Friday, August 31, 2018

US.5 - Fancy Meeting You Here...Again

Sloane Stephens and Victoria Azarenka just can't get enough of each other.

Combined, they've won three major titles, and played in three other slam finals. They met three consecutive years in Melbourne from 2013-15 in the time span at the tail end and immediately after Azarenka's run at #1, and the start of Stephens' initial big stage breakout moments on tour. Their meetings were often loaded with drama, though much of it was speculative (puffed up, really), having grown out of the needless controversy surrounding Azarenka's "double medical time out" during the '13 Australian Open semifinal in which she'd been dominating the Bannerette. Oddly enough, all three of those trio of matches -- all claimed by the Belarusian -- were straight sets affairs.

While Stephens staged a comeback last summer from ankle surgery, winning the U.S. Open title and then going on to reach the final at Roland Garros this spring, and arriving at Flushing Meadows as the #3-ranked player in the world, Azarenka's own pregnancy break and custody battle have often-times made her seem little more than a tour rumor over the last two seasons. Not long after winning the Indian Wells/Miami "Sunshine Double" in '16, going 26-1 to start that season, she was part of the game in name only. She played just two events in '17, and didn't begin her '18 season until March. Ranked #208 to end '17, she still managed to reach the semis in Indian Wells in her second event back this year. Oh, and even while they existed on opposite ends of the ranking spectrum, she and Stephens faced off that month. Twice, in fact. Stephens won both meetings, with their semi in Miami being their first ever three-set encounter.

With Stephens looking to defend her Open title, and now-#79 Azarenka trying to make the most of what remains of '18 and then set her mind to be better prepared for '19, once again each woman found the other standing in her way in a very big event. Stephens was coming off a comeback win over qualifier Anhelina Kalinina in her most recent match, while Azarenka had efficiently downed #25-seed Dasha Gavrilova.

Stephens, in form and serving nearly flawlessly, grabbed an early break advantage in the 1st set, and led 3-1. Azarenka finally carved out a break point in game #6, but failed to convert when she mistimed a jumping backhand crosscourt approach shot. A yanked forehand led to a Stephens hold for 4-2. Down 5-3, Azarenka was broken at love to end the set. Stephens had missed on just *one* first serve.



At 1-1, with Azarenka trying to find a crack through which to slip into the match, got a BP chance in game #3. But Stephens' solid, clutch play over a series of rallies allowed her to hold serve. The confidence that Stephens developed over the course of her summer-long, post-injury break Open run in '17, along with an innately in-tune relationship with Coach Kamau Murray, has made her one of the tougher nuts to crack on tour since she "found the key" to success that she'd been actively in search of after her early-career slam runs. Because of this, Azarenka had little margin for error if she was going to make a match of things. Unfortunately, as has been the case since her return to the tour, Azarenka has had difficulty sustaining the flashes of the "old Vika" that she's occasionally shown.

The same scenario would play out in this 3rd Round match (with a healthy assist "from above").

Up 40/15 on serve, Azarenka lost control of her service game as Stephens got the best of her in their baseline battles, reaching BP and getting the break for 3-1 thanks to a forehand error from the Belarusian. But Stephens' play didn't *continue* to rise. She squandered a 30/love lead of her own a game later, then double-faulted on BP to get the 2nd set back on serve. In game #4, Azarenka climbed out of a love/40 hole, saving three straight BP, and then an additional fourth. She came into the net behind a deep ball and put away a forehand volley to reach GP, then fired a big serve that handcuffed Stephens, holding for 3-3. Azarenka raced to a 15/40 lead a game later, as Stephens briefly lost control of the action. Azarenka's netted backhand volley allowed the game to get to deuce, but a Stephens DF gave her another BP chance. Vika's aggressive second serve return elicited a Stephens error and she took the lead with break for 4-3.

But just when it seemed as if Azarenka might have finally wrestled away momentum in the match, but it was now that the decision was made to close the Ashe Stadium roof. Even while rain was really not an issue (play wasn't interrupted on other courts), and ultimately wouldn't be for the remainder of the time frame in which the match was played. After an 8-10 minute delay, the players returns to the court and, well, things had changed.

At 30/30, Azarenka suffered a lapse of focus that resulted in a bad shot selection and loose error, as well as a service break that got Stephens even at 4-4. Two games later, down 5-4 and 15/30 on serve, a wide Azarenka forehand gave Sloane a match point. Vika blocked a low-bouncing shot at the net that landed in the short court. Stephens raced from behind the baseline to retrieve it and fired a match-ending forehand passing shot to win 6-3/6-4. And then she went fist-shaking crazy.



Stephens may very well have turned the course of the match back in her favor without the roof closure. She's earned enough benefit of the doubt over the last year to believe she had in it her to do it without any "assistance." And Azarenka admitted as much, citing her own failure to win key points, as well as her errors and Sloane's mostly in-form play, for her fate. We'll just never *really* know what might have been.

We'll surely get another version of this match-up soon to get a better idea, though.. Likely on a big stage. With big stakes. It's just the way Sloane and Vika are.



=DAY 5 NOTES=
...in the other early-starting women's 3rd Round matches on Sunday, #19 Anastasija Sevastova continued to ❤ New York, while #15 Elise Mertens reached her third 2018 slam Round of 16, and first in New York.

