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U.S. Open Day One Monday Observations & Scoops
Nikolay Davydenko is on Armstrong battling it out with Michael Russell, As I walk by the video screen, Russell breaks early to go up 2-1. After visiting the media center I head back to see if Iron Mike can put a Tyson-style beating on the clever Russian, the #6 seed. They are deadlocked at 4-4, 30-all and Russell has Davydenko on the run to the backhand side. Russell (ATP #80) comes in and Davydenko smacks a backhand but the American mishandles the makeable volley into the net. A critical miss. Of course, Davydenko wins the next point for the break and will serve it out. He goe up 40-15 when Russell misses again, a backhand into the net. The supportive crowd realizes this is really the end of the match and let’s out a collective sympathetic ‘Awhhh.’ Many get up to exit. Davydenko proceeds to eliminate his pesky opponent, 64 61 63.
I like the game of Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania. In a match-up for U.S. Open junior boys champions, Berankis takes on Ryan Sweeting on Court 4. Berankis is on the smaller side, maybe 5-8, but he is a machine on the court, very smart, quick, and always seems to make the correct shots. His progress up the ATP rankings has been gradual over the last three years – he’s at #124 now – but he looks to me like he will eventually become a TV player – or a top 30 player. Sweeting smashes a racquet and screams as he suffers his way to a down a set and a break disadvantage to Berankis. This is when I leave the match, but I later find that pulls out the second set in a tiebreak (7-5). But Berankis is a better mover, more consistent, just the superior player though Sweeting is ranked #113. Berankis win the next two sets 63 62 for an interesting date with #13 seed Jurgen Melzer in the second round.
Talk about hard court machines, #11 seed Marin Cilic had a battle on his hands on Court 7 with Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko. Cilic overcame a spirited start by Marchenko who tried to make it a slugfest but he didn’t have enough to seriously trouble the highly touted Croatian. Cilic cruised 75 63 61.
The player’s lounge cafeteria is buzzing, myself and Dan Markowitz walk by the table of Uncle Toni Nadal who is having lunch with Nalbandian. Dan is working on a feature for TENNIS Magazine about how marriage effects players. I show him Todd Martin, who at the later stage of his very successful ATP career, married a Jersey girl, and when Todd finishes the last spoons of his bowl of soup, gives Dan a very thoughtful digress on the subject. After, Dan says that the professorial Todd Martin is one of the most intelligent players he’s interviewed and I completely concur.
Dan also approaches Mrs. Hewitt at another table but she politely and very nicely declines, preferring to stay on the side. Brooklyn Decker is also at a table talking with a friend but Dan decides not to approach the SI Swimsuit superhero also known as Mrs Andy Roddick.
We sit and have lunch with Kathy Horvath who is with her son R.J. Horvath once defeated Navratilova at the French Open and commutes several days a week fromm Short Hills, N.J. to the BJK National Tennis Center where she helps coach. R.J. is also a swimmer and baseball player – centerfielder – and plays some national tournaments.
Guy Forget is getting ready to sit down and take care of business with a sandwich as I ask him for a quick anecdote/memory of Marcelo Rios which he very nicely gives me his perspective on the Chilean marvel for my future book. Magnus Norman is limping by slowly with his torn achilles and he too shares a nice memory of Rios, revealing that he was friendly with Rios as were many of the Swedes. I suddenly see Gilad Bloom is talking with Craig Kardon. Which is a pleasant surprise as I know Bloom defeated Rios last year on the Senior Tour. He shares a fantastic 8-minute account of his Rios match experience which has me laughing out loud about five times. What a great, fantastic story about Rios from Gilad Bloom which could be a feature in itself in TENNIS Magazine – it’s that good. Who helped Bloom get his five-years tournament rusty game ready for Rios? None other than Johnny Mac. Bloom also talks with us later about various tennis topics and reveals that he is also a musician and has a band that has four dates coming up in the next two months at various NYC spots. Me and Dan are going to watch the Gilad Bloom Band.
One of the most eye-catching sites of the day is Sania Mirza’s hot pink tight, almost Lycra long legged pants. Let me just say that a few of the reporters did not miss seeing the Indian beauty’s stylish attire. Whew.
Hey, there’s Jimmy Connors in the player’s lounge at a filled table. Dan asks Jimmy about how marriage effected his tennis but at first jokes he doesn’t remember. He chews on the unexpected question and then offers Dan that he will need to think about it, and leaves the door open with an “I’ll be here.” I tell Jimmy, who told me last year he was a big Mike Tyson fan, that I spoke with Tyson in May and Iron Mike told me that he once played tennis with Jimbo’s Tennis Channel colleague Martina Navratilova at his home in N.J. and maybe he can ask Martina to tell the story on the air. Jimmy seems to like the idea.
Daniela Hantuchova defeats Dinara Safina – boy, what happened to her? – but then has to do interviews in the hallway outside (not even inside) Interview Room 3. Not exactly star treatment but the polite Slovakian veteran hardly makes a fuss.
Rafa Nadal is practicing on P1 Court and it’s Nadalmania out there. Huge crowds in quiet and respectful awe, trying to see the world’s best tennis player do his thing. Nadal is looking sharp and strong, and he’s going through all his rituals of fingering hair behind ears, etc. before he serves on every point. He is so dominant I can’t even remember the ATP player he is pounding on. My eyes and camera are captivated by Nadal who is looking in 100% Crush, Kill, Destroy mode – on the practice courts! Be very afraid Mr. Gabashvili, be very afraid.
I get Biofiles with Alejandro Falla, Marcin Matkowski. Marta Domachowska. I try for Fabio Fognini but he says he’s about to have a discussion with his Davis Cup captain, and says he will do it at another time.
Vania King holds off the local New Jersey girl and very impressive 18-year-old Christina McHale who has the shots, the poise, the fighting heart, all the qualities but Dan thinks she might be a little too slow a foot right now. King, who has won a WTA singles title and a grand slam doubles title, prevents the upset by winning the last match on Court 13.
That’s all for now, see you on Wednesday!
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