2015 U. S. Open…ATP 2000…Flushing Meadows, New York

[don_budge]

Opening salvo…Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic

I didn't see Federer's semi with Wawrinka but I did watch Novak demolish Cilic. Novak maybe coming into top form just at the right time...as always.

Marin Cilic was playing on a bad ankle…horror of horrors when playing Novak Djokovic. He was helpless. Wawrinka was in top form.

[stotty]

The last decade has been all about been about Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. Murray isn't up there with the other three when it comes to slams, but at least he's had a considerable impact on the 1000 events. No other player has had an impact.

When you think about it, we might as well have had challenge rounds over the last decade, where the fab four go straight to the quarters and rest of the pack play for a place to meet them.

Or the fab four might just as well have broken off from the tour and started a head-to-head series like the good old days. It feels like the game has gone full circle in that regard. In the 50's Gonzales, Hoad, Segura, Sedgman became too good for the rest.

Federer and Djokovic are playing well but sometimes it just feels like there just aren't the quality of players to give them a game. Federer will be able to play until he's 40 at this rate.

I think Wawrinka must have a chance if he has one of his purple days. But I think Phil might be right...Federer in four. I don't think Cilic has anything to trouble Djokovic...not really.

Time will tell...will it be the same old, same old final...or will there be an upset?

Serena lost. Everyone in the club where I work is delighted. It seems everyone is glad when she loses.

Well, normal service prevails. Djokovic v Federer in the finals. No surprises then.

Still the Novak/Roger finals are always the best. The machine versus the artist. I wonder if Roger will come up with the goods this time? I wonder if we will see different tactics? I think Roger has become a better player as standards have risen as he's been forced to start employing tactics. In days gone by he just outplayed everyone. Roger has so much in his arsenal when you think about it. He has the widest array of tools out there.

I didn't see Federer's semi with Wawrinka but I did watch Novak demolish Cilic. Novak maybe coming into top form just at the right time...as always.

I have a feeling we will see some half volley returns from Roger in the final.

[gzhpcu]

Well, I was wrong: Federer in 3! Great serving, great variation. He is playing tennis the way it should be played and is a joy to watch in action. Now, I just hope he wins the final...

[don_budge]

Thank you Lord…spared the Serena William "Grand Slam" party

And they respect their opponents.

don

Just wish someone would really point out how well Vinci executed a classic agressive go-to-the-net (not necessarily s&v) strategy to keep pressure on Serena at the end of that match. She played beautifully! Instead, all the questions seem to go to how you felt about being the "spoiler" for Serena's calendar Grand Slam. Seems to me, they are kind of missing the point.

Serena has never once ever shown any genuine respect for any of her opponents. Forgive me if I celebrate with great joy in not hearing her mockery of sportsmanship and having to listen to her winner's speech for winning one of the most coveted accomplishments in all of sports…The Grand Slam. My friend and real life hero Don Budge being the first to accomplish such a monolith…Serena would make a mockery of that feat. Mr. Budge's picture should be in the dictionary under the word sportsmanship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCuiDLuZTrc

Here…watch the highlights. Listen to the fake screaming at strategic points in the match. They get louder and louder. Look at some of the wild body gesturing after some of the shots…it's ridiculous and it sends a terrible message to anybody involved in the sport.

But as for Roberta Vinci…enough cannot be said as to how she stood up in the face of this bully and stared her down right to the end. In the third set at 3 all (8:56) in the video highlights, the "girls" played the point of the match. Serena's screams are bordering on the hysterical but Roberta keeps her cool and on the fifteenth ball of the rally she gets a short ball into the middle of the court where she wisely played a patented slice up the line to the William's "nervous and shaky" forehand. Her wisdom paid off as she played the next ball short and out of reach for the now struggling Williams. Vinci's reaction to this point is just priceless as for the first time in the match she gestures to the New York throng…"Show me some love!"…and they did. Williams flags another nervous forehand long for the key break in the match.

Of course…I never missed anything about the tactics or strategy of Vinci. Mats Wilander was all over it too. He said that it was great for women's tennis that Serena was defeated by the Italian lady and what's more that there were two Italian ladies in the finale. He discussed at length the Vinci slice backhand as he summed up the match.

