124th US Open – the Sabalenka and Sinner show
View(s):On the opening day of the 124th US Open in New York this year, spectator attendance topped excess of 76,000. Such is the popularity of tennis in USA. Total number attended the US Open in New York went surging past one and a quarter million at the one of four grand slam events in tennis.
American Dwight Davis not only initiated the Davis Cup in 1900 between England and USA, but also promoted tennis into Philippines, as its administrative governor. All such promoters of the early era perpetuated strong participatory, recreational and competition trends in USA, hence the large attendance of 70,000 every day in 2024. US Open singles winner took home 3.6 million dollars.
In 2024, the two continents dominating tennis supremacy are Europe and USA. Third is Australia. US Open is the last Grand Slam event of 2024. Participatory entry based on the professional rankings of WTA and ATP. US Open committee permitted to give out wild card entrants of their choice, into the draw.
North American men
The last USA player to win US Open title in New York was Andy Roddick in 2003. He was also the finalist in 2006. This year Taylor Fritz of USA beat fellow American, appealing bundle of energy Frances Tiafoe, to be the finalist after 18 years.
Taylor Fritz squeezed every bit of energy from Tiafoe to come into the final. It was a happy encounter. In the men’s final, Fritz could not match the venom of Jannik Sinner of Italy. Fritz never had winning possibility.
This year’s US Open staged the longest singles match between Karen Khachanov of Russia and Brit David Evans. Five hours and 35 minutes. In US Open 2024, men served 3139 aces, fastest went at 143 miles per hour. Ben Shelton achieved it.
Sinner’s second Grand Slam
For Jannik Sinner of Italy, winning US Open title of 2024 beating Taylor Fritz will remain to be a mixed memory of pain and ecstasy. Only just 10 days before the New York event, Sinner cleared of doping charges. A trace of banned substance detected in his blood. Sinner denied wrongdoing. It almost denied his entry into US Open.
The substance has entered Sinner using anti-inflammatory skin spray. His physio bought it over the counter to treat him. Medical council accepted it. In the third test, Sinner declared clean. [Pharmacy spray, a little more of it would have been end of Sinners career]. World Anti-Doping Agency is an independent UN body. Physio had to leave Sinners support team.
Sinner was a New-Gen of ATP’s talent stream product. After winning the Australian Open Grand Slam in January, he was unstoppable in Europe. The leg injury developed during the Europe’s clay court season.
Sinners winning streak began in the latter part of 2023. In brand, he is an effective sand court player. The Italian stream of good players began to appear about six years ago. Today Sinner and his brigade of eight others are in the Top 100 of the ATP ranking. Long line of players appearing is the advent of a world-beater popping up. Right now Australian spring is building up in men. The Canadian had this and of recent seem to fizzle out. Investment into player development is gamble for individuals and nations.
Jannik Sinner is the first Italian to win the US Open title. So is Sara Errani and Andrea Vavasori, first to win the mixed double title.
Jack Draper of England
An Englishman, Jack Draper, reached US Open semi-finals, seeded 26 in the draw. First since Andy Murray. He lost to Sinner in the semi-finals. He did not match the resilience of Sinner’s stroke making ability and speed. Draper reached the semi-finals without losing a set – noteworthy.
Sabalenka won US Open
Women’s tennis supremacy has been with American players or developed in USA. The William sisters, Lindsay Davenport and Coco Gauff have kept the championship in USA 10 times this century. Others went to Australian and to European players.
Sabalenka lost to Gauff last year in the final. This year she won against 30-year-old Jessica Pegula of USA to take the title. The semi-finalists were Muchova and Emma Navarro of USA. Hard court tennis is very punishing. By quarter-finals, most players reach the threshold of injury.
Player’s comfort to perform
Prohibition for players to communicate with their team while playing a match has been relaxed. Control and surveillance did not do any good. In my opinion, some players were out right disturbed by the opponent’s team box. Some of Alcaraz’s loss and especially the one at in US Open 2024 was due to his own box taking his mindset away from him to conduct tactical play.
A change will come
Having spoken to players overseas, player box conversation is more disturbing to the player than otherwise. Weaker players rely on these. A player operates within the permitted possibilities of the opponents. The worst is the supporting chorus line formation disturbing their opponent’s execution of tactical play. Tennis is tactical; anything disturbing this will diminish the game’s appeal.
Another factor players have to accommodate especially in USA is spectators. Between games and at change over the stadium turns out to be a concert music hall. The days of pin drop silence before the rally begins will have to return. This strictly held in golf.
Who is in control?
There are too many conducting business in the sport arena. None for the propagation of sporting values. After every US Open, this topic pops up. I feel this year’s event had some degree of constrains coming back, for player comfort.
–George Paldano, European and Asian competition player; Coach German Tennis Federation; National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka; Davis Cup, Federation Cup coach, coached ATP, WTA and ITF ranked players in Europe and Asia; WhatsApp +94775448880–