Thursday, September 05, 2019

US.10 - Romanian Fire, Canadian Chill

Having already reigned in the West (Indian Wells) and the interior (Toronto), Bianca Andreescu's coast-to-coast conquering of North America has taken another step toward claiming the East with her win in the U.S. Open quarterfinals to advance to her maiden slam semi.



Even since the Canadian teen kicked off her season with a Week 1 appearance in the Auckland final, Andreescu has been committed mind, body (eventually) and soul to the pursuit that hardly anyone realized she was up to immediately undertaking at the start of 2019. From winning two of the biggest non-slam events on the calendar (the second after missing nearly four full months with an ailing shoulder and then immediately running off with a huge title in her hometown in her first event back), going 7-0 vs. Top 10 players and climbing from outside the Top 150 in January to coming into Wednesday less than 24 hours from assuring *herself* a Top 10 berth once the season's final slam has concluded, virtually nothing has proven to be out of her reach.

So far, in her first U.S. Open main draw appearance, the same is holding true at Flushing Meadows.

Two nights after having played past midnight on Ashe Stadium against a young U.S. player (Taylor Townsend, four years *older* than her) with the crowd on her side, #15-seeded Andreescu returned to the scene with even more on the line against #25 Elise Mertens on a muggy Wednesday night in Queens. Despite getting off to an extended slow start, the teenager never wilted even as she slow-walked her way through the final set (which tends to be part of her sweat-drenched, quick-give-me-my-towel style, so commentators should probably hold back on the "she-looks-like-she's-about-to-collapse-from-exhaustion" conversations during matches), gathering her inner energy resources for what she would soon have to do once the ball was in play.

The 1st set had come and gone with Andreescu barely having resembled the player who'd entered the evening sporting an all-level season record of 42-4 (21-1 since start of her run in the desert in March, with the lone in-match defeat coming via a retirement). Meanwhile, 23-year old Mertens, upping her in-point aggression as she did in key spots during her "Belgian Rumble" slam semifinal run in Melbourne last year, was playing a very nearly *perfect* set. Well prepared and with answers for whatever Andreescu offered, Mertens was clipping lines with mishits while her error-prone opponent's shots, timing and first serve were all a tick (or more) off.

Andreescu had had two break points in the opening game, only to see Mertens hold serve. It would be as close as the two would get on the scoreboard during the 1st. Mertens grabbed a break lead at 3-1, and carried a 14-of-17 points run into game #6. There, the Waffle carved out two BP at 15/40, but the Canadian saved them with big serving to get back to deuce, then saved two more, holding to get within 4-2 with an ace. It was a game that didn't turn the set in her favor, but did point Andreescu back on the road to redemption in the match. After Mertens held for 5-2, Andreescu put together her first love hold of the night, finally putting both her power and variety to good use. Mertens closed out the 1st with a hold for 6-3, ending the set with an ace.



But Andreescu was already looking over her shoulder and, as she'd admit later, imploring herself to "get her sh*t together." As the 2nd set began, Andreescu was adamant about trying to find her game and pumping herself up. The no-give-up, no-give-in offensive had begun.

After losing a 40/15 lead in an opening service game that slipped to deuce, the teenager was staring at another early deficit. But she managed a foothold by securing the game, and yelled "Come on!" to herself in her attempt to kick things into gear. And as the set wore on, that's precisely what happened, as the Canadian gradually put her hands around the throat of the proceedings.



At the same time, the shine on Mertens' own game was beginning to wear off. A DF and unforced error ended game #2, a love service break that handed Andreescu her first noticeable advantage on the scoreboard. Mertens broke back in game #3, and led love/30 on Andreescu's serve two games later, but the teenager held with a big forehand from the baseline for a 3-2 lead. The moment carried her through the set's finish line. Up love/40 on the Belgian's serve, a huge return got the break for a 4-2 lead. At 5-2, a topspin forehand return that dropped into the corner set her up with multiple set points at 15/40. The break for 6-2 knotted the match, with Andreescu having essentially turned the tide by winning 17 of the last 21 points.

