SOMEDAY I’LL BE NO. 11: Former ATP star and Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington, who came so close to cracking the Top Ten, joked “No one grows up thinking, ‘I want to be No. 11.’”
I SOUND MORE IRISH THAN YOU AND I GREW UP IN JERSEY: Journalist Steve Kelly said,“I love him [Irish ump Fergus Murphy], but I have a better Irish accent, and I’m from New Jersey.”
THE MAN WHO CANNOT AVOID CONTROVERSY: Nick Kyrgios was fined $113,000 in Cincinnati, which is about 10% of his 2019 earnings. When asked about it last night he said, “[The] ATP’s pretty corrupt anyway, so I’m not fussed about it at all.” But after the ATP said they would investigate the claims, with the possibility of a suspension, the Aussie tweeted a clarification. He said, “It was not the correct choice of words,” and what he wanted to address was the “double standards [in sanctions and penalties] rather than corruption.”
OH, LIFE IS JUST SO TEDIOUS: Say what you will about tennis, in the big picture few other sports have more characters, self-analysis, and twists and turns. It is far from boring. But on court last night Nick Kyrgios muttered to himself, “[I] could not have picked a more boring sport as a profession.” Ironically, many consider the Aussie one of the least boring tennis characters in the history of supposedly boring old tennis.
THE RULES ARE TOO TIGHT: John McEnroe said, “The inmates were running the asylum into the 80s. And they [officials] tightened the rules, too much…and [now] we’re crying out for personality…We have to get these people engaged more and expressing themselves. In the heat of the moment, when it’s 100°F on the court and there’s a lot at stake, you sometimes make some bad mistakes, but…people respond to [the fact that] we’re human beings.”
A REFLECTION ON A DENSE, CRYSTALLINE METEORITE OF ATHLETIC PROWESS [AND HER SISTER]: Elizabeth Weil offered this comparison of the two greatest sisters in sports history. “[Serena’s] talent is so singular that it feels as if it dropped whole from the heavens, a dense, crystalline meteorite of athletic prowess and drive. Venus, a year older, seems more earthly and understated. If you’re not deliberately looking through Serena’s glare — if you don’t hold up a prism and refract Serena’s achievement into its constituent parts — you’ll lose sight of what a star Venus is.”
THE GREATEST TENNIS STORY EVER TOLD? Is the dominance of the ATP’s Big Three – Roger, Rafa and Novak – combined with the shortfalls of roughly two generations of hopefuls, the greatest men’s story of tennis’ Open Era?
THE GREATEST STROKE-MEISTER WE’VE SEEN? When he’s dialed in and zoning, is Nick Kyrgios the best shot-maker tennis has ever seen?
QUOTEBOOK:
“This is a hot mess.” – Chris Evert on the upset-filled third quarter of the men’s draw, where five of the eight seeds lost in the first round
“Faster!” – a voice in the crowd after Nick Kyrgios hit a 138 mph ace
“That is absolutely jah-gunda serving.” – Brad Gilbert on a Krygios ace
“There’s your average loyalty, [then there’s Venus loyalty which] for lack of a better word is mind-boggling.” – Serena, in a New York Times article
“When Venus is on the brink of disaster, somehow she goes to that next level and her power and intensity comes out.” – Chris Evert on Williams during a 15-minute game against Svitolina in which she saved five match points
“I know the tournaments don’t find it very sexy giving [more prize money] to first-round qualies…but hopefully we’re going to get that right.” – Federer on what he’ll try to accomplish on the Players Council
“I have never seen such a poor start from Roger ever. He can’t put a ball in the court.” – Darren Cahill
“One of the greatest shots the game has ever seen and today it’s missing as bad as it ever has.” – Chris Fowler on Federer’s forehand
ALI’S SUMMER OF LOVE: It’s been a breakout summer for American veteran Ali Riske. We saw her flat, grass-friendly strokes do damage as she beat Ash Barty en route to the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Her fun-loving Bollywood dance moves at her Pittsburg wedding to Stephen Amritraj drew raves and she came back to win a gritty first round at the Open. The 29-year-old says she’s now playing with freedom. When it was noted that after her marriage to Amritraj she became a member of tennis’ greatest Indian family, she spoke with amazement about India, “[It’s] unlike anywhere I’ve ever been in the entire world…You experience it with every sense…you’ll see things you have never seen before. You’ll smell things you never smelled before. It’s definitely an experience.”
COMFORTABLE COMMENTARIES ON COMFORTERS: Years ago, Ali Riske confided that she carried around a piece of the comforting blanket she had as a child. Then, deep into her run at Wimbledon, the American made this bombshell revelation to IT – she no longer has that piece of her comforter. It eventually disintegrated. In a somewhat similar vein, Andy Murray revealed that his brother Jaime has a comforter monkey named Bam Bam, which he got stitched up and carries on tour.
BATTLE OF THE SHOCK SHOTS: Which shock shot at the US Open was cooler – the incredible tweener winner Federer hit against Djokovic in the 2009 Open semis, or the monster cross-court return of serve forehand Djokovic hit when he was match-point down in the 2011 semifinal? Djokovic went on to win the title.
BATTLE OF THE NICKNAMES: What’s a more appealing nickname: McCoco – for the doubles team of Caty McNally and Coco Gauff, Fedal – for Feder and Nadal, or Murina/Serandy for the doubles team of Serena Williams and Sir Andy Murray?
THE PLAYERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED: The WTA has a new younger Player Council. When asked about working with the ATP, Sloane Stephens said, “We all want change. We all want to make our tours better. The more unified we are going in that direction, the better.” ATP activist Vasek Pospisil said, “What affects one side affects the other. It just makes sense to collaborate and communicate, especially at the Grand Slams.” Federer added, “I think…that’s a great thing.”
SAY IT AIN’T SO: Federer hit 100 unforced errors in his opening two matches…This year a top ten seed lost in the first round of a Slam eight times, the most since the 32-seed system was introduced.
WRONG SIDE OF THE BED? As Federer got down early against No. 99 Damir Dzumhur, Brad Gilbert noted, “Mirka and the kids didn’t arrive [in the stadium] until three games in.” Chris Fowler responded, “Neither did Roger.”
WHO’S CALLING THE SHOTS HERE? Federer ripped a backhand pass and didn’t hear the ump’s “out” call over the roar of the crowd. The ref called to the Swiss, “Roger, Roger, I called it out.” Federer responded, “I’m calling it in.” Hawkeye revealed it was just out.
FAMILY FIRST: After his win over Damir Dzumhur, Federer hit a ball to his daughter in the stands.
SERENA – STILL SUSPENSEFUL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS: Mike Tirico said, “It’s just fascinating, seeing Serena at this point, 20 years later, and how it’s evolved, and what she’s going to do. And we’re in suspense. She keeps us in suspense. After 20 years, how many athletes have done that?”
GO FIGURE: This year’s US Open is the first time in history that Federer dropped the opening set in his first two matches at a Slam…Nadal has been the French Open Champ 63% of the time Felix Auger-Aliassime has been alive…The average height in the match between Ash Barty and Lauren Davis was 5’3”.
JUST WONDERING: Does tennis need more or fewer Nick Kyrgyios?
WHAT’S IN A NAME? After Bianca Andreescu beat Katie Volynets, Inside Tennis asked what the young Canadian thought of Volynet’s “I-was-born-to-play” name. She responded, “I never even, like, put 2 and 2 together…that’s crazy.”
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: After being dismissed in the first round by Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya, Sloane Stephens confided, “I need to practice my fist pump because I’ve been so out of it.”
