Bill Simons
New York
What were you doing when you were 16?
Torrance, California’s Iva Jovic earlier this year won the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior doubles titles. She was the youngest man or woman in this year’s US Open draw, and is playing five (that’s right – five) events in Flushing Meadows. And now her impressive power baseline game has captured the imagination of American tennis. Can you spell p-h-e-n-o-m?
Hitting out and unafraid, the kid who began playing on the roof of her apartment complex seems to be headed for the stratosphere. In the opening round she dismissed the considerable Polish veteran Magda Linette and then took it to the Russian veteran Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No. 29 seed, winning the first set 6-4.
Not surprisingly, the rave reviews began to flow. “The composure of this young woman is fantastic…This kid is great. The 16-year-old looks like she’s been doing this forever,” observed Rennae Stubbs.
To her credit, Alexandrova battled back, capturing the second set 6-4. The California teen seemed to lose her legs, and her second serve was slow. The Russian gained a match point. But Iva, whose mother is Croatian and her father Serbian, tapped her inner Djokovic and battled back. “She’s got a little smile on her face. She’s loving it,” observed Stubbs.
Jovic showed amazing grit, saving six match points before Alexandrova finally prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. But American tennis fans from Flushing Meadows to LA’s Jack Kramer Club were elated. A star was born.
GRAB YOUR POPCORN: As they did last year, American stars Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton will again face off in New York. In 2023, Ben prevailed and then gave us his hang-up-the-phone gesture.
“I’m ready for war,” said Frances. Shelton said that, compared to last year, he is a more intelligent player who doesn’t have to hit 150 mph serves, he’s a better mover and his backhand has improved. New York is looking forward to the return of their rivalry that will rock Ashe Friday night.
YOU BET YOUR LIFE: Caroline Garcia had the guts to come out against betting sponsorships. The French veteran noted, “The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies, which actively destroy the lives of some people…Maybe, next time you see a post from an athlete, singer or any other person that has failed or lost, you will remember that she or he is also a human being, trying his best in life.”
Frances Tiafoe backed Garcia, saying, “I get it. I’ve been getting cooked for a long time. It’s never good… It’s just wild.”
DISGUSTING: When asked about the pile of sweaty shirts he’d gone through during his second round match that were by his bench, Frances Tiafoe joked, “It’s so disgusting over there. It’s like a little kid’s room. It’s so messy…It’s a disgrace!”
THEIR MUSCLES HAVE MUSCLES: It’s not just that Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa Nadal are Spanish superstars who are good at tennis. They’re also both jaw-dropping hunks. Tuesday night, Alcaraz showed off by wearing a form-fitting, sleeveless black singlet that proved (as people also say about Nadal) that his muscles have muscles.
Afterwards, Carlitos explained why he wore the singlet: “I just want to make fear for the opponent.” His opponent, Australian Li Tu, got the message. The Aussie recalled, “We go to the coin toss and he took his jacket off and I’m like ‘Dude, this guy’s a specimen…This guy’s a beast.’ I just couldn’t stop looking at his shoulder definition.”
MEMO TO MADISON – DON’T FORGET YOUR WEDDING: Madison Keys confided that her wedding later this year to her boyfriend and coach, Bjorn Frantanjelo, is not exactly at the forefront of her mind. She told ESPN, “I keep forgetting about it. I mean I’m talking with him and we’re saying we’re going to play here and we’re going to play there, and then we say, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re going to get married after that!’”
NAOMI BOW-SAKA: After talking about Naomi Osaka’s recent fashion statement that featured a huge bow on her back and bows on her shoes, Christian Basnight called her “Naomi Bow-saka.”
Winning the US Open is a life-changing achievement that brings fame and wealth. Sloane Stephens won in 2017, and has battled on the circuit since, but there have been many setbacks. Since then, the furthest she’s gotten in a Slam is the quarterfinals.
After Naomi Osaka won her two US Opens, she regularly opened up about her intense mental health issues. Since Bianca Andreescu won the 2019 US Open, she’s battled devastating injuries, deep doubts and rough draws.
