Saturday, February 20, 2021

Naomi's Arc

"Remember me."

That's been the message that been sent by Naomi Osaka ever since she took her first bow on the grand slam final stage in New York four seasons ago. At first, it was a mostly silent request, made noteworthy by her brilliantly steady and heady performance in the face of a circus-like situation at Flushing Meadows that Saturday night which left virtually everyone involved -- other than her -- with lingering battle scars and reputation bruises.

Naomi, though, has soared. And she seems set to soar even higher.



Already an instant multicultural icon when her initial slam breakout helped to highlight her combination of Japanese, Haitian and U.S. heritage, Osaka quickly became an endorsement giant in the world market of sport (and its highest paid female athlete). She followed that up by finding her political voice amidst the unrest during the protest-filled pandemic summer in the States, using her big stage platform at Flushing Meadows to become *the* politically active voice on tour not only of her generation, but for tennis in general. First by initiating a one-day protest/"pause" in a pre-slam event, then by donning masks emblazoned with the names of Black victims of police violence before each match en route to her second U.S. Open title.

But for all Osaka's unique qualities, the ones that were apparent at the start as well as those that have developed more overtly in the public eye ever since, the acts that are truly ensuring Osaka's place in the sport's history are those that have taken place *between the lines.* That she brought seven masks with her last summer to NYC, and letting it be known that she knew she had to reach the final to use them all, said much about Osaka's ability to focus and set (then meet) career goals. It was during that Open that Osaka said of those playing in big finals, "No one remembers anyone but the winners."

For a player whose introduction to many had been punctuated by a series of girlish giggles, much has changed as Osaka has matured, both off and on the court, growing and expanding her personality and reach as well as improving all aspects of her game. A few months after her Open run, Osaka's "champion's mindset" persists. Only days ago she reiterated her "winning counts more" mantra, reminding everyone, "I have this mentality that people don't remember the runner-up."

So far, when she's put her mind to it, Osaka hasn't put herself in position to truly test the theory.

Since "learning" how to succeed on the slam stage, Osaka has mostly lived up to her tennis credo, twice overcoming big deficits en route to major titles, as she trailed Hsieh Su-wei 7-5/4-1 in the 3rd Round of the '19 AO, then Victoria Azarenka 6-1/2-0, with GP for 3-0, in last year's U.S. final before winning both events. Earlier in *this* slam, Osaka saved a pair of match points against Garbine Muguruza in the Round of 16, two rounds before she once more handled Serena Williams on the slam sage (as she had in the '18 U.S. final), this time in straight sets in the semis.



Osaka's opponent in this year's Australian Open final was the U.S.'s Jennifer Brady, a 25-year old who has taken a path different from many to get to the top of the game. Having gone the college tennis route in order to, essentially, grow up and learn more about herself, she's set about her pro career not being afraid to take chances in order to succeed. Her decision to work with coach Michael Geserer, and join him in his native Germany during the winter (rather than follow in the footsteps of most players who train in warm weather climates in the offseason) has worked wonders for her game and confidence. Brady burst out of last year's shutdown as *the* hottest player during the hard court summer, winning her first tour title and reaching the U.S. Open semis. Her run at this AO has made the former UCLA Bruin the first one-time college player to reach a women's slam final since Kathy Jordan (Stanford) at the Australian in 1983 (John McEnroe was the last slam singles champ, at the '84 U.S.), though it comes just two years after Virginia's Danielle Collins also reached the semis in Melbourne.

Brady's arrival in Australia surely hadn't generated nearly as much optimism as her play eventualy did, as she was one of 72 players put into immediate "hard quarantine" (hotel-bound) for fourteen days due to positive COVID tests on incoming flights. She was the only one of those players to last past the 3rd Round in the event.

#3 Osaka and #22 Brady, whose history extends back to junior play in Florida, came into the day having played three times as pros. Brady won their first meeting in a challenger event in '14, while Osaka claimed their two tour-level match-ups, including last year's high-quality, rock-solid U.S. Open semifinal in which breaks of serve (and even BP chances) were hard to come by.

Tonight, in front of a small crowd (but at least *a* crowd, after five days without *any* in the middle of this AO due to a COVID lockdown in Victoria), with occasion gusts of wind, the 1st set played out with both players having relatively few clear chances to grab the scoreboard edge over her opponent. But while Brady came up short when it came to fully taking advantage of the chances at hand, Osaka seized (w/ a little assistance) an oversized portion of what was presented all for herself.

