U.S. Open, 2014

We’ve seen our share of prevailing underdogs, during the first week of this U.S. Open. There’s no better sport story.  But what do the multi-slam winners think of these initial rounds? They are supposed to survive, but, quite obviously with games determined by a couple points won here and lost there, it isn’t always that…

By Jane Voigt Sara Errani had never beaten Venus Williams. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni had her time in the spotlight 13 years ago. And, Belinda Bencic is for real. What a day at the U.S. Open. Crowds in Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered for Venus Williams, but her time was up. The 34-year-old, 2-time Open champion, could not muster the…

By Jane Voigt So how’s the United States doing at its Grand Slam?  The topic is a lively one and wrought with distress for American tennis.  But for today, let’s tally up America’s efforts as one player amongst a global tennis community. Men’s SinglesJohn Isner and Sam Querrey moved into the 3rd round each with…

By Jane Voigt August 27, 2014 — It’s cool to see the kids doing well.  CiCi Bellis was so awesome yesterday she ousted Dominika Cibulkova, seeded number 12 and the Australian Open runner up. Bellis is the youngest person at 15 to win a match at The U. S. Open since 1996.  The slightly built…

By Jane Voigt August 26, 2014 — Casting a net around a couple women players who could make waves in the women’s singles draw at this U.S. Open is about as easy as herding cats.  Take, for example, the ways things fell out at Roland Garros in May. Every round a new face popped up. It was…

By Jane Voigt Day one of the 2014 U.S. Open and nerves are at attention. Simona Halep, the second seed and Roland Garros finalist, struggled in her 3-set win over NCAA champion and University of Virginia graduate, Danielle Rose Collins, 67(2) 61 62.  “Today was, you know, a big challenge for me because I played the first…

By Jane Voigt Down The Tee caught with American Donald Young after his second round win over Canadian Frank Dancevic at The Winston-Salem Open, the last stop on the U.S. Open Series of tournaments.  Tomorrow,  the 25-year-old Young will step on Grandstand Court in his 10th appearance at The U.S. Open ranked higher than ever…

By Jane Voigt The draws for the 2014 U.S. Open were released Thursday. These sheets are supposed to reconcile the differences across player fields, introducing luck that players have to accept because they are at its will. It’s not always fair, though.  Both the men’s and women’s singles’ competition seem more wide open than they were, say,…