he seemed half injured (shoulder) and half wanting to get to New York. It’s just been a magical year for the Serbian wonder.
Federer played a magnificent match, it was sad to see someone lose it, but there has to be questions about the staying power of Federer to maintain high level tennis for five sets. Two straight five set losses in majors with a two set lead is going to be tough to shake off. But if anyone can, Fed can. One photographer walked by me a few minutes ago and whispered, “Fed’s finished.” I responded, “They said the same thing about Sampras.
One of the best matches I’ve ever seen, beautiful shocking aesthetic tennis. It’s hard to imagine how good the top players will be in 2020 or 2030.
Surprising sight: Melzer strolling around the outer courts watching junior boys doubles, he was just eating a popcorn at Golding/Brody vs. Kern/Lenz. By the way it was Liam Broady who was the lefty junior hitting earlier today with Rafa on Ashe.
Pardon the gossip but I spotted Bill McAtee strolling the grounds/holding hands with his Asian ladyfriend.
A trusty source told me this might be Dick Enberg’s final grand slam call for network television. It’s been an illustrious and incredible career for Dick Enberg, who was a major voice of tennis back in the 70’s for NBC calling Wimbledon. Potential replacement: Ian Eagle.
Grace Min beat Gibbs in girls singles. Gibbs and Kyle McPhillips lost in doubles tonight, to the #8 seeds Kromacheva, a Russian lefty, and Schoors, a Dutch girl with some nifty hands.
During the Fed-Djokovic match, the big screen showed several famous spectators, including Michael Douglas, wife Catherine Zeta Jones, Todd Martin, Ben Stiller, Justin Timberlake, Jeremy Piven, P Diddy. Only Douglas and Martin received an applause, the others got the silent treatment. Where was Spike Lee this afternoon? Oh, seems he only supports black athletes.
No tags
Michael · September 10, 2011 at 5:42 pm
I got in late at 12. So I just missed you.
Stayed at C. Garcia (#1 seed and either Andy Murray’s pick for a future #1 or he just wants a date) until the rain.
Poppa Fed always hangs in the crowd. I see him every finals sitting on the edge of the fountains waiting to go in.’A lot of people do recognize him but no one bothers him. He’s a civilian, I guess.
Mitch · September 10, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Oh god. Not again.
Michael · September 10, 2011 at 9:59 pm
5:56. Bigger crowd then expected on Armstrong. Probably because day people are in Ashe and night people can’t get in until Williams. Conversely day people can’t get into armstrong but night can.
U need a spreadsheet to figure out what u can see.
Michael · September 10, 2011 at 10:00 pm
I meant grandstand, not Armstrong. It’s been a long day already.
Scoop Malinowski · September 10, 2011 at 11:31 pm
Grandstand is surprisingly full for this match, Stosur takes first but Kerber up 4-1 in second. Good atmosphere but a severe lack of Aussie Aussie Aussie oy Oy OY chants.
Michael · September 10, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Top of Ashe, West side, 720pm, looking toward Manhattan. Sunset. Amazing red and yellow sky framing Manhattan,
Red is getting killed by Blue on the court below me.
Andrew Miller · September 11, 2011 at 12:20 am
Dick Enberg retiring? Not to offend too many people, but to me he’s the worst announcer in pro tennis. Just an opinion.
Federer’s press conference pretty incredible. Must have been an amazing match. Wonder what Federer feels about the Federer-Annacone relations. Will Annacone stay on board after a slam-less year?
Michael · September 11, 2011 at 12:35 am
I went into Ashe after Novak won the 3rd. The crowd was very pro-Fed. Not
Me. I wanted a 5th set tiebreaker. Can’t always get what you want.
It felt like deja vu with 2010. Great stuff. Djoker, like Tsonga, also mentioned the importance of “the show” in NY.
Murray just blew break point as I hit enter. The crowd wants a 5th set.
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2011 at 3:59 am
Dick Enberg may be one of the worst now with how many very good TV tennis pundits and commentators there are, but once upon a time Dick Enberg was the best in the business. I heard him recently from the 70’s when they replayed an old match on NBC at Wimbledon and he and Bud Collins were excellent together. Really sharp nice voice and just the best set up man in the TV biz. I forgot how good he really was. He was superb on NFL games too. The man is a legend in TV sports broadcasting though today the new generation doesn’t remember or realize how good at his craft he once was.