Andreescu looked to accelerate toward the finish in the 3rd, and had early chances to do just that. But Mertens had a little fight left in her, as well. She saved break points in game #2, holding serve in a 9-minute game. With the heat seeming to bear down on her, Andreescu walked slowly around the court and armed the ball kids with towels and water to sustain her. Down 15/30, she looked to potentially be showing a physical crack, but maybe that was just a *tiny* bit of "the drama" peeking out from under her visor. Rather than wilt she served *harder* and held for 3-2, and then went about putting a extra amp of power behind her shots while also still remaining focused enough on the flow of things to pull out drops and lobs when necessary. She took a 15/40 lead on Mertens' serve in game #6. But the Belgian, realizing her time was short if she didn't become more proactive, played a few extra-aggressive points to save both BP and hold serve. Andreescu followed with a love hold.

It was clear that the end was near.

A Mertens DF put her behind love/30, paving the way for a break of serve for 5-3, as Andreescu was hitting her finishing stride. She missed on a drop shot that hit the net cord, but an ace and big wide serve gave her a 40/15 lead and two MP chances to become the first Canadian to reach the U.S. Open semis since 1984. She only needed one, shutting down the proceedings with a backhand winner down the line to win 3-6/6-2/6-3.



The first teen to reach the U.S. Open semis since 2009 (Wozniacki), Andreescu has won won 11 straight matches, twelve consecutive three-setters, and is 17-3 in three-setters this season. Ranked #208 at this time last year, she'll become the third Canadian woman to reach the singles Top 10 once this U.S. Open is complete.

And, oh yeah, she may yet have something to say about *how* it ends, too.

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Semis shout ???? @biancaandreescu_

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With a Romanian fire cooled by a Canadian chill, Andreescu so closely resembles the player "we've always wanted" that it's as exhilarating as it is downright scary. Power, touch, toughness *and* smarts? In the same being between the lines? And with some occasional drama lightly sprinkled over your drop shots, too? All the better! One who enjoys the fight, *and* is unhindered by expectation? Stop it. With the on-court edge of a young Vika, the resilience of vintage Halep, the creativity and mind of Aga (well, maybe Swiss Martina), and the power off the ground of Capriati?

Can one 19-year old from Ontario possibly be all those things in one? For the long haul?

Who knows... but it sure is going to be a helluva lotta fun finding out.






=DAY 10 NOTES=
...in the first quarterfinal of the day, #13 Belinda Bencic and #23 Donna Vekic faced off to decide which would become a maiden slam semifinalist.

After successfully (w/ coach Torben Beltz) learning how to deal with adversity the last two seasons, often returning a year later to events where she had frustrating losses and then producing ever *better* results, Vekic will find herself in that same position again next season when she arrives at Flushing Meadows. The Croat served for the 1st set at 5-4, but failed to secure the game. Bencic forced things into a TB, which she won 7-5. She then took the 2nd at 6-3 to become the first Swiss woman to reach the U.S. Open semis since Martina Hingis in 2001.



Seriously, does any player look more sad than Vekic when she loses? Her new-found resilience has made '19 quite likely her career year, though, so she surely knows what she has to focus on next.

In other news, tomorrow we'll have the sport's first ever match-up of a "Belinda" and a "Bianca" for a spot in a grand slam final.

...in mixed doubles, defending champs Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Jamie Murray (def. #3 Stosur/Ram) advanced to the final, where they'll look to become the first duo to repeat in New York since Anne Smith & Kevin Curren in 1982. They'll face top-seeded Chan Hao-ching & Michael Venus, who defeated Chan's sister Latisha in today's semi. #4-seeded L.Chan & Ivan Dodig had won back-to-back MX majors this season in Paris and London, as well as a third crown last year at Roland Garros.



...meanwhile, the wheelchair draw is out. No Jordanne Whiley or Zhu Zhenzhen, but Parapan American Games singles Gold medalist Dana Mathewson (via a wild card) is the rare U.S. woman in a slam singles draw (vs. KG Montjane). Wimbledon champ Aniek Van Koot will face #2 Yui Kamiji in the big opening round match-up, while #1 Diede de Groot gets Sabine Ellerbrock.

In what (unless something changes) will be her final U.S. Open (since the 2020 Paralympic competition next summer means no WC event at Flushing Meadows), Marjolein Buis will face Giulia Capocci. Buis will be forced to retire from the sport after the '20 season due to a change in the classification system in order to get wheelchair tennis' rules in alignment with all other Paralympic sports. Somehow, Buis' condition means she won't meet the criteria and will no longer be eligible to compete.

