US.9- Latvian Asunder
Final 4?? for Coco ??
— Chad (@CCSMOOTH13) September 5, 2023
Coco Gauff cruises past Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2 to move into her FIRST #USOpen semifinal! ???? She's the 1st American teenager to reach this point in NYC since Serena Williams in 2001. ????
10 wins in a row and rolling! ??? to go! ????
Next: Cirstea or Muchova pic.twitter.com/EULUNGXTU5
Well, apparently, Alona Ostapenko's work here was done. As seasoned Ostapenko watchers know all too well, it is often the case that the grass is always greener on the other side of Alona. Today, as sometimes plays out on a set-by-set basis with the Latvian, we saw that other side in the #20 seed's quarterfinal match vs. #6 Coco Gauff. After committing just 20 unforced errors in her upset of #1 seed Iga Swiatek two nights ago in a three-set, 1:48 affair that consisted of 25 total games, Ostapenko fired off 15 in the opening set -- a love set lost -- today. UE #21 game just nine games into this QF match, and Ostapenko ended it with 36 (to just 12 winners) in the 14 games completed over 68 (was it really *that* many?) minutes on Tuesday. Granted, Gauff had quite a bit to do with today's result (the court in the confusing half-in-shadow, half-in-searing-sunlight probably helped a little, too), a complete flip of Ostapenko's straight sets win over Gauff in the Australian Open 4th Round earlier this year, as she played a tight (14 UE), clutch (6/7 on BP chances) game and relied on her defense. But Ostapenko simply never found her range, and likely no player on tour is more adrift than she in that circumstance. Gauff opened the match with a break of serve, and the 1st set lasted just 20 minutes, a six-game blink-and-you-missed-it display that likely would have meant little had the Latvian started hitting lines early in the 2nd. But that didn't happen.
Swinging Freely ??@CocoGauff • -#USOpen pic.twitter.com/W3rRQGOIAO
— wta (@WTA) September 5, 2023
Gauff broke to start the 2nd, then weathered the brief uptick in Ostapenko's game that followed. The Latvian saw her first BP in game 2, and got the set back on serve with a Gauff forehand error. But Gauff immediately broke back a game later, then staved off a pair of BP (w/ an ace on the first) to hold for 3-1. After falling behind 15/40 in game 6, Gauff held again for 4-2. At that point there was no turning back. Ostapenko dropped serve again, then Gauff served out the 6-0/6-2 victory.
VIBES ??
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2023
when you make your first US Open semifinal?? pic.twitter.com/lcSQH497zE
With the win, Gauff advances into her second career slam semi, and first at the U.S. Open. On a 10-match winning streak and 16-1 on hard court this summer, she's the first teen Bannerette to reach the SF in New York since Serena Williams in 2001. Gauff wouldn't be born for two and a half years' after what would ultimately be the first of nine slam finals between the Williams sisters. [Footnote, three days after that final came 9/11.] Afterward, Ostapenko noted her surprise at being scheduled first up today, especially after having played the night match two days ago (she said she got to sleep at 5 a.m.) and lacking energy in its aftermath yesterday, then having to start early today. Ostapenko also said that she'd been led to believe by organizers that this would be a night match (yeah, just like everyone else figured, I think), which would have given her more time to recover. Gauff played a day match on Sunday. Gauff had no such worries or legitimate scheduling complaints, and instead got in a little side hustle after the match, serving as the pre-match announcer and "hype-woman" for the match to follow on Ashe.
Coco Gauff introduces her session partner Novak Djokovic at US Open again:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
“I’ll take the mic for this one. Coming up next is the #1 player in the world at the end of this tournament. 23 Slams… NOVAK DJOKOVIC!” ?? pic.twitter.com/mg0G3nd4HZ
Who knows, she might be just one win away from being able to perform her "second job" all the way through the weekend.
