It’s that time of the year, the last GS event called the US Open. Personally it is not a favourite of mine and there are a multitude of reasons, which I should get out of my system, since this is my blog, it’s the perfect opportunity to do so.
- Shitty organisation playing 1st rounders over 3 days and at a Slam that is very poor form.
- Super Saturday that idiotic marketing gimmick, do they seem to forget that the guys are playing the best of 5 set matches and it’s the epitome of fairness to make them play one of them the day before the final and surprise that gives the advantage to guys who finish first. I love TV marketing gimmicks.
- 5th set tiebreakers, which is not a way to decide a match in a GS, especially in the 5th set, but as they say the Yanks are different.
Enough of what I dislike and onto the subject at hand, the US Open and first of all I am going to start with the qualies and for some reason I can see this being more interesting than the Main Draw itself, the qualies are fun to go to for so many reasons. There are usually legit tennis fans there, it’s a lot cheaper and there are less people around which gives the fan more time to get used to the venue, so when it gets busy, then it’s easier to find things, this in addition that a lot of players are on site training and if you are lucky or some would say smart, then it’s the best time to get photos and the like.
As usual with a qualifying 128 draw, you’d think there was a possibility of fairly even spread of players you like around the draw, but as common as 3 buses go in the opposite direction than the one you want to go and you stand around like a fool, of course they concentrated the ones I like within the same section.
The main match I am talking about is between Michael Russell and Peter Luczak, they both deserve to be in the main draw, but only one of them can do that. The positive is that at least 1 of them will be in the main draw, though it’s a no-win situation and I have seen some of the buffoons that have a chance of qualifying e.g. Minar v Vanek. Alves vs. Lorenzi and Kindlman vs. Witten. This is what is meant to be luck of the draw and as much as I’d like to see this match, it should be hard fought either way.
Also in other qualies the young rising Russian Korolev is in the last round of qualies as well and I hope he gets in as well and Kendrick could be tricky, if he is not firing. Korolev says that hardcourt is his best surface and hope he can make it here next year as a direct entry and I have been impressed the little I have seen.
Speaking of youngsters del Potro is in the last round of qualies as well. His match should be quite funny, not cause Juan Martin is a stand up comedian, it’s because of his opponent Herr Dani Koellerer, who has been known to use some very over the top antics and he got suspended from the ATP for 6 months. They played last year and del Potro is a bit soft and started to cramp and Dani saw that and started taking the piss out of him and he won the mental battle and then took the match and I am sure del Potro hasn’t forgotten. Part of me wants Koellerer to qualify, cause he is such a clown that it needs to be seen to be believed.
As for other Austrians, well the hair Alex Peya is in the last round as well and if you can find a pic of his hair, then it makes it all worthwhile. He plays that fool Jeff Morrison and I’d love him to win, but for some reason Morrison probably will, and it’s not good as he is a true gimp.
Then there is the man “El Fashionista” Stefan Koubek who has been impressive this week and he plays a “Challenger man” Zib who lost 17 matches in a row on the main tour and would have to like his chances of progressing, though with Stef anything can happen, witness his great loss against Lisnard in Vienna last year and getting thumped by Tuksar at the RG qualies. It will be good to see the Koubek in the main draw and he should be able to reach the top 100 by the end of the season.
The Main Draw
Federer and Nadal, only thing I will say about these two, is that there is a chance that they could win or not win this tournament.
Gaudio vs. Seppi: At least someone I like will make the 2nd round that is a given. Seppi hasn’t been in great form lately, but at the same time his level is a bit higher than Gaston’s at the moment. Gaudio doesn’t like the US Open much and doesn’t seem to be really into tennis at the moment and I hope he takes the rest of the year off after this tournament. As for Seppi he started the year very well, but hasn’t been able to string 2 wins together for some time and he is in a good section.
