NEW YORK – Two hands for beginners? Absolutely, says a Swiss gentleman named Roger Federer, who has dropped by Flushing Meadows intending to renew his long-term lease on the US tennis title. Both hands on the backhand? No. Roger is a slick purist whose thunderbolts flow from either side with merely the right hand involved. But, yes, two hands on the two diapers with … [Read more...] about HEADING INTO THE 2009 US OPEN
US Open
DON’T THROWN IN THE TOWEL; USE IT
NEW YORK – Jelena “Jelly” Jankovic didn’t throw in the towel when she fell behind. But she knew how to use it to rattle her foe. Jelly, the tennis player from Belgrade – a superb Serb – is no dummy. She had begun university, and was despairingly planning to go back for a degree in dramatic arts when her mom talked her out of that scenario and back onto the court — also out of … [Read more...] about DON’T THROWN IN THE TOWEL; USE IT
GOOFY SCHEDULING MARS THE OPEN
NEW YORK – The Busher went home with $ 160,000, a surge in his world ranking and a newfound reputation as the De-luxembourger. Everybody at the U.S. Open was glad for the big man from the little country. Six-foot-6 Gilles Muller, on a left-winged serve and a prayer, had bombed his way through a string of upsets, including No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko, and as a kind of serf – a … [Read more...] about GOOFY SCHEDULING MARS THE OPEN
A BRIT IN THE SEMIS – IS THAT RIGHT?
NEW YORK – Waiting for Fred (or a reasonable facsimile). That’s been the turgid status of the British sporting crowd for — let’s see? – 72 years. Yearning for another Fred Perry. Such are in very short supply. Although the Brits invented tennis as we know it, they haven’t been able to play the game for decades. The guys anyway. I mustn’t slight the gracious and graceful … [Read more...] about A BRIT IN THE SEMIS – IS THAT RIGHT?
THANK-YOU’S FROM HER COMPATRIOTS
NEW YORK – People say, “Thank you!” Elena Dementieva doesn’t know them. They are strangers, but they know her: Olympic gold medalist in tennis. She encountered them during the one day she had at home, Moscow, on the way to Flushing Meadow from Beijing. “You know, when you win a tournament, or a big match, people will say, congratulations, or well done,” says the tall, … [Read more...] about THANK-YOU’S FROM HER COMPATRIOTS