Actually saw a black cat run between bleachers on court 4 under a man’s wheelchair at the Dolgopolov-Goffin match. Minutes later there was a bolt of lightning in the distance as rain threatened. They kept on playing, Dolgopolov playing with an urgency and intensity I have never seen before. When the rains came a few minutes later, Dolgo was up two sets and on serve 3-4 in the third.
The rain delays took about four hours.
Some courts resumed, the first player I saw hitting was Jamie Hampton outside the media center. Boy, she sure looks sharp and solid, and very serious. Now number 26 in the world, the 23-year old from Alabama is on the verge of bigger and better things.
Del Potro had some problems with Garcia Lopez, the match started at one but after the delays, eventually concluded at after ten. Delpo did not like the Spaniard’s supposed leg injury timeouts, fake limps, and let him know it on a changeover, pointing at him Connors-at-McEnroe-esque. His mini-tirade was in Spanish, and it seemed to be, ‘You can pull that nonsense on the challenger and satellite circuits, but this is the big time and you have to be professional out there on Ashe Stadium. Soon lafter Delpo got the break back and finished the job in a tiebreaker.
At the same time, Hewitt was battling Brian Baker on Granstand, taking the comebacking American in four tough sets. Baker was up a break in the first and had a 40-l5 lead to go up 4-2 but Hewitt clawed his way back and later won the first set. Baker won the second but Hewitt took the last two. Baker looked very good at times but you have to think his lack of matches this year and lack of match toughness was the difference in the crunch.
For part of this match I sat next to Hewitt’s box and it’s almost amusing how intense Hewitt still is for every single point. He is constantly looking over to certain people and his beautiful wife Bec, and saying things like “BIG HOLD” and “Come ON.” Hewitt is still fascinating to watch perform from a close up seat.
Didn’t see much of Venus vs. Zheng Jie except for that easy missed volley at 5-5 by Venus in the tiebreak. Of course, she lost the next match point and just like that it was over.
I saw the end of Wawrinka vs. Stepanek on court eleven and Stan had three very loud American fans backing him, yelling Stan The Man, Come on Stan. With a lifetime 0-4 record vs. Step, Stan turned the tables tonight, going up two sets and when he got the second break for 5-2 in the third, Stan, shouted a very loud COME ON. I have never heard him yell or show that kind of intensity. He held serve easy to close it out. When he took his bows, he gave a high five to the three Americans supporting him. I asked them if they knew him and it turns out they didn’t, they just are fans who had a few beers. After they helped get Stan the W, they hustled over to Paire-Bogie. Bogie, sporting one of those Rafter Samurai pony tails, was up two sets to one.
I was told by a friend that Stan smashed a racquet in the first set after blowing a 3-l lead. After the match Stan gave that broken Yonex to a female fan behind his chair. Stan was all smiles after this win.
Sad to see James Blake lose his singles match to Dr. Ivo but it was quite beautiful and touching to see the post match interview with Mary Joe with James sincerely thanking all his fans for coming out to support him tonight. Blake still has the doubles to compete in.
Kelsey · August 29, 2013 at 1:08 am
SO SAD X-MAN LOST!!!! He was so close. 🙁
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 1:11 am
Boy Im sure looking forward to seeing the rejuvenated Donald Young play mixed with budding superstar Duval. I know we only see photos of Althea Gibson as an adult but she sure does have a striking resemblance facial feature wise to Duval. Duval’s upset win over Stosur last night was about as impressive as Nadal beating Federer in Miami at age l7.
Sarah · August 29, 2013 at 4:48 am
Delpo is such an asshole. His opponent is 30 and given how much he ran, his pain was most probably real.
Dan Markowitz · August 29, 2013 at 8:38 am
Scoop,
I know you love it when Dolgo plays well. He and Malisse took quite a walloping in doubles. Shame Blake couldn’t close out Ivo. Roddick had that nice run in his last Open and I was kind of hoping Blake could also win at a couple of rounds.
I’m interested in Maximo Gonzalez against Sock today. I was impressed by how Gonzalez handled Jerzy boy’s pace and I’m interested in how Sock handles that.
