Archive for August, 2007
Roddick Scouting Report for Federer v Isner US Open Match-up
August 31st, 2007
American fans are gearing up for big-serving rookie sensation John Isner against world No. 1 Roger Federer on Saturday at the US Open. Turns out a good number of players are also looking forward to seeing how the almost-untouchable Isner serve stacks up against the almost-untouchable all-around game of the Swiss.
Andy Roddick offered up his scouting report on the match.
“Isner’s going to be very tall and Roger’s going to be very good,” Roddick summed up. “You know, it’s going to be interesting. I think if John can get — try to get to some breakers, you know, at least hold his serve, then who knows. John probably has a game that can make Roger a little bit more uncomfortable than most people just because — you can go game sometimes without hitting a ball. That being said, Roger’s done well against big servers, myself included. It will be interesting to watch. I think Roger’s going to definitely try to get that early break in the first set, just kind of get out in front. I think that’s going to be a key.”
Roddick also talked about celebrating his birthday Thursday at the US Open.
“I don’t really have birthday parties here because I always have to play,” Roddick said. “Yeah, I mean, I actually spent a couple of — two years of my birthdays up here with my mom. She brought me up here for my birthday to this tournament. One year was the year Jimmy [Connors] made his run to the semis. I’d get here for the first match and I wouldn’t leave ’till it was over. Those are probably my fondest memories, just sneaking into the nosebleed sections. I actually snuck into the players lounge one time and stole a cheesecake.”
Murray Hyped for Federer v Isner US Open Match-Up
August 30th, 2007
American fans are gearing up for big-serving rookie sensation John Isner against world No. 1 Roger Federer on Saturday at the US Open. Turns out a good number of players are also looking forward to seeing how the almost-untouchable Isner serve stacks up against the almost-untouchable all-around game of the Swiss.
Does Britain’s Andy Murray think the match deserves the hype?
“Definitely, yes,” Murray said. “I think it’s going to be a great match. The guy — him and Karlovic definitely have the best two serves in the game. I’d probably say Isner is better from the baseline, returns better than Karlovic. Federer’s played Karlovic three times and only broken him once. If Isner returns better and Federer isn’t on his game, then, yeah, it will definitely be an interesting match. Definitely Federer is clearly the favorite, but you never know. In Slams, if maybe Federer gets nervous, I don’t know. He hasn’t in the past. But it’s a tough match against an American. You never know. If he plays like he has been the last few months, then I’d probably say Federer will come through.”
US Open Blog Mailbag: Crazy Outfits, Roger on Althea
August 30th, 2007
Answering US Open questions from the message boards and e-mail:
Q: Why are there no “US Open notes” about Roger’s shorts — huh Richard Vach?? We’ve had two postings on Maria’s red dress — why not have some discussion about Roger’s little black tuxedo shorts? There wouldn’t be a double standard here, would there?
– jane
Apologies jane, slacking on the fashion beat. Roger Federer’s “tuxedo shorts” were…heinous? Actually they grew on you as the match went on, and by the end of the match they were fun. Initially they reminded me of a few years ago when black socks and shoes were all the rage in the U.S., but instead of all-black, players were mixing them with colored shorts and shirts, so from the knees down they looked like your grandpa when he goes out in shorts with his dress shoes and socks. But the all-black worked, and afterwards in his press conference Federer acknowledged he did it for fun, which was refreshing.
Fans (and journalists) have been hammering the hubub over Maria’s dress, Bethanie Mattek’s wacky outfits, the “Maria Clones” running around the site, Hawkeye, basically anything outside of forehands and backhands, but hardcore fans who say “let’s keep it about tennis” need to realize that for years it has only been about tennis in the U.S. — and that’s why tennis is the 17th most popular sport (or whatever) on TV. If fashion brings more fans into tennis, bring on the fashion, bring on the stunts — Federer walks on court at Wimbledon in a blazer and the world sports media takes notice — even if it’s only to say “Ha! Only Roger Federer could get away with that!”
Tennis needs media attention outside of tennis to bring in casual tennis fans and new fans. At the 2008 Australian Open Federer needs to walk on court in a full spacesuit with helmet, tennis bag over his shoulder, then walk up to the chair umpire mike, take off the helmet and announce “I am miles above the Earth from anyone else in tennis!” Talk about an ESPN SportsCenter moment.
Q: Everyone is talking about what Roger Federer said about Althea Gibson, but how did he say it? What was his demeanor in the press conference?
– dv
Good question, because while it may have seemed like Federer blew off the question, there were extenuating circumstances. A journalist asked Federer what he knew about Gibson, as many journalists were asking the same question to many different players for their previews of the Gibson opening-night tribute. The problem was that Federer wasn’t familiar with Gibson so he reacted defensively, replying “You’re putting me on the spot,” perhaps thinking he was trying to be made to look foolish. Some journalists do attempt to put players on the spot if they suspect they don’t know something about a subject they should (remember back in the day with Jennifer Capriati not knowing anything about Title IX and the hammering she took?), but that wasn’t the case here.
So because of this Federer ended up making an honest, if a little chilly and clipped, response that he didn’t know anything about Gibson and the press conference moved on. Then, as you’re probably well aware, came the internet blog-o-storm from tennis fans about how Federer should be aware of such a ground-breaking piece of American civil rights tennis history — history that the majority of Americans are not aware of themselves. Hence the Althea Gibson tribute at the Open, and hence Serena William’s reply that this is why such events are important — albeit in my opinion in a better-late-than-never way, let’s not strain a muscle patting ourselves on the back. I say once we’ve found something important enough to educate more than half of our own population about, then we can expect foreigners to maybe know at least a little something. If there’s anyone to be angry with it’s ourselves as Americans, especially when you see how Gibson spent her last years.
Gasquet Pulls from US Open, Young Walks Into 3rd Round
August 30th, 2007
A little luck never hurts as Donald Young found out Thursday morning when his opponent, No. 13 seed Richard Gasquet, announced he was withdrawing from the US Open, citing a fever and sore throat.
“I tried to practice, but I couldn’t play,” an exasperated Gasquet addressed the media after a morning practice effort. “I get fever yesterday night. I had a big problem, I get fever. I can’t play in three sets in my match today. It’s impossible for me. I am really, really disappointed because it’s an important tournament for me. I can’t. It’s impossible. I did my best. I practice this morning, but…I did my best. Nothing is possible for me.”
Gasquet said the illness came on suddenly, and the news was a shock to Young who said he would rather advance with a win, but, he would take what he could get.
“I was really surprised because I saw him in the locker room,” Young said. “A couple people saw him hitting today. I saw him hitting yesterday and the day before. I thought he was okay.”
Young will next play the winner of the match between Spaniard Feliciano “F-Lo” Lopez and Russian Igor Andreev, with a victory there likely lining him up against world No. 1 Roger Federer in the fourth round.