Again, as was the case in their U.S. Open meeting, service was the key. Osaka held at love, ending with an ace-ace-service winner combination to open the match. Brady responded by taking a 40/love lead in her own first serve game, getting the hold though she had to survive two deuce points to do so. While Osaka then held at 15 in game #3, Brady proceeded to fall behind love/40 while missing on a series of first serves a game later. Double-faulting twice in the game, Brady dropped serve and gave Osaka the break lead at 3-1.

Osaka failed to consolidate the break, though, as Brady's shots through the center of the court got her to 15/30 on Osaka's serve. A DF gave her BP, and an Osaka backhand error put the set back on serve at 3-2. Brady held at love in game #6, and went up 15/30 a game later as more errors began to sneak into Osaka's game, including a short court forehand fired beyond the baseline after Brady's lunging backhand get had extended the rally. But Brady couldn't take the game, as Osaka pulled out a big serve to pull ahead, holding for 4-3. A game later, Osaka reached BP when a deep return at Brady's feet, eliciting an error and her getting within a point of serving for the set. But Brady clawed her way back into the game, finally winning on her third GP chance with the aid of a big first serve.

Osaka's slow second serves helped her dig a love/30 hole for herself soon afterward, and she stared down a BP chance for Brady after the Bannerette raced across the court to reach an Osaka volley, running near the umpire's chair and lifting a lob into the backcourt. But Osaka responded, saving the BP with a forehand winner just out of Brady's reach, and holding serve to keep her half-step lead at 5-4. In the tenth game of the 1st, Brady held a GP to keep the set going, but DF'd for the fourth time in the set. At deuce, Osaka's defensive backhand lob forced Brady, having stepped inside the baseline behind her previous shot, to retreat back to the left corner of the backcourt, where Osaka's shot found the line. Brady pushed her forehand response long and Osaka suddenly had a SP. Another Brady error, netting an easy forehand in the forecourt, handed a 6-4 1st set to Osaka, who stood just a set away from her fourth career slam title.

Earlier this week, Osaka said, "I think I fight the hardest in finals. I think that's where you set yourself apart." The 1st set had somewhat played out in such as fashion, as while Brady completed one break of serve in the set, she'd failed to extend her leads in two others (15/30 in game #7, love/30 in game #9) as Osaka secured important holds. Meanwhile, Osaka's breaks in games #4 and #10 had been aided in part by Brady DF's and errors at inopportune moments, things which *she'd* avoided when doing so would have swayed the momentum in the Bannerette's favor.

Down 0-1 in the 2nd, Brady immediately found her back against the wall on serve again, falling behind love/30. A backhand crosscourt winner from Osaka gave her two BP chances, and an unbalanced Brady's wide forehand from the baseline gave Osaka the break for a 2-0 lead. After nearly letting slip a 40/love lead the next game, Osaka let loose with an ace to avoid deuce and take a 3-0 lead.

Osaka surged to a double-break lead in game #4, going up 15/40 and taking a 4-0 lead with a deep shot and Brady forehand error to claim her sixth straight game. Brady held on in the next game, using a few big forehands (and Osaka errors) to get one of the breaks back. After a Brady hold at love, Osaka (serving with new balls on the ultra-quick AO court) took a 30/love lead. At 40/15, she missed with a forehand off the tape, but got the hold a point later when Brady first framed her return, then overcooked a wide forward attempt at a clean winner as Osaka went up 5-2.

Brady held to force Osaka to hold one more time, but that didn't turn out to be a problem. And no one expected it to be, either. Brady's long forehand return gave Osaka a 40/love lead, then another ended the 6-4/6-3 contest.



Osaka's win gives her her fourth career slam crown at age 23, and adds her name to a select list that includes only Roger Federer and Monica Seles as Open era players who've gone 4-0 in their first four major finals. She's 12-0 in slam matches from the QF forward, her win in the final extends her undefeated run to 21 matches (not an *official* streak, since she's had two walkovers during the stretch), and she's now claimed a slam crown in four straight seasons (joining Justine Henin's five-year 2003-07 run, and S.Williams, with streaks from 2007-10 and 2012-17, as the only women to do it since the turn of the century).

