US.11- Stuck Like Glue
Well, when you bring a slam to New York, you get *all* of the city, I guess. But in these U.S. Open semis, Coco Gauff wasn't going anywhere.
??In her Empire State of Mind ??@CocoGauff fights off Muchova 6-4, 7-5 and secures a spot in her first #USOpen final! pic.twitter.com/YINWESbk9T
— wta (@WTA) September 8, 2023
This hard court summer has belonged to Coco Gauff. Armed with a new coaching arrangement and altered, more aggressive, mindset the 19-year old coasted into this final slam of the season on a roll unlike any other. Wins in Washington and Cincinnati, the latter the biggest of her career, and a first-ever win over Iga Swiatek put a significant wind behind her back. Like a chip on the shoulder of a chesty teen, she dared New York to knock her off line. So far, no one -- and on Thursday, no *thing*... in this case, a nearly hour-long mid-match delay because of three protesters and a jar of glue (it was a *whole* big headache) -- has been able to alter Gauff's intended course. Sporting a 16-1 summer hard court mark, the #6 seed faced off in the opening semifinal night match against #10-seeded Karolina Muchova, the Czech looking to reach her second slam final of the season (RG) after fighting off injuries for the last few years. Three weeks ago, Gauff had won a 6-3/6-4 final over Muchova in Cincinnati, and after a week and a half of backing up her recent run found herself just one more win away from having the chance to be a match away from completing her long-predicted rise to the top of the sport with, oddly enough, a swiftness that wouldn't have been predicted to be possible two months ago. Gauff broke quickly out in front in the 1st, keeping her shots deep in the court as Muchova committed too many errors and her varied game was tardy in arriving. Gauff broke serve in game 2, and held to lead 3-0.
This winner from Coco Gauff! Whoa! pic.twitter.com/bE4G0yF5fv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2023
With the set seemingly out of reach, though, the Czech's game tentatively started to better click. She held to cut the lead to 5-2, then used a drop shot and down the line forehand combination (w/ the help of a Gauff backhand error) to take a 15/30 lead in game 8. A point later, Muchova followed a deep shot into the net and put away a volley for 15/40. Another Gauff error (forehand) later and suddenly the set was back on serve with a three-game Muchova winning streak. But just as Muchova had gotten back into things, she stumbled as she served to knot the score. A routine missed volley put her down love/30, then two more errors (#16 and #17 in the 1st) dropped serve and saw Gauff take the opening set at 6-4.
Coco Gauff’s US Open semi-final against Karolina Muchova halted by climate change protestors in the stands. #usopen pic.twitter.com/qded3qEYBN
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) September 8, 2023
Just one game into the 2nd set, though, climate protesters
Protestor being cuffed by police, at least a dozen officers in attendance now. Three trying to free his glued feet. pic.twitter.com/DbZsXoVchS
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) September 8, 2023
I'd say, at the very least, it's time for a temporary jail to be built beneath Ashe, like at the old Vet in Philadelphia... or for tickets to clearly state you'll be dragged down the aisle by your feet if you decide that you're going to try and become a star tonight. Of course, they may not have applied here, eh? Hmmm, am I wrong to think they should have just ripped his bare feet off the concrete and chalked it up as a "protester occupational hazard?" (Oh, too harsh?)
Final protestor has been escorted out of the stadium. Players likely to return to court shortly. It’s been a 35-minute delay. pic.twitter.com/1HMU2CyjG8
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) September 8, 2023
44 minutes after the whole embarrassing delay began, the players (Muchova sporting a sleeve on her right arm, as she'd been looked at by trainers early on in the delay) returned and, after a short warm-up, resumed the action around five minutes later. Gauff committed multiple forehand errors in the opening game, but reigned things in quickly enough to hold a game later. Muchova held off a early push by Gauff, saving a BP in game 4 with a low slice to the short court and lob combo, keeping pace at 2-2. Later, with Gauff up 4-3, the teenager took a 15/30 lead on the Czech's serve, but two UE got the game back to deuce. On GP, Muchova DF'd, then two points later saw her backhard error hand Gauff the break and a chance to serve for the match. Gauff got within two points of the final at 30/love, but a DF and Muchova forehand down the line evened the score. Gauff's ultra-wide serve and drop shot from the baseline worked as Muchova had been taken too far off court to reach the ball, giving Gauff her first MP. But she couldn't close things out, saving one BP but then seeing a forehand error put the set back on serve at 5-4.
