US.13 - The Day Before the Day

The U.S. Open must be ecstatic about the women's final on Sunday. I mean, at least it'll get more attention in the U.S. than that one on Monday featuring Nishikori and Cilic, right?

Who had a Cilic Nishikori final predicted in their brackets? Gonna say no one.

— Nicole Gibbs (@Gibbsyyyy) September 6, 2014

Certainly not CBS, that's for sure. While the presence of Nishikori in the final after his upset of Djokovic today is quite refreshing and fun...

I wonder if the day #Nishikori will play the @usopen final will be declared a national holiday in Japan?:)))

— Alina Jidkova (@AlinaJidkova) September 6, 2014

Cilic's upset of Federer sort of put a big buzzkill on the final. The potential joy of Nishikori is going to have to carry the entire story for the final in the U.S., and I wonder if that'll be enough for it to produce anything but a big yawn come Monday... one day after the NFL's opening Sunday, and in the hours leading into the first Monday Night Football evening of the new season on ESPN, the same network that will air the live finals starting next year. Even "better"... the New York Giants play in one of the two Monday night games! Seriously, you couldn't make this stuff up.

Now that's a celebration! #KeiNishikori is thru to his 1st Grand Slam Final after defeating #NovakDjokovic.... https://t.co/vDzlthcYrY

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) September 6, 2014

By the way, it's been nine years (AO '05) since a slam men's final didn't include at least one of either Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray. Meanwhile, the women have the first season with eight different slam finalists since 1977.



=DAY 13 NOTES=
...in the women's doubles final, Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina picked up their second slam win as a duo ('13 RG), defeating Martina Hingis & Flavia Pennetta 2-6/6-3/6-2. Makarova also has a U.S. Open Mixed Doubles win from '12 in her career column.

.@katemakarova1 & @EVesnina001 win 2nd Grand Slam doubles title, d. #Hingis/#Pennetta, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. #usopen pic.twitter.com/w2UnVUNBgy

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2014

Hingis, meanwhile, will hopefully continue on her quest for her first women's doubles slam title since 2002 next season, maybe even with Pennetta. They reached a slam final in just their fourth tournament together, afterall.

...in the junior semifinals, both Bannerettes lost. Qualifier Caroline Dolehide (a member of the sister contingent, by the way, as Courtney plays for UCLA) lost to Czech Maiden Maria Bouzkova (pictured).



Meanwhile, wild card Katerina Stewart was taken out by #9-seed Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine (below).



Turkey's Ipek Soylu & Swiss Jil Belen Teichmann took the Girls Doubles title, defeating Vera Lapko (BLR) & Tereza Mihalikova (CZE) in straight sets. Soylu is the first Turkish girl to pick up a slam junior crown.



...in the Wheelchair Women's Doubles final, top-seeded Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR) defeated the Dutch pair of Jiske Griffioen & Aniek Van Koot to complete a Doubles Grand Slam for 2014. Kamiji/Whiley also defeated Griffioen/Van Koot in this season's finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as Griffioen & Marjolein Buis at the Australian Open. Kamiji defeated Van Koot in this year's RG singles final, as well, and will meet her again tomorrow in the Open's singles final. If Kamiji wins, the #1-ranked 20-year old from Japan will have won six of the seven singles/doubles slam titles contested in '14, and reached the final (AO singles) in the seventh.



Meanwhile, Frenchman Stephane Houdet also claimed a Doubles Grand Slam, winning the WC title today with Shingo Kunieda of Japan (the pair will meet in the singles final, as well). Kunieda paired with Houdet for three of the titles in '14, as Houbet won in Paris with Belgian Joachim Gerard.

Of course, this means that we could see an historic collection of slam titles for Japan at this U.S. Open. Along with this win, and the potential WC singles win that Kunieda could get tomorrow, Kamiji could sweep the women's WC singles and doubles, while Nishikori will be going for the big title in the men's singles against Cilic.

...North Carolina's Jamie Loeb (Soph.) won the inaugural Billie Jean King American Collegiate championship, defeating Virginia's Julia Elbaba (Jr.) in a 7-5/6-1 final. Top-seeded Loeb was the top-seeded female player in the NCAA as a Freshman, though she failed to win the NCAA Women's singles championship. That title was claimed by Virginia's Danielle Collins, who Loeb defeated in the BJK semifinals yesterday.



...Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam defeated China's Duan Yingying to win the WTA $125K Challenger in Suzhou today. After winning ten ITF challenger crowns in her career, this is the world #100's biggest title of her career. The 20-year has now won ten straight singles finals dating back to the spring of 2012.


Keepin' it real.

...LIKE FROM DAY 13: serenawilliams: "The hat says it all"



...ALWAYS NICE FROM DAY 13: At least, I'd assume so.

#PresidentMukherjee congratulates Sania Mirza on winning the US Open Mixed Doubles, says she has done India proud through this acheivement.

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) September 6, 2014

...TWEET OF THE DAY FROM DAY 13: heehee

Djokovic looks like he needs some gluten right about now. #USOpen2014

— Official Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) September 6, 2014

..."WOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED IN 2009?" FROM DAY 13: Just wonderin'

A flight I booked a week ago and the min I walk on u tell me there is none. What a joke. Ridiculous. Sincerely, Never flying u again

— Melanie Oudin (@melanie_oudin) September 6, 2014

...GOOD THING SHE SAID YES FROM DAY 13: Whew!

#TennisChannel's @Martina Navratilova proposing in the TC @usopen suite! Congrats!! #shesaidyes #happilyeverafter pic.twitter.com/bDfdCVfDAD

— TennisChannelPR (@TennisChannelPR) September 6, 2014

..."HOW TO COLLECT NEW FANS, by Laura Robson" FROM DAY 13: The Laura of the Rings

One does not simply walk into Mordor....

— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) September 6, 2014

...ANSWERING THE QUESTION... FROM DAY 13: Past, Current and Future Sloane.

you can take the girl out of the country... but you can't take the country out of the girl ?? pic.twitter.com/04QWMt04DL

— Sloane Stephens (@sloanetweets) September 6, 2014

...A PLEA TO CARO FOR DAY 14: Please, if you win -- do Usain's "lightning bolt thingy" with your arms during your celebration!

Nice meeting u @CaroWozniacki: I thought I was fast, but met somebody who says he is a little faster ?? @usainbolt pic.twitter.com/GSoFhpIq1R”

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) September 5, 2014

...and, finally, she just can't help being the center of attention, can she? Genie Bouchard caught not one -- but TWO! -- foul balls during the Yankees game last night.

Caught 2 balls haha @yankees pic.twitter.com/1JYnGYL2CH

— Eugenie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) September 6, 2014

=WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Serena Williams/USA vs. #10 Caroline Wozniacki/DEN

=MEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#10 Kei Nishikori/JPN vs. #14 Marin Cilin/CRO

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#4 Makarova/Vesnina (RUS/RUS) def. Hingis/Pennetta (SUI/ITA) 2-6/6-3/6-2

=MEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 B.Bryan/M.Bryan (USA/USA) vs. #11 Granollers-Pujols/M.Lopez (ESP/ESP)

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Mirza/Soares (IND/BRA) def. Spears/S.Gonzalez (USA/MEX) 6-1/2-6 [11-9]

=GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
#9 Anhelina Kalinina/UKR vs. Marie Bouzkova/CZE

=BOYS SINGLES FINAL=
#5 Quentin Halys/FRA vs. Omar Jasika/AUS

=GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
#6 Soylu/Teichmann (TUR/SUI) def. Lapko/Mihalikova (BLR/SVK) 5-7/6-2 [10-7]

=BOYS DOUBLES FINAL=
#6 Jasika/Nakagawa (AUS/JPN) def. Matos/Menezes (BRA/BRA) 6-3/7-6(6)

=WC WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Yui Kamiji/JPN vs. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED

=WC MEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Shingo Kunieda/JPN vs. #2 Stephane Houdet/FRA

=WC WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR) def. #2 Griffioen/Van Koot (NED/NED) 6-4/3-6/6-3

=WC MEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 Houdet/Kunieda (FRA/JPN) def. #2 Reid/Scheffers (GBR/NED) 6-2 2-6 7-6(4)

=WOMEN'S BJK AMERICAN COLLEGIATE SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Jamie Loeb (Univ. of North Carolina) def. Julia Elbaba (Univ. of Va.) 7-5/6-1

=MEN'S BJK AMERICAN COLLEGIATE SINGLES SF=
#1 Marcos Giron (UCLA) def. Peter Kobelt (Ohio St.) 6-1/6-3