The best hard court player in the world, Osaka has now claimed titles at four of the last six majors on the surface. While the women's game has produced a series of different slam champions in recent years, Osaka's totals are now more than that of any other player since 2015 (Serena won three that season alone, then two more in 2016 and '17). Since what was once seen as the Wave of Osaka hit the WTA shores in 2018, her playing storyline has evolved into something akin to a discussion of "Naomi's Arc." As in, just how steep might it turn out to be as she rises above the tour field. At this point, the possibilites -- and the peak she might reach -- seem to grow on a seasonal basis.



But the ultimate height of Naomi's Arc will likely depend on her ability to find major success on clay and/or grass. After seeing what she's been able to do so far when she's put her mind to it, who's to argue that Osaka won't eventually contend for the sort of historic Career Slam feat that will serve to only further set her apart?



At the moment, with four majors already in her column, that sound you hear (cup your ear, maybe you can...) would seem to be the history books opening up to an Osaka reign in a period that could see her in a reasonable time surpass Monica Seles (9) on the Open era slam title list, and maybe then push a double-digit career slam number a bit more (say, to at least 12?) into the elevated existence populated by just a handful of greats.

In the more than a quarter century of play since the end of the Navratilova/Evert era of dual dominance (w/ each winning 18), only Williams and Steffi Graf acculumated 10 or more slam titles. Osaka is right on course to join them.

Yes, Naomi most definitely is going to be remembered.






=DAY 13 NOTES=
...the mixed doubles final followed Osaka/Brady on Laver on Saturday night, with Barbora Krejcikova completing her AO MX three-peat by joining with Rajeev Ram (they shared the '19 AO crown) to defeat Aussie wild cards Samantha Stosur & Matthew Ebden, 6-1/6-4.



Krejcikova is the first woman to win three consecutive AO mixed titles since Margeret Court from 1963-65. This is her fifth career slam win (w/ two WD), with the Czech now sporting a 5-1 mark in slam finals. She'd been 4-0 before she and Katerina Siniakova lost in the WD final to Mertens/Sabalenka yesterday.



...hmmm, hopefully this is a schedule management/injury precaution situation and not a red flag. She did have her foot, likely the only she injured while out with the knee last year, looked at in the Phillip Island semifinals.



After having back-to-back long outings (QF/SF) just a few comeback matches into her season after being out fifteen months, a rest *was* needed. Perhaps a training block to enhance her fitness (she looked spent at times in the Phillip Island event) and/or to be fully healthy for Miami is in order?

Hopefully this is just the start of some smart decision making over the course of 2021 meant to keep her on the court all season long, even if it doesn't mean she'll be playing successive events throughout the season. Hopefully.

Hopefully.

via GIPHY





...HMMM, ON DAY 13:

4...9...10...12...??




...NEW GOALS ON DAY 13:



...LIKE DAY 13:

"The Other Serena" (New York Times, February 19, 2021)




...OR, YOU KNOW, SPORTSWOMANSHIP... ON DAY 13:

Sort of a missed opportunity there for the *Women's* Tennis Association...



...Hmmm... DAY 13:







And the winner for "Weirdest Moment of the Night"...












=WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#3 Naomi Osaka/JPN def. #22 Jennifer Brady/USA 6-4/6-3

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#2 Mertens/Sabalenka (BEL/BLR) def. #3 Krejcikova/Siniakova (CZE/CZE) 6-2/6-3

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
#6 Krejcikova/R.Ram (CZE/USA) def. (WC) Stosur/Ebden (AUS/AUS) 6-1/6-4

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 6-3/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4)

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) def. #2 Montjane/Shuker (RSA/GBR) 6-4/6-1














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*RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS*
2018 AO: Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2018 RG: Simona Halep, ROU
2018 WI: Angelique Kerber, GER
2018 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 RG: Ash Barty, AUS
2019 WI: Simona Halep, ROU
2019 US: Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020 AO: Sofia Kenin, USA
2020 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2020 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL
2021 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN

*CAREER SLAM SINGLES TITLES - ACTIVE*
23...Serena Williams, USA
7...Venus Williams, USA
4...Naomi Osaka, JPN
4...Kim Clijsters, BEL
3...Angelique Kerber, GER
2...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2...Simona Halep, ROU
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2...Petra Kvitova, CZE
2...Garbine Muguruza, ESP