The Latvian has reached the QF in Flushing Meadows the last two years, and had 3-1 3rd set lead vs. Stephens in their match last year. Today she edged to within one win of matching her previous final eight runs with a 4-6/6-1/6-2 win over Ekaterina Makarova.



Makarova's loss leaves Maria Sharapova as the last remaining Russian in the women's draw, set to play another Latvian (Alona Ostapenko) tomorrow. At least one Hordette has been in the Round of 16 at 69 of the last 72 majors, and have done so at all but one U.S Open (2016) since 2000.

Playing in her overall 102nd match of the season's first eight months (she and Demi Schuurs won their WD opener yesterday), Mertens defeated #23 Barbora Strycova in straight sets, holding tough to hold in game #12 of the 2nd, then overcoming a 3-1 tie-break disadvantage to win 6-3/7-6(4). Mertens is now 13-3 in the majors this season. She'd been just 2-4 before her Australian Open semifinal run in January.



Later in the afternoon, the U.S. Open experience of Asian Games Gold medalist Wang Qiang (hmmm, at least I think she's the correct Wang in this match... ah, yes she is!) was ended by #7 Elina Svitolina. After making Magdalena Rybarikova the First Seed Out on Day 1 (the same thing she did to Venus Williams in Paris this year), Wang fell 6-4/6-4 today. The loss ends Wang's seven-match winning streak. She's still 13-3 (unofficially, w/ her AG wins) from the start of her Nanchang title run last month.

Since dropping the 2nd set of her 1st Round match vs. Sachia Vickery, Svitolina has won five straight and slipped into the Round of 16 for the second straight year in New York. No one is paying her much attention, and I'm sure that's fairly well to her liking. She'll face Sevastova next, but could get Stephens after that. People would be watching then, so we'll see how she handles that moment if it comes to fruition.



...winners in women's doubles today included #2 Babos/Mladenovic (so Kiki's injury last night while losing to CSN wasn't so debilitating that it kept her out this afternoon... hmmmmmmm, and I'll leave it at that), and #1 Krejcikova/Siniakova, who defeated five-time slam champs Mattek-Sands/Safarova by charging back from a 3-1 2nd set deficit to win 6-4/6-3. Winners of Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, the Czechs are on a 14-match slam winning streak.

Into the 3rd round at @usopen ????????

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Speaking of Katerina Siniakova, as I noted in the comment section of yesterday's post, she DID IT AGAIN. Two days after Anett Kontaveit served for the match against the Czech, Ajla Tomljanovic did it last night at 6-5 in the 3rd (after Siniakova has failed to serve out the match herself). In both cases, Siniakova managed to win the match... just as she did vs. CoCo Vandeweghe and Ons Jabeur under the same circumstances in the opening two rounds at Wimbledon. She won "Zombie Queen of London" then, and she's followed up by becoming the "Zombie Queen of New York," as well.

Meanwhile, WD's #9 Bertens/Larsson lost to Hibino/Kalashnikova in straight sets.

...well, I'm just going to briefly close up shop for now, since the first "U.S. Open at Night" post for this year will be necessary due to Serena/Venus XXX on Friday evening. It took five days... so that's not too bad.

Of course, as was painfully apparent during Tom Rinaldi's piece (though he didn't mean it to be) on ESPN today, we've officially reached the breaking point after two decades. It is now "officially" an act of mindless repetition to once again recount the entire history of the Williams Sisters in one sitting (or one segment). We've heard it all so many times that it's almost imperative to hit the mute button or else one might want to yell at the television something along the lines of, "All right, I KNOW all that already." And, frankly, that's sort of disrespectful of all they've accomplished. So, please... just stop, ESPN. That sort of retrospective should really now be held for the *end* of their active tennis story, not each and every time they're on the court together (unless if and when it might be known before hand that it'll never happen again). Who knows when that time may comes, and still could be a while, but that's when the Greatest Tennis Story Ever Told can be fully appreciated in its entirety.

The images are still fun, though, especially without the sound. The march of time is ever forward.



But there IS a match to play tonight, and that is STILL a noteworthy event on a huge stage. So, Daily Backspin Day "5.5" it is.

Bannerette Sonya Kenin fill face off with Karolina Pliskova (still chugging along with Conchita Martinez keeping a watchful eye at this slam) under the lights on Armstrong, as well.

Still to finish during the day session as of this post: Kanepi/Peterson and Barty/Muchova.


LIKE ON DAY 5: Pre-HoF (for now) Conchita



IS PAMMY AUDITIONING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS JOB? ON DAY 5: The ESPNers like to point out every blessed move the coaches make in their boxes during matches. Check that, they like to make an issue of it "breaking the rules" when it's a non-U.S. star. Yet today when Mary Joe Fernandez pointed out today that Kamau Murray was standing up and yelling instructions to Stephens during the match, Pam Shriver essentially shrugged it off with a but "everybody does it" comment.

Allll right.

Personally, I don't have any problems with it, since once the WTA officially began to allow in-match coaching during the season and allowing players to depend on the tips and encouragement, I think, it rendered any lingering issues against coaches skirting the rules (at best) during the majors an over-it argument. Something about putting the toothpaste back into the tube.