I loved the way that Vinci served out the match. It was textbook. She went right for the kill when she had her opponent in her sights. She served out at love. Williams gave an almost begrudging handshake at the net as she towered over the diminutive Vinci…not a hint of graciousness. No kiss-kiss on the cheeks. Williams unceremoniously packed up her stuff and trudged off the court. Vinci went on to give one of the most inspiring interviews that I have ever heard from a tennis player. Her genuineness in stark contrast to the fake that we have come to bear from Serena. I more than anything wanted to see what Serena had to say in defeat. There was just a bit of her press conference. It wasn't pretty.

It didn't seem to me that the New York crowd was all that displeased with the results. I don't think Williams is so popular there. It was September 11th in New York yesterday…they've witnessed bigger tragedies. I say good riddance.

[tennis_chiro]

True "Sportsmanship"

Watch the interviews with Leander Paes (with Hingis) and Roberta Vinci to see two "journeyman" pros who really understand the true meaning of "sportsmanship".

Paes/Hingis:

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2015-09-11/hingispaes_most_dominant_mixed_team_in_45_years.html

Vinci:

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/interactive/video/index.html?promo=subnav&category=latest

They love the sport. They fight like hell. And they respect their opponents.

don

Just wish someone would really point out how well Vinci executed a classic agressive go-to-the-net (not necessarily s&v) strategy to keep pressure on Serena at the end of that match. She played beautifully! Instead, all the questions seem to go to how you felt about being the "spoiler" for Serena's calendar Grand Slam. Seems to me, they are kind of missing the point.

[stotty]

Awesome interview…

http://heavy.com/sports/2015/09/robert-vinci-interview-video-vine-serena-williams-upset-us-open-2015/

…awesome match. My hero…Roberta Vinci.

Seems the crowd over there were as delighted as those at my club.

A great interview...natural...off the cuff. My wife is Italian. She loved it.

[stotty]

Same old radio station...

The last decade has been all about been about Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. Murray isn't up there with the other three when it comes to slams, but at least he's had a considerable impact on the 1000 events. No other player has had an impact.

When you think about it, we might as well have had challenge rounds over the last decade, where the fab four go straight to the quarters and rest of the pack play for a place to meet them.

Or the fab four might just as well have broken off from the tour and started a head-to-head series like the good old days. It feels like the game has gone full circle in that regard. In the 50's Gonzales, Hoad, Segura, Sedgman became too good for the rest.

Federer and Djokovic are playing well but sometimes it just feels like there just aren't the quality of players to give them a game. Federer will be able to play until he's 40 at this rate.

I think Wawrinka must have a chance if he has one of his purple days. But I think Phil might be right...Federer in four. I don't think Cilic has anything to trouble Djokovic...not really.

Time will tell...will it be the same old, same old final...or will there be an upset?

Serena lost. Everyone in the club where I work is delighted. It seems everyone is glad when she loses.

[klacr]

Vinci beats Serena Williams. How? Using control, slice, willingness to come forward to the net. Incredible. Veni, Vidi, Vici, Vinci!

Slice beat power.
Belief beat Expectation
Calm beat stormy

Serena 93 points won
Vinci 85 points won

Backhand winners
SW-7
RV-1

Backhand Unforced errors
SW-22
RV-9

Total winners
SW-50
RV-19

Total Errors
SW-66
RV-43

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Roberta Vinci...

Awesome interview…

http://heavy.com/sports/2015/09/robert-vinci-interview-video-vine-serena-williams-upset-us-open-2015/

…awesome match. My hero…Roberta Vinci.

[gzhpcu]

I am betting on Federer in 4 sets against Stan... I could be wrong... (wouldn't be the first time... )

[klacr]

Djokovic vs. Cilic

Federer vs. Wawrinka

One of these is guaranteed to happen
-Federer wins 18th Grand Slam Title
-Djokovic hits double digits in grand slams titles
-Wawrinka, A wimbledon title away from career grand slam
-Cilic wins back to back us open titles

May the best man win.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[klacr]

Kevin Anderson won 5 points in the 3rd set. 5 points!

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[bottle]

Played the Overture all the way to the end. Bring that man Rossini out on a tennis court-- he could lose a little weight!