**RECENT U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONS**
2005 Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur, USA/AUS
2006 Nathalie Dechy & Vera Zvonareva, FRA/RUS
2007 Nathalie Dechy & Dinara Safina, FRA/RUS
2008 Cara Black & Liezel Huber, RSA/USA
2009 Serena & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2010 Vania King & Yaroslava Shvedova, USA/KAZ
2011 Liezel Huber & Lisa Raymond, USA/USA
2012 Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2013 Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecka, CZE/CZE
2014 Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
[2014]
AO: Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
RG: Hsieh Su-Wei & Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
WI: Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
US: Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS

**U.S. OPEN "DOUBLES STAR" WINNERS**
2006 Martina Navratilova, USA
2007 Nathalie Dechy, FRA
2008 Cara Black, ZIM
2009 Carly Gullickson, USA
2010 Liezel Huber, USA
2011 Melanie Oudin, USA
2012 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
2013 Andrea Hlavackova, CZE
2014 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR (WC)
[2014]
AO: Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
RG: Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER
WI: Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
US: Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR (WC)

**RECENT U.S. OPEN GIRLS FINALS**
2005 Victoria Azarenka/BLR def. Alexa Glatch/USA
2006 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS def. Tamira Paszek/AUT
2007 Kristina Kucova/SVK def. Urszula Radwanska/POL
2008 Coco Vandeweghe/USA def. Gabriela Paz/VEN
2009 Heather Watson/GBR def. Yana Buchina/RUS
2010 Daria Gavrilova/RUS def. Yulia Putintseva/RUS
2011 Grace Min/USA def. Caroline Garcia/FRA
2012 Samantha Crawford/USA def. Anett Kontaveit/EST
2013 Ana Konjuh/CRO def. Tornado Alicia Black/USA
2014 Anhelina Kalinina/UKR vs. Maria Bouzkova/CZE

**#1 vs. #1 MEETINGS IN 2014 SLAMS**
AO: (4th Rd.) Ivanovic d. S.Williams
RG: -
WI: -
US: (4th Rd.) Wozniacki d. Sharapova, (Final) S.Williams vs. Wozniacki

**2014 WHEELCHAIR SLAM CHAMPIONS**
[singles]
AO: Sabine Ellerbrock, GER
RG: Yui Kamiji, JPN
US: ??
[doubles]
AO: Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
RG: Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
WI: Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
US: Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR




TOP QUALIFIER: #32q Aleksandra Krunic/SRB
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Serena Williams/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #17 Ekaterina Makarova/RUS
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Duan Yingying/CHN d. Irena Pavlovic/FRA 6-3/1-6/7-6(5) [Pavlovic up 5-1 3rd, held MP]
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - (WC) CiCi Bellis/USA d. #12 Dominika Cibulkova/SVK 6-1/4-6/6-4 (Bellis world #1208)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #16 Victoria Azarenka/BLR d. (Q) Aleksandra Krunic/SRB 4-6/6-4/6-4
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): Nominee: Mixed Doubles Final - #1 Mirza/Soares d. Spears/Santiago 6-1/2-6 [11-9]
TOP ASHE NIGHT SESSION MATCH: 4th Rd. - #16 Victoria Azarenka/BLR d. (Q) Aleksandra Krunic/SRB 4-6/6-4/6-4
=============================
FIRST WINNER: #4 Aga Radwanska/POL (def. S.Fichman/CAN)
FIRST SEED OUT: #25 Garbine Muguruza/ESP (lost to M.Lucic-Baroni/CRO)
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: United States (12 Bannerettes 2nd Rd.)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: France (1-5 in 1st Rd.; only win in Pastry-vs.-Pastry match-up)
CRASH & BURN: #12 Dominika Cibulkova/SVK (AO runner-up; lost 1st Rd. to Bellis/USA, 15-year old in slam debut)
ZOMBIE QUEEN: Mirjana Lucic-Baroni/CRO (in Round of 16 for first time in 15 years, after family's abusive background)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Aleksandra Krunic/SRB & Mirjana Lucic-Baroni/CRO (both 4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Nicole Gibbs/USA (3rd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Serena Williams/USA (in F)
IT ("Girl"): CiCi Bellis/USA (15-year old Wild Card; youngest MD win since 1996 - Anna Kournikova)
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Peng Shuai/CHN
COMEBACK PLAYER: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN
BROADWAY-BOUND: Belinda Bencic/SUI
LADY OF THE EVENING: Victoria Azarenka/BLR
DOUBLES STAR: Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominees: M.Bouzkova/CZE, A.Kalinina/UKR




All for now. More later.