And I won't even go into Shriver's incessantly annoying practice this week of seeing fit to do a "4...3...2...1..." countdown any time a player is beginning his or her service motion as the shot clock is winding down toward zero.

"Inside voice," Pammy. "Inside voice."

Hmmm... ON DAY 5: Did someone say "Upset Court?"



BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ON DAY 5:




*whispers softly* Ostapenko-Petkovic, too

I think Sloane/Vika had it's moment, and the *potential* to be something special, but never quite lived up to it because Azarenka just wasn't able to sustain her momentum and make it so. And just when it looked like the might, they closed to the roof for a nonexistent "rain shower."


...and, finally...

A nation turns its lonely eyes to... Canada.

First, Alannah Myles' paean to Elvis Presley, "Black Velvet."


Second, a personal favorite my mine from "back in the day," k.d. lang. Reportedly, upon meeting lang, Madonna said, "Elvis is alive... and she's beautiful!"

lang has had many different musical periods over the course of her long career, from her "cowboy punk" persona to country crooner and standard-belter, with a heavy does of successful pop music thrown in, as well. For me, for all her amazing performances singing iconic and BIG songs, her country stage was her most glorious because it bucked convention on nearly every level, as the Alberta native broke nearly every mold as a vegetarian from Canadian cattle country who just so happened to also be an androgynous gay woman with close cropped hair who often dressed in suits while she belted out some of the most beautiful melodies anyone had seen in country music since Patsy Cline. She never quite perfectly "fit" in country music, but that was why her unique existence within its borders was oh so right.

While the power and grace of her voice has never been questioned by anyone who's ever heard her, I still don't think she's ever *really* got (or gets) her true due. Hers was/is one of the great voices when great voices still mattered in music.

Some vintage early lang country songs...

["Pullin' Back the Reigns"]

["Trail of Broken Hearts"]

["Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray" - on "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson"]

She ultimately owned Roy Orbison's classic, making it her own after having recorded with him before his death...


lang ultimately broke through big time with her early 1990's "Ingenue" album, and her still-heard-quite-often hit "Constant Craving"






#goodmorning #beautifulday #bestplace #home?? @stejariicountryclub

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**U.S. OPEN "ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK" WINNERS**
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2009 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2010 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2011 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2013 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2014 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, CRO
2015 Daria Kasatkina, RUS
2016 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2017 Madison Keys, USA and Sloane Stephens, USA
2018 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
[2018]
AO: C.Wozniacki, DEN (2nd Rd.: Fett served up 5-1, 40/15 in 3rd set; 2 MP)
RG: Y.Putintseva, KAZ (3rd Rd.: down 6-1/4-1 & 2 MP, 3-0 in 3rd, vs. Q.Wang)
WI: K.Siniakova, CZE (1st/2nd Rd. opponents served for match)
US: K.Siniakova, CZE (1st/2nd Rd. opponents served for match)

**50 YEARS OF OPEN ERA TENNIS AT THE U.S. OPEN**
[CAN Semifinalists]
1984 Carling Bassett
[CAN Quarterfinalists]
1992 Patricia Hy
[CAN Round of 16]
1970 Jane O'Hara (3rd Rd.)
1985 Carling Bassett
2014 Genie Bouchard
2015 Genie Bouchard

**50 YEARS OF OPEN ERA TENNIS AT THE U.S. OPEN**
[SWE Round of 16]
1970 Christina Sandberg (3rd Rd.)
1985 Catarina Lindqvist
1986 Catarina Lindqvist
1987 Catarina Lindqvist
1996 Asa Carlson

**BACKSPIN 2018 COMEBACK AWARD WINNERS**
JAN: Belinda Bencic, SUI
AO: Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
FEB/MAR: Sara Errani, ITA
I.W./MIAMI: Victoria Azarenka, BLR
1Q: REBECCA MARINO, CAN
APR: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK
MAY: Maria Sharapova, RUS
RG: Maria Sharapova, RUS
2Q Clay Court: MARIA SHARAPOVA, RUS
JUN: Barbora Stefkova, CZE
WI: Serena Williams, USA
2Q Grass Court: SERENA WILLIAMS, USA
JUL/AUG: Genie Bouchard, CAN
AUG: Allie Kiick, USA
[2018 Weekly COMEBACK Award Wins]
5 - Maria Sharapova, RUS
4 - Belinda Bencic, SUI
3 - Allie Kiick, USA
4 - Johanna Konta, GBR
4 - Serena Williams, USA
2 - Margarita Gasparyan, RUS
2 - Angelique Kerber, GER
2 - Rebecca Marino, CAN
2 - Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2 - Monica Puig, PUR
2 - Laura Siegemund, GER
2 - Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
2 - Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS
2 - Stefanie Voegele, SUI

**BEST 2018 SLAM RESULTS**
[wild cards]
3rd Rd. - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (US)
3rd Rd. - Pauline Parmentier, FRA (RG)
2nd Rd. - Olivia Rogowska, AUS (AO)
2nd Rd. - Taylor Townsend, USA (RG)
2nd Rd. - Katie Boulter, GBR (WI)
2nd Rd. - Ons Jabeur, TUN (WI)
2nd Rd. - Katie Swan, GBR, (WI)
2nd Rd. - Claire Liu, USA (US)

