FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — In the midst of all the rain delays, ESPN commentator Cliff Drysdale recalled a rain delay story of his own. During the Drysdale vs. Manuel Santana ’65 U.S. Championships final at Forest Hills, Drysdale was forced to the bottom reaches of the stadium to lie down during a delay. He soon fell asleep, but was awakened by a tap on his shoulder. “I wake up and I’m looking at the face of Senator Robert Kennedy,” Drysdale said. “He was there to present the prizes later in the day, and it was one of those moments that I’ll never forget. He just wanted to introduce himself.”
NICK THE HALL OF FAMER?: Academy pioneer Nick Bollettieri reacted to news that, for the second straight year, he’s been nominated for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “To be considered to be in the Hall of Fame, that’s the Hall of Fame for me,” said Bollettieri, who fell short of the needed votes last year. “When I was up this year with Andre Agassi and to know that I was some part of helping him and so many others, you can’t have everything. If I’m put into the Hall of Fame, that’s more than I ever dreamed. But if I don’t get in, I think I’ve lived a Hall of Fame life with what I’ve done. Would I have any anger? No.”
OFFICIALS REVOLT: Half of the gold badge umpires — the highest-rated officials in professional tennis — opted to skip the 2011 U.S. Open. “We’ve been saying this for years and years. The U.S. Open makes more and more each year, but very little of that goes to the officials,” said longtime official Norm Chryst. “Gold badge umpires don’t want to come here. Why? A lot of the answer is money.” The top officials make $250 a day at the U.S. Open — the lowest pay rate for any Grand Slam.
IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S…: The New York Post’s Marc Berman called France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga “Roger Federer‘s Kryptonite.”
THE VIEW: One reporter observed, with Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin and Mary Carillo sitting side by side on The Tennis Channel, it looked “like the set of ‘The View.'”
THE NUMBERS
$300 Million: Estimate for constructing a roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium.
HEADLINES
Is Women’s Tennis Too Nice?
Is Woz Really No. 1 Without a Slam?
QUOTEBOOK
“[Caroline] Wozniacki doesn’t inspire dread in her opponents. That’s because she’s too busy smiling at them, befriending them and rooting for them on Twitter.” — Tom Perotta, The Wall Street Journal
“There’s a difference between being No. 1 and being a champion.” — Chris Evert
“[Serena] Williams has become the single most intimidating player in the history of women’s tennis…Whenever Williams steps on the court, women crumple before her, often playing the worst tennis of their lives for minutes on end before eventually regaining their senses and equilibrium. By then, it’s too late.” — Filip Bondy, Daily News
“Tennis, anyone? Not Tuesday in New York. Roof, anyone? Not yet, anyway.” —USA Today
“I haven’t always been known for my competitiveness.” — Samantha Stosur
“I’d love to have a roof.” — U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley
