Tennis Prose




Aug/21

25

US Open Qualies 2021

I’m not there at the USTA National Tennis Center for the first itme in over a decade, but my intelligence sources are supplying info…

Stefan Kozlov got a golden opportunity wildcard into qualies and drew a Spaniard Miralles but the heat factor seemed to contribute to the now journeyman American’s demise in an epic battle 75 16 63.

Another young American Zane Khan also got a WC into his first Grand Slam and beat the veteran Sergey Stakhovsky 63 in the third.

15 year old American teen and possible future Coco Gauff type breakout Black Superstar Clervie Ngounoue also got a wildcard but was denied 64 63 by M. Sherif. I first saw Clervie play at Eddie Herr when she was 12 in the 14s and she had a complete all court game already back then. She also had attracted the interest of Nick Kyrgios agent John Morris.

Another touted American Katrina Scott from California is deadlocked with Ana Bondar 75 46 11 right now. Scott was previously coached by Marc Lucero who also coached Shelby Rogers and Steve Johnson. I remember Marc Lucero told me a few years ago she does not miss her backhand. Scott and Robin Montgomery are two very highly regarded American teen girls who now are best of friends. Montgomery lost today to Burrage of England 64 61

Ivo Karlovic had earlier said this US Open qualies would be his grand finale but the Croatian with over 13,000 career aces is listen in the Cary Challenger entry list. Maybe he changed his plans and is not ready to quit at 42. He just started his Q match with Milojevic and is up 64

Alexander Zverev attended his first Mets game last night and got a jersey with a no. 4 on the back.

Another US teen Reese Brantmeier won her qualies match vs veteran Olga Govortsova. Brantmeier is I believe 16 now and two years ago she also played a round in US Open main draw qualies and won a set from a WTA veteran from Sweden.

Djokovic was practicing with his buddy Pospisil.

Serena has pulled out of the tournament with the hamstring injury.

John McEnroe is all in on Djokovic winning Grand Slam no. 21 here, saying he doesn’t see anyone stopping the world no. 1 and the NY crowds will spark and fire him up to accomplish the historic 21st major singles title conquest. When asked which American hopes impress him most he didn’t seem inspired but mentioned Sebi Korda as a potential top ten prospect, adding that he needs to see more evidence from the son of Petr Korda. Perhaps a past confrontation with Petr Korda has clouded McEnroe’s enthusiasm for Korda. In doing my Facing McEnroe book, Petr Korda revealed he and McEnroe did not get along after some kind of unfriendly incident the two had during their playing days. Andy Roddick says Korda is the best American prospect he’s seen in a long time.

Pam Shriver is tired of the gamesmanship factor in pro tennis and in a conference call with media, she urged the WTA and ATP to ban bathroom breaks, illegal coaching, fake injuries, etc.

Michael Mmoh lost to Ben Shelton 76 76, the son of Bryan Shelton and freshman hero of the University of Florida nationa championship team.

Christian Harrison, who had a good run in Delray Beacn earlier this year form qualies to QF of SF, beat Juan Londero 64 62.

The colorful career of Ernests Gulbis is still alive and kicking, he beat Marc Polmans 63 64.

Rising star Emma Raducanu, who broke out at Wimbledon as an 18 year old wildcard who reached the fourth round by beating Vondrousova and Sorana Cirstea, won today vs Schoofs 62 61. Raducanu is not doing many interviews with media, as decided by her agent Max Eisenbud of IMG to avoid overexposure.

Matawan, New Jersey’s Robin Anderson, formerly of UCLA, is seeking her first US Open main draw, she won today vs Talaba, 62 63. Anderson is still grinding her way outside the top 150, she is in her mid 20s now.

Junior Wimbledon champ Samir Banerjee got a WC but lost 61 60 to Quentin Halys.

One time young American major prospect Whitney Osuigwe and now a major question mark, lost to veteran Swiss Miss Stefanie Vogele 62 62.