Hey, I thought Paes was playing doubles with Nestor, but I read today that Nestor was playing with another partner.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 9:45 am
X got xed in doubles too Kelsey, tough week for X. Let’s hope he can make it to Jan to make main draw in Melbourne.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 9:46 am
Sarah I have never seen Delpo so annoyed with an opponent, Garcia really ticked him off with those ‘my leg hurts’ antics. Was a great performance by Garcia, he almost pulled that off.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 9:49 am
Dan, yes X and Dolgo lost one and three to F-Lo and Sa. Remember X and Dolgo beat Fed and Stan to win Indian Wells. I guess X is really off his game now, ranked outside the top hundred, lost first round singles. Paes is with Step again in doubles, Nestor is playing with his Davis CUp teammate Pospisil, remember, they play in Serbia in the Cup SF in two weeks. It’s odd to see Nestor unseeded in the doubles and mixed doubles draws. Sock will beat Maximo in four sets. BTW, I’m picking Sloane to win the womens side. That was a very impressive display last night vs. Radwanska2.
Mitch · August 29, 2013 at 11:08 am
What’s with the scheduling to open the Thursday day session? 11 women’s singles matches and 0 men’s singles.
Harold · August 29, 2013 at 11:12 am
Kuznetsova looking to make a late push, being coached by the guy who coached Safin and Gulbis. Name escapes me
Dan markowitz · August 29, 2013 at 12:12 pm
I’m sitting here in Louis Armstrong watching Eugenie Bouchard again. I wonder if she thinks I’m stalking her? You people out there who know me know that I dislike watching women’s tennis. I rarely watch it anymore. But I love Eugenie. She’s like the Cybille Shephard of tennis and if you don’t know who Cybille Shephard is go watch Taxi Driver. I could go on and on just about Eu’s heavenly shoulder blades.
She’s dropped the first set to Kerber. Both these girls play smash mouth tennis. There’s few slices, drops, changes of pace or net forays. Basically, there’s none. Nick Bolletieri I hate you. Which by the way will be the title of my next book. Bouchard uses the Nadal yellow bludgeon stick, the blunt force of object favored on tour these days.
Coming over here I only knocked into 4 people. It’s only noon but its a mad scene out there and people don’t walk straight. Kerber is too good for lovely Eu. But Eu is so much prettier and more stylish. She’s wearing the orange glow shoes favored by all the cool players. Kerber has sneaky clean white sneaks. I passed by a doubles match where the only player not wearing the cool glow shoes was the Swede, Linstedt. Ryan Harry was wearing the glow shoes and being his ultra-earnest self. Has their ever been a more earnest player or person than Harry? I can only think of Richard Nixon.
Got to go. All this blogging is taking me away from Eugenie-watching.
dan markowitz · August 29, 2013 at 12:56 pm
I may be starting to like women’s tennis. Who knew? I went to Court 11 thinking the Sock match would be on, but instead I saw the Chinese woman, Peng, win the second set against Kuznetsov. And liked Peng. She slams her backhand and makes these ardent fist pumps.
but really I only want to watch the Sock match and Tomic-Evans.
Touching little side note, I passed Jamie Murray coming off the court and a fan stopped him and said, “I came today only to watch you play.” Which sounds absurd and Murray felt so, too, because he said with a smile, “Really, you came out to watch me play?”
Thomas Tung · August 29, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Harold, are you talking about Guillermo Canas?
Dan markowitz · August 29, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Got here early for Sock-Gonzales, who is 247. Firstly, Sock hits with ridiculous top on his forehand. It’s downright scary.but Gonzo’s held his first two service games..sock plays loose.hes got 4 coaches or trainers seated right behind his chair. Sock looks like a young Mickey Mantle, taller but not as thick as the Mick. I don’t like his backhand, but when you hit such big serves and fh’s maybe you don’t need that good of a bh, mostly, Sock is airborne on his fh. To me, he’s more likable and fun to watch than Harry.
JMac said he thought in 5 years a Americam man could win a slam. Could that be Sock. His fh is certainly a lot better than Roddick’s. Sock’s forehand is the near equivalent of Isner’s serve.
Dan markowitz · August 29, 2013 at 2:51 pm
This Gonzalez is competing. He looked better against Jerzy, but Jerzy’s not the American young hope. G loks like a South American Charlie Chaplin. You can tell he’s amped because he’s moving his feet and arms like he’s super intense. I’ve never seen anyone, not even Rafa, hit an inside-out fh like Sock.he just hit a 133 mph ace. Sock can do a hard court slide, but not nearly as well as Djoko. These courts must be playing slow. G just hit an 85 mph serve.