Calleri vs. Moya: This match should be worth watching, though I know many ladies wouldn’t be focused on the tennis in this match. Calleri has been in excellent form since coming back at Wimbledon and if he can keep it up, he is a chance of finishing the year in the top 20, something which would be great considering his problems. One thing that Calleri needs to improve apart from his poor 5 set record is his performances in the Slams and I think these two factors are inter related. He has a 1-4 record against Moya, but he beat him the last time on hardcourt and I hope he can do that again. James “I hit the crap out of everything” Blake is the high seed in that quarter.
Stani vs Chela: Chela has been in solid hardcourt form and Stani needs to do well in a GS event and is capable of a good result there this one could be a long one and it will feature plenty of excellent lateral movement.
Nieminen vs. Malisse : This match is one I’d like to see and I don’t see a straight set walkover for anyone in this one and it depends on how the moody Malisse wakes up and hopefully Jakke can serve well as his 2nd serve is so attackable, and he has QF points to defend from last year. Go Nieminen.
Acasuso vs. Srichaphan: Tennis played like chess won’t be a factor in this match and the Srich has a 2-0 record over Chucho. At the same time Chucho has improved his game, though he can get the right result if he doesn’t try to belt everything, though not be so passive as to stand 10m behind the baseline. The Srich loves pace, so give him what he doesn’t like. It will be a tough one for Acasuso for sure.
Berdych vs Tursunov: I read that esteemed tennis writer Jon Worthless called this a clash of styles and I hope he was just being humorous because that is so funny and I’d love this third round match to happen, then again there could be some great finesse in this match. Just hope it can happen
Almagro vs Ferrer: Nico has the potential to play well on the hardcourts, but he hasn’t had the wins yet and he had 6 match points the last time they played him, but managed to blow the match. With Almagro anything can happen, I just wish Koellerer was the qualify and he had to play Almagro, the fun to be had there.
Ginepri vs Benneteau: Please Julien, just think you are playing Baghdatis instead of Gineprick.
Pavel vs Agassi: Please Pavel finish Agassihole off and get him off the tour, though if he doesn’t, just hope Baghdatis will do it.
Novak Djokovic gets to lay the smackdown on Donald Young this time around, it must be good to have an easy 1st round match. He might even try his serve and volley skills out.
It will be interesting to see how these clowns will handle any rain delays with their first 2 rounds played over a week normal scheduling. Last Slam of the year time to get it over with.
22 comments:
Great report. Thanks. But NOOOO - Mad Dani cannot beat my baby JMDP -who is a bit of a stand-up comedian himself as some people here will attest! LOL! And good luck to David Ferrer in the main draw.
Nice nice nice, especially of the Chucho-Paradorn matchup....but I do find strangely absent an assesment of Seppi-Gaudio lol? Not willing to step out on a limb for that one? God only knows what Gaudio has been doing down in Miami, lol, but hopefully it was more than lamenting his choice of profession.
Well JM thrashed your clown Dani (who really isnt that much of an arse off the court as on it.) Now about JM being a comedian, well, I think pelotudo more of the appropriate word to describe him HAHAHA. He's got a great chance to get to the second round, and if Calleri comes off New Haven tired...and the USO fucks Charly like they do every year (as in scheduling him first up) then you know, JM could very well have a great USO. I'll be cheering for sure (and watching the SB while I should be taking notes in lecture for sure...)
Your critiques of the USO are entirely fair and accurate, but just as bad as the shite location in the armpit of Flushing and the shite organizers that call themselves a tennis association would be the idiotic brainless fans that roam the grounds (ie the fucktard on MTF who couldnt even identify half of the people he took photos of unless their freaking names were on a scoreboard.)
Anyway, sorry for my language tonight, am pulling a Gaudio and lamenting my non-presence at the Open as I drown my sorrows in shiraz. Hey, at least this year nobody can accuse me of making them lose their match because I kept them up too late the night before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK call me a moron regarding my failure to address how JM is going to get past Tursy...I'm already looking to the third round and dang this hasnt even started yet!