#1 de Groot/Van Koot will be going for a '19 Grand Slam in doubles, and open vs. Capocci/Kamiji (ITA/JPN). Buis & Mathewson (#2 seeds) face off with Ellerbrock/Montjane.

De Groot will be going for her *seventh* straight slam doubles title (4 w/ Van Koot, 2 w/ Kamiji), and a sweep of both titles would give her 7 of 8 major wins this year and 13 of 16 in 2018-19. Of course, if that doesn't work out, she's already proven her skills at package delivery.






Umm, well, you see, umm... ON DAY 10:




via GIPHY



MEMORIES ON DAY 10:



Kirilenko won the battle (and the 17-15 TB, though for some reason they don't have that part in the video), but Stosur won the war. She not only won the match, but also the title.


LIKE/DISLIKE ON DAY 10:

Kudos to Chris Evert for finally noting tonight that Simona Halep is the player that Bianca Andreescu has declared in the past to have been her tennis idol, rather than continuing down the path of the network's previous attempt to install Serena Williams as such. Sure, Andreescu would have respected and admired Williams' career as she herself was growing into the sport, but her family heritage gives every reason for the greatest Romanian player ever to have been at the *top* of the Canadian's list a few years back.

But, of course, Evert (& Co.) also get a demerit for her more than once noting (without anyone nudging her with an, "Umm, Chrissie...) that a big difference between Andreescu's run in New York and the ones she had in Indian Wells and Toronto is that the U.S. Open is a two-week, seven-round event rather than a one-week, five-round one, that forces a player to be "on" for a longer period of time.

While Evert's note may *partially* apply to Andreescu's Toronto win (though that's actually a six-round tournament), it surely doesn't to I.W. since both it an Miami are as close to a slam as a non-slam event can be, consisting of seven rounds of play over two weeks. You know, *just* like at a major.


LIKE ON DAY 10:

Hey, someone's back who can sing out "WTA Theme Songs!"




SIGH... ON DAY 10:




Oh, the beads... ON DAY 10:



Remember when people complained about the sound they made when they clanged together? Or how one would sometimes go flying during a rally?


JUST-GOIN'-WITH-IT ON DAY 10:

Don't know enough to know how accurate it is, but I'll go with the thought just because of this...








Joan Jett very well may be THE female roll-and-roller in music history. As a teenager, she was one of the founders of the all-female rock band The Runaways (1975-79), best known for the song "Cherry Bomb." Soon after, she became the frontwoman of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. The Blackhearts' version of the song "I Love Rock 'n Roll" was a #1 hit in 1982, and songs such as "Bad Reputation," "Crimson and Clover," "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)," "Light of Day," "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and "Dirty Deeds" helped the group belatedly earn induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Jett has been described as "The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" and the "Godmother of Punk."

She was parodied in the comic strip Bloom County in the form of Tess Turbo, lead singer of the Blackheads.


The song added to the "WTA Theme Song" week list here is "Bad Reputation," though there are any number of Jett songs (some included here) that could be included in this mix. In 2009, it was named the 29th best hard rock song of all time by VH1, making it the highest-ranked song by a woman on the list. It's interesting how many good/suitable songs for this little project have 1980's roots. I guess it's because there were so many rock-driven female acts in that era, and that music more easily plays into this idea.

["Bad Reputation" - Joan Jett, 1980]


It's easy to see action sequences featuring tour players blended in with that song, from some old school Vika to some Latvian Thunder, with a little edgy Andreescu and others filling in the blanks.

Of course, so many of Jett's songs have that sort of versatility. Her music has an extensive list of sports links (including a new one starting this week).

