Tennis Prose




Aug/17

7

Early US Open Preview

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Preview of US open

With all due respect to Montreal, Cincinnati, Winston Salem, the world of tennis prioritizes the four Grand Slam tournaments. Less than a month away now, all sights are set on the fourth and final tourney, the US Open…

Roger Federer

With his recent Wimbledon victory against Marin Cilic, Federer broke the number of wins at Wimbledon. Given this feat it is not surprising that Federer is one of the top contenders to win at the US Open. This year, Federer has not only won at Wimbledon but also at the Australian Open. Many have been shocked by Federer’s success given his age and injuries. If he can win at the US Open, he will capture 3 of the 4 Grand Slam titles for a total of 20 over his successful career.

Rafael Nadal

With 15 Grand Slam victories to his name, Nadal is also a top player expected to perform at the US Open. After winning the French Open for a record 10th time and narrowly losing the Australian Open to Federer, many believe Nadal is the only male player who can give Federer a run for his money. Nadal returns to action this week on Montreal after an extended break following Roland Garros, and he has won the US Open twice before, in 2013 and 2010.

Alexander Zverev

The 20-year old Russian just won Washington DC’s Citi Open – his fourth ATP final in a row – and could be ready to emerge as a Grand Slam champion. The rising #NEXTGEN star has already proven he can compete with the likes of Nadal and Federer on even terms.

Dominic Thiem

The Austrian star is ranked #7 in the world and is coming off a solid semifinal result at French Open, where he lost to Nadal, whom he defeated earlier in the year on clay. Thiem will turn 24 during the US Open and could be ready to come of age.

Juan Martin Del Potro

The beloved Argentine still has his rocket serve and forehand at 28 so the 2009 US Open champion is always a dangerous threat to any player in the world. The question is does the big man still have the endurance and health to be able to win seven best of five matches over two weeks?

John Isner and Sam Querrey

The Twin Towers of American tennis are 32 and 29 and have both won hard court titles this summer. Both are growing long in the tooth and are both in position to make deep runs at this US Open. Isner and Querrey, with the help of some luck and advantageous draws, could also conceivably win their first Grand Slam title.

Andy Murray

After his sensational 2016, the Dunblane, Scotland marvel has had a supbar season so far this year bogged down by injuries and confidence issues. But the wily Brit loves the US Open as his favorite tournament and certainly could re-awaken at any time.

Nick Kyrgios

The controversial Australian has the firepower and the resources to win any tournament he enters. Unfortunately, if his mind is not in the proper mood, he can also flame out in the first or second rounds to a journeyman grinder. Will the real Nick Kyrgios please step up?

Kei Nishikori

The former US Open finalist has played some of his best tennis in New York. Though no expert will predict this amazing Japanese star to win the title, it should also be noted that no expert pundit predicted the teenaged junior Nishikori would achieve five straight years in the ATP top ten echelon. The 27 year old has the uncanny talent to overachieve.

The Women…

Venus Williams

After being runner-up at Wimbledon last month, Williams is feverishly preparing for the final Grand Slam Tournament. Before Wimbledon, Williams was involved in a car accident where the driver of the other car passed away. Some wonder if this stress in her personal life perhaps is affecting her on the court. Williams was quick to dispel this rumour. Williams has shown excellent form this year and must be considered a top contender.

Garbine Muguruza

The Wimbledon champion was simply sensational at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club and her form could transfer to New York, where she has posted some good results. The question is does Muguruza have the burning desire like her rivals, or has a sense of complacence set in after winning the biggest tournament in the world?

Angelique Kerber

The former WTA World No. 1 was so, so close to winning Wimbledon, falling just short against Muguruza. If she can use that defeat as proper motivation, Kerber could win her third career Grand Slam title next month.

Johanna Konta

The talented, hard-hitting British woman has been knocking on the door to win her first Grand Slam title. The Miami Open champion just needs that little extra push to raise her game just one extra level. She has the experience and the game now to get the job done.

Simona Halep

Arguably the best player in the world this year with her solid all around season, including a deep run at Wimbledon and a French Open final. Like Konta, Halep is ready to make history. If she can keep her nerve and drive the stake through the heart, which she failed to do vs. Ostapenko in Paris despite a set and 3-love lead.

Karolina Plyskova

The Czech woman is the top player in the world and will be looking to affirm her ranking in New York where her power game fits nicely on the American hard court surface.

Madison Keys and Coco Vandeweghe

Both Americans have the attributes, experience and self-belief that they can win a major. The finalists of the Bank of the West event in Stanford (won by Keys yesterday 76 64) should both reach the second week of the US Open at the very minimum. Both could also meet in the final just as well.

