NEW YORK – From the sea-breezed grassblades of Rhode Island’s Newport Casino in 1881 to the steaming blue asphalt slabs of Flushing Meadows, the planet’s longest-running tennis show has settled in again for a fortnight’s duels with gut-strung cudgels. Oh, yes, I know that Wimbledon is four years older, but was dark nine years for World Wars I and II. Anyway, some call this … [Read more...] about US OPEN SWEETHEART, MELANIE, KEEPS GOING
THE US OPEN — NO LONGER A SPLIT PERSONALITY IN FLUSHING’S BIG TENT
NEW YORK – As the 43rd season of the chase for dollars rolls toward its crescendo in Flushing (who will come out of it most flush?), few tennis junkies are aware that this monstrocity called the U.S. Open was once-upon-a-time a split personality. It was in a day when something amusingly labeled as “amateurism” held sway, and room-and-board was a prized goal on the tournament … [Read more...] about THE US OPEN — NO LONGER A SPLIT PERSONALITY IN FLUSHING’S BIG TENT
OLLIE IS A WONDER BUT FISH HAS THE TITLE
NEWPORT, R.I. – Little guy. Little country. Giant performance. But it wasn’t quite enough for the diminutive dynamo named Olivier Rochus, who did his best to wreck the afternoon for the homebodies – and very nearly did. You really couldn’t dislike this teddy bear of a tennis player, 5-foot-5, 140 pound Ollie. However, he was rocking the cradle of American tennis, the … [Read more...] about OLLIE IS A WONDER BUT FISH HAS THE TITLE
RAFA DEFENDS HIS 2008 TITLE, WINS EASILY
LONDON – Federer and Venus got beat. So did Roddick, Djokovic, Henin and Clijsters. Wimbledon upsets to be sure, but not the most startling reversals as the aged tennis tournament faded away for another year. Caught up in the most incredible upset of the fortnight was none other than that veteran performer – Jupiter Pluvius. Surely you remember the old rascal, the god … [Read more...] about RAFA DEFENDS HIS 2008 TITLE, WINS EASILY
SISTER SERENA SLAMS SHUT THE DOOR, TAKING HER FOURTH WIMBLEDON TITLE
LONDON – Why does Sister Serena remind me of the Statue of Liberty? Well, both of them are famous Americans, recognizeable heroines just about everywhere. They stand out in their occupations, symbols of the fact that anything is possible in the USA. Lady Liberty is a one-woman welcoming committee in New York. Sister Serena travels the world as the best female tennis … [Read more...] about SISTER SERENA SLAMS SHUT THE DOOR, TAKING HER FOURTH WIMBLEDON TITLE