From Wikipedia:

" Jett is a sports fan and has remained actively involved in the sports world. "Bad Reputation" was used by Ultimate Fighting Championship's Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey as her walkout song at the pay-per-view event UFC 157 and is her current theme music in WWE. In April 2019, Jett performed "Bad Reputation" at WWE's WrestleMania 35 as Rousey was introduced. Her cover of "Love Is All Around" (the theme song of The Mary Tyler Moore Show) was used by the NCAA to promote the Women's Final Four. ... Jett supplied theme songs for the ESPN X Games premiere and has contributed music to all their games since. At Cal Ripken Jr.'s request she sang the U.S. national anthem at the Baltimore Orioles game in which he tied Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. She also sang the national anthem at the final game played at Memorial Stadium. From 2006 to 2015, the melody for her song "I Hate Myself for Loving You" was used as the theme music for NBC Sunday Night Football with re-worked lyrics and retitled "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night". Beginning with the 2019 season, Jett will perform the song with Carrie Underwood as the opener of Sunday Night Football games. "



YouTube Research Finds:

["Love is All Around" - Joan Jett from "Late Show with David Letterman" (2009)]
...Jett's cover of the theme song from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" completely changes the feeling of it, giving it a sharper edge that still sits quite well with the memory of the groundbreaking nature of that show



["I Hate Myself for Loving You" - Joan Jett, 1988 and 1998]
...the original performance video, and a '98 version from a decade later with Jett looking particular badass on stage




["Bad Reputation" - Avril Lavigne, 2012]
...I suppose if Andreescu were at the heart of a promo with this song, why not use her fellow Canadian's version



As far as some longer-former selections...

[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame set - 2015]


["Bad Reputation" - full 2018 documentary]
...though I wonder how long this will stay on YouTube, considering it's available for purchase on most services





*WOMEN'S SINGLES SF*
#13 Belinda Bencic/SUI vs. #15 Bianca Andreescu/CAN
#5 Elina Svitolina/UKR vs. #8 Serena Williams/USA

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF*
#8 Azarenka/Barty [DC] (BLR/AUS) vs. Kuzmova/Sasnovich (SVK/BLR)
#4 Mertens/Sabalenka (BEL/BLR) vs. (PR) Dolehide/King (USA/USA)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 H.Chan/Venus (TPE/NZL) vs. (WC) Mattek-Sands/J.Murray (USA/GBR) [DC]

*GIRLS SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
Oksana Selekhmeteva/RUS vs. #16 Elsa Jacquemot/FRA
(WC) Katrina Scott/USA vs. Robin Montgomery/USA
#4 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL vs. #13 Abigail Forbes/USA
#12 Park So-hyun/KOR vs. #7 Kamilla Bartone/LAT
#5 Zheng Qinwen/CHN vs. Daria Frayman/RUS
Priska Madelyn Nugroho/INA vs. #3 Alexa Noel/USA
Mai Napatt Nirundorn/THA vs. (Q) Alexandra Yepifanova/USA
#15 Polina Kudermetova/RUS vs. (WC) Reese Brantmeier/USA

*GIRLS DOUBLES QF*
#1 Noel/Parry (USA/FRA) vs. #5 Bartone/Selekhmeteva (LAT/RUS)
#3 Kawaguchi/Nagy (JPN/HUN) vs. Hennemann/Vecic (SWE/GER)
Jacquemot/Shnaider (FRA/RUS) vs Droguet/Janicijevic (FRA/FRA)
#6 Broadus/Forbes (USA/USA) vs. Collard/HYC Wong (CAN/HKG)

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SINGLES QF*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED [DC] vs. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
KG Montjane/RSA vs. (WC) Dana Mathewson/USA
Marjolein Buis/NED vs. Giulia Capocci/ITA
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF*
#1 de Groot [DC]/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. Capocci/Kamiji (ITA/JPN)
Ellerbrock/Montjane (GER/RSA) #2 Buis/Mathewson (NED/USA)




City Sights...












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“????????????”

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Found some better pics with D...I just wanna say I don’t know what’s happening right now?????seems like we’re ?? crazy...one day everything is okey another day we both wanto kill each other!But I wanto say that I love him as a coach and trust him more then others!And I can feel that we can grove up together and reach our goals!And I don’t wanna see somebody else by my side.And he is keep saying “I don’t feel that’s you really need me” fuck D I REALLY NEED YOU!but I need that Dmitry who was on the beginning of our relationships”Strong...Smart...Calm And I don’t know ?? real man...real coach ????”.I know some people will think ?? who?!Dmitry is smart strong and calm...no that’s impossible ?? But I know your real personality and we went trough so many things together...And after we went in the Hospital because something weird happened with Jason I was really afraid that’s something dangerous happened to him I look at you guys and realize “you’re my biggest power and support...I don’t wanna lose you”. Just wanted to say it. I know sounds weird..like we are couple and been together for 30 years ,but I think relationships between player and coach it’s something similar to this...I don’t know probably he’ll kill me after he read this....before you kill me just wanna to say sorry!???????I wrote it at 23:45..so maybe because of that here’s a lot of emotions and lovely ??

