Arrive at eleven with Pete and Steve, two pals from the park. It’s the first time for both to see qualies and they are lovin it.
We see the outer practice courts near the subway side entrance and Taylor Townsend is hitting. One of hte Plyskova sisters is waiting to get on court.
First destination once inside the grounds is Grandstand to see the two most beautiful backhands in the business – Wawrinka and Gasquet. Pete loves it and is moved to pull out his phone to video the baseline drilling. Not much interaction between Richie and Stan, who sit apart during breaks.
Murray is on Armstrong with Dodig. Lendl’s around and he goof pretends to throw a ball at Dodig’s coach during a break, but when Andy is hitting, Lendl is all business.
Ed Goldman the photo man tells me he saw Federer and Hewitt hitting together yesterday on Ashe.
The first name player I see walking Dr. Ivo walking by himself back to the locker room after a hit. He will play MacKenzie McDonald later.
Noah Rubin takes the second set off Amir Weintraub but loses in three. Rubin, smallish, looks good technique and athleticism-wise, but like Johnny Mac says, “he needs a growth spurt.” But I can see him becoming a future Ferrer perhaps.
Michelle Larcher De Brito fends off one of the Scholl sisters in three sets. She is all passion, fire, come on, anguish, joy, fist pumps, but once the match is over she is all smiles and takes photos with anyone and everyone. There’s not a sweeter girl in pro tennis than Michelle. I say “Awesome” to her as she walks by and give her a high five. She flashes that joyous smile. GO MICHELLE.
DY back on track, he outsmarted Matthew Barton on court l7, 75 60. DY is wearing dark blue Lotto attire now.
Saw Hewitt coming off Armstrong after a hit with Youzhny.
Working on a Facing Hewitt feature for an Australian tennis mag and I got to speak with Davide Sanguinetti and Jan Hernych about their experiences playing the former ATP no. l who will contest his l8th Australian Open in January.
Saw Victor Estrella beat Karol Beck in two sets. The veteran Dominican has never qualified for the Open but he’s come close so many times. Could this be his year. He looked fantastic today, quick, sharp and fired up.
I saw and thanked Teymuraz Gabashvili for his interview for my Federer book, he smiled and said he liked the cover. Cool dude. Guillermo Canas is coaching him here.
Some media are here – Bodo, Tom Perrott, Pagliaro of Tennis Magazine, Aki from Japan.
The match of the day came at night. Julia Cohen vs. Majeric. What a war. Cohen was up 64 40 and lost the second set, losing six straight games. Longest rallies you will ever see, 50 shot rallies. Moonballs galore, all defense. An incredible tussle. Then Cohen jumped to a 3-0 and 5-2 lead in the third and finally closed it out 6-3. But what a pressure match. She laid down at her chair after shaking hands and got an ice massage on court. Completely spent. Many people stayed to watch this marathon struggle. How could you leave? We just had to see who won. When the match finally concluded it was after ll.
Got here at eleven and left at eleven. We spent twelve hours at qualies.
No, I’m not a tennis nut. Haha.
Estrella attempting to make first main draw at age 33
Scoop Malinowski · August 21, 2013 at 1:03 am
Saw Ryan Harrison walk by near the Heineken Bar, nobody seemed to recognize him or ask for a photo or signing…That kid Jared Donaldson is big and looks like a player…Dr. Ivo handled MacMac, but Mac Mac was in it. Dr. Ivo grinded when he needed to and stuck the volleys…Saw Jose Higueras walking with Jay Berger…
Dan Markowitz · August 21, 2013 at 6:37 am
That was the worst match I ever saw–Cohen v Majeric. Cohen should be banned for the rest of the event even though she won. At least Majeric was trying to win points. Cohen just hit ad infinitude to the Slovenian’s backhand even when her forehand side was wide open. She’d get a short ball, come up to the service line to hit it and then scurry back to the baseline. Seriously, Scoop, if you stayed to watch the conclusion of that match, you aren’t a tennis fan, you’re a maniac.