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2011 at 4:04 am
The crowd was almost rabid pro Fed in the fifth set but when Djok hit that winner on the first match point and then raised his hands like asking the crowd like Come on, you gotta give me some love after that. And they did and it was the turning point. That action by Djok with his arms after the shot was the turning point. He got energy and power from that crowd support. He said himself after: “I was trying to get the crowd on my side and you know, I did. That’s what he does. It’s normal. At this level you need that in order to win.” Djok’s arm gesture to the crowd got him the support which he needed to be able to come back and win the match. Absolutely brilliant move by Djok. He is the smartest player in tennis.
Michael · September 11, 2011 at 6:43 am
Day 13. I arrive late, around noon, and head out to court 10 to see #1 seed Caroline Garcia play #3 seed Ashleigh Barty in the girls semis. A couple of games later Garcia is up 5-2 in the second ready to serve for the match when the rain comes. It doesn’t last long. Obviously Ashe is priority so it takes a long time to get the girls going again. Finally Garcia serves it out.
I head over to some boys doubles and I bump into Scoop. Talk talk talk. We part to head up to Ashe. Him to wherever “M” placards go during the semis, me to my seat.
Funny how a few points can change perception of where a player is at in his career. Fed serves it out and stops Djoker at two Majors dampening down the greatest season talk as well as the Fed is done talk. But he doesn’t. The Djoker legend grows and a win Monday helps the greatest season ever claim.
I head to the Grandstand to see Stosur which starts at 6pm. It was fairly crowded when I got there and very crowded when I left. I heard back in Ashe that eventually it filled to the point they weren’t letting more people in. No disrespect to Stosur and what’s her name but the night people had no where else to go until Murray-Nadal ended.
After the utter confusion from all the rescheduled sessions and the general annoyance it caused people, I applaud the USTA for kicking the photographers out of the seats behind the baseline in the Grandstand. The USTA knew the Grandstand was going to fill up for Stosur’s semi and the seats should go to people that have paid for tickets.
I stay for a set and then back to Ashe.
Murray gives another pretty dismal account of himself deep in a Major. He had chances to break early in the fourth but after being unable to he basically went away. I think I only continue pick him out of stubbornness.
The usual difficulty clearing out the day crowd and bringing in the night. Pretty good crowd for Serena. It’s about as pro-Serena as it was pro-Fed. But not as loud. Because she’s killing the in name only #1 player in the world so I suppose she doesn’t need the extra loud cheers.
The match ends around 1130pm or so. What, there’s more ? Men’s doubles final. Melzer and Somebody against Somebody and Somebody. If these four were on a field court a few days earlier there would be only a handful of people. But it’s Ashe and the finals and, of course, after everyone bolted after Serena they announce that the peasants can come down from the sky and sit courtside. Thanks. I stay up in the loge. But a bunch of people pile into the courtside seats. At least for a few games until it sinks in that they are watching Melzer, somebody, somebody and somebody play doubles and that it’s past midnight and maybe they should get some sleep instead.
Melzer wins. Gimelstob is sent out to do the interview. Sounds like the same questions he always asks but it’s so vacant up in the loge his voice gets lost. If anyone can name the Men’s doubles runner-up by tomorrow I’ll be impressed.
That’s all folks.
Michael · September 11, 2011 at 6:48 am
I forgot to mention after Garcia and before boys doubles I was out on court 4 where King and Shrevdova [sic ?] were practicing for their doubles finals. A total of two other people came by while I was there. If either of them recognized either King or Shrevdova as tennis pros they didn’t let on.
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2011 at 11:52 am
That was Fyrstenberg and Matkowski, of Poland in the doubles final Michael, their first slam final. My source in the locker room told me Matkowski asked for the staff to somehow get the HBO heavyweight title fight between Vitali Klitschko against Poland’s Tomasz Adamek on the TV yesterday late afternoon, which was at the end of the Fed-Djok match. With 42000 Poles in a soccer stadium, it was hardly an inspiration for the Poles as Adamek was totally dominated and beaten up by Vitali and the ref stopped it by TKO in round ten. BTW, someone told me Caroline Woz met McIlrory at the July Wladimir Klitschko-Haye fight in Germany. Murray was there too.
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2011 at 11:53 am
King and Shvedova are the defending US Open champs.
Michael · September 11, 2011 at 1:48 pm
You win.