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*LOWEST-SEEDED WOMEN IN US OPEN SF, since 2000*
Unseeded - 2000 Elena Dementieva, RUS
Unseeded - 2009 Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
Unseeded - 2011 Angelique Kerber, GER
Unseeded - 2013 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
Unseeded - 2014 Peng Shuai, CHN
Unseeded - 2015 Roberta Vinci, ITA (RU)
Unseeded - 2016 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
Unseeded - 2017 Sloane Stephens, USA (W)
Wild Card - 2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL (W)
#28 - 2011 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#26 - 2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA (W)
#20 - 2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN (W)
#20 - 2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
#19 - 2018 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
#19 - 2006 Jelena Jankovic,SRB
#17 - 2018 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#17 - 2014 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
#15 - 2017 Madison Keys, USA (RU)
#15 - 2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN
#14 - 2018 Madison Keys, USA
#13 - 2019 Belinda Bencic, SUI
#12 - 2005 Mary Pierce, FRA (RU)
#12 - 2007 Venus Williams, USA
#10 - 2001 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#10 - 2002 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
#10 - 2012 Sara Errani, ITA
#10 - 2014 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (RU)
#10 - 2016 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (RU)

**GRAND SLAM SF - 2010-19**
21 - SERENA WILLIAMS, USA (18-2)
10 - Maria Sharapova, RUS (6-4)
7 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-2)
7 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (4-3)
7 - Angelique Kerber, GER (4-3)
6 - Li Na, CHN (4-2)
6 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-3)
6 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (2-4)
5 - Venus Williams, USA (2-3)
5 - Aga Radwanska 1-4)
4 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (3-1)
4 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (2-2)
4 - Madison Keys, USA (1-3)
3 - Kim Clijsters, BEL (2-1)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-1)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-2)
3 - Johanna Konta, GBR (0-3)
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Francesca Schiavone, ITA (2-0)
2 - Marion Bartoli, FRA (1-1)
2 - Sabine Lisicki, GER (1-1)
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - Flavia Pennetta, ITA (1-1)
2 - Lucie Safarova, CZE (1-1)
2 - ELINA SVITOINA, UKR (0-1)
2 - Timea Bacsinszky, SUI (0-2)
2 - Ekaterina Makarova, RUS (0-2)
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-2)
1 (1-0) - Barty, Ciblkova, Henin, Ostapenko, Vondrousova
1 (0-0) - ANDREESCU, BENCIC
1 (0-1) - Anisimova, Bertens, Collins, Petkovic, Flipkens, Dementieva, Goerges, Ivanovic, Jankovic, Mertens, Lucic-Baroni, Peng, Pironkova, Rybarikova, Sevastova, Strycova, Vesnina, Vinci, J.Zheng

**ACTIVE CAREER SLAM SF**
38 - SERENA WILLIAMS, USA (32-5)
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
20 - Maria Sharapova, RUS (10-10)
7 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-2)
7 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (4-3)
7 - Angelique Kerber, GER (4-3)
7 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (3-4)
6 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-3)
6 - Jelena Jankovic, SRB (1-5)
5 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (4-1)
5 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (2-3)
4 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (3-1)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
4 - Madison Keys, USA (1-3)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Johanna Konta, GBR (0-3)
3 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-2)
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Sabine Lisicki, GER (1-1)
2 - Dominika Cibulkova, SVK (1-1)
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - ELINA SVITOINA, UKR (0-1)
2 - Timea Bacsinszky, SUI (0-2)
2 - Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, CRO (0-2)
2 - Ekaterina Makarova, RUS (0-2)
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-2)
2 - Zheng Jie, CHN (0-2)
1 (1-0) = Barty, Vondrousova
1 (0-0) = ANDREESCU, BENCIC
1 (0-1) = Anisimova, Bertens, Collins, Goerges, Flipkens, Mertens, Peng, Petkovic, Pironkova, Rybarikova, Sevastova, Strycova, Vesnina, Wickmayer

