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Wonderful day at the Hall of Fame Open Newport
6 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles
I arrive before noon and after exiting the media center, Shintaro Mochizuki is walking towards me on the path. He lost first round to Liam Broady and here was my chance to do a biofile with the former junior Wimbledon champ. At first he said he’d do it after lunch but then decided to do it then. It turned out to be one of the best Biofiles in a while, very thoughtful and original thinker. You will see it next week. It was so good I offered him one of my books Facing Seles or Djokovic as a gift and I think you know which one he picked.
Kevin Anderson looked superb again beating Gijs Brouwer. After the match by the players mixed zone I saw Anderson talking with people holding two drum sticks. So I asked, “Were those drumsticks? Are you a drummer?” He smiled and said “I’m learning. I like to learn new things. I also play guitar.”
Tommy Paul beat 19 year old American Ethan Quinn in straight sets. At his press conference I was curious what his ultimate goal is now that he’s ranked a career high 14, which is surprising to some people. He said, “Which people? When you go deep into slams you get a high ranking… Goal is to win a grand slam.”
18 year old American Alex Michelsen was down a set and 2-3 to James Duckworth and then suddenly went into “the zone.” As he told me in our biofile inter after, for the best he ever felt on court question, the answer was today vs Duckworth “I didn’t miss a shot for ten games.” In just his second ATP match win, Michelsen won ten games in a row against a seasoned veteran. Because Michelsen didn’t have an answer for last book read I gave him a gift Facing Novak Djokovic book which he was very happy and grateful to get. Michelsen is still considering turning pro or college tennis.
After Mackenzie McDonald beat Li Tu 62 75 I chatted with his coach Robby Ginepri and reminded him he was four sets from a grand slam because he lost 64 in the fifth set at US Open to Andre Agassi. He thanked me for reminding him and also told me about his zone match beating Marat Safin 6060 in Indian Wells.
And finally, John Isner looked like vintage Isner today as he isnerized Corentin Moutet 63 63. Afterwards I told Isner he looked like the real Isner today and he replied that it’s been tough when you lose seven matches in a row, which is what he did before Newport. Isner will face Paul in the quarterfinals.
it was also wonderful to run into old friends Dan Markowitz, Harry Cicma, James Diao, Ryan Balon, Rich Brail and new friends Ben and Benji. There is no place in earth quite like the Newport Hall of Fame Open.
Hall of Fame Newport · Newport
Cory · July 20, 2023 at 11:54 am
Great post! Love hearing of the space between the matches. The gray.
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2023 at 9:26 pm
Thanks Cory, I didn’t even mention most of the stories and anecdotes either, stay tuned!
The bottom half of the singles draw has its semifinalists, with No. 2 seed Adrian Mannarino and No. 3 seed Ugo Humbert advancing over Jordan Thompson and Kevin Anderson, respectively. Mannarino dispatched Thompson in three sets after posting a bagel in the first, and reaches the semifinals in Newport for the first time in four quarterfinal visits. Humbert will advance to his ninth ATP Tour semifinal, and first since 2021.
Tomorrow, the top half of the singles draw will see four Americans in action: top seed Tommy Paul vs. John Isner, and No. 4 seed Mackenzie McDonald vs. the breakout player of the tournament, Alex Michelsen.
Scoop Malinowski · July 21, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Incredible that Mannarino vs Thompson have played seven atp matches and five of them were on grass. Mannarino leads head to head 5-2 now after yesterdays three set win.
Ryan · July 21, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Where’s my love Scoop?
Great seeing you this week
hope to see you at US Open Qs
Scoop Malinowski · July 21, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Ryan I fixed that oversight unforced error, thanks for reminding me, see you at the US Open pal. Hope you like the books.
Scoop Malinowski · July 22, 2023 at 6:58 am
Isner shocks Paul 76 in third set, third win by Isner this week after losing seven matches in a row. Looks like the big guy has a last hurrah or two left. He will play Atlanta next week as a special exemption now instead of a WC which will go to Ethan Quinn instead, Quinn won the NCAA title for Univ of Georgia. Isner vs Michelsen in Newport semi today, Humbert vs Mannarino in the other semi.