I think the doubles runner-ups lost to Mike and Bob last year. They need more fan friendly names – like Mike and Bob.
Yeh, I saw the womens doubles last year. I knew them but they could walk through the crowd and not turn a head.
Scoop Malinowski · September 11, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Rohan and Aisam, better known as the Indo Pak Express lost to the Bryans last year. King and Shvedova won two slams last year, Wimbledon and US. But doubles stars are often overlooked by the media – for examples, Peschke, Srebotnik, Cara Black, Leizl Huber, Zimonjic. You don’t see many interviews with them, except for here at tennis-prose.com )
Andrew Miller · September 11, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Scoop, good point about Djokovic as smartest pro in ATP tennis. No doubt. My hunch is smartest players (meaning use of tools on court):
1) Djokovic (can’t really argue with this year! – use of crowd, I mean sheesh, he turned them on Federer, unbelievable. Makes me wonder – Federer too much of an old-school gentleman to unleash a crowd on Djokovic? During French Open, sounds like Djokovic didnt make any gesture to the crowd to help him win – clearly, the man learns from his past – that’s as smart as you can get during a match that hinges on very little)
2) Nadal. Nadal makes adjustments that other players dont.
3) Federer – you just dont get to 16 slams without being extraordinarily good with a tennis ball and able to make mid-match adjustments. Seems he wasnt able to adjust to Djokovic during his match – reason he’s behind Nadal and Djokovic is not necessarily age (which is part of it) but also using all the tools at his disposal at the right time – including the crowd. Funny that Federer feels he’s above that, or that it’s a low stopping tactic (he used to feel the same way about the drop shot).
Maybe Harrison was right when he said “To be honest with you, Federer, personally, if he had a little more fire, it would help him get back to the top.”
That includes giving the crowd not only a reason to applaud, but also a reason to participate. That comment from Harrison also makes me think that Harrison fully intends to use the crowd. Maybe he WILL be a better player.
4) Murray – Murray is a smart player that adjusts.
Fish and Tsonga are also smart players on court. They both keep making adjustments. I am happy for Fish he’s top ten. You hope it’s not too little too late for him and that he will get the slam semifinal he’s hoping for.
Scoop Malinowski · September 12, 2011 at 12:45 am
Boy it sure is going to be interesting in Paris next year when Roger plays Djokovic and will have the full Chatrier court on his side 100%. Djokovic will have to use his intelligence to thwart that gang up situation like he did yesterday but failed to do at the French Open SF earlier this year. Look for Djokovic to somehow curry favor with the French people. Maybe he will take up learning to speak French this fall, that might help.
Michael · September 12, 2011 at 4:51 am
“But doubles stars are often overlooked by the media ”
Yeh, I think I remember a New Yorker article about how The Bryans saved Doubles. At least in the US, I think its the case. Those are really the only two that seem to get any Media attention at all.
Zen Master · September 12, 2011 at 6:55 am
scoop, its seems mayweather is retracting again his words and willingness to fight manny pacquaio! whats your take on djoko and nadal? i have to go for nadal in five sets, djoko seems tired and weak physically now to go for four to five sets. nadal still fresh and i can see this happening! djoko will be down by the matador from spain!
Scoop Malinowski · September 12, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Zen; I like Djokovic to beat Nadal for the sixth final in a row. It’s going to be a very difficult task for Nadal to overcome the mental block he has about playing Djokovic but if anyone can it’s Rafa. Can’t wait for this one, could be an all time US Open classic. Rafa is going to fight for this win like his life depends on it. He’s going to fight like we have never seen him fight before. War on! About Phloyd Mayweather – he’s a fraud coward liar hypocrite and a disgrace to the sport of boxing and America. Boxing needs to flush this disgrace down the toilet. It’s a big worry for boxing about how many more fraud coward boxers Floyd will inspire? How many more manufactured fraud boxers will Al Haymon manufacture into false stars on HBO with all his HBO dates? How many more suepr fights like Pacquiao-Mayweather will go down the drain because of Al Haymon’s protecting of his Mayweather manufactured phony stars? Like a Hall of Famer told me, Al Haymon is ruining boxing.