**SLAM SF BY NATION - 2010-19**
37 - USA (S.Williams)
17 - RUS
13 - CZE
11 - GER
8 - CHN,ITA
7 - BLR,ROU
6 - BEL,DEN
5 - AUS,POL
4 - CAN (Andreescu),ESP
3 - GBR,LAT,SUI (Bencic)
2 - FRA,JPN,SRB,SVK,UKR (Svitolina)
1 - BUL,CRO,NED
[2019]
4 - CZE,USA (S.Williams)
2 - UKR (Svitolina)
1 - AUS,CAN (Andreescu),GBR,JPN,ROU,SUI (Bencic)

**2019 WTA SF**
8 - Kiki Bertens, NED (4-4)
5 - Ash Barty, AUS (4-1)
5 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (4-1)
5 - BIANCA ANDREESCU, CAN (3-1)
5 - Sofia Kenin, USA (3-2)
5 - BELINDA BENCIC, SUI (2-2)
5 - Donna Vekic, CRO (2-3)
5 - Angelique Kerber, GER (1-3+W)
5 - ELINA SVITOLINA, UKR (0-4)
4 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (4-0)
4 - Simona Halep, ROU (3-1)
4 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2-2)
4 - Barbora Strycova, CZE (0-4)
3 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (3-0)
3 - SERENA WILLIAMS, USA (2-0)
3 - Johanna Konta, GBR (2-1)
3 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (1-1+L)
3 - Petra Martic, CRO (1-2)
3 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (1-2)
3 - Bernarda Pera, USA (0-3)

**CANADIANS IN TOP 10 (s/d)**
Bianca Andreescu (WS current "live" high of #9)
Carling Bassett-Seguso (WS high: #8)
Gaby Dabrowski (WD high: #7)*
Jill Hetherington (WD high: #6)
Genie Bouchard (WS high: #5)

**U.S. OPEN "IT" WINNERS**
2005 Sania Mirza, IND
2006 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2007 Agnieszka Radwanska, POL
2008 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA [Jr.]
2009 Melanie Oudin, USA
2010 Beatrice Capra, USA
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED [Wheelchair]
2012 [Brit] Laura Robson, GBR
2013 [Bannerette] Vicky Duval, USA
2014 [Girl] CiCi Bellis, USA
2015 [Kiki] Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2016 [Teen] Ana Konjuh, CRO
2017 [Jr. Wild Card] Coco Gauff, USA
2018 [Court] (new) Louis Armstrong Stadium
2019 [Canadian] Bianca Andreescu, CAN
[2019]
AO: [Teen] Amanda Anisimova, USA
RG: [Gen PDQ Teens] Amanda Anisimova/USA, Iga Swiatek/POL and Marketa Vondrosova/CZE
WI: [Kid] Coco Gauff, USA
US: [Canadian] Bianca Andreescu, CAN

**U.S. OPEN "LADY OF THE EVENING" WINNERS**
2010 Venus Williams, USA
2011 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2014 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2015 Serena Williams, USA & Venus Williams, USA
2016 Madison Keys, USA
2017 "The Late Show starring Madison Keys"
2018 Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
2019 Serena Williams, USA
[2019]
AO: Garbine Muguruza, ESP
US: Serena Williams, USA

**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
2019 Donna Vekic, CRO
[2019]
AO: Karolina Pliskova, CZE (QF: S.Williams up 5-1 & MP in 3rd set)
RG: Anna Blinkova, RUS (down set & break in Q2, 3-0 3rd in Q2, 4-0 3rd in 1r, 3-0 3rd in 2r)
WI: Elina Svitolina, UKR (Gasparyan ret. after 2 pts from 2nd Rd. win)
US: Donna Vekic, CRO (4r: Goerges served for match in 2nd set and had MP)