There it is! Point of the match! pic.twitter.com/6gYcKuTqvm
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023
Serving down 6-5 to force a TB, Muchova quickly fell behind 15/40, setting off a long game that wouldn't see the Czech reach GP but instead save four MP. Finally, Gauff won a 40-shot rally to give herself a fifth MP in the game, and sixth overall.
This 40-shot rally to set up the sixth and final match point Coco needed to finish off Karelian Muchova and head into her first US Open Final was ?????????. pic.twitter.com/NfqHvKIJGD
— Bombastic (@nostrabombus) September 8, 2023
At Deuce #4 look at this 40 shot rally by Muchova and Coco! #USOpen2023 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/c36BHBzujd
— ?? Bagel Broad (@MsJLaw) September 8, 2023
Muchova's long backhand ended a short rally that closed the match, with Gauff winning 6-4/7-5 to reach her second career slam final before age 20, at 19 becoming the youngest U.S. woman to reach the Open final since 17-year old Serena Williams did so (and won) in 1999.
COCO DID IT ?? pic.twitter.com/6w6neofMBF
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023
Thus, while Muchova's third slam semifinal (second this season) further stamps her a continuing major title threat as long she can maintain her health (she'll be at a new career high -- #8 -- next week), the Summer of Coco story will continue into the final weekend of her home slam. So much was said about Gauff, and predicted for her, when she first burst onto the scene four years ago. While her progress to this point hasn't maybe been as lightning quick as some impatient tennis watchers may have liked over the last few seasons, this is always where she's seemed eventually headed. Now she just has one thing left to do.
What a turnaround for Aryna Sabalenka! pic.twitter.com/IGO1JWUYuv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023
The win sends Sabalenka into her second slam final this season, as she becomes just the second to reach both the AO/US finals in a season in the past decade (w/ Angelique Kerber, who swept the titles in '16). She avoids falling to 1-6 in career slam semis, while dropping Keys to 1-5. ...in the wheelchair QF, all four seeds advanced to the semis, as Diede de Groot won her 120th consecutive match with a 6-2/6-0 victory over Lucy Shuker. She'll play #4 Momoko Ohtani, while #2 Yui Kamiji and #3 Jiske Griffioen will face off the other semi. De Groot (teaming with Griffioen, with whom she won this year's Wimbledon) advanced to the doubles final with a love & 1 win over Zhu Zhenzhen & Maria Florencia Moreno (de Groot reached this year's RG final with the Argentine). She'll play for her sixth U.S. doubles title in seven years (w/ a fourth different partner) in the final vs. #2 Kamiji & Kgothatso Montjane. ...the results of the junior quarterfinals keep alive the possibility of an all-Czech final, as #9 Tereza Valentova (def. #4 Sara Saito) and #10 Laura Samsonova (def. Hannah Klugman) both advanced to the semifinals. Valentova will face off with top-seeded Slovak Renata Jamrichova, who eliminated the last remaining Hordette (#11 Anastasiia Gureva), while Samsonova gets U.S. wild card Katherine Hui, who continued her path through the draw by knocking off her second seed (#6 Ena Koike) this week. ...meanwhile, in this week's 125 in Bari, Italy, top-seeded Alize Cornet's 2nd Round win over Valentini Grammatikopoulou sent her into the event's QF. It sets up an interesting "tipping point" moment on Friday, as it also leveled her combined record over the past three seasons at 77-77. Speaking of Cornet, it should come as no surprise (see #WhereIsPengShuai?) that in the overwhelming vacuum of silence on tour about the recent Alphabet rulings (or lack thereof) regarding Simona Halep's status (and Mikael Ymer, too, for that matter), the veteran Pastry the other day became one of the few (only?) active players to voice an objection over the treatment.