**U.S. OPEN "EARLY-ROUND TOP PLAYER" WINNERS**
2002 (Week 1 POW) Serena Williams, USA (W)
2003 (Week 1 POW) Jennifer Capriati, USA
2004 (Week 1 POW) Serena Williams, USA
2005 (Week 1 POW) Maria Sharapova, RUS
2006 Maria Sharapova, RUS (W)
2007 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2008 Venus Williams, USA
2009 Serena Williams, USA
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2011 Serena Williams, USA
2012 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2013 (co) Serena Williams/USA (W) & Victoria Azarenka/BLR
2014 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2015 Simona Halep, ROU
2016 Serena Williams, USA
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2018 Kiki Bertens, NED
[2018]
AO: Angelique Kerber, GER
RG: Elina Svitolina, UKR
WI: Simona Halep, ROU
US: Kiki Bertens, NED



TOP QUALIFIER: Genie Bouchard/CAN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #13 Kiki Bertens/ NED
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: #23 Marta Kostyuk/RUS def. Valentyna Ivakhnenko/RUS 4-6/7-6(6)/7-6(4) (saved 6 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - #10 Alona Ostapenko/LAT def. Andrea Petkovic/GER 6-4/4-6/6-4
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
TOP NIGHT SESSION WOMEN'S MATCH: Nominee: 2nd - (Q) Muchova d. #12 Muguruza
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: (Q) Jil Teichmann/SUI (def. Jakupovic/SRB)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Magdalena Rybarikova/SVK (1st Rd. - Q.Wang/CHN; second con. FSO at major for Rybarikova)
UPSET QUEENS: Sweden
REVELATION LADIES: Belarus (four -- Azarenka, Lapko, Sabalenka, Sasnovich -- into 2nd Round of a slam for the first time ever)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Switzerland (1-4 1st Rd.; Golubic double-bageled, Bacsinszky love 3rd set)
CRASH & BURN: #1 Simona Halep/ROU (lost 1st Rd. to Kanepi/EST; first #1 to lost 1st Rd. at U.S. Open in Open era)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Katerina Siniakova/CZE (1r: Kontaveit served for match at 5-4, 30/love in 3rd, Siniakova wins set 7-5, taking 12/14 points; 2r: Tomljanovic served for match at 6-5 in 3rd; opponent served for match in 1st and 2nd Rounds and saved MP)
IT ("??"): xx
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Karolina Muchova/CZE (in 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Victoria Azarenka/BLR (3rd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: In 3rd Rd.: Kenin, Keys, Stephens(W), S.Williams, V.Williams
COMEBACK PLAYER: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): xx
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominee: Kanepi/EST (new Armstrong Stadium premieres w/ Day 1 def. of #1 Halep)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: S.Williams, K.Muchova
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx




All for Day 5. More tonight.

Read more...

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 6:48 PM  4 comments

Thursday, August 30, 2018

US.4 - The New York Adventures of the Most Interesting Tour in the World

While Serena Williams continues to be scheduled under the cover of night at this Open (her match vs. Venus will make her 3-for-3, something which even that Roger Federling guy surprisingly can't match this year), the bulk of the rest of the contenders in the women's draw have been engaged in a battle of attrition in the afternoon heat this week.

On Thursday, some of them displayed a more "adventurous spirit" than others.

#5 Petra Kvitova held an early double-break lead on Wang Yafan at 4-1 in the 1st set, only to see the Chinese woman come back and have things tied at 5-5. Wang's double-fault put her break point down, and Kvitova soon grabbed the 6-5 lead. Down 15/30, the Czech fired an ace, and used big groundstrokes to reach set point. Wang saved it with a big return and aggressive follow-up put-away. Kvitova's multiple volleys a game later got her another SP, which she then squandered with a DF. She missed a crosscourt forehand on SP #3, then fired one long on SP #4. Finally, on SP #5, her wide lefty second serve elicited an error from Wang and Kvitova took the set 7-5.

Having had enough adventure for the day, Kvitova got the early break in the 2nd for 2-0, and rode out the advantage for a 6-3 win to advance to the 3rd Round at the U.S. Open for the seventh straight year, her best run at any single major in her career.



Meanwhile, #4 Angelique Kerber seemed to be set for a drama-free afternoon. The only player to reach at least the QF at all three previous '18 slams, the '16 U.S. Open champ somehow managed to slide into the year's final major under the radar, having not played often in the hard court summer, and only going 1-2 when she did. On some level, it was similar to her recent SW19 experience, where she spent most of the fortnight content to play in the relative shadows of others and then walked off with the Venus Rosewater dish even while most were still busy lauding Serena for her efforts to have just reached the final.

When the German led Sweden's Johanna Larsson 6-2/5-2 today, it looked as if she'd slip into the 3rd Round mostly unnoticed just one year after her most recent New York experience had ended after one round in her attempt to defend her '16 title.

Kerber held two MP, only to see Larsson's aggression increase right as Angie seemed to take a step back, perhaps frustrated at her inability to close out the match, perhaps proving that even she can be faced with the notion of buckling under the summertime NYC heat. Larsson won five straight games to take the set 7-5, breaking Kerber's serve three straight times.