Just wanted to correct myself on that one lest I become one of those clowns on mtfHELL I despise!
Unfortunately, I will probably miss the first week of USO and I doubt my favs will last till 2nd week.
Michelle - you could never be called a moron! But had you considered you could now be blamed for people losing matches because you weren't there to cheer them on and they felt deserted and unloved? As for Tursunov - don't think JMDP has even a remote chance of beating him - but wonders may never cease - and he has to get past Falla first!
This was from SwissMister and I have to thank him for allowing me to post it here and elsewhere.
Russell v Luczak
Happened to sit in front of John Fitzgerald who was wearing a 2001 Davis Cup Florianopolis shirt - way to live in the past, Fitzy...was weird hearing him yell out "Aggressive defence, Looch!" several times. Got there for second set, assumed Luczak would run away with it as he was playing well. He came in to net more than usual and served better than I had seen him before. However, Russell is a real fighter, didn't give up, saved match point in the second set tiebreak with a FH down the line winner. Afterwards he stopped to talk to a bunch of people, posed for pictures with an EMT, and mentioned he didn't know how he came back as Luczak had been untouchable in the first set.
Nice assessment. The only difference is I have the possibility of interactive coverage and thus will not be at the mercy of the TV and its blowout womens' matches.
I'd love to get a good look at Djokovic-Young, and USA Network is usually better with the coverage than ESPN, but I know I'm going to be stuck with more matches I'd rather not see. Oh, well.
Onward and upward to the AO 07!
Great report, I completely agree about the points raised on the 3-day start, the 5th set tiebreak and the super Saturday. With rain forecasts this week, we might see some comedy later on. It is normal that the slams will care about the bottom line but in this case it is done with total disregard for the players or the competitive fairness of their event.
Chucho lost a tight 5-set match to Srich, Malisse won an easy match against Jarkko and Donald Young managed to take a set off Djokovic. Agassi survived a close match against Pavel and I now expect Marcos to win, Marcos loves the big stage and hopefully will not be intimidated by the occasion and the crowd support.
Acasuso lost again to the Srich, it seems he has problems with his game for some reason, but tennis is like that.
Youzhny defeated Hrbaty again and it's one of those match ups and it's hard to see why Misha leads 5-1, it must be his backhand or something.
The Agassi continues and it was quite a good match with Pavel, to be fair something seemed to happen to Pavel when leading 4-0 in the 3rd set. Good that JMac when he did the on court interview acknowledged Pavel's efforts.
The whole 3 day 1st round makes it hard to follow, there is the Ferrero scenario from years ago that is fresh in the mind.
Well I watched Djokovic/Young yesterday (courtesy of wonderful British Interractive TV!) - and have to say I was pleasantly surprised with Young's 1st set performance. He served well, moved well, and was far better than I expeceted him to be - had never seen him play before. But after that - don't know what happened. He just fell to pieces - nerves/pressure - I don't know what it was, but it was sad to see. The young lad will never get any confidence for big matches if he plays like that.
Robredo/Saretta was an enjoyable "exhibition" tournament for a Robredo fan like me:-)) Tommy played well - he served particulaerly well I thought, and looked supremely confident. Saretta got dispirited and disconsolate very quickly. He didn't move well and din't seem 100% fit to my eyes.
About Acasuso/Srichaphan - well I gave my report on MTF - but without wishing to upset the Chucho fans here - I was pretty disgusted with his performance. He was slow, sluggish, lazy and looked like he truly didn't care. Srich played well enough - but really all he had to do was hit the ball back into court and serve adequately - and Chucho beat himself.
Saretta is done with tennis. From now on, it's the downward spiral.
Saretta he is joking with tennis at the moment. He must have needed some cash, hence he turned up.
Saw some of Hewitt and Montañes and that was OK, though I liked it more when Montañes was serving for the set at 5-3, but then he got passive and starting missing shots easily and shanking his backhand.