Holger Rune continues his winning ways in 2021 with a win over veteran Lucas Lacko, who once won a bagel set vs Nadal on hard court.

American teen Gabby Price got a WC but fell 63 62 to Katie Boulter.

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9 comments

  • catherine · August 26, 2021 at 5:15 am

    Quote of the year (so far) from Emma Raducanu:

    ‘I don’t think I’m that interesting’

    Navratilova doesn’t think Emma’s that interesting either (too defensive) so it’ll be intriguing to see if this anti-hype works for Emma and becomes a Thing.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2021 at 7:47 am

    Catherine, when did Raducanu say this quote?

  • catherine · August 26, 2021 at 10:14 am

    Scoop – from an interview with Brit journos a couple of days ago, reported on Tennis Majors:

    ‘Intelligent, down to earth and buzzing with excitement about what lies ahead, Raducanu insists that sheā€™s the same teenager she was before capturing the attention of a nation at Wimbledon.’

    ā€œAfter Wimbledon. I took five days off and then I practised for two weeks and I was straight onto the tour and competing,ā€ she said. ā€œAnd when youā€™re on the road, you zone out and itā€™s really just about preparing for your next match. So in a way, I donā€™t feel like [thereā€™s] any difference. Iā€™m obviously extremely grateful for the fans following me and people following me. I just donā€™t think Iā€™m that interesting, but itā€™s really nice to have that many people behind me.ā€

    BTW – I noticed you said you were first watching on the Grandstand at USO in 1989 – a year earlier and our paths would possibly have crossed as 1988 was the last time I reported from NY. Steffi’s GS year.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    Catherine, thanks for that quote, Raducanu is a very appealing pleasant personality who gives good simple heartfelt quotes naturally. She has a smile and play style that is befitting of magazine covers and newspaper front pages. I was just asked to write a feature story about her for a brand new tennis magazine that is forming in Europe. So this quote helps, thank you. 1989 and surely 1988 were sensational times to be around the US Open. I’m sure you have many golden memories of your 1988 US Open experiences, the golden age of tennis.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2021 at 12:02 pm

    Catherine you must check out the Golden Age of Tennis Clubhouse page on facebook, many former players of that era are members, fans and player share memories and photos, it’s really fantastic.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    Today’s results: Brantmeier won again, Just 16, she beat Sramkova 62 in the third. Lorenzi won on Tuesday at age 39 or 40 and he’s on court now. Karlovic won and plays today. Majchrzak beat JJ Wold today. Verdasco lost to Ilkel 64 in the third. Gojo beat Haase. Jenna Loeb out of obscurity beats Freidsam in SS. Gastao Elias beat Ulysses Blanch in SS. Zapata Miralles who beat Kozlov, won another marathon vs Marcora 75 36 76 (9-7).

    Word is Rennae Stubbs says Djokovic is killing forehands in practice today with Berrettini and is serving 130 just in practice, Stubbsy says Djokovic looks unbelievable. BG says Novak’s legs looks 7 pounds more muscular. Felix is hitting with Seb Korda. Uncle Toni has flown in from Mallorca to help Felix get his career back on track.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 26, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    Cressy has won the first set vs Joao Menezes 75.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 27, 2021 at 8:33 am

    Rune beats Krueger, that’s 12 match wins in a row for Rune. Cressy wins. Karlovic beats Dellien in 3 sets. Paulo Lorenzi retired after 22 years as a pro, he turned pro in 1999. Sugita upset Kokkinakis.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 27, 2021 at 4:40 pm

    Zane Khan loses 75 in third to Donskoy. But he gained a ton of experience, just two games away from first GS. Cressy comes back to beat Bemelmans 75 in third. Dalma Galfi qualifies first major I believe, after years of stagnation. Eubanks wins 76 in third 8-6 vs Baez, Chris just lost twice to Kozlov earlier this month. Raducanu cruises into US Open looking to match Wimby 4th round romp. Jenna Loeb qualifies, she’s been invisible for years. Where is Mandy Minella?

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