Most baffling of all is Emma Raducanu, who in 2021 came through qualifying and didn’t lose a set as she raced to the title. Since then, she’s had to navigate a dystopian gauntlet of bad injuries, multiple surgeries, coaching changes, tough press reports, wretched losses, questionable decisions and unforced errors.
At Wimbledon she said she’d be thrilled to play mixed doubles with Andy Murray, but then backed out at the last minute. She said she was going to skip the Olympics in order to focus on the US Open. But she skipped Toronto and Cincinnati. Tuesday she lost to Sofia Kenin. She hasn’t won a US Open match since 2022, and is now ranked No. 172.
OF GIN JOINTS, MAYA JOINT AND CASABLANCA COMMENTARIES: Years ago, when writer James Lawton was reflecting on women’s tennis, he seemed to be referring to Rick’s American Cafe in the iconic movie, “Casablanca.” He wrote, “We saw razor reflexes, intimidating power and the kind of cold menace more associated with late-night bars in some of the world’s trouble spots.”
And when Madison Keys dismissed the 18-year-old Australian qualifier Maya Joint, 6-4, 6-0, there was additional commentary based on the movie. Broadcaster Cindy Shmerler suggested that, as the despondent Joint was leaving the court, she had to be repeating in her head her own version of Humphey Bogart’s epic lament: “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
THE KINDEST, SWEETEST PERSON IN THE HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION BIDS FAREWELL: For years, both the ATP and the WTA boasted jolly Rogers. Men’s tennis had their grand ambassador, the often upbeat Roger Federer, and the women had their happy middle-of-the-pack journeywoman, Shelby Rogers, who broke into the top 30.
Somewhat similarly, for years the ATP has boasted players with back-to-back first names, like Tommy Paul and James Blake.
But the WTA could also boast a player whose name included back-to-back first names.
Now the pride of Carolina, Shelby Rogers, who lost to Jessica Pegula, is retiring. During her 14 years on the circuit, she reached the quarterfinals of two Slams and scored wins over Serena, Ash Barty and Simona Halep.
More importantly to us, when it came to quirky, fun-loving dialogs with the press, she broke into our Top Twenty list. Mary Carillo once asked her, “How much of a tear machine are you?” Rogers replied, “One-hundred percent tears, all the time. Sad, happy, reading a book, watching movies…Those little puppy commercials – ‘Adopt a dog.’ – My tears flow easily.” Mary Carillo then told Shelby, “Everyone tells me that you’re the kindest, sweetest person in the history of civilization.”
Rogers replied, saying, “You’re going to make me cry.”
“Then I’ll change gears,” Carillo continued. “Do you have any plans to become hardened and bitter?” The slightly taken aback Rogers replied, “No.” Rogers went on to say that she relishes the noise and aggression of the NHL. Plus, she’s a fine philosopher, commenting, “The best things in life are not things.”
IT DOESN’T HURT TO ASK: This year, Bianca Andreescu has lost to Jasmine Paolini at the French Open, Wimbledon, and now at the US Open. After falling Tuesday night to her, Bianca told Jasmine, “Let me win next time!” The Italian sighed, “Sorry!”
TV DEAL: ESPN and the USTA have extended their exclusive media rights agreement through to 2037.
BRANDON’S WILD EMOTIONS: Just after the calm, efficient, impassive Brandon Nakashima secured his 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 over France’s Arthur Cazaux, he offered a modest fist pump. “This is pure elation,” noted broadcaster Brad Gilbert. Nakashima, who has scored wins this summer over Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Arthur Fils, has now gone through to the third round without losing a set and will reach a career high of No. 43 in the world. The 23-year-old, who is of Japanese and Vietnamese descent, gave a shout-out to his original coach at the San Diego Racquet Club, Angel Lopez. He said his recent surge is a result of many things – improved confidence, new coaches and success at the Challenger level. He’ll probably next play the No. 18 seed, Lorenzo Musetti.
AMERICA WATCH: No. 13 Ben Shelton, No. 20 Frances Tiafoe and No. 43 Brandon Nakashima all won in straight sets, while Mitchell Krueger lost a tough five-sets. Emma Navarro and Madison Keys moved into the third round, but Taylor Townsend fell to Paula Badosa.
– Also reporting Vinay Venkatesh and Lucia Hoffman