After both players left the court for the scheduled 10-minute heat break, Kerber quickly won the first three points on the Swede's serve, only to see Larsson battle back to hold with three winners. Kerber went up a break at 2-1, but gave it back a game later. As the German's pace slowed, it looked as if the weather might get the better of her. But the former #1 and three-time slam champ had another surge left in her.



A squatting baseline redirected winner down the line en route to a hold for 3-3 seemed to begin to effectively turn the tide in Kerber's favor. She went up love/40 on Larsson's serve in game #7, and broke on her third BP of the game when the Swede missed on an attempt of a backhand winner down the line. Larsson got the break back a game later, but the German then set up for her closing push. She won several brutal rallies to take a 15/40 lead in game #9, reaching BP with a down the line pass after having brought Larsson to the net with a drop shot. It proved to be the blow that wobbled Larsson for a final time. The Swede's weak second serve hit in the middle of the net, with the resulting DF giving Kerber a 5-4 lead. Falling behind love/30 a game later, the German's into-the-corner winner and dying-in-the-service-box volley got things back to even. At 30/30, Larsson wrongly believed her deep return had landed out, and didn't immediately move to retrieve Kerber's reply into the vacant side of the court. Her flat-footed non-response handed Kerber her third MP, a hour after she'd failed to put away her initial two of the day. Another extended rally followed, ended by a long Larsson shot off a short Kerber ball.

Kerber's 6-2/5-7/6-4 win officially cracks the publicity shell of the German's 2018 U.S. Open. Having survived her own mid-day tightrope-walking experience, she's now "on the map." No one can say they weren't notified of her presence on the grounds.



While summertime Dutch heroine #15 Kiki Bertens had an easy time of things vs. Bannerette qualifier Francesca Di Lorenzo, winning 6-2/6-1, and #29 Dominika Cibulkova needed three sets to take care of Hsieh Su-wei's Traveling Death-Defying Roadshow of Tennis Sudoku, #6 Caroline Garcia's match with Monica Puig pretty much boiled down to one monster game late in the 3rd set.

Puig rebounded from a disappointing season by reaching the New Haven semis last week, defeating Garcia to get there. It was her third win in three career meetings with the Pastry. Today, though, Garcia was the Marathon Woman. Serving at 4-4 in the 3rd, she managed to hold what rightly felt like a "match game" that lasted 19 minutes, 28 points and 11 deuces as Garcia saved six BP in what be the best single game of the women's competition so far. It wasn't a game where loose errors ruled the day, and most GP/BP were held via winners or strong play by the competitors.

Not surprisingly, since Garcia's dad couldn't come onto the court for a "coaching session" that would throw a sudden spanner in the works, Puig had a hard time regaining her footing when it was her turn to serve to stay in the match. A DF put her down 15/30, and an error gave Garcia double MP. While the players had combined to go 0-for-11 in BP chances in the set up to this point, Garcia converted the only one she'd need when Puig's mid-rally backhand went long, giving the Pastry the 6-2/1-6/6-4 win.



Garcia's next foe? Well, that depended on the final result of #30 Carla Suarez-Navarro's late afternoon/early evening match up with Kristina Mladenovic.

As it turned out, a week after Mladenovic's loss in New Haven prevented their first on-court meeting since the former doubles partners bitterly parted ways and then Mladenovic chose to attack Garcia's intelligence and patriotism via social media and elsewhere, the conclusion of that (by now) over-extended plotline had the chance to *finally* be put to bed for good in the city that doesn't sleep. But then Mladenovic lost a break lead in the 3rd set and the Spaniard served out a 6-1/4-6/6-4 victory

I guess *that* adventure will have to wait for another day.




=DAY 4 NOTES=
...the daytime hours of Day 4 allowed many members of Generation PDQ to find their footing (or slip on the proverbial banana peel) in the multi-headed battle to become the *second* from the group, after Alona Ostapenko last year in Paris, to reach the winner's circle at a major.

Since Ostapenko's Roland Garros triumph, or maybe since she and Dasha Kasatkina broke "new" ground with their all-teen final match up in Charleston last season (won by the Russian), the age group has produced additional singles champions named Barty, Danilovic, Kontaveit, Mertens, Osaka, Sabalenka, Siniakova, Vekic and Vondrousova. Ostapenko and Mertens have reached slam semis, while Kasatkina has reached back-to-back major quarterfinals. So far, though, none have followed Latvian Thunder into a slam final, let alone track in her footsteps with an ultimate victory.

Today was something akin to a college "Rush Week" for Gen PDQ, with the "contenders" edging ever closer to initiation into the club of daring-do. Within hours of each other, some of the top members of the would-be heroic clan of competitors both rose and fell in the Open spotlight.


#20 Naomi Osaka was the first to render a (temporary) verdict on her prospects at this slam with her 6-2/6-0 crushing of qualifier Julia Glushko. The shore continues to wait for Osaka to ride The Great Wave to superstardom, but her refreshing spring title run at Indian Wells surely hinted at what might be coming from the big-hitting (but still medium rare) 20-year old from Japan. She has the promise, personality and crossover appeal to be just what the tour needs to break down a few *new* barriers of interest. But that won't happen until she has a truly breakout slam run. Even so, Osaka has done well in the majors so far. This is her sixth straight slam 3rd Round result, and third consecutive at the Open. She's reached at least the 3rd Round in nine of the eleven slam MD in which she's appeared.