Come on people, let's join forces.
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) September 4, 2023
This is going way too far, and for far too long @itia_tennis @ITFTennis
The tennis world just wants what's fair.
We want #JusticeForSimona ??
Of course, Cornet is familiar with the tactics of the organizations, having managed to fight and dodge a suspension a few years ago after they attempted to push her out for "missing a test" after a representative had showed up at her apartment to perform a doping test, only to find a broken intercom, pressing it four times in a hour, but not calling her until the ticking clock that would mark the test as "missed" had just three minutes remaining (the call went to voice mail, and the tester left no message). Cornet was upstairs, eating breakfast. No player responded in the tweet's long comment thread, by the way. Shocking, I know, huh? There but for the grace of the Tennis Gods go I, I guess. Until they do.
#6 Coco Gauff/USA vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
#16 Dabrowski/Routliffe (CAN/NZL) vs. #8 Hsieh Su-wei/Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
#12 Siegemund/Zvonareva (GER/RUS) vs. Brady/Stefani (USA/BRA)
#1 Pegula/Krajicek (USA/USA) vs. Danilina/Heliovaara (KAZ/FIN)
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. #4 Momoko Ohtani/JPN
#3 Jiske Griffioen/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
#1 de Groot/Griffioen (NED/NED) vs. #2 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA)
#1 Maylee Phelps/USA vs. Luna Gryp/BEL
Rio Okano/JPN vs. #2 Ksenia Chasteau/FRA
#1 Chasteau/Phelps (FRA/USA) vs. Miranda/Schogt (BRA/NED)
Czauz/Takamuro (USA/JPN) vs. #2 Gryp/Okana (BEL/JPN)
#1 Renata Jamrichova/SVK vs. #9 Tereza Valentova/CZE
#10 Laura Samsonva/CZE vs. (WC) Katherine Hui/USA
#1 Jamrichova/Quevedo (SVK/USA) vs. N.Saito/S.Saito (JPN/JPN)
Kinoshita/Sonobe (JPN/JPN) vs. #8 Gae/Gureva (ROU/RUS)
...UPSET!... ON DAY 11:
Confirmed ?
— wta (@WTA) September 7, 2023
Cancun, Mexico will host the 2023 season-ending WTA Finals from October 29th to November 5th ????#WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/DbCLZHWj6V
Many people are complaining about the travel -- going from Asia to North America and then to Europe for the BJK Finals -- but at least they can go the beach. They *have* to take the annual iconic WTAF group photo -- they can call it "dresses in the sand" -- by the water, right?
Pack your swimsuits ?????
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 7, 2023
The WTA finals are headed to Cancun, Mexico! ???? pic.twitter.com/EmGg5YXhvO
...SO IN 2024 THERE WILL BE *NO* U.S. WOMEN IN THE DRAW, I GUESS... ON DAY 11:
Dana Mathewson knows it's time to say goodbye.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2023
Mathewson is playing at her home Grand Slam tournament for the final time this year.
Though the top seed in the junior wheelchair competition -- Maylee Phelps -- *is* from the U.S., and into the semis.
...EVERY TIME GAUFF SPEAKS, SHE TENDS TO APPEAR TO BE THE "ANTI-OSAKA" (thank goodness)... ON DAY 11:
Coco Gauff says playing tennis is not real pressure compared to people who are struggling to feed their families:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 7, 2023
“I think it's just putting my life into perspective.. I realize in a way it's pressure, but it's not. There are people struggling to feed their families. There are… pic.twitter.com/3rZfLV1056
Four years after her memorable moment with Coco Gauff, 2x champion Naomi Osaka is back watching Coco ?? pic.twitter.com/NsmPpEcFdr
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023
Now she can laugh about it ??
