U.S. Open Draw: Familiar Rivalries plus One Dire Opening Round Match-up
By Jane Voigt Three years ago Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova played one of the best matches of 2014. It was the final of The French Open. Sharapova pulled off the win in three brilliant sets of tennis, raising her head-to-head with Halep to 6-0. On Monday, the two women will face each other once…
Wawrinka Captures U.S. Open, His Third Grand Slam
By Jane Voigt Stan Wawrinka’s reaction was subdued. He looked over at his player’s box where family and coaches sat, closed his eyes and raised his arms in victory. It was over. He had won his first U.S. Open. Had we’d seen Wawrinka five minutes prior to his entrance onto Arthur Ashe Stadium doubts would’ve…
Angelique Kerber Wins Open
By Jane Voigt Angelique Kerber will be crowned number one in the world on Monday, yet she didn’t wait to show off her top-ranked tennis today on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the women’s singles final. “When I was a kid I have always dreamed to be the number one of the world,” Kerber told fans…
Gone, Never Forgotten
By Jane Voigt Serena Williams swims in a sea crowded with big fish, the biggest one being Serena. She harbors expectations about her mind and body — the latter first to fail yesterday against Karolina Pliskova in one semifinal at the U. S. Open, a stunning 6-2, 7-6(5) upset. “I have been having some serious left knee…
Semifinal Preview, Women
By Jane Voigt The last four women in this year’s U. S. Open singles competition will step on Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight to battle for a spot in Saturday’s final. The top two seeds — Serena Williams (No. 1) and Angelique Kerber (No. 2) — are the favorites based on their Grand Slam records. Kerber is the reigning…
Consistent Gael Monfils Into Semifinals at U.S. Open
By Jane Voigt On his 30th birthday last Thursday Gael Monfils played silly games with his team on a side court in the pouring rain at the USTA National Tennis Center. “Just having fun,” he told ESPN today immediately after eliminating countryman Lucas Pouille in one quarterfinal of the day, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. “Only once…
Sunglasses Recommended
By Jane Voigt Juan Martin del Potro is a big man at six-foot-six inches. His nickname is ‘The Tower of Tandil,’ which refers to his home in Argentina. Given that massive man size, why in the world would Nike dress him in neon yellow from head to toe? For goodness sake the man looks like…
The Breakthroughs
By Jane Voigt You wouldn’t associate Caroline Wozniacki with breakthroughs. Not at this stage in her career. She has 23 titles, is a two-time finalist at the U.S. Open — 2009 and 2014 — and has pocketed close to $21 million in tournament prize money. Nonetheless, the Dane is having a breakthrough in New York. Her win today…
Halep Digs Deep to Beat Babos
By Jane Voigt “Who can beat Serena Williams?” It’s a question that pundits ponder, but normally reason that if Serena’s healthy no one can touch her. They haven’t been wrong much, as Williams reaches for her 7th U. S. Open title and her record-making 23rd Grand Slam in singles. One player that has beaten Serena…
Do The Tighten Up
By Jane Voigt Novak Djokovic, the number one seed and defending champion, has landed safely in the second week at The U. S. Open. However, he’s only been on court for three hours and eight minutes. Madison Keys, seeded number eight this year in New York, also has made her way to the second week.…