**U.S. OPEN TOP "MIDDLE-ROUND" PLAYER WINNERS**
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL (RU)
2007 Justine Henin, BEL (W)
2008 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2009 Serena Williams, USA (SF)
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (SF)
2011 Samantha Stosur, AUS (W)
2012 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2013 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2014 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS (SF)
2015 Simona Halep, ROU (SF)
2016 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (RU)
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (SF)
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN (W)
2019 Elina Svitolina, UKR
[2019]
AO: Petra Kvitova, CZE (RU)
RG: Johanna Konta, GBR (SF)
WI: Serena Williams, USA (RU)
US: Elina Svitolina, UKR



TOP QUALIFIER: Peng Shuai/CHN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #10 Madison Keys/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): Elina Svitolina, UKR
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: Isabella Shinikova/BUL def. Sachia Vickery/USA 6-1/4-6/7-6(6) - Shinikova MTO down MP at 6-5 in 3rd set TB, then comes back and wins 3 con. pts. to advance. Shinikova limps to net for her handshake, then Vickery airs out her frustrations on Twitter after the leaves the court.
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - (Q) Taylor Townsend/USA def. #4 Simona Halep/ROU 2-6/6-3/7-6(4)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #23 Donna Vekic/CRO def. #26 Julia Goerges/GER 6-7(5)/7-5/6-3 (Goerges served for match and had MP in 2nd - has 3-DF game)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
TOP NIGHT SESSION WOMEN'S MATCH: Nominee: 2nd Rd. - #8 S.Williams d. (WC) McNally - 17-year old takes Williams to three sets in Ashe debut
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Ana Bogdan/ROU (def. Dart/GBR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #27 Caroline Garcia, FRA (1st Rd. - lost to Jabeur/TUN)
UPSET QUEENS: Russia
REVELATION LADIES: United States
NATION OF POOR SOULS: ESP (1-4 in 1st Rd.; seeded Muguruza and CSN/ret. out)
CRASH & BURN: #11 Sloane Stephens/USA (1st Rd. - '17 champ lost to qualifier A.Kalinskaya on Ashe for first career slam MD win)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Donna Vekic/CRO (4th Rd. - 1 MP saved vs. Julia Goerges, reaches first career slam QF)
IT ("Canadian"): Bianca Andreescu/CAN
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Bencic, Svitolina
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Taylor Townsend/USA (4th Rd.) (LL: Flipkens-2nd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Kristie Ahn/USA (4th Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Serena Williams (in SF)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Taylor Townsend/USA
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Serena Williams/USA
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Mattek-Sands, Dolehide/King
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Kristie Ahn/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Call Me Coco" summer preview show
LADY OF THE EVENING: Serena Williams, USA
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx




All for Day 10. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 1:00 AM 

7 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

Katrina Scott might be the Junior Breakout.

Konta's return to the Top 10 will wait, as she will be 11. With that said, Svitolina would be 2 with the title, Bencic 4, Andreescu 5, and Williams 6.

Sabalenka Tursunov is becoming popcorn worthy. Who would have though that she would have a better year in doubles?

Wonder if Kuzmova's doubles run will jumpstart what is left of this season.

Bertens leads your list with 8 SF. You almost feel she will win a title in Asia.

Stat of the Day- 2- Amount of women making their slam SF debut.

Obvious who they are, and as we get to the Final Four stats, you will notice something odd. remember when we were using Miami as a French Open barometer, complete with Miami winner Barty winning Roland Garros? Well, instead of using Cinci for the USO, how about Canada, or more specifically, Toronto?

Being that Montreal and Toronto alternate, with Toronto getting the odd numbered years, look at the last 4 Toronto winners:

2019-Andreescu
2017-Svitolina
2015-Bencic
2013-Williams

H2H Final Four
Williams 4-1 vs Svitolina/ Williams 2-1 hard
Williams 1-1 vs Bencic/1-1 hard
Bencic 2-1 vs Svitolina/1-1 hard
Andreescu 1-0 vs Williams/1-0 hard
Andreescu 1-0 vs Svitolina/1-0 hard

Andreescu 0-0 vs Bencic

Andreescu would be the first Canadian to win a slam or reach US Open final. Would be first to reach slam final since Bouchard-Wimbledon 2014.

Bencic would be first Swiss player to win US Open since Hingis in 1997, or the first at any slam since Hingis-Australia 1999.

Svitolina would be first from Ukraine to reach any singles slam final. Last to reach any SF was Svitolina at the last slam.