Scoop Malinowski · August 21, 2013 at 9:09 am
Dan they both played a lot of defense, daring the other to go for an attack shot. Both were afraid to come in to net, for lack of volley skills and fear of passing shots. It was a fascinating match. Especially late in the second and the third set where Cohen became more aggressive to start the third and she got out to 3-0 lead. She is super fit, moves incredible. She made me a fan. I like Majeric too, they must have hit over a thousand shots from the baseline and Majeric makes like a cough sound on every contact. One of the best matches I’ve seen all year. five of my friends from NJ were there watching it too and they felt the same way. We couldn’t leave, we had to see who won. It was fascinating how one player could change the momentum so subtly and put the pressure on the other. It will be curious to see how COhen can do next match. I want to look at her results.
Dan markowitz · August 21, 2013 at 9:35 am
Scoop, cohen’s serve was a duck. It makes your serve look like Boris Becker’s. what I find fascinating is Jerzy boy doing his warmup routine in the park outside there amidst everyone milling around, playing soccer, practicing yoga. That’s very unique and very.New York City- like.
Andrew Miller · August 21, 2013 at 10:14 am
Sounds like Larcher de B. is a winning personality. Nothing wrong with that.
The qualies sound like an all out war.
Scoop Malinowski · August 21, 2013 at 10:21 am
Janowicz is a different kind of character Dan, he will not cater to everyone, he is very strong minded and serious. No sugar coating from him. Of course it’s harder for him because of being so tall he stands out very much and so he attracts more fans and commotion so he probably needs self defense.
Scoop Malinowski · August 21, 2013 at 10:23 am
Both of their serves were medicore, no aces, no free points and each player made all the returns, every point there for long stretches were very long patient grinding wait for the error type points. Amazing consistency, I appreciate that style when it’s needed. Both were doing it. Classic match, will never forget it. Cohen was fitter and tougher at the end.
Scoop Malinowski · August 21, 2013 at 10:24 am
Andrew, Larcher is one of my favorite players, you can’t help but really like her how hard she competes and how sweet and nice she is after winning. After losing, it’s heartbreaking for her and to see her suffer.
Dan Markowitz · August 21, 2013 at 11:14 am
I hope Cohen was fitter player, Majeric is a pretty hefty girl. I can’t watch matches like that. It reminds me of when I was a college coach and had to watch countless of those kind of matches. Wake me up when it’s over.
Andrew Miller · August 21, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Nice to know these players have nerves of steel. Will be interesting to see how day 2, day 3 go, who Dan and Scoop like or can’t stand. Who hits a nice ball vs. who wins despite hitting a ball that’s not pretty. Moon-balling is fair game, my older sister played like that. She has the best w-l record in the family and would frustrate high ranked florida junior (like top 15) players despite having the world’s slowest serve and the world’s most awkward forehand, backhand, volley you name it.
Dan Markowitz · August 21, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Not out at the tennis center today, hope to go out there again tomorrow, maybe ride my bike. Scoop, if you’re interested in meeting me at 125th Station like last year and going over the old Triborough Bridge, let me know.
But, get this, the Qualys are now on tv, CBS Sports channel, and I saw the 17 yr old Taylor Townsend smash the No. 14-seed out of the event, an Ova, like 1 and 2. I’d never seen Townsend play. I knew she’d won Junior Wimbledon at 16. This girl’s serious. She’s kind of like a black Martina Navratilova, lefty, likes to serve and volley, except she smashes the ball from the baseline like Sharapova, Sugarpova, Stingapova, whatever you want to call her. This girl is the antithesis of that Julia Cohen who played last night. Townsend takes no prisoners. She might not be as good as Madison Keys and she’s definitely carrying some extra weight–she’s a big-boned girl as they like to say–but this girl plays a dynamic, versatile, talented game.
Andrew Miller · August 22, 2013 at 12:30 am
Dancevic through to Rd 2; Fratangelo OUT; Nick Kyrgios (nice year 1 on tour) onto rd 2; and in a blast from the past, Miloslav Mecir is on to rd 2.
Miloslav Jr. that is!
Scoop Malinowski · August 22, 2013 at 12:36 am
I walked by Mecir Jr. I have never seen a son look EXACTLy like a father as much as Miloslav Jr. looks like Sr. It’s UN CANNNY. Like a CLONE. Was told he plays exactly like him too. Also was told Sr. will be here on Sat.