COMIC RELIF (WELL, SORT OF): Karen Crouse called the Dinara Safina vs. Olivia Rogowska first-rounder a “dark comedy masquerading as a match.”
(SOUTHERN) CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: Five Southern Californians kicked butt on Day 2 at the U.S. Open — Sam Querrey, Kevin Kim, Taylor Dent, Carsten Ball and Maria Sharapova.
A CLAY CHALLENGED STATE: Maria Sharapova would like spend more time in her Manhattan Beach home (she also owns a home in Florida) if it weren’t for a dearth of clay courts in California. “I still spend a lot of time in Florida, especially when my tournaments are in Europe. It’s usually half and half,” she said, “I spent two months or five weeks before the French Open over there working on the clay courts. That’s one thing I think we need in California, are clay courts, and good maintenance people. But I love it. I love the lifestyle of Manhattan Beach because I feel like everybody is so down-to-earth, doesn’t really care. They’re almost all almost like beach bums in a way. Then there’s the Peet’s coffee, which is good coffee.”
LET’S BE FRANK: Maria Sharapova said her silvery Nike outfit was inspired by New York City and the works of architect Frank Gehry (think the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A., the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao). When IT noted that it was likely the first time Gehry’s name was ever mentioned in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Russian said, “Well, he should be. He’s a legend.”
LET THE BLOODLETTING BEGIN: In the broadcast booth for Andy Roddick‘s first-round match, when the Texan bloodied his knees while diving for a volley, Andre Agassi said, “It’s only fitting that a little blood ends up on the court.” The Las vegan later added, “I say let ’em bleed.”
TWO THUMBS WAAAAAAY DOWN: Andy Roddick blasted a ball at comedic actor Will Ferrell during Ashe Kids Day festivities, exclaiming, “That was for Elf! I wasted two hours of my life!”
TRICK QUESTION: Question: Can you name the two best players ever to come out of Oxford? Answer: Tim Henman of Oxford, England, and Devin Britton from Oxford, Mississippi.
TIP OF THE DAY: Roger Federer said that the key to winning the U.S. Open is an easy win in the semis.
ROOMMATES: Asked if his friends will stick around Flushing Meadows to watch his next match, Jesse Witten said, “If I let them stay in my room, which they have been. We had like five people — I mean, don’t tell the hotel, but…” And he’s not planning on spotting them a room of their own. “I don’t want to waste my money — just because I have some for once,” he said.
THE NUMBERS
50: Unforced errors by Ana Ivanovic in her first-round loss to Kateryna Bondarenko
1: Player in the draw who has beaten Roger Federer at the U.S. Open (J.C. Ferrero).
1: ATP victories for Jesse Witten, 26, who scored an impressive 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 win over Russian Igor Andreev in the first round. Asked if it was his best-ever win, the No. 276-ranked Floridian replied, “You could probably say that.”
QUOTEBOOK
“It’s the best time.” — Roger Federer on the U.S. Open
“Do you feel shortchanged?” — Brad Gilbert to Roger Federer, who’s “only” won $50 million in prize money compared to Tiger Woods‘ $100 million.
“Her mind is in the way. She’s just terrified.” — Cliff Drysdale on Dinara Safina
