THE ONLY ‘JUAN’: Juan Martin del Potro is the only player to beat both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at a Slam.
AT LONG LAST: The Open finally had an exciting final, the first since Andre Agassi came back from a two-sets-to-one deficit to beat Todd Martin in ’99 … JMDP is the first Argentine to win the Open since Gillermo Vilas in ’77. And yes, the last player Fed lost to in NY was Argentinian Davide Nalbandian.
THE TALL AND THE SHORT OF IT: The Open began with the short sizzler — 5-foot-6 Melanie Oudin — and ended with the feel good emergence of a guy who was a foot taller – Juan Martin Del Potro.
BIG QUESTION: Is Del Potro the best tall player in history? Sorry, Ivo Karlovic, Marc Rosset, Sam Querrey, John Isner and, of course, Todd Martin (who has more titles and reached two Slam finals), but we think so.
FROM TIRADES TO HUGS: Serena Williams issued a second (and much stronger and quite belated) apology. In her press conference, she said the linesperson she abused was just doing her job and now would like to give her a hug. Many were outraged by the incident. Others defended Serena and said the criticism she endured was sexist or racist. Others countered “No way,” noting that in contrast to Mac, Connors and Agassi who took matters right up to the line, Serena clearly crossed a line beyond verbal abuse. She was personally threatening. Asked if the experience was humbling, Serena said, “I think any experience can be really humbling, especially this one, per se. I really think that it definitely is…If it wasn’t, then I would be not able to learn from the past…That’s important. Like I always say, [it’s] important to learn from the past, so you don’t make the same mistakes in the future.”
SWEET AND HUMBLE: Juan Martin Del Potro.
ONCE MORE WITH TEARS: It’s been a great year for tears, especially a poignant Fed after the Aussie finals, Caroline Wozniacki after the Open semis and Open winners Kim Clijsters and the overwhelmed Juan Martin Del Potro, who was quite the weepy wonder. And yes, Brad Gilbert once claimed there are no tears in tennis.
THE GREATEST FOE IN FED’S CAREER: Here’s a tip. Don’t invite Roger Federer and the genius who invented Hawk-Eye to the same party. Fed is obviously flustered by a system he strongly feels shouldn’t even exist. “This thing is so ridiculous, said Roger. “I see the ball landing, I see the ball hanging, and then it’s called in.
I mean, I should have made the difference earlier so I’m not in a position where a challenge like that is gonna make a difference. Still, I’m…whatever.” In case you haven’t noticed, Hawk-Eye has transformed the game and is immensely popular with most everyone except a certain, wonderful Swiss traditionalist.
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Mary Carillo said Federer was like Lance Armstrong, “You feel like you’re staying with him until you hit the mountains. Then this guy has views nobody has.”
POOR A-ROD: If Federer had served so poorly at Wimbledon, Andy Roddick would have won with some ease (we think).
WHERE’S THE FEDERERIAN FIRE: Somehow we sense that Roger, after putting out so much on court and off court (getting married and having twins), was lacking a certain inner fire in the Open final.
THWOCK!: Federer denies that DelPo has the best forehand in tennis. Okay, that’s an interesting debate. But, at least with its rich tone, it’s the best sounding groundie in the game.