#6 Coco Gauff/USA def. #20 Alona Ostapenko/LAT
#30 Sorana Cirstea/ROU vs. #10 Karolina Muchova/CZE
#9 Marketa Vondrousova/CZE vs. #17 Madison Keys/USA
#23 Zheng Qinwen/CHN vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
#16 Dabrowski/Routliffe (CAN/NZL ) def. #6 Fernandez/Townsend (CAN/USA)
#3 Gauff/Pegula (USA/USA) vs. #8 Hsieh Su-wei/Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
#12 Siegemund/Zvonareva (GER/RUS) vs. Azarenka/Haddad Maia (BLR/BRA)
Brady/Stefani (USA/BRA) def. Linette/Pera (POL/USA)
#1 Pegula/Krajicek (USA/USA) vs. #5 Perez/Rojer (AUS/NED)
Townsend/Shelton (USA/USA) def. #7 Schuurs/Nys (NED/MON)
Shibahara/Pavic (JPN/CRO) def. Strycova/S.Gonzalez (CZE/MEX)
Danilina/Heliovaara (KAZ/FIN) def. Xu Yifan/Vliegen (CHN/BEL)
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. Pauline Deroulede/FRA
Lucy Shuker/GBR vs. Manami Tanaka/JPN
#4 Momoko Ohtani/JPN def. Zhu Zhenzhen/CHN
Kgothatso Montjane/RSA def. Maria Florencia Moreno/ARG
Aniek Van Koot/NED def. Lizzy de Greef/NED
#3 Jiske Griffioen/NED def. Shiori Funamizu/JPN
Angelica Bernal/COL def. Katharina Kruger/GER
#2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Dana Mathewson/USA
...AND I DON'T LIKE THAT SHIRT ON YOU, EITHER... ON DAY 9:
Jessica Pegula asks a journalist if he tweeted she was crying after loss to Madison Keys:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
“Were you guys the ones that tweeted that I cried when I walked off the court?”
Silence.
“I’m pretty sure it was you guys. I definitely wasn’t crying. I just got waxed in like an hour” ?? pic.twitter.com/wSbjgcvgIf
Aryna Sabalenka says Ons Jabeur congratulated her on becoming the new world #1:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
“Very nice from Ons. After her tough loss, she gave me a high five. She was upset but she still came to me & congratulated me. I love this girl. She’s amazing. I think she’s the best.” ?? pic.twitter.com/E3LCOHrLV0
Ons Jabeur hopes Aryna Sabalenka will stay #1 until she becomes #1:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
“I’m so happy for Aryna.. I think she deserves to be #1. She deserved that a long time ago.. I honestly love how Aryna plays with passion on the court. You can feel it. Hopefully she’ll stay #1… until I get… pic.twitter.com/pmKGCf48LB
Aryna Sabalenka fulfilled her dad’s wish of becoming world #1.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 4, 2023
He passed away in 2019.
“It was unexpected, he was young, he was 43 years old.. I’m just trying to fight bc my dad wanted me to be #1.. I’m doing it for him so that’s what’s helping me be strong right now.”
Aryna… pic.twitter.com/HkXqBGacUL
Aryna Sabalenka says Novak Djokovic congratulated her on becoming world #1:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
“The funniest 1 was from Djokovic. Bc he also will be world #1 after US Open. Someone mentioned us with funny sunglasses & he just sent me ‘Smile if you’ll become world #1.’ It was the funniest one” ?? pic.twitter.com/uzzfK122AB
2017 Sharapova vs. Halep ("Opening Night")
2018 Kaia Kanepi, EST
2019 "Call Me Coco" summer preview shows
2020 "Three Moms & the Quarterfinals" (Serena, Vika and Pironkova)
2021 "Oh Canada!" (Fernandez, Andreescu, Dabrowski... +Auger-A. men's SF)
2022 "Danielle After Dark" (Collins)
2023 "Jabeurwocky" (Jabeur)
**U.S. OPEN "KIMIKO CUP" VETERAN WINNERS**
2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Venus Williams, USA
2018 Serena Williams, USA
2019 Serena Williams, USA
2020 Serena Williams, USA and Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2021 Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
2022 Alize Cornet, FRA
2023 Sorana Cirstea, ROU
*SLAM QF+ - CHINA*
2006 WI - Li Na (QF)
2008 WI - Zheng Jie (QF)
2009 US- Li Na (QF)
2010 AO - Li Na (SF)
2010 AO - Zheng Jie (QF)
2010 WI - Li Na (QF)
2011 AO - Li Na (RU)
2011 RG - Li Na (W)
2013 AO - Li Na (RU)
2013 WI - Li Na (QF)
2013 US - Li Na (SF)
2014 AO - Li Na (W)
2014 US - Peng Shuai (SF)
2016 AO - Zhang Shuai (QF)
2019 WI - Zhang Shuai (QF)
2019 US - Wang Qiang (QF)
2023 US - Zheng Qinwen
*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)
Unseeded - 2020 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (RU)
Unseeded - 2021 Leylah Fernandez, CAN (RU)
Wild Card - 2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL (W)
Qualifier - 2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR (W)
#28 - 2020 Jennifer Brady, USA
#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 - 2022 Caroline Garcia, FRA
#17 - 2021 Maria Sakkari, GRE
#17 - 2018 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#17 - 2014 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
**OLDEST FIRST-TIME SLAM SF - OPEN ERA**
34 - Tatjana Maria, GER (2022 WI)
33 - Barbora Strycova, CZE (2019 WI)
32 - Roberta Vinci, ITA (2015 U.S.)