Then I had to go to uni, but I got to see Russell and Monfils that wasn't too bad, except Gael won the 1st set 6-2. I don't expect big Mike to defeat him, just hope he can make it hard for him and the set went for 53 mins. There were some good long rallies, with Monfils defensive skills frustrating Russell who defends very well as well. Probably won't see much of that today, but 4 games is better than nothing.
Having no interactive sucks.
Yes, interactive coverage is the best!! I wish we had it for both weeks of the event, since these first few days have been crappy because of the weather.
No interactive coverage here either, so got to roll with the punches and take what I can get.
Gaudio wins a match, that is a surprise these days and now plays Querrey.
JMDP lost this time around, but he will be making noise soon. Lucho won which was good, too bad he has to play Nadal in the next round, but yay it had to fall to someone.
As requested - a few reports for those without interractive........
Nalbandian v Berrer
I was impressed with Michael Berrer, who I don't think I have ever seen before. He has a great serve and hits with a lot of power and has a great forehand. In the first two sets he blew Nalbandian away with his power and accuracy - and Fat Dahveed was screaming,throwing his racquet and generally misbehaving. Berrer broke serve twice in the 3rd set and was so close to a famous victory - but as often happens in thee cases, his nerves got the better of him. He lost his serve when serving for the set, and from then on, his Fate was pretty much sealed. He fell badly in the 4th set and called the trainer for intensive treatment. Of course, he carried on trying, but Nalbandian was stronger in the end and there was only even going to be one winner in the last two sets. If Nalbandian brings his game of the first two sets to the court, Safin will blow him away - but you never really know what you will get with Dahveed.
Blake and Mónaco
Mónaco played extremely well and broke serve on numerous occasions. He moved extremely well, despite having some kind of thigh injury, and he kept is head very well against the crowd. Sadly - it was not enough - but a great performance from him.
Hanmen v Rusedski
Greg started well and went 3-0 very quickly - but he has a bit of a hang-up about playing countryman Tim, who pulled back to take the 1st set on a tie break, and the next two very easily. It was an unusual match in that both serve and volleyed in a way you don't see nowadays. I am not a S/V fan - but it was nice to see something different for a change, and Tim is still the best volleyer in the game today in my opinion. Greg's serve does not have the potency of a few years ago and he is a yard or so slower than he used to be. He says this will almost certainly be his last US Open and he will retire next year to spend more time at home with his new baby. Tim had a few "wobbly" moments hut was by far the better player.
I don't think that many would have thought, before the event, that it would be Benji Becker that would send Agassi to the lockers, wishing him a happy retirement.
Thank you Benji Becker for ending the Agassi show and not getting caught up in the momemt and showed Baghdatis how it was done.
Hewitt is there battling hard again and put Djokovic in his place and he now plays "Mr Hype" Gasquet and I think he should be able to do well here.
Berdych won the battle of the poor forehands and now Gaston can have his break.
hahaha i love your previews!!!
Rain has been the winner so far in this US Open. It seems that the USTA have woken up to the possibility of finishing the Round 4 matches.
They will do their best to give Roddick as much of an advantage as possible. Sure, I would like to see more play, there is that side that would want more rain.
so we have two russian semifinalists and marat is not one of them, who would have thought that. davydenko this guy has my fully respect though i can't stand him and he will give fed a harder time as people may think. as for youzhny, it would be so great if he beats roddick and shocks these americans but it will be difficult.
Davydenko and Youzhny had great tournamenrs and yes I am no huge fan of the PMK, but he has delivered in the events that have counted and I have to respect that.
Youzhny did well to take a set off Roddick and too bad he couldn't return well enough and take the 3rd set, but defeating Hrbaty, Massu, Ferrer, Boredo and Nadal is very respectable.
Time for Fed to show why he owns Roddick.
so much for my prediction about fed-davydenko :/
ok, it's a roddick-fed final, i should have known from the start.
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