Jelena Ostapenko

The amazing Latvian shocked the world in Paris, winning her first Grand Slam title to nearly everyone’s surprise. But she has suffered the expected, natural letdown since. The 20-year-old will be an interesting player to keep an eye on because she has the mental and physical qualities to win any tournament she enters.

Caroline Wozniacki

Now a WTA veteran, Wozniacki has been around a long time and is still searching for that first major. So close so many times, you have to wonder if the self-belief is still there as each year the new waves of young stars continue to complicate her quest.

Maria Sharapova

Since Sharapova did not compete at Wimbledon she must secure a wild card in order to participate in the US Open. Many fans and tennis players are in an uproar about Sharapova being given a wild card given her admission of doping. She was denied a wild card to the French Open for this reason.
These Grand Slam tournaments will also be the focus of many fans of sports betting. In the meantime until the competition resumes, fans could enjoy playing a tennis themed slot machine such as Centre Court. Time will tell how the above players will fare in the upcoming US Open.

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162 comments

  • catherine · August 7, 2017 at 11:09 am

    catherine writes:

    I posted earlier about Kerber prediction in Toronto – can't honestly see it for her in New York. She went out in the last 16 at W'don, and hasn't played competitively since – so we've no real idea about her form. Would be great to see Angie break out of her slump but there's too many others around keen to stop this happening. Toronto/Montreal may give us a clearer picture for both sides.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 11:16 am

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Catherine; Wimbledon was the Kerber breakout of her slump. She is back. But will she now plunge into another slump? That is the question.

  • catherine · August 7, 2017 at 11:20 am

    catherine writes:

    Scoop – as long as she doesn't do in NY what she admitted she did at AO – come out on to the court for her first match and immediately flashback to last year. All the expectation finished her off. Just live in the present Angie 🙂

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 7, 2017 at 11:56 am

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    Too early for to talk Open, especially since Nick Kyrgios is about to take the court! I'll make my bold pick and say Jack Sock loses to Herbert in Montreal. Good job by Keys to beat Coco and make me look bad.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 12:38 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    No way Sock loses to PHH. He's playing too well right now to lose to PHH.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Two good Montreal first rounders are first time meetings: Monfils vs S Johnson and Kyrgios vs Troicki

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 12:56 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    The key is lose in semis or finals of one of the Masters. Then they'll remember losing feels bad and win. Unless they call on occ!!!

  • catherine · August 7, 2017 at 12:59 pm

    catherine writes:

    No occ for guys Andrew 🙂

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 1:55 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    They have informal occ! Signaling from stands 🙂

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 7, 2017 at 2:16 pm

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    Once again we are one win away for both Zverev and Kyrgios to face each other.

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 3:38 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Kyrgios has too many back issues. I'm not sure he will make it to the match.

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    I like a new winner in ny or someone who hasn't won a slam this year already. That would be in keeping with the year of new wta winners every slam. On the men's side I'll take a non Federer non Nadal win winner too as a shock to men's tennis. The sport could use a men's winner who hasn't won yet or hasn't won this year.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Atp does n't need OCC – they coach by code. Bryan Shelton told me he read his opponents coaches codes and was reading his serves by the codes. He was guessing right and handling the serve. Forgot who the player was. Will look it up. Big server too. OCC not necessary in ATP!

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Duke; If the Kyrgios pattern holds up I suspect he will not make it to the Zverev match. Kyrgios has shown a pattern of not playing his best friends on the Tour.

  • catherine · August 7, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    catherine writes:

    Down go Mladenovic and Ostapenko !

  • catherine · August 7, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    catherine writes:

    Muguruza posing on glossy magazine cover – so she's in for a slump 🙂

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Bryan Shelton! He was excellent. We haven't heard from Shelton or Wheaton or Mal Washington or Kricker in some time.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Andrew, Very hard to go against Federer right now. It just seems like a preordained wonder year for RF. Everything just seems to be falling into place for Fed to win US Open and become No. 1. Zverev has beaten Fed so that will be the tricky matchup. Nadal surely has had a Fed nightmare or two this year related to the Melbourne, IW and Miami finals so Rafa will be more than motivated to tattoo an L on Fed's backside.

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Muguruza is going to chill out. Nothing to prove, doesn't seem that interested in being #1 seeing what it comes with. But of she likes the glossies who knows. Lots of endorsement money on the table, awful hard to pass that up.

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Scoop, maybe Nadal will play a light # of matches this summer. He was upset at Wimbledon and felt he was ready to get a third Wimbledon trophy. He's going to be hungry at us open if he's healthy heading in.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Andrew; Shelton is coaching at Univ of Florida. Or he was last year. He was at Eddie Herr two years ago and did a Biofile and talked about Facing McEnroe. Great interview subject.

