DAVIS CUP TEAMS NAMED: The ITF has announced team nominations for the ’09 Davis Cup World Group Semis, to be played Sept. 18-20.
Croatia vs. Czech Republic
Croatia: Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Roko Karanusic, Lovro Zovko
Czech Republic: Radek Stepanek, Tomas Berdych, Jan Hernych, Lukas Dlouhy
Spain vs. Israel
Spain: Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez
Israel: Dudi Sela, Harel Levy, Jonathan Erlich, Andy Ram
JUST WHAT EXACTLY IS A SMOKEY?: Lleyton Hewitt said that Juan Martin Del Potro is a “smokey.”
JUST WONDERING: Was Melanie Oudin‘s with-the-wind topspin lob to break Nadia Petrova in the third set the shot of the tournament?…Is the 6-foot-6 vs. 6-foot-6 battle between Marin Cilic and Juan Martin Del Potro “the tallest” quarterfinal is USO history?
IF SHE ONLY HAD A HEART: Pam Shriver said Nadia Petrova is never going to have “the heart of a warrior, which [Melanie] Oudin has already.”
THE PULSE OF LIFE: Chris Fowler claimed Marin Cilic “barely has a pulse.”
KIM COMMENTARIES: When asked to comment on Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams said, “It looks like she just took a week off,” while Roger Federer said that coming back to tennis “is completely natural. It’s like riding a bike.” ESPN seemed to dismiss Federer’s fatherly duties when they claimed that it’s “more impressive when a mother comes back (to the tour).” Plus, Hannah Storm said the Clijsters comeback is an “inspiration to moms everywhere.”
JOURNALISTIC UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DAY: Chris Fowler said of the British, “They have a lot of newspapers, don’t they, and if [Andy] Murray loses, he’ll be treated unkindly.”
INSPIRING: Oudin, Clijsters.
NOT-SO-INSPIRING: Safina, Safin, Roddick, Murray, Venus, Zvonareva, Sharapova, Blake
HERE COMES THE SUN: Brad Gilbert ended his on-court interview with young Dane Caroline Wozniacki by saying, “Good luck, sunshine.”
MEDIA INSIGHT OF THE DAY: After John McEnroe suggested that the next time he goes on court he’ll go out there without a shirt, ESPN’s Hannah Storm observed that she was “not sure that would be a ratings grabber.”
HEADLINES
Ou Bet!
Oudini
Ou-ray!
Enthusiasm and American Men Gone
THE NUMBERS
423,427: All-time first-week attendance record at the U.S. Open — a figure greater than the total attendance of any U.S. Open prior to ‘91.
QUOTEBOOK
“When Venus Williams broke through more than a decade ago, tennis officials predicted a far-reaching impact: a deluge of young African-American players from places like Compton, Calif., and Harlem would be playing world-class tennis. More than a decade later, Venus and her sister Serena continue to dominate a sport that is still waiting for young African-American women to make the journey from urban areas to the world stage. Why hasn’t there been another Venus or Serena?” — William C. Rhoden
“Never before have I experienced such pride in one person.” — Katherine Oudin, who wept with joy after her twin sister Melanie’s victory over Nadia Petrova
“I love New York City. People in China say, ‘If you love your children, send them to New York. If you hate your children, also send them to New York.'” — Li Na
“She’s like a great combo between Henin and Clijsters.” — Mary Carillo on Melanie Oudin
“He’s doubling up on majors and kids this year.” — Mary Carillo on Roger Federer
“He can be a buzzkill in most arenas, except for Wimbledon, where the atmosphere is electric.” — Chris Fowler on Andy Murray
“You know it’s you day when your wicked mis-hits are finding angles.” — Brad Gilbert
“Murray just lost it completely…The pressures got to him completely.” — John McEnroe on Andy Murray‘s collapse