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023
Aryna Sabalenka thought she had it won at 7-3. pic.twitter.com/hi5S42hM2T
4 - Iga Swiatek, POL (4-0)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (0-3)
2 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-0)
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - ARYNA SABALENKA, BLR (1-0)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (1-1)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (1-1)
2 - COCO GAUFF, USA (0-1)
1 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE (1-0)
1 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (0-1)
1 - Jennifer Brady, USA (0-1)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (0-1)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (0-1)
1 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (0-1)
1 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (0-1)
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (0-1)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (0-1)
*U.S. OPEN FINALS IN 2020s*
2 - BLR (0-1) - Sabalenka
1 - CAN (0-1)
1 - GBR (1-0)
1 - JPN (1-0)
1 - POL (1-0)
1 - USA (0-0) - Gauff
1 - TUN (0-1)
[slams 2020-23 - 15 slams, 30 finalists]
6 - USA (1-4) - Gauff
4 - POL (4-0)
4 - CZE (2-2)
3 - BLR (1-1) - Sabalenka
3 - TUN (0-3)
2 - AUS (2-0)
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - KAZ (1-1)
1 - GBR (1-0)
1 - CAN (0-1)
1 - ESP (0-1)
1 - RUS (0-1)
*RECENT BEST U.S. WOMEN'S SLAM RESULTS*
=2020=
AO: Sofia Kenin (W)
US: Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady (SF)
RG: Sofia Kenin (RU)
=2021=
AO: Jennifer Brady (RU)
RG: Coco Gauff (QF)
WI: Coco Gauff and Madison Keys (4th)
US: Shelby Rogers (4th)
=2022=
AO: Danielle Collins (RU)
RG: Coco Gauff (RU)
WI: Amanda Anisimova (QF)
US: Coco Gauff and Jessie Pegula (QF)
=2023=
AO: Jessie Pegula (QF)
RG: Coco Gauff (QF)
WI: Madison Keys and Jessie Pegula (QF)
US: Coco Gauff (in final)
*AO/US FINALS IN SEASON - OPEN ERA*
[AO/US Jan/Sept events; 1969-76]
1969 Margaret Court (W-W)
1970 Margaret Court (W-W)
1973 Margaret Court (W-W)
1973 Evonne Goolagong (L-L)
1974 Evonne Goolagong (W-L)
1975 Evonne Goolagong (W-L)
1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (W-L)
[US/AO Sept/Dec events; 1977-86]
1980 Hana Mandlikova (L-W)
1981 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
1982 Chris Evert-Lloyd (W-W)
1983 Martina Navratilova (W-W)
1984 Chris Evert-Lloyd (L-W)
1985 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
[AO/US Jan/Sept events; 1987-present]
1987 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
1988 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1989 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1990 Steffi Graf (W-L)
1991 Monica Seles (W-W)
1992 Monica Seles (W-W)
1993 Steffi Graf (L-W)
1994 Steffi Graf (W-L)
1994 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (L-W)
1996 Monica Seles (W-L)
1997 Martina Hingis (W-W)
1998 Martina Hingis (W-L)
1999 Martina Hingis (W-L)
2000 Lindsay Davenport (W-L)
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne (L-L)
