Excitement and History served
This year’s US-Open started with so many snags that, even optimists were in doubt of a good event. By Tuesday of the second week, Flushing Meadows, with its multiple stadium courts, surpassed its previous years’ records in excitement and innovative Tennis. The players’ performances did the trick. Younger players took Tennis to a another level. The surviving veterans had to rise to the occasion or, make way. Every match from the last 32, turned out to be exciting epics.
All-American Women’s Semifinals
In the WTA rankings, USA, Spain, Czech and Russia, lead in the player count. Latvian and Ukrainians also appear there. By the time the US-Open reached the last 16 stage, players from these countries made their presence felt. USA had 5 women players in the last 16, Russia and Spain were not in pain.
Muguruza, playing a match worthy of a final, lost to Czech Republic’s Kvitova. Wildcard entrant Maria Sharapova’s run came to an end in the 4th Round, at the hands of Latvian Sevastova. For a wildcard entry, Sharapova did more than what was expected, as she performed under an umbrella of dissatisfied peers in the game. It was an unnecessary and unpleasant development.
Then came history. This year, for the first time since 1981, all 4 semifinalists are from USA. USA’s Slone Stephens, returning from injuries, decided to play the game at her full potential, and it showed how good she can be. Showing grit for which she was not known, she reached the semifinals. Kvitova outpaced Muguruza, but could not hold out against the mature game of 37-year-old Venus Williams, going down in a 3-Set classic in the Quarters.
USA’s Coco Vandeweghe literally outclassed World No.1 Pliskova for the second time this year, for her place in the semifinals. She is coached by Australian Wimbledon winner Pat Cash. Then, Madison Keys, coached by America’s famed Lindsay Davenport of Steffi Graf era, had to survive the challenge of another player returning from injuries, Latvian Kaia Kanepi. the Latvian had to come through qualifying, as she was only ranked 418, which made her performance all the more impressive.
For reasons unknown, 3 players in the top 5 of the Women’s ranking, Kerber, Pliskova and Halep have stagnated in their skill level. Top end of the ranking does not tolerate this. One reason could be the inability to cope with the pressure of being good and taking on the attitude of ‘must win’ all the time.
Men’s side
In the current world ATP ranking, Argentina has 16 players in the top 150. This impressive proportion was represented in the last 4th Round. Del Potro and unpredictable Schwartzman sent many fancied players home. The small-made Schwartzman’s physique eventually broke down and bowed respectfully to Carreno Busta.
Men’s No.2, Spaniard Carreno Busta, last year’s Doubles finalist, staved off fierce opposition from so many countries to reach the semifinals. His all-court game and keeping the winner’s unforced errors in the right proportion, was the secret of his success. He and Nadal are keeping the Spanish flag flying. Surprisingly, even Nadal was seen at net to finish rallies, and booked a berth in the semifinals. The net game is reducing the strain of long ground-stroke rallies which, in the last two decades, count for most of the physical breakdowns.
Argentinian Juan del Potro lived dangerously, surviving a match point against Austrian Dominic Thiem, and reached the quarterfinals. This match would go down as a classic in Tennis. These two played using every department of Tennis. The close run kept the audience spellbound till the last. Kevin Anderson, the lonely African at 31, yet again is shining to reach the semifinals. His game has a unique blend of ground-stroke winners. What is most remarkable about him is his ability to force a player into areas in the court from where they cannot start an attack. Pete Sampras had this ability. It is a silent killer tactic which very few really notice. Andrey Rublev the Russian teenager is also in the quarterfinals, exhibiting his teenage flair.
The battle between 2 heartthrobs of the Tennis world raged between Del Potro and Roger Federer, for a semifinal berth. As all predicted, it turned out to be another thriller. It came down to the physical condition of the duo. In the, ‘he-who-lasts-wins’ situation, it was Del Potro’s day. Argentina will celebrate.
Teenage parade
Russia’s Andrey Rublev, Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and Germany’s Alexander Zverev among Men, and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko among Women, are in their late teens or, just past it. Right now, Ostapenko winning the French Open, looks like a flash in the pan. Most of these teenagers play a game which has an equal mix of ground-strokes and aerial strokes, using the whole court play. These players bring forth the enthusiasm and interest of teenage spectators. Like what Bjorn Borg did in the ’70s, when he first appeared at Wimbledon.
-George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of German Federation; National coach Sri Lanka and Brunei, Davis-Cup, Federation Cup captain/coach– contact 94 77 544 8880 geodano2015@gmail.com –