No player thrust herself into the summer spotlight with more vim and vigor than #26 Aryna Sabalenka, "Belarusian Boom" herself. The fiery, fireballing 20-year old won her maiden tour title less than a week ago, but has so far shown herself to not be ready for her summer fling in North America to be over. Playing today against veteran Hordette Vera Zvonareva, Sabalenka was nearly forced into a deciding set in the 2nd set TB, as the Russian got to within two points of victory. But Sabalenka got the TB back to even at 5-5. She sprayed a backhand (sometimes she's little "medium rare," too, but no longer "raw" after the hard court summer she's had) to again put the course of her afternoon in jeopardy, but then fired a *huge* forehand return to save SP. She failed to put away a volley moments later and was SP down again, but a *booming* serve and then a return winner tied the score at 7-7. A shot off the baseline gave her a MP, and then she let her power finish Zvonereva off, pushing her back into the court and wrapping up a 6-3/7-6(7) win. Sabalenka had 39 winners on the day as she extended her stay at her maiden U.S. Open into (at least) the 3rd Round.

The battle over and her game face put away, Sabalenka seamlessly slipped into "all-purpose PDQ star" mode as she smiled and laughed with ease with the fans surrounding court hoping to get a glimpse of *maybe* the Most Interesting Tour's "best big thing."



Things didn't so quite as well for "The Swashbuckler," as #11 Dasha Kasatkina was sent packing by Sabalenka's countrywoman, Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Three years ago, the Russian reached the 3rd Round at Flushing Meadows as a lucky loser, then advanced to the Round of 16 in '17. In 2018 she's posted seven Top 10 wins, including five over Top 3 players as she's edged to within a eyelash of reaching the Top 10 herself for the first time. Kasatkina reached the QF at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in recent months, but the player capable of pulling off every shot in the "How-To-Tennis" guidebook (even the ultra-rare jump slice crosscourt backhand drop shot) was simply unable to escape her own inconsistencies on Thursday.

Kasatkina was fortunate to scrape by Timea Babos two day ago, overcoming a 3rd set break deficit and saving a BP while down 4-3. She was just 2-3 after Wimbledon coming into this U.S. Open, and was virtually schooled by countrywoman Maria Sharapova in Montreal just a few weeks ago, winning only two games off the veteran. Sasnovich, meanwhile, was seeking her best U.S. Open result just weeks after reaching the Round of 16 at SW19, a career first in a major.

Kasatkina was slow out of the gate. Sasnovich got an early break for 2-0, led 4-1, and converted on her third BP/SP on the Russians's serve, firing a backhand return winner down the line to win the 1st set 6-2 in 28 minutes. Kasatkina had four winners to twelve unforced errors, three DF and zero BP opportunities in the set. Sasnovich won 88% of her first serves, and was 5-of-5 at the net.

Kastakina broke to start the 2nd, and saved BPs in game #2. Sasnovich broke to even things at 3-3, but the Russian got the break back (the Belarusian DF's on BP in game #7) and held for 5-3. Kastakina held set point on serve in game #10, but failed to convert it, and then saw Sasnovich's successful drop shot get the break to even the score at 5-5. The two exchanged two more breaks and headed into a tie-break. Sasnovich took the early double-break lead thanks to a Kasatkina forehand error, leading 3-0. The frustrated Russian pummeled her thigh with multiple punches... then got on the board with a slice drop shot. Soon it was 3-3 and a 3rd set seemed possible again, but back-to-back forehand errors from Kasatkina put her down 5-3. A Sasnovich volley gave her double MP, and another forehand error from the Hordette ended the 6-2/7-6(3) match.



After four players from Belarus reached the 2nd Round of a major for the first time two days ago, three of them have advanced into the 3rd Round for the first time after today, with Sabalenka and Sasnovich joining former #1 Vika Azarenka.

Who knows, when the dust settles the player who ultimately follows in the footsteps of Ostapenko could be... Latvian Thunder?

While Ostapenko is still trying to find ways to corral her error totals just enough -- or at least time them differently, along with her ballooning DF totals -- to allow her brilliant and powerful shotmaking to rule the day, she'll have to be content with fighting tooth and colored nail each round in order to advance at this Open. She did so in the 1st Round vs. Andrea Petkovic, and was forced to repeat the feat today against Taylor Townsend.

Townsend, the recent Female MVP in World Team Tennis play for Philadelphia who ousted teenager Amanda Anisimova in the 1st Round, was on her game early vs. Ostapenko, grabbing a break lead, then doing it again after the Latvian had pulled even at 2-2. A love hold (with a serve-and-volley tactic on GP) gave the Bannerette a 4-2 edge, and she eventually served out the set at love to win it 6-4. In the 2nd, Ostapenko got somewhat better control of her shots, but still had to ride a wave of shifting momentum (often of her own doing) throughout the remainder of the match. She broke Townsend for a 4-2 lead, overcoming her DF's with groundstroke winners. She reached SP a game later, but three errors allowed Townsend to hold serve. Ostapenko DF'd on her second SP, but fired a service winner on #3 to win the 2nd set 6-3.