[don_budge]

The William Tell Overture…The March of the Swiss Soldiers

Here they come…The Lone Ranger and Tonto. Galloping on their trusty steeds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7O91GDWGPU

They are coming to save the day. To save us from the monotony and dreadfully boring tennis that has become the staple of the day. Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic? I dare you to watch the match in its entirety. Stay awake. I dare you. Novak Djokovic is the best tennis player in the world today yet he is not watchable. He is uninteresting by himself and the only player that brings any life into him is Roger Federer…or perhaps Stan Wawrinka to a lesser extent. With Stan at least we have the hope of seeing Novak lose in a big match.

The March of the Swiss Soldiers…Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka. What a story for the Swiss. If only the Swiss had a bit more passion…they might just be able to feel a bit of happiness for a change instead of the same old neutrality forever. Americans often mistake Sweden for Switzerland and there is something the people traditionally share with each other…its a cultural thing. With the Swedes it is a commitment to the middle of the road and with the Swiss it is the commitment to neutrality.

But these two guys are set to light up the tennis stage once more and it just may be electrifying to watch. Roger's playing…that in itself guarantees that the match will be watchable from beginning to end. Last night he played so well he had the commentatoes searching for words…trying to explain it. The dummies haven't been able to connect the dots…it's in the racquet stupid! Ever since that switch Roger has been making like a Tasmanian Devil developing his game once more. He got down to work to make it happen…resting on his laurels wasn't going to get it done. This has been a two year work in progress and he is one match away from achieving his stated goal after the Western & Southern tournament a couple of weeks ago after demolishing Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic back to back…he said his goal for this years U. S. Open was to make the finals. He wanted to put himself into position to win the tournament. Well said Maestro…it was a brilliant goal to set for himself. Never mind winning the whole thing…just get into position. Get your ass into position!

Stan and Roger have a bromance. They are a couple of the finest Swiss fellows in the whole damn country and they are Davis Cup teammates and last year they shared one of the sweetest moments in tennis together…they beat the French in the finals to snare the crown. The Davis Cup. Together as teammates, when only a week before the presstitutes had painted a picture of them embroiled in some kind of cat fight like a couple of "whiney bitches" to borrow from a couple of illustrious (snicker) forum contributors. Roger's wife supposedly said this and then Stan's wife supposedly said that. BFD…big fucking deal. Never mind that the two boys had played the best tennis match of the year in the semis of season finale at The Barclays. Never mind that the match beat up Roger so badly that he wasn't able to answer the call the next day against Novak Djokovic. The next week the men got down to business and beat the French in their own back yard.

Roger currently owns a 13-3 head to head record against Stanislas. For good reason too. Stan has made a great living playing in The Maestro's shadow and he doesn't seem to resent it one little bit…in fact you can tell he relishes it. The head to head...this you can just throw aside for now. In the last five matches that they have played since the "racquet switch" they are 3-2 to Federer. One of those losses by Stan was that thriller in London by a score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6). Too close to call you say? That performance by Stan last night must have been brilliant in its own right. I didn't see the match so I think I will watch the highlights now. Here watch it with me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7O91GDWGPU

What the heck…check out Roger pinning Gasquet's ears back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7O91GDWGPU

Well Roger Federer Kevin Anderson is not. Even Richard Gasquet Kevin Anderson is not. Gasquet has a 5-2 head to head against Anderson. Wawrinka is now 3-4 against Anderson. Federer is currently 4-0 against Anderson. Wawrinka is 1-2 against Gasquet while Roger is 14-2 against the same Gasquet. A great bit of ball striking by Wawrinka but by comparison of these head to heads it is obvious to who is the big time player and Federer should prevail.

He should prevail to the "March of the Swiss Soldiers" because here are two of the best one handed backhand players in the world who have a thrilling recent head to head performances not to mention their equally contentious relationship This will undoubtably make for great theatre which is what tennis is supposed to be about. Even Roger laments that this is lacking in the sport today…everybody plays the same. Unfortunately the game can no longer live up to its billing unless the main attraction is in the house. There is only one main attraction…he is the Living Proof and he isn't going to be around for ever. Savor this moment of the two Swiss Soldiers. Let's hope that Roger attains his goal for this tournament. To make the finals.

Come on Marin Cilic…a rematch of last years Open match with Roger would be just what the doctor ordered for the tournament. The heck with Djokovic.

[gzhpcu]

Never saw either Roger or Stan playing so well. They both demolished their adversaries. The semifinal is tough to call...