Tom Michael · September 12, 2011 at 2:20 pm
I believe Djoker wins in four today. He is playing better than Nadal period. He grinds out long points with the intent of exposing the crappy backhand of Nadal. Much like the way Rafa exposed the crappy backhand of Federer. However, I believe that Nadal has the ability to turn this around maybe even next year because the technical and tactical adjustments are easy to attain. It is not like Rafa is facing power that is superior to his own; meanwhile, Roger had to face the heavy topspin of Rafa, and a five year age gap in Rafa’s favor. Rafa has to improve his footwork on his backhand first and be willing to not run around it like he has in the past. That is 90% of the solution.
But for now, Rafa is not confident that he has made the necessary improvements in the two months since Wimbledon to beat Novak. But I really respect that Rafa gives credit where and to whom it is due. He does not play any psychological denial tactics. He looks at the situation realistically. A friend of mine told me it is part of the Spanish culture to answer questions like about Novak’s domination of him in a respectful and realistic manner. His head is not in the clouds.
Novak beats Rafa because he is playing better than him. I personally like Rafa for respectfully acknowledging this. Vamos Rafa! You are class personified. God bless you always!
Scoop Malinowski · September 12, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Will Rafa make any technical or tactical changes in how he plays Djokovic this time? That is the BIG question. After Wimbledon John McEnroe asked Rafa about any changes he made after losing four times in a row to Djokovic and Rafa said he didn’t, basically that he had to just make the shots to win next time. That could be stubborn thinking on Rafa’s part, losing five in a row now to Djok might signal that it’s time to make a change. Rafa and Uncle Toni were always about change and trying to improve his game but for some odd reason they keep trying the same losing battleplan vs. Djok and it keeps coming up short. One other thing, Mr. Tom, I don’t see how you can call Rafa and Fed’s backhands crappy when only one man in the world has been able to break it down. One Man – Djokovic. Their backhands are excellent, but only vulnerable and not impregnable when Novak Djokovic is on the other side of the net.
Scoop Malinowski · September 12, 2011 at 2:57 pm
What changes can Rafa actually make? Maybe it’s impossible for him to beat the A game of Djokovic at full 100% strength. Maybe the best Rafa just can’t beat the best Djokovic in a straight up match, without extreme fan influence such as what happened at the French Open where the crowd was emphatically favoring Fed and it affected Djok’s performance IMO.
Tom Michael · September 12, 2011 at 3:05 pm
First of all, Djokovic does not break down Federer’s backhand. It is the opposite. Fed’s cross-court backhand slice breaks down Djoker’s backhand. Fed lost to Djoker because his speed and agility around the court has declined thanks to age; despite this, he went to 2 match points up. Fed’s cross-court slice can not break down Nadal’s forehand. Period! That option is taken away thanks to Nadal’s leftiness.
Both Rafa and Fed protected their backhands thanks to their speed to run around it, and their amazing forehands. Neither man hits enough winners off it. Djoker improved many areas of his game: fitness, improved speed around the court by a quarter step, improved forehand especially his inside-in and cross-court, improved strategy to adjust for different opponents, improved volleys, and improved temperament. Fortunately, Novak always had a great backhand, and he never runs around it except if inside the court, and a couple feet to the left of the center line. Rafa’s backhand was always crappy: too open-stance (which is adequate for clay because can slide out of the stroke to close the stance; but not for the fast courts, which requires the early closure of the stance in the stroke preparation), makes few winners, and can barely hit his down the line with authority. He runs around it more when nervous, and this is going to be his down-fall in the final today. He will even run around it even from the doubles alleys of the deuce side of the court, while three feet behind the baseline. Add to that little disguise on his serve: too predictable by going to the righty’s backhand. And if he wins the toss, he will elect to receive instead of serve, because he always does. Even if it means he is going to serve down 4-5 or 5-6. Better coaching can actually fix these issues, but Rafa is too loyal to add a consultant to his team.
Anyway, I will watch the final for entertainment purposes only. It will still feature beautiful ball-striking and athletic movement. But Nadal’s technical and tactical problems with his backhand will be his downfall. As it has been the last five losses. This match-up is a lot less psychological than people realize. If Djoker loses despite better technical or tactical preparation, then someone can bring up some mental issues. However, I do not see that happening.
Michael · September 13, 2011 at 5:03 am
“but once upon a time Dick Enberg was the best in the business.”
Once upon a time we had a balanced budget, a trade surplus and a manufacturing base with solid middle class jobs.
Rafael Nuh-Dawl.
Everyone pronounces Nadal one of two ways. Na with either a hard or soft “a” and then doll.
Not Enberg. Nuh-Dawl.