  • Hartt · August 7, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    Hartt writes:

    Several Canadian women are playing doubles at Rogers Cup. Some are teamed together, such as the youngsters Andreescu and Branstine, but there are a couple teams I find quite intriguing. Dabrowski will partner Ostapenko (who was the loser in one of the most entertaining WTA matches I've seen in a long time). Dabrowski is an experienced doubles player who recently won the mixed doubles at RG. Will Gaby be able to guide the emotional Ostapenko? Another team is Bouchard/Ka Pliskova. Am glad to see Genie playing doubles here, she still needs match play and Karolina is an experienced doubles player. But the singles will be very important for the WTA No. 1, so was a little surprised to see Pliskova in the doubles. It could be a very busy week for her.

  • scoopmalinowski · August 7, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    scoopmalinowski writes:

    Hartt; we should have got you a media credential so you can cover the event as as media filing reports here. Maybe next year?

  • Dan Markowitz · August 7, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    Dan Markowitz writes:

    Heard from Brydan Klein. He lost 6 and 6 to Millot who I really don't know much about, never seen him play. Izzie playing well against Del Po, but you know Izzie's not facing Matthew Ebden or Ryan Harrison anymore and he's got little to no chance of winning this match. What about Pouille losing to Donaldson. Pouille is the DY of French tennis.

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 7:34 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    In Harrison and Donaldson we trust? Only USA men so far to make it to round two. Paire d Young in a tight three setter, Monfils d. Johnson in 3. Maybe Isner and Smyczek will win their matches. On the wta side Dommie Cibulkova advances and so too Sevastova. I guess Ostapenko is enjoying the time off and wondering what's next, only for Lepchenko to answer a third set first round loss is what's next Jelena!!!

  • Dan Markowitz · August 7, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    Dan Markowitz writes:

    Ostapenko is such a bad sport. She barely gave Lepchenko a hand shake today after her loss. Steve Jo completely fell apart against Monfils 6-1 in third set. On the last point, he played it like a disengaged Kyrgios. I know he's had a terrible personal loss, but if Kyrgios did what SteveJo did today, he'd be lambasted.

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 7, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    Well Kyrgios is 2-0 against Big Al – both this year in 1000s. But he was a different player in March. Nick on possible 2R foe Tiafoe: "Tiafoe is a great player. He's a young guy, has a huge future ahead of him. He's got a great game. I'm really good friends with him as well." Another brutal heartbreak in a DY loss. Paire was serving at 15-40, 4-4 in the 3rd and won the set 6-4. Sambrero Querrey plays Millot for the second straight week. How about Querrey being 11th in the race to London with Novak and Stan ahead of him and not going. What a milestome it would be for him to make like like Fish. Pouille has lost six of his last seven to U.S. players, including two this year to DY and one to Sambreo and one to Tommy Paul.

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 7, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    Another Pouille loss – Rajeev Ram last year.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 9:35 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Millot is one of those talented flaky French guys. I remember Mannarino said he's one of his favorites to watch. Tough loss but good battle by BK.

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 9:58 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Cold handshakes unless you're French on the wta!

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 10:01 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    I'm sticking with any wta player who wins a masters this summer in Canada or Cincinatti WILL not win a slam this summer. I think the players are now attuned to the idea that peaking before a slam is not helpful. Maybe fear of injury or something.

  • Duke Carnoustie · August 7, 2017 at 10:09 pm

    Duke Carnoustie writes:

    This sums it up… @NickKyrgios Nicholas Kyrgios Retweeted Nicholas Kyrgios Also anyone at rogers cup throughout the week can come on my practice court and chill and hit if u want

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    You gotta love how good Nick is with his fans. Borderline unprofessional but if it works for him it's great for him and for the fans. If he can pull off a major with this laid back chill attitude, just imagine how it could change tennis into a less serious, have fun type sport. Right now it's SUPER SERIOUS. If Nick can change that – and he is that good that he has the power to change the game – hat's off to Nick. I really like how Nick is bypassing the media and connecting with the fans on his own terms. He is one player who does not need the media.

  • Chazz · August 7, 2017 at 10:54 pm

    Chazz writes:

    Always fun to talk about the next Slam winners. I'll go with Nadal. I think he will be on a mission and is hungry for another Slam. He's tired of hearing about Federer and his 19. Dark horse is Zverev. It's only a matter of time. On the women's side, I'll keep saying it until it finally happens, Halep will get it done. Dark horse is Keys. She looked great yesterday vs. Coco and throughout the Stanford tournament.

  • Andrew Miller · August 7, 2017 at 11:04 pm

    Andrew Miller writes:

    I'd argue it's about local media and local fans. Scoop you'd know this better than I do, you said each tournament is completely different. Different characters different fans even if draws are similar from one place to the next. Different courts. There's a lot of good stuff from local press that cover events.

  • Hartt · August 8, 2017 at 1:50 am

    Hartt writes:

    Scoop, thanks, I would love to have a media credential to cover Rogers Cup next year for here.

