US Open - What a day of tennis Friday was!
Did anyone else stay up to watch the Tiafoe/Rublev match? Wow, that was some high quality, high intensity tennis. Is it possible that the young American Tiafoe is blossoming right in front of us? He blew the fourth set, with a chance to win, and then blew the doors off of the highly ranked Rublev in the fifth.
Further, when was the last day that we've seen 3 upsets like this? Three top 5 players eliminated by unseeded players! The Osaka meltdown against Fernandez was incredulous! Layla Fernandez is a little stick of dynamite who has a very crafty game. And her in-match focus is like an assassin. The other upset was a young, energetic Spaniard (where have we heard that before) Carlos Alcarez, who took down the 3 seed, and a favorite of mine, Tsitsipas. That was possibly the most entertaining match of the tournament!
There's less than 10 hours until Michigan's kickoff. Sports... the ultimate Reality TV!
September 4th, 2021 at 3:20 AM ^
I stayed up and watched all 3 matches today. The 5th set of the Tiafoe match was incredible. Tiafoe was incredibly aggressive and played incredibly. It’s great to see an American play so well at the US Open. Let’s hope he can continue to make some noise.
As for the Alcarez/Tsitsipas match, my son and I were rooting hard for Alcarez. My son has been following him since he first went pro and we got the chance to watch him practice up close at the Western and Southern Open during qualifying, as well as winning his qualifying match there. Pretty incredible to watch him play so well on such a big stage a couple of weeks later. He looks like a future Grand Slam winner.
As for Tsitsipas, he’s got to stop taking those ridiculously long bath room breaks whenever the match isn’t going his way. Even though it is technically legal, it’s way outside the realm of good sportsmanship.
September 4th, 2021 at 6:42 AM ^
It's great you and your son got a personal connection to Alcarez. It must make it very exciting to root for him.
As for Tsitsipas' bathroom breaks, it already had me thinking about sportsmanship. While a noble concept, it's very tough to make rules about.
(I once ran across a old, short, funny book called The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship,by Stephen Potter—I've still got it—offering "advice" how to unsettle opponents, written as if it were a polite guide to sportsmanship. Like casually mentioning before the first serve that a recent operation probably won't have any effect on your play.)
September 4th, 2021 at 9:01 AM ^
So happy for Alcarez. I was at his second round match at one of the smaller outside courts on Wednesday (Court 4, day session, fortunately) and he's incredibly fun to watch. Tons of personality and all over the court. His drop shots were amazing in both that match and yesterday. He won over the much smaller crowd in the same way he did yesterday.
Harsh to say, but Tsitsipas needs to drop his dad as coach. The dad abets all Tsitsipas's worst tendencies of shaving rules, which turns the fans (and the locker room) against him, and he's already gotten more coaching warnings than any other major player.
September 4th, 2021 at 6:20 AM ^
After Wimbledon, I thought this was setting up to be one of the most epic USOs ever with Novak, Roger and Rafa all gunning for #21 and Djokovic playing for the CYGS. Naturally it was a big let down when Roger and Rafa pulled out with injuries. I gotta say though, this has been a great tournament. So many competitive matches, lots of upsets and even quite a few final set tiebreakers. Setting up for a great Labor Day weekend.
I went to bed when Tiafoe tied at a set apiece. So glad to hear he won. He has greatly improved his serve (23 aces!) and appears to have adjusted his forehand with a more compact take back which is cutting down on his errors. All the credit to him and his coach Wayne Ferreira who I think is doing a great job with him.
With Tsitsi and Rublev out, Medvedev has a pretty clear path to the final. Will be interesting to see if there are any more upsets.
September 4th, 2021 at 6:59 AM ^
I am not really a tennis fan, but when my wife and I were scrolling through and caught Fernandez coming back in the second set we couldn't look away the rest of the match. Amazing concentration. Hard to see a frustrated Osaka go down like that, but she's great and should be fine.
September 4th, 2021 at 8:36 AM ^
The 64 minute first set between Halep and Rybakina was incredible to watch. Halep won it on a 13-11 tiebreak score. Then drops the second by a break before overpowering Rybakina in the third. Granted, it wasn't as thrilling of a match as Osaka's, but it was so much fun to watch. Halep could be a threat in this thing if she stays healthy. Though I still think Barty and Sabalenka are playing the best right now.
I love tennis.
September 4th, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
Oh, this is a serious thread?! I thought you were making fun of tennis on opening day of football season. Oops! That’s hilarious!! Tennis!! ??? On opening day!!!! ????? wait, tennis!!!!??? On any day!!!! ????? I’m crying laughing. That’s awesome!!
September 4th, 2021 at 9:00 AM ^
It’s possible to enjoy multiple sports, tough guy.
September 4th, 2021 at 9:18 AM ^
I started out watching during the Alcaraz match, thinking I would be switching it over to football a bit later. But I got so drawn in to watching this exciting new star that I ended up watching that full match and then the Leyla Fernandez show as well.
The skill and mental toughness that both these 18 yr olds showed is hard to believe. I can't wait to see more of them.
Fernandez in particular is amazing. In a sport where strength and power has become paramount at the elite level, here comes this tiny 5' 6, 100 lb crafty shot-maker who doesn't realize she's not supposed to be able to beat the girls in the top ten!
September 4th, 2021 at 10:14 AM ^
Thrilled by Alcarez, especially since Tsitsipas is on my last tennis nerve. Tiafoe is a fun player and should have a great chance to get to at least the semis.
September 4th, 2021 at 11:40 AM ^
Was not able to make it through the Tiafoe match, but so excited he came back and won.
Huge day for the Americans today.
Brooksby v Karatsev- I think Jensen takes it.
Sock vs Zverev. Sock will get a set but loses in 4.
Opelka v Basilashvili- Opelka in 4