I’m not on the grounds of the 2021 US Open but my correspondent is and he said the first day crowd is about half the typical size for a US Open opening day, which he says “I love it.”
Simona Halep survived a fierce fight from Canadian Open champion Camila Giorgi and escaped the tough draw with a very hard fought 64 76 win. Halep served for victory twice and failed but settled down in the tiebreak despite the early mini break down to take control at 4-3 when Giorgi suddenly made three errors to end it. Halep was furious at her failures and smacked balls around, almost hitting a photographer in the photo pit of Court 17, she also directed some very angry glares at her box inhabited by Darren Cahill as usual.
Mackenzie McDonald is practicing again with Pablo Carreno Busta.
Keys vs Stephens on Ashe now, rematch of US Open final four years ago, now they meet first round…
Karlovic falls as expected to mighty Rublev.
Keys falls again to Sloane 76 in third.
Danielle Collins disposes of Suarez Navarro. Collins is a dangerous floater.
Andy was in control of Tsistipas but choked away his second set stranglehold for a two set lead. Andy was chattering and gesturing madly to his box despite being in the winning position in the second set. As if he knew a choke was coming and it did. Andy netted a backhand cross court rally in the TB and then double faulted. He choked it but won the third set then Tsitsipas worked in his bathroom breaks and ended up winning 64 in the fifth. Andy was upset but as a veteran he should be able to deal with such stall tactics by now.
Coco Gauff roared back from a set down vs Magda Linette with Aga Radwanska in Linette’s corner.
Incredible five set win from two sets down by Rinderkneck vs Kecmanovic with Nalbandian in his corner.
Kevin Anderson won in five vs Vesely, another marathon.
Feliciano Lopez, the iron man of all iron men lost in five to Miralles the qualifier.
Osaka won easily as did Krejcikova.
Tiafoe beat Eubanks and Giron won too, for the American armada.
Nakashima beat out Isner 76 76 64, another stunning win for Nakashima over an in form Isner.
Also an incredible win by old man Kohlschreiber from two sets down vs Cilic, made Cilic quit at 0-2 in fifth.
Trungeliti saved six MPs in qualies vs Kocavecic and today wins in five sets vs Fokina Davidovich 57 63 75 67 64.
And Carlos Alcarez the 18 year old spanish bull KOs Cam Norrie routinely 64 64 63. Beware of this kid.
Day 2
Mackenzie McDonald domainted 27 seed David Goffin in three sets.
Hubi Hurkacz dominated Gerasimov in three sets.
Ernesto Escobedo blew out Pablo Cuevas in three sets.
Zverev dismissed Querrey easily in three sets.
Vera Zvonareva pushed top seed Ash Barty to the limit in the second set breaker but the WTA world no. 1 ultimately survived the test.
Nishikori wins in 4.
Sebi Korda was strickened by the ill effects of some kind of food poisoning and retired in the second set vs Basilashvili.
Stay tuned for more US Open updates and coverage…
Djoker Fan · September 1, 2021 at 9:49 pm
I agree with your “correspondent.” You are missing one of the best USO in years as far as dan experience though were are getting some great matches as well.
I read they had about 41,000 opening day 2019. It was miserably crowded that day. This year opening day had about 31,000. That 10,000 less is the difference between crazy crowded on the grounds and can walk around without crowds everywhere. It’s been fun with a ton of great matches so far.
Alcaraz looks very promising, I agree. His movement is excellent. And Sinner is the real deal.
It’s not too late to get a vaccination and come out. Don’t be so afraid. It won’t hurt you. BE BRAVE and then watch great tennis. You owe it to yourself to be onsite for this historic possible CYGS.
Scoop Malinowski · September 1, 2021 at 9:59 pm
Djoker Fan yes this is a very special US Open. The four matches decided by 76 in the fifth. Cressy saving 4 MPSs vs Pablo. Su Wei Hsieh still winning. Raducanu getting better every match. Alcaraz could take out Tsitsipas. The conspiracy by certain players to embarrass and humiliate Tsitsipas about his toilet breaks reminds one of the Wimbledon Gruntometer and so many players uniting to embarrass Seles about her grunting in 91? The Americans winning so many matches impressively this year. The Russians. The Next Gens. Zverev ready to win his first. Osaka has her head back on right. Barty looks superb. Muguruza could win it. I have had tickets offered but not taken them. Also I’m going to Switzerland next week for a vacation with my friendgirl. So will watch some matches from Zurich. Correspondent loves this Open, said he loves the Murray Tsip conflict, tennis needs more of these conflicts. Also said he saw one of his favorites Pablo Cuevas practicing before his match vs Escobedo with nobody else watching. This is probably the final Open for Cuevas.
Scoop Malinowski · September 1, 2021 at 10:01 pm
Scoop: Annet Kontaveit is now coached by Dmitri Tursunov. Tursunov is a superb coach, Kontaveit is a terrific player. This union could produce some huge results. Also, I didn’t know Kyrgios and his long time agent since juniors, John Morris, have parted ways and Kyrgios is now managed solely by IMG’s Carlos Fleming.
Bill McGill · September 2, 2021 at 11:01 am
I’d estimate Tuesday crowd as down from Monday. Ivashka-Sandgren match was strangely compelling despite the straight sets. Average rally duration was tremendous. Ivashka is playing hot with great defense and may challenge Berrettini.
Scoop Malinowski · September 2, 2021 at 12:36 pm
Ivashka is a rising force. Upset possible.
Scoop Malinowski · September 2, 2021 at 4:47 pm
This has been an excellent US OPen so far, even without Fed Rafa Serena. Who would have thunk it?
Scoop Malinowski · September 2, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Some major surprises in doubles – top seeds Mektic and Pavic have been dominating doubles this year but lost 1R to ragtag team of Withrow and Lammons 62 75. And Krejcikova and Siniakova, the two seeds, also lost in straight sets today 1R 62 64 to Linette and Pera. Hsieh and Mertens won 60 60 vs Putintseva Kalinina. Monfils looks rejuvenated and he took out Johnson in four. Seppi is on fire, he qualified and stunned Hurkacz. Opelka crushed Musetti in 3.
Sam · September 3, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Speaking of the U.S. Open, did you know that today was its inaugural “Pride Day”???
And apparently pre-match coin tosses featured same-sex couples. 🤪 Are they going to start handing out condoms next??
Wow, I wouldn’t attend this joke of a tournament if you paid me a million dollars. 🤮
Sam · September 3, 2021 at 9:44 pm
Oops, actually it turns out that “Pride Day” was on Wednesday, not today. But the same point stands.
And apparently Medvedev, Auger-Aliassime, and Tsitsipas all couldn’t speak highly enough of it. 😝
Scoop Malinowski · September 3, 2021 at 10:19 pm
Next year they may have a drag queen parade.
Sam · September 4, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Hey, don’t give them any ideas, Scoop! 😉