  • catherine · August 8, 2017 at 2:22 am

    catherine writes:

    Who's fixing the WTA draw ? – Keys out – Simona's path easier – Chazz you could be right but I'm not counting it as a road to the US0. I'm with Andrew on this.

  • catherine · August 8, 2017 at 3:02 am

    catherine writes:

    Also interesting – Kerber's first match (which won't be until Wed I think) will be v Vekic or Bouchard. Angie has history with Bouchard. Madrid. Hartt – I imagine Pliskova is playing doubles to get match practice – don't know her record on hard courts. But of course if Ka reaches later singles rounds she may drop out of the doubles. If her serve's working she could be a problem for Simona if they meet – S tends not to like heavy serving.

  • Hartt · August 8, 2017 at 8:41 am

    Hartt writes:

    Catherine, yea I agree that Ka Pliskova likely is using doubles for match practice. I got to see her working with a hitting partner right under my nose. I was amazed at how much power she generated from that slender frame. The idea that the camera adds lbs certainly seems true in her case – she is even more slender in person than she looks on TV. It was fun to see her serve close-up – power, accuracy and spin.

  • Andrew Miller · August 8, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    The media LOVES Kyrgios. It loves Tomic too. They are missing that they are public figures. Probably in Tomic's case distracted by his own personal saga and misery. Tomic if he even makes half an effort will get so much media coverage, positive coverage. Works both ways.

  • Andrew Miller · August 8, 2017 at 8:49 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Harrison almost couldn't make it without media coverage until he figured out that the spotlight wasn't necessary for him to make his way in the sport.

  • Andrew Miller · August 8, 2017 at 8:54 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Does any player really resent a positive profile on the ATP website or Tennis Channel? I doubt it. Bottom line, media is a fact of the sport. It's there and it helps the sport. Paparazzi not so much. My bit is always with local coverage and tennis analysts who aren't doing their jobs well and relying on out dated info. They aren't helping fans etc. And with tournament directors who don't seem to comprehend that empty seats look bad and actually are bad for the sport .

  • catherine · August 8, 2017 at 8:54 am

    Hartt – great to see a top player close-up – and interesting about Pliskova’s build. Just shows that you don’t have to have an obviously powerful build to have a powerful serve. She’s got the height of course.
    Doubles doubtless improve her forecourt game as well.

    BTW – I read somewhere that the courts in Toronto are really slow – is this true from what you’ve seen ?

  • Andrew Miller · August 8, 2017 at 8:59 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    To me that never means well no one likes the sport! It means the tournaments aren't doing their jobs. Not in terms of sweeping the grounds etc or redoing locker rooms etc But promoting the sport and building an audience. They could always do demonstrations or exhibitions leading up to the tournament, or pit a few area college players against each other, or something. Most of the time it's just laziness if you have it people will come sort of thing. They didn't get the memo that charging a ton for the qualies rounds isn't going to bring in more fans later in the week.

  • catherine · August 8, 2017 at 9:00 am

    catherine writes:

    Andrew – Hartt and I (and you) have talked about the empty seats problem but I don't know if there's a solution. Unoccupied corporate seats have always been a pain. Unfortunately they tend to be in the TV camera's sight line. Otherwise, you can't really force crowds to come if they don't want to. Could try offering seats to kids in holiday time though, things like that.

  • Andrew Miller · August 8, 2017 at 9:02 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Karo Pliskova hits a phenom ball! Clean ball striker. I bet she gets the ping sound off the racquet. Feel like she's doomed at the top spot…safina syndrome where you're at the top perch but cant quite justify why you deserve it.

  • Andrew Miller · August 8, 2017 at 9:03 am

    Andrew Miller writes:

    Catherine those corporations could always give those seats up to youth or something and have it announced on tv and radio. It's a lot better than the ghost town that are those rows and rows and rows of no one.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 8, 2017 at 9:08 am

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    That will be great Hartt, sorry I didn't think of it earlier, for this year.

  • britbox · August 8, 2017 at 9:09 am

    Andrew, I don't think the media loves Tomic beyond the fact that he creates news for all the wrong reasons. Kyrgios is a different kettle of fish. Both have a sense of entitlement, but Kyrgios has far more redeeming qualities – he's playful and engaging outside of direct media intervention whearas Tomic is "The Big I AM"… yet Kyrgios has far more upside of the two of them. Kokkanakis, fitness permitting will be Australia's second string to Nick over the next few years, not Tomic – and rightly so.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 8, 2017 at 9:13 am

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    I think the media loves and hates Kyrgios. And Kyrgios is not a gigantic fan of the media, as evidenced by his on going feud with Rothenberg. Tomic has eaten a lot of bad press lately too so I imagine he's not in love with doing press conferences.

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