Williams would be first American since Stephens to win both US Open or any slam.

Last 3 years-record on hard:
102-35 Svitolina
94-32 Andreescu
78-38 Bencic
32-10 Williams

46-34 Bencic- WTA only
38-20 Andreescu - WTA only

Top 10 Wins-Last 3 years:
22- Svitolina-20 hard
11- Bencic- 8 hard
7- Andreescu
4- Williams

Pliskova has 6 losses to this group, the only person to have lost to each of the 4. Kerber has 7, but didn't lose to Serena.

So what do the numbers tell us?That there is the potential for madness. Svitolina is better on hard statistically, and not only has a more recent bigtitle than Serena, but beat her in a big event-2016 Olympics.

Andreescu-Bencic is a blank slate. They both have won premier titles this season, and both have the ability to frustrate each other. New territory for both, and they follow Serena. It does mean that the crowd might be spent, and they are going to have to generate their own enthusiam.

That is an advantage for Andreescu, so Andreescu over Bencic in 2, Svitolina over Williams in 2.

Two reasons why Svitolina over Williams. Serena has struggled with Top 10 players since her return, and Svitolina seems more like the YEC winner through IW player that was only losing to title winners.

The other, is that she has felt like a woman of destiny since the Venus match. A high level of play from both, and a second serve that has been less egregious than in the past gives her a fighting chance.

Either we get a first time slam winner, or 24.

Thu Sep 05, 08:10:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

It does make it seem like it was (mostly) Tursunov's decision to go, though. I think. Honestly, it was hard to wade through all that and figure much out. :\

Scott and Selekhmeteva (and maybe Kudermetova) are probably the unofficial "leaders" right now.

Bertens' season is sort of like Kvitova's from last year.

Good to see that the Rogers Cup Twitter team picked up on that, too. It'd been real disappointing if they hadn't.

That's a good point on the order of play. Weird that they'd have Serena -- quite obviously the "star" of the night -- in the first match rather than the spot that generally goes to the bigger headliner. I suppose it *could* be because the second-match players played yesterday rather than the day before, but it's only a hour or two difference, so that wouldn't seem to be a determining factor when it came to setting up the schedule. *Both* are night matches, so...

Thu Sep 05, 10:00:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

The other day I read that Bianca told someone that the player she admired when she was "young" was Kim Clijsters. Teenagers.....

The Sabalena-Tursonov thing is creepy. I've wondered about him for a long time, as you know, and this isn't helping. But I'm wondering about her, too (in a different way, of course).

So I LOVE Joan Jett! That documentary is very good. Another good (small) film is The Runaways, though it has a serious flaw: the director makes Lita Ford practically nonexistent. But Kristen Stewart is just right as JJ, and Dakota Fanning is excellent as Cherie Currie (whose book was the basis for the film).

And I think you know this, but just in case: I once danced with Joan Jett :)

Thu Sep 05, 11:22:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Haha! It's always funny when young players talk about when they were "young," which could mean a time as recent as five years ago. ;)

Although since Clijsters' last season was when BA was about 11, I guess it's easier to time her "young" years out. Of course, watching her game you can see that she was surely influenced, like most players, by the games of multiple others as she developed. I guess, unlike most fans, most players don't limit themselves to rooting for/following one or two exclusively since, you know, they *really can* actually emulate the games of many... and might even get to play *against* them, too.

Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten about that movie. :)

I don't know if I remember the story of that particular brush with fame. (If it's as memorable as the Grace Jones one...) ;)

Thu Sep 05, 05:44:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

My husband and I were in NYC and attended the revival of the Rocky Horror Show at Circle in the Square. Joan Jett was (a fabulous) Columbia, and was also one of the "cigarette girls," who sing "Science Fiction Double Feature" at the beginning of the musical.

When the show was over, after the bows, the cast members spread out around the front rows of the theater (in the round) to dance the Time Warp with audience members. Guess who chose me?!

She later did her own version of SFDF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whhh0WyaIBg

Thu Sep 05, 06:29:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Cool! Hadn't heard that one.

Fri Sep 06, 12:11:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It’s just a jump to the left......

Fri Sep 06, 12:38:00 AM EDT  

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