“I get the feeling Jack doesn’t take this guy seriously and that’s a problem,” the guy next to me said. G just takes a 5-4 lead after one break each. No one calls Sock Sock. They only call him Jack as in, “Lets go, Jack. Well, lets go Jack.
Doogie · August 29, 2013 at 4:08 pm
The only good thing for Jack is that Maximo will tire at one point. He cannot play this level 3hours.
Very important hold for 4:4
Dan markowitz · August 29, 2013 at 4:55 pm
You are right, Doogie. Gonzo going down meekly in 4th and you’re right about Tomic.
Doogie · August 29, 2013 at 5:21 pm
@ Tomic
This match is not the end of his career. He still can be future top10 or higher.
I just mentioned his current/present form and he is not on high level atm.
Winning against Ramos on hardcourt just because he got cramps does not suggest good things.
Still curious how Tomic will develop his tennis game AND his mind.
loreley · August 29, 2013 at 5:27 pm
@Harold
The coach is Hernan Gumy.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Just spoke with Pancho Segura again today and he thinks he can be no. 1 someday.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Watche Sam lose to Mannarino. Sam just got outplayed, Adrian is an interesting player. Barely breaks a sweat, his chair was perfect, he only changed one shirt in the fourth set, very neat and orderly, one bottle. Sam’s was a mess, three used s onthe ground, towels, banana, four bottles, three racquets, extra pair of shoes. By contrast, Adrian makes tennis look easy. Big serve, flat groundies, very good player is the French guy. Sam was grinding but once again he just came up short in a major. He always seems to. After the handshake Sam looked like he wanted to smash his Babolat on his chair but he just tapped it. Sam left three shirts, one pair of K Swiss (gray) and one Babolat behind around his chair, the lady picked the stuff up and took it somewhere underneath. .Adrian’s chair was a picture of perfect neatness. Even at the end of a tough four set match.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Aussie Davis Cup team will practice together at a camp in Munich Germany for a week before they take on Poland. I was told this by Kyrgios brother Krystof.
Doogie · August 29, 2013 at 8:50 pm
@ scoop
just one question:
why do u pay such attention to chair? I first noticed it when u wrote about Odesnik. Can u explain it pls because honestly I did never even took a look at it. It is something new for me?
Harold · August 29, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Thanks @ Loreley it is Gumy coaching Kuz
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2013 at 11:10 pm
Just a very observant person I guess Doogie ) Always looking at details and intricacies of a tennis match.
Dan Markowitz · August 30, 2013 at 5:23 am
Scoop,
I’ve said this for many years now while you and Rich Pagliaro have tooted Querrey’s horn, the guy is a nice guy, probably a sweet guy, he’s not a big time tennis talent. I love watching him hit his serve, but maybe Sam should’ve gotten angry yesterday and gotten charged up. The guy seems to play on auto-pilot. He’s trying, but he’s not going to get all excited or involved in a match.
As he said,
“It’s my life and my career,†Querrey said. “Whatever makes me happy is fine.â€
Scoop Malinowski · August 30, 2013 at 10:57 am
Dan he’s too nice. You have to be a “killer” in majors. The talent is there but the cut-throat vicious ruthlessness is not in Sam. He was very annoyed and kept looking at his box when the ship was sinking at the end games after bad misses or great shots by Adrian, but that quality to be mean and nasty and figuratively step on the opponent’s throat (Courier line) is just not in Sam. I think that’s what is missing. He wants to win and doesn’t like to lose but… Another thing, I noticed Sam’s fiancee Emily was not there (she was in Newport). And the reporter asked him at his press conf the other night about the wedding date and Sam replied, “That’s not important.” Maybe a break-up is on Sam’s mind and contributed to his performance.
Dan Markowitz · August 30, 2013 at 12:47 pm
The Querrey serve is awesome, great shot. But I don’t think Querrey has the forehand that Sock has and Querrey doesn’t get down for balls well. He had a lot of mishits off Mannarino’s shots. The other thing is I was sitting right next to Arnaud Clement and he was there rooting his countryman on while I didn’t see any American players supporting Sam.