Ostapenko broke serve in game #1 of the 3rd, and led 3-1. Serving at 3-2, she missed on a swing volley and continued to donate enough DF's to keep Townsend from falling behind. After her 14th DF of the day, she was BP down, then fired a forehand into the net as set went back on serve. It stayed that way up until 4-4, when the Latvian took a 15/40 lead on Townsend's serve. On her second BP, Ostapenko's hard shot at Townsend's feet created a backhand error into the net. Serving for the win up 5-4, Ostapenko held at 15 to win 4-6/6-3/6-4 and reach the 3rd Round at Flushing Meadows for a second straight year. She had 52 winners (vs. 47 UE) on the day (vs. Townsend's 20/26), enough to overcome her fifteen DF.



A possible match-up with Sharapova awaits, as we'll see on Night 4 whether the Russian can be sharper against Sorana Cirstea than she was on Night 2 vs. Patty Schnyder.

Late in the day, Marketa Vondrousova made sure that *her* nomination for inclusive in this discussion didn't get lost in the mix, while her countrywoman Katerina Siniakova was still being put through the motions by Ajla Tomljanovic when things were last updated.



"Initiation ceremonies" for Generation PDQ continue for a few more days, and maybe deep into next week. We'll soon see, at the very least, who might make the cut for a possible Week 2 star-turn in the big city.

...in case you missed it when the WD draw came out, Latisha Chan's Spinning Wheel of Doubles Partners somehow landed on "Azarenka" for this slam (who saw that coming?). The pair opened play in women's doubles today, getting a three-set win over Yulia Putintseva & Ana Bogdan.

So we'll see how *that* goes.

LIKE ON DAY 4: Another Czech...



Qualifier Karolina Muchova wrapped up the second big upset in the women's field late on Night 3, or early on Day 4, really. In a match that ended at 1:08 a.m. on Armstrong, the 22-year old Czech (#202) continued to make her slam debut a memorable one, defeating former #1 and two-time slam winner Garbine Muguruza in a star-making three set triumph. The Spaniard had led 2-0 in the 3rd, with four BP for a double-break lead, but once she failed to secure the double break the tenor of the match as a whole was forever altered. Muchova, a three-time ITF challenger finalist this season (she's just 2-8 in career finals), arrived in New York having played in just one tour-level MD (qualifying in Seoul last September, then losing to Priscilla Hon) in her career. She fired eight aces vs. Muguruza, had 41 winners and was 21-of-37 at the net in the match.

With Genie Bouchard's Day 4 loss, Muchova is the "Last Qualifier Standing."

LIKE ON DAY 4: Chakvetadze (+Plus) Sighting!



LIKE ON DAY 4: The Dutch Artist still has some tennis left in her...

Yes, this is me.. 14years ago.. just before I won my first junior grand slam here at the Us Open.. before I turned full time pro.. before I won 14x ITF singles and 21x ITF doubles titles.. before I won 3x WTA singles and 6x WTA doubles titles.. and before i had 6x knee surgeries.. all these years that i have spent on and off the court practicing, sweating, working out, fighting, laughing and crying, recovering from surgeries, eating, sleeping and breathing tennis, I have always fell asleep at the end of any day with believing I can be better tomorrow.. not everyone can be world number 1 or win a grand slam.. but as long as you have the will to wake up and give it everything you have, there is a good chance you will retire one day and feel very content.. but I am not there yet.. ???? despite the loss yesterday in our 1st round doubles i arrived here in New York City already feeling like a winner.. because I have proven to myself that despite being born with a “bad” meniscus, I have played and am going to continue playing tennis and pushing my own limits.. my journey is definitely not a regular one and although some days are tough and frustrating with having to balance the amount of tennis, gym and recovery so that my knee is ready for the next day, a match like the one yesterday gives me hope and power and a feeling that if i stay strong and don’t give up, there will be more chances like these in the future. So yes, this is me, age 29, currently ranked 167 in doubles and 749 in singles, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The only way is up, so onto the next one. ?? #NoFairytaleHere #RealLife —> next WTA #Chicago & WTA #Quebec

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LIKE ON DAY 4: In Rinaldi They Trusted



LIKE ON DAY 4: Dani does the Open



NIGHT 5 ON DAY 4:




...and, finally...

The Swedish duo Roxette -- Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle -- always seemed as if they were often underrated and overlooked. From "Joyride" and "Listen to Yoru Heart" to "It Must Have Been Love" (from "Pretty Woman") and "The Look," they were reliable worldwide hit-makers in the 1990s after many successful years in Sweden, with their best efforts highlighted by the powerful vocals of Fredriksson.

The group had formed in 1986 after successful solo efforts from Fredriksson and Gessle fronting a successful boy band (Gyllene Tider) in Sweden. In 2002, Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumor after fainting and fracturing her cranium, for a time leaving her nearly blind and unable to read. While she took time off to recover, Gessle released solo albums before they came together again seven years later. The duo embarked on a 30th anniversary tour in 2014, often with Fredriksson performing while seated in a chair on stage. In early '16, the last leg of the tour was cancelled due to Fredriksson's health, as doctors advised she forego playing live. Her last concert came in February. Later they year, Roxette released their most recent studio album.

[Original "The Look" video - 1989]

[Fredriksson's story - 2012]

["The Look" live in 2015]

[last concert appearance - February 2016]














??