*WON SLAM TITLE AFTER SAVING MATCH POINT - list from Tennis28.com*
[Open era]
1986 U.S. Open - Martina Navratilova (3 vs. Graf in SF)
1991 Aust.Open - Monica Seles (1 vs. MJ.Fernandez in SF)
2002 Aust.Open - Jennifer Capriati (4 vs. Hingis in Final)
2003 Aust.Open - Serena Williams (2 vs Clijsters in SF)
2004 R.Garros - Anastasia Myskina (1 vs. Kuznetsova in 4th)
2005 Aust.Open - Serena Williams (3 vs. Sharapova in SF)
2005 R.Garros - Justine Henin-H. (2 vs. Kuznetsova in 4th)
2005 Wimbledon - Venus Williams (1 vs. Davenport in Final)
2009 Wimbledon - Serena Williams (1 vs. Dementieva in SF)
2014 Aust.Open - Li Na (1 vs. Safarova in 3rd)
2016 Aust.Open - Angelique Kerber (1 vs. Doi in 1st)
2018 Aust.Open - Caroline Wozniacki (2 vs. Fett in 2nd)
2021 Aust.Open - Naomi Osaka (2 vs. Muguruza in 4th)
[pre-Open era]
1923 Aust.Open - Margaret Molesworth (1 vs. Sylvia Lance SF)
1935 Wimbledon - Helen Wills Moody (1 vs. Helen Jacobs F)
1946 R.Garros - Margaret Osbourne (2 vs. Pauline Betz F)
1956 Aust.Open - Mary Carter (1 vs. Thelma Long F)
1962 R.Garros - Margaret Smith (Court) (1 vs. Lesley Turner F)

*AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINALS - ACTIVE*
8...Serena Williams (7-1)
2...Victoria Azarenka (2-0)
2...NAOMI OSAKA (2-0)
2...Kim Clijsters (1-1)
2...Venus Williams (0-2)
1...Sofia Kenin (1-0)
1...Angelique Kerber (1-0)
1...JENNIFER BRADY (0-1)
1...Garbine Muguruza (0-1)
1...Simona Halep (0-1)
1...Petra Kvitova (0-1)

*ACTIVE SINGLES PLAYERS - FIRST SLAM FINAL*
1997 U.S. Open - Venus Williams
1999 U.S. Open - Serena Williams (W)
2001 Roland Garros - Kim Clijsters
2004 U.S. Open - Svetlana Kuznetsova (W)
2010 Roland Garros - Samantha Stosur
2010 Wimbledon - Vera Zvonareva
2011 Wimbledon - Petra Kvitova (W)
2012 Australian Open - Victoria Azarenka (W)
2012 Roland Garros - Sara Errani
2013 Wimbledon - Sabine Lisicki
2014 Roland Garros - Simona Halep
2014 Wimbledon - Genie Bouchard
2015 Wimbledon - Garbine Muguruza
2016 Australian Open - Angelique Kerber (W)
2016 U.S. Open - Karolina Pliskova
2017 Roland Garros - Alona Ostapenko (W)
2017 U.S. Open - Madison Keys
2017 U.S. Open - Sloane Stephens (W)
2018 U.S. Open - Naomi Osaka (W)
2019 Roland Garros - Ash Barty (W)
2019 Roland Garros - Marketa Vondrousova
2019 U.S. Open - Bianca Andreescu (W)
2020 Australian Open - Sofia Kenin (W)
2020 Roland Garros - Iga Swiatek (W)
2021 Australian Open - Jennifer Brady

*BACK-to-BACK US/AO TITLES OVER TWO SEASONS - Open era*
1969-70 Margaret Court, AUS
1970-71 Margaret Court, AUS
1988-89 Steffi Graf, FRG
1989-90 Steffi Graf, FRG
1991-92 Monica Seles, YUG
1992-93 Monica Seles, YUG
1993-94 Steffi Graf, GER
1997-98 Martina Hingis, SUI
2002-03 Serena Williams, USA
2003-04 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL
2008-09 Serena Williams, USA
2010-11 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2014-15 Serena Williams, USA
2018-19 Naomi Osaka, JPN
--
1982 - Chris Evert - US Sept./AO Dec.
1983 - Martina Navratilova - US Sept/AO Dec.
2021 - Naomi Osaka - RG/Oct. held between '20 US/'21 AO