**MOST SLAMS BEFORE FIRST MAJOR SF**
53 - Barbora Strycova, CZE (2019 Wimbledon)
52 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (2021 Roland Garros)
46 - Elena Likhovtseva, RUS (2005 Roland Garros)
44 - Roberta Vinci, ITA (2015 U.S. Open)-RU
42 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (2022 U.S. Open)
42 - Julia Goerges, GER (2018 Wimbledon)
42 - Elena Vesnina, RUS (2016 Wimbledon)
42 - Nathalie Tauziat, FRA (1998 Wimbledon)-RU
When I say “omw” this is what it looks like.pic.twitter.com/zYGro2wIhw
— cats with jobs ?? (@CatWorkers) September 4, 2023
I'm not crying, you're crying??
— Claridan Efeurhobo (@claridantv) September 5, 2023
Louder #WeWillRevoltAgainstInjustice Shrek Bill Bixby #unsportsmanlike Schools #TongueOutTuesday Pastor Timmy Bob Newhart Kenya Terrific Tuesday pic.twitter.com/1Jldu3jxtI
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #6 Coco Gauff/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
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): xx
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.
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: x
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Kaja Juvan/SLO, Greet Minnen/BEL (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Caroline Wozniacki/DEN (4r)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: In QF: Gauff(W), Keys
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: Nominees: Gauff, Ostapenko
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
5 Comments:
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni was second-time slam semi-finaist at the 2017 Australian Open. She reached her first slam SF at 1999 Wimbledon.
Inconsistent Ostapenko! In one match she beat world #1 and in the very next match she got fed a bagel by a teenager in the process of losing. And the thing that her QF match got scheduled on day session didn't help her either.
Cincinnati finals rematch!
Either Muchova reaches her second slam final this year, or Gauff reaches her second as a teen.
Stat of the Day- 12- The number of times in the Open Era that all US Open SF were former slam finalists.
Depending on Sabalenka, it could be 13.
Gauff-2022 RG and Muchova-2023 RG have done their part. We are also guaranteed another between Vondrousova- 2023 W and Keys- 2017 US.
That leaves Sabalenka- 2023 AO against neophyte Zheng.
If it happens, it would be the first time since 2012, when the winners of the first 3 slams reached the SF along with 2012 RG RU Errani.
US Open:All 4 SF former slam finalists:
2012
2010
2005
2003
2002
2001
1995
1994
1990
1982
1975
1973
Even rarer is the SF with all 4 being former slam winners. That has only happened twice, the last time in 2001.
2001:
Hingis- 1997 US
S.Williams- 1999 US
V.Williams- 2000 US
Capriati- 2001 RG
1995:
Graf- 1993 US
Sabatini- 1990 US
C.Martinez- 1994 W
Seles- 1992 US
K-
Whoops! Yep. Here I was going forward from Vinci's 2015 SF (when I knew she'd been the oldest in the Open era) looking for older semifinalists since then, and I forgot about Lucic's "other life" run. Thanks (fixing that...).
C-
If Zheng doesn't reach the SF, it'd also be back-to-back slams without a first-time slam semifinalist. I don't know when that last happened, but it would have to be at least back as far as 2012 (my lists for that start in 2013).
Also...
Pam Shriver talking to Muchova after her match last night caused something -- not an original thought, but I'm not sure I've noted it -- come to mind. She ran off a list of slam-winning Czechs (leaving off the most recent one, but whatever... it's Pammy), and it was of note that all the active slam winners (Kvitova, Krejcikova, Vondrousova) and the most recent one in the hunt (Muchova) have one thing in common -- they've never been ranked #1. The only of the current Czechs to have been #1, Karolina Pliskova, remains slam-less. And now she's (I assume) looking for a regular coach for '24 after parting with Sascha Bajin for a second time. That said, she's still two years younger (at 31) than either Wozniacki or Cirstea, who both had good runs at this Open.
Sheesh... and Lucic wasn't even atop my list of oldest first-time SF anyway, it was Tatjana Maria. (Day 9-of-a-slam-itis, I diagnose).
Oh, that's interesting about the Czechs. Of course, it's too early to know if that's really a "thing"--Vondrousova is only just entering a non-injured phase, and Krejcikova is living in Slump City, which feels kind of mysterious and disturbing because it's in both singles and doubles.
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