2012 Victoria Azarenka (W-L)
2013 Victoria Azarenka (W-L)
2016 Angelique Kerber (W-W)
2023 Aryna Sabalenka (W-?)
*TEEN SLAM FINALISTS SINCE 2000*
2000 AO - Martina Hingis, SUI (19)
2001 RG - Kim Clijsters, BEL (18)
2001 WI - Justine Henin, BEL (19)
2001 US - Serena Williams, USA (19)
2003 RG - Kim Clijsters, BEL (19) (19)
2004 WI - Maria Sharapova, RUS (17) - W
2004 US - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (19) - W
2006 US - Maria Sharapova, RUS (19) - W
2007 AO - Maria Sharapova, RUS (19)
2009 US - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (19)
2019 RG - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (19)
2019 US - Bianca Andreescu, CAN (19) - W
2019 RG - Iga Swiatek, POL (19) - W
2021 US - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (19)
2021 US - Emma Raducanu, GBR (18) - W
2022 RG - Coco Gauff, USA (18)
2023 US - Coco Gauff, USA (19)
*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
9 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (6-3)
9 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-4)
8 - Angelique Kerber, GER (4-4)
7 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-4)
7 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (3-4)
7 - ARYNA SABALENKA, BLR (2-5)
6 - MADISON KEYS, USA (1-5)
5 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (4-1)
5 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (4-1)
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (4-1)
4 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-0)
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-2)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - KAROLINA MUCHOVA, CZE (1-2)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-3)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-1)
2 - COCO GAUFF, USA (2-0)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Sabine Lisicki, GER (1-1)
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-2)
2 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (2-0)
The #BJKCupFinals schedule is set ??
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) September 7, 2023
Seville, 7-12 November ??
Get your tickets now ??
?? https://t.co/3JyaFPKObv ?? pic.twitter.com/KSwbwUHjIZ
Harry, Ron and Hermione https://t.co/6Z0P7wJ7Vm
— Blazyenmoon Mean Girl LizFF (@Blayzenmoon1) September 6, 2023
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #6 Coco Gauff/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - Elsa Jacquemot/FRA def. #2 Diana Shnaider/RUS 6-7(5)/7-5/6-3 - down 7-6/5-3, saved 7 MP in 2nd set (trailed 5-4, 40/love)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - #32 Elise Mertens/BEL def. Mirjam Bjorklund/SWE 3-6/6-3/7-6(10-3) - down 3 MP at 4-5, love/40 in 3rd, won 4 con. pts to hold; wins TB 10-3
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #20 Alona Ostapenko/LAT def. #1 Iga Swiatek/POL 3-6/6-3/6-1 (improves to 4-0 in head-to-head; Sabalenka replaces Swiatek as singles #1)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE (def. WC Hunter)
FIRST SEED OUT: #8 Maria Sakkari/GRE (1r- lost to Masarova/ESP)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Eva Lys/GER, Lily Miyazaki/GBR
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Jennifer Brady/USA (3rd Rd.); Dasha Saville/AUS (2nd Rd.), Patricia Maria Tig/ROU (2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: Yanina Wickmayer/BEL (2nd Rd.)
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: China
NATION OF POOR SOULS: France (1-6 in 1st; 9 of FRA Top 10 out Q/1r)
CRASH & BURN: #8 Maria Sakkari/GRE (3 consecutive slam 1st Rd. losses)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: #32 Elise Mertens/BEL (5 MP saved 1r/2r; 4-5, love/40 in 3rd vs. Bjorklund/SWE 1r; 2 MP 2nd set TB vs. Collins/USA 2r)
IT ("??"): Nominee: Zheng Q., Czech juniors, (wc)
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Gauff, Sabalenka, (wc)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Kaja Juvan/SLO, Greet Minnen/BEL (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN (4r)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Coco Gauff/USA (in final)
COMEBACK: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Sorana Cirstea/ROU
DOUBLES STAR: x
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Peyton Stearns/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Jabeurwocky"
LADY OF THE EVENING: Alona Ostapenko/LAT
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
2 Comments:
That was a choke job by Keys. She should've won that match in straight sets.
In 2012 & 2013, Vika Azarenka reached both Australian Open and US Open finals in the same year consecutively. She won Australian open twice in a row and lost to an American in the US Open finals consecutively in those years. Fast forward, in 2023, Like Azarenka fellow Belarusian Sabalenka won the Australian Open and reached US Open final where she faces an American. Will the outcome of the final be in favor of a Belarusian or will it swing towards an American like the previous two times?
Some NYC pigeon trivia: When Giuliani was mayor, his solution to the "problem" of the pigeons was to poison as many of them as possible. An attempt was made to ban poisoning of pigeons, but the mayor convinced the governor to veto it. So here's the bit of trivia: The scathing, anti-poison letter to the mayor that was made public (I think it was a letter to the editor or something similar) came from--Grace Slick.
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