US Open '11: Point by Point Coverage

[mooncreek]

...and now add Stepanek retiring, handing his match to Monaco.

It's getting rather scary, actually. Somehow Tommy Haas has avoided the injury epidemic, which is a miracle, but I admit I'm watching this Monfils/Ferrero match with that thought in mind.

[falafaclese]

I suppose Venus' condition may explain all those times she'd be playing really well, and then come out and have a puzzlingly off day. I really hope she's able to work through it and still play. It must be a relief for her to have something concrete to focus on.

The Monfils/Mosquito match has been entertaining so far. Gael has had a lot of opportunities to lose focus, but seems to be playing well both physically and mentally. I hope he keeps it up.


. . . and he just got broken in the fourth set. Of course.

[harry24]

Bumming hard about La Monf going out, not so much because I like Gael (because I do), but because it just makes Djoker's route to the semi's a total cake walk. Sigh. Maybe Karlovic will have a serving day for the ages.

[mooncreek]

Oy. If Gael proved anything today, it's that he is reliably unreliable. One day he's actually doing the plan, the next he gets into messes like this.

That said, really happy for Ferrero. I'm sure he didn't think he'd survive a match that is so physical, given his recent health.

[lizm]

Impressed with Sloan Stephens, great hitting especially toward the end of the 2nd set tiebreak.

[GrandSlamGuru]

I'm thrilled for Sloan. LaMonf pisses me off because he's so wonderful to watch and yet... (Sigh)

[lizm]

Someone STF the lame Mardy Fish fans in the audience? Please? Seriously? "Here we go Mardy here we go?" That's really the best we have?

ETA: GNGHGHGHG SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!

[falafaclese]

I can't even muster up disappointment for Gael. I'm bummed out that he lost, i still love him, but can i really say I'm surprised? No. It was bound to happen at some point, and because he is Gael, it was always going to be sooner rather than later. Hopefully he can bounce back quickly.

[skyz]

Gael was sucking in a lot of air. Maybe he needs to go on the gluten free diet as well. He always looks exhausted lately. I wasn't surprised he lost either because it a sooner rather than later thing with him.

Sloan was great out there and held it together. Plus she's funny, she did a cute interview with Kevin and Lindsay on TTC where she mentioned her fantasy football draft and how couldn't tell them who she'd pick because her opponents might be watching.

I've just noticed that I actually like watching Novak play, the way he hits the ball and his all around style I like. And this is ridiculously late but I've also realized that I don't like the way Nadal plays at all. But I do like Nadal.

[harry24]

Here's an informative, brief article from the NY Times about Sjögren's Syndrome. The prospects aren't encouraging at the moment: www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/sports/tennis/for-those-with-sjogrens-syndrome-there-are-no-easy-answers.html
Still, we are dealing with a person whose physical conditioning and positive point-of-view are probably in the 99.99th percentile on the planet. I was an adult when Magic Johnson disclosed he had HIV, and I remember vividly the crushing sadness I felt imagining the toll that would soon be taken on this radiant person, which seemed like a sure thing. And it hasn't turned out that way, for whatever reason(s). Oh, and Venus shares with Magic the supersize bank account, which sure don't hurt.

I've just noticed that I actually like watching Novak play, the way he hits the ball and his all around style I like.

Isn't it funny realizing something like that relatively late in the day, skyz? Personally I'll never be able to forgive Djoker for sticking his butt out when he hits the ball. It's a perfectly nice butt, of course, but it ruins the aesthetic for me. Same as Seles's hunch ruined her aesthetic for me, no matter what a wonderful person she is.

[lizm]

Yeah, I'll grudgingly admit that Novak's game is fun to watch. I don't even mind HIM anymore. And his tight shorts are kinda flattering.

I still cast him as the villain in my mind, though. It's more fun that way.

[roseha]

Istill cast him as the villain in my mind, though. It's more fun that way.

Yes, especially with Sod out of this tournament , someone needs to tale on that role!

Just this morning I saw the commercial with Novak imitating Maria - with a long blonde wig on no less - and then the camera cutting to her smirking or whatever. Strong candidate for the worst tennis commercial ever.

Haven't seen Roger yet but maybe he's wearing that 2008 type-red outfit for good luck.

I also hope Venus is able to handle her illness needless to say. So sad. It's so little known, I hope there is good medication available to her.

[skyz]

Venus gave an interview with Good Morning America and further explained things and it makes so much sense now when she'd have these lapses and miss shots that she used to get, but there she was with swollen hands and all that pain. I really admire her playing through all that and I'm very glad she finally got a diagnosis. From what she said it's been going on for years. 6 years is about how long it takes to be diagnosed.

Here's the link since it won't embed -- abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/exclusive-interview-venus-williams-explains-us-open-withdrawal-14427035

[lt]

Poor Venus. Knowing nothing about the illness, it sounds like the symptoms are very RA-like and I just cannot imagine being an athlete and dealing with that.

I've just noticed that I actually like watching Novak play, the way he hits the ball and his all around style I like. And this is ridiculously late but I've also realized that I don't like the way Nadal plays at all. But I do like Nadal.

Me too! I just said yesterday that I'm over Rafa. Has nothing to do with the man, has everything to do with the game.

Sorely disappointed that Llodra went down yesterday without even a whimper (although lots of french cursing). I watched the entire match (it wasn't very long) just to see how good Anderson is playing. His style of passing just demolished Llodra's attempts to volley. Very disappointing (as a Llodra fan) and very exciting (as an Anderson fan).

Max lost his mixed-doubles match yesterday because of his partner. Shvedova cannot serve. Period. Funny thing--the woman on the opposing team was Govortsova, a Belarussian. All I could think was that after Max mentored Azarenka all those years ago that he didn't want to deal with another fellow player from Belarus. (kidding.)

I watched a few games of Monfils/Ferrero but it was just so error-prone on Monfils part that it wasn't enjoyable at all. And Armstrong was packed, to say the least. I left to watch Granollers have no problem with Kukushkin.

Then it was Dolgo's turn. And I was wrong on Monday--it wasn't being winded that made him constantly bend over. He has a back injury and he's trying to stretch it out. He tried the black tape but ended up ripping it off in disgust. Cipolla is a speedy little dude and Dolgo had to figure out that what should be a winning shot wasn't going to be against the Italian and that he needed to get back into position. Dolgo won the first two sets, lost the third and was up 4-1 in the fourth and managed to lose that one. He went down an early break in the fifth but pulled it together and ended up winning 6-4 in the fifth. Scary, nerve-wracking stuff. His back kept him from flinging himself all over the court like he usually does but there were still some thrilling shot making. Hope he gets a really lengthy massage and is ready for Karlovic on Saturday.

Also watched the Hanley/Norman vs. Kas/Peya match. Wow! Wow, wow, wow. Doubles at its most thrilling. Some of the gets were just ridiculous. That was really fun.

I get to see Feli and Max/Daniel today so yeah for that.

[tikigirl]

Thanks for all your on-site reporting, lt; it's so nice to have the insider's view.