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Ready to kick off Day 3 @usopen ?? Are you ready for some tennis ???

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**U.S. OPEN "LAST QUALIFIER STANDING" WINNERS**
=2006=
Eva Birnerova/CZE
Youlia Fedossova/FRA
Kirsten Flipkens/BEL
Varvara Lepchenko/UZB
Aga Radwanska/POL (all 2nd Rd.)
=2007=
Alize Cornet/FRA
Ekaterina Makarova/RUS (3rd Rd.)
=2008=
Anna-Lena Groenefeld/GER (4th Rd.)
=2009=
Anastasia Rodionova/AUS (3rd Rd.)
=2010=
Lourdes Dominquez-Lino/ESP
Mandy Minella/LUX (3rd Rd.)
=2011=
Silvia Soler-Espinosa/ESP (3rd Rd.)
=2012=
Olga Puchkova/RUS (3rd Rd.)
=2013=
Camila Giorgi/ITA (4th Rd.)
=2014=
Aleksandra Krunic/SRB
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni/CRO (4th Rd.)
=2015=
Johanna Konta/GBR
Anett Kontaveit/EST (4th Rd.)
=2016=
CiCi Bellis/USA (3rd Rd.)
=2017=
Kaia Kanepi/EST (QF)
=2018=
Karolina Muchova, CZE (in 3rd Rd.)
[2018]
AO: Denisa Allertova/CZE (4th Rd.)
RG: C.Dolehide/USA, M.Frech/POL, G.Garcia-Perez/ESP (2nd Rd.)
WI: Evgeniya Rodina/RUS (4th Rd.)
US: Karolina Muchova/CZE (in 3rd Rd.)

**50 YEARS OF OPEN ERA TENNIS AT THE U.S. OPEN**
[SUI Champions]
1997 Martina Hingis
[SUI Finalists]
1998 Martina Hingis
1999 Martina Hingis
[SUI Semifinalists]
1992 Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (ex-BUL)
1993 Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (ex-BUL)
1996 Martina Hingis
2000 Martina Hingis
2001 Martina Hingis
[SUI Quarterfinalists]
1990 Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere (ex-BUL)
1998 Patty Schnyder
2008 Patty Schnyder
2014 Belinda Bencic

**BACKSPIN 2018 VETERAN AWARD WINNERS**
JAN: Julia Goerges, GER
AO: Angelique Kerber, GER
FEB/MAR: Lesia Tsurenko, UKR
I.W./MIAMI: Venus Williams, USA
1Q: ANGELIQUE KERBER, GER
APR: Pauline Parmentier, FRA
MAY: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
RG: Angelique Kerber, GER
2Q Clay Court: SERENA WILLIAMS, USA
JUN: Tatjana Maria, GER
WI: Julia Goerges, GER
2Q Grass Court: Julia Goerges, GER
JUL/AUG: Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
AUG: Alize Cornet, FRA
[2018 Weekly VETERAN Award Wins]
5 - Angelique Kerber, GER
4 - Mihaela Buzarnescu, ROU
4 - Julia Goerges, GER
3 - Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
3 - Andrea Petkovic, GER
2 - Kateryna Bondarenko, UKR
2 - Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
2 - Alize Cornet, FRA
2 - Sabine Ellerbrock, GER (WC)
2 - Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2 - Kaia Kanepi, EST
2 - Petra Martic, CRO
2 - Evgeniya Rodina, RUS
2 - Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2 - Barbora Strycova, CZE
2 - Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
2 - Venus Williams, USA
2 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN




TOP QUALIFIER: Genie Bouchard/CAN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: #23 Marta Kostyuk/RUS def. Valentyna Ivakhnenko/RUS 4-6/7-6(6)/7-6(4) (saved 6 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
TOP ASHE NIGHT SESSION WOMEN'S MATCH: xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: (Q) Jil Teichmann/SUI (def. Jakupovic/SRB)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Magdalena Rybarikova/SVK (1st Rd. - Q.Wang/CHN; second con. FSO at major for Rybarikova)
UPSET QUEENS: Sweden
REVELATION LADIES: Belarus (four -- Azarenka, Lapko, Sabalenka, Sasnovich -- into 2nd Round of a slam for the first time ever)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Switzerland (1-4 1st Rd.; Golubic double-bageled, Bacsinszky love 3rd set)
CRASH & BURN: #1 Simona Halep/ROU (lost 1st Rd. to Kanepi/EST; first #1 to lost 1st Rd. at U.S. Open in Open era)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Nominee: Siniakova (1r: Kontaveit served for match at 5-4, 30/love in 3rd, Siniakova wins set 7-5, taking 12/14 points; was "Zombie Queen" for Wimbledon after opponent served for match in 1st and 2nd Rounds and saved MP)
IT ("??"): xx
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Karolina Muchova/CZE (in 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Victoria Azarenka/BLR (in 3rd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: In 3rd Rd.: Kenin, Keys, Stephens, S.Williams, V.Williams
COMEBACK PLAYER: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): xx
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominee: Kanepi/EST (new Armstrong Stadium premieres w/ Day 1 def. of #1 Halep)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: S.Williams, K.Muchova
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx




All for Day 4. More tomorrow.

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posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:44 PM  5 comments