*LONG WTA WINNING/UNDEFEATED STREAKS - last 15 seasons (2006-21)*
34 - Serena Williams, 2013
32 - Justine Henin, 2007-08
27 - Serena Williams, 2014-15 [w/o after #5 and #12]
26 - Victoria Azarenka, 2012
25 - Serena Williams, 2013-14
24 - Serena Williams, 2015 [w/o after #12]
21 - NAOMI OSAKA, 2020-21 [w/o after #4 and #14]
--
LONGEST SINCE 2000: 35-Venus Williams, 2000

*RECENT MX SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2018]
AO: Gaby Dabrowski/Mate Pavic (CAN/CRO)
RG: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig (TPE/CRO)
WI: Nicole Melichar/Alexander Peya (USA/AUT)
US: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Jamie Murray (USA/GBR)
[2019]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Rajeev Ram (CZE/USA)
RG: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig (TPE/CRO)
WI: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig (TPE/CRO)
US: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Jamie Murray (USA/GBR)
[2020]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Nikola Mektic (CZE/CRO)
[2021]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Rajeev Ram (CZE/USA)

*AO MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONS - since 2009*
2009 Sania Mirza & Mahesh Bhupathi, IND/IND
2010 Cara Black & Mahesh Bhupathi, ZIM/IND
2011 Katarina Srebotnik & Daniel Nestor, SLO/CAN
2012 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Horia Tecau, USA/ROU
2013 Jarmila Gajdosova & Matthew Ebden, AUS/AUS
2014 Kristina Mladenovic & Daniel Nestor, FRA/CAN
2015 Martina Hingis & Leander Paes, SUI/IND
2016 Elena Vesnina & Bruno Soares, RUS/BRA
2017 Abigail Spears & Juan Sebastian Cabal, USA/COL
2018 Gaby Dabrowski & Mate Pavic, CAN/CRO
2019 Barbora Krejcikova & Rajeev Ram, CZE/USA
2020 Barbora Krejcikova & Nikola Mektic, CZE/CRO
2021 Barbora Krejcikova & Rajeev Ram, CZE/USA

*SLAM MX TITLES - active*
5...Katarina Srebotnik, SLO
4...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
3...Latisha Chan, TPE
3...BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE
3...Sania Mirza, IND
3...Samantha Stosur, AUS
2...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2...Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
2...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2...Serena Williams, USA
2...Venus Williams, USA
2...Vera Zvonareva, RUS
1...Andrea Sestini-Hlavackova, CZE
1...Lucie Hradecka, CZE
1...Nicole Melichar, USA
1...Laura Siegemund, GER
1...Abigail Spears, USA
1...Elena Vesnina, RUS
1...Heather Watson, GBR

*CAREER OVERALL SLAM TITLES - ACTIVE*
[singles/doubles/mixed]
39 - Serena Williams, USA (23-14-2)
23 - Venus Williams, USA (7-14-2)
9 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA (0-5-4)
7 - Kristina Mladenovic, FRA (0-5-2)
7 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (1-3-3)
6 - Kim Clijsters, BEL (4-2-0)
6 - Sania Mirza, IND (0-3-3)
6 - Katarina Srebotnik, SLO (0-1-5)
5 - Sara Errani, ITA (0-5-0)
5 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE (0-2-3)
5 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (0-3-2)

*AO "G'DAY/GOOD ON YA, MATE" WINNERS*
2020 Aces for Bushfire Relief
2021 Naomi Osaka & the "good luck" Butterfly



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And then there's...




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TOP QUALIFIER: Francesca Jones/GBR
TOP EARLY ROUND (1r-2r): #3 Naomi Osaka/JPN
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #10 Serena Williams/USA
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): #3 Naomi Osaka/JPN
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Whitney Osuigwe/USA def. #22 Mihaela Buzarnescu/ROU 2-6/7-6(1)/6-2 (trailed 6-2/5-2)
TOP EARLY RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #2 Simona Halep/ROU def. Ajla Tomljanovic/AUS 4-6/6-4/7-5; 2:34; trailed 5-2 in 3rd, Tomlj. for match; won last 5 games
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #3 Naomi Osaka/JPN def. #14 Garbine Muguruza/ESP 4-6/6-4/7-5
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/WC/Doub.): WC Final - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji 6-3/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Naomi Osaka/JPN (def. Pavlyuchenkova/RUS)
FIRST SEED OUT: #23 Angelique Kerber/GER (1st Rd.-Pera/USA)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Olga Danilovic/SRB, Mayar Sherif/EGY, Liudmila Samsonova/RUS, Nina Stojanovic/SRB
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: Estonia
NATION OF POOR SOULS: China (1-5, 2 seeds out 1r & all 3 Top 50; Wang Xiyu w/d with COVID)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Sara Errani/ITA, Kaja Juvan/SLO (both 3rd Rd.) + (LL: Schmiedlova-2r)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Dasha Gavrilova/AUS, Samantha Stosur/AUS (both 2nd Rd.)
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: Ash Barty (QF)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Jennifer Brady/USA and Karolina Muchova/CZE
IT (Egyptian): Mayar Sherif/EGY (1st Eqyptian slam MD win)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Rebecca Marino/CAN (first GS win in 10 yrs.; battled depression)
CRASH & BURN: Sofia Kenin/USA (2nd Rd. to Kanepi; earliest AO DC exit since 2003)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: Simona Halep/ROU (2nd Rd.- down 5-2 in 3rd vs. Tomljanovic, sweeps final 5 games)
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: Hsieh Su-wei/TPE (first career WS slam QF at age 35)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Simona Halep/ROU
"G'DAY/GOOD ON YA, MATE" AWARD: Naomi Osaka & the "good luck" Butterfly
DOUBLES STAR: Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (reached WD and MX finals)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: [jr. event to be held later in '21]





All for Day 13. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 9:26 AM 

2 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

Diane, Any truth to Charleston looking at a WTA 250?

There is never a wrong time to reach a final. With that said, Osaka left the door ajar for Brady. Brady refused to walk through.

Just like Williams/Sabalenka, Brady had to serve from behind, and that 4-5 game was a disaster. The second set looked like the first set of Sharapova/Errani. Just no chance.

Give credit to Osaka there. She rarely loses after winning the first set, and she probably had all the confidence in the world.

Doubles getting more interesting by the day. With Sabalenka/Mertens cutting back, there are more opportunities than ever for the next great team to step up.

Re:Andreescu- Robert Saleh talks about Mahomes' old man jog, and Andreescu does something similar. She will trudge to her chair as though she can't go another step, then jog out after the changeover.

Stat of the Day- 1- NASCAR Cup wins for Paul Menard.

"Save big money at Menards."

Menard retired after the 2019 season. He may have never been an elite driver, but lasted on the top circuit for over a decade, had 60 Top 10's, 20 Top 5's, and the win that changed the narrative from rich kid to a real racer.

That was the 2011 Brickyard 400, which was the 3rd most prestigious race, after the Daytona 500 and the Coke 600.

Being the son of John Menard helped with funding, but he still had to put in the work.

In the tennis world, Jessica Pegula faces some of the same questions, and the belief that she won't work as hard as others, just because of her background.

Talking about the Buffalo Bills isn't a bad thing, but with her tennis resume becoming thicker, it shouldn't be the lead.

Pegula has been around for some time. Ranked 123 in June of 2013, she then was out from August of that year until March 2015. Then made it back to 161 in Sept. 2016, only to be out until August 2017.

The tournament that changed her life was Quebec City 2018. Ranked 227, she reached the final. With her credentials at the time, and even more now, the list of players she beat is impressive.

Q-Jacqueline Cako
Davis
MD-Kr.Pliskova
Jabeur
Martic
Kenin

Yeah, she lost the final to Parmentier.

That was the first step, but with her low rank, and end of WTA season, she then played 6 events at ITF or 125K level. The last of those 6 was 125K Newport Beach, where she lost the final to Andreescu.

That was a little over 2 years ago, and since then, she got that first title in Washington, then got a lesson on handling fame, as she won a qualifying match the next week, then lost her next 6 matches, not winning a match until Auckland, where she reached the final.

"Cinci" QF, AO QF, and cracking the Top 50 for the first time on Monday are 3 more hurdles she has jumped over.

Jessie Pegula is making a name for herself.

Sat Feb 20, 10:31:00 AM EST  
Blogger Diane said...

colt, I hear that it's happening, but there's nothing official. No announcement has landed in my mailbox, as of right now.

Sat Feb 20, 12:24:00 PM EST  

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