Author Archive
Blake Time
A Q&A With James Blake: 'Critics Deserve Criticism, Too'
Working his way back into rankings relevance, 31-year-old James Blake insists the fire still burns. Following his second-round exit at the U.S. Open, the former No. 4 spoke with a small group of reporters about unfinished business.
Sam I Am: Stosur 2011 U.S. Open Champion
Serena (Again) Sparks Controversy In Emotional 6-2, 6-3 Defeat
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — It was a somber day in New York, a day of remembrance, a day of reflection. American flags hung over parkway overpasses along the Hutchinson, the Sprain, the Taconic. New Yorkers observed poignant moments of silence, first at 8:46 a.m., then at 9:03 a.m., the exact times the planes struck the [...]
Rafa On 9/11: ‘I Felt Much Pain; I Suffered, Too’
U.S. Open Buzz Day 14
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Rafel Nadal was in an unusually reflective mood following his 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 semifinal victory over Scot Andy Murray on Saturday. On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Spaniard took a moment to reflect on the tragedy.
Miraculous U.S. Open Comeback
For Second Straight year, Djokovic Fights Off Pair of Match Points Against Federer
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Rafal Nadal insists that if you keep patiently plugging away against Roger Federer, keep grinding, you’ll eventually wear him down, get into his head and force him to make errors. But, the Spaniard cautions, there are no such tactics, no backup plans, no solutions against the best-of-all-the-rest Serb Novak Djokovic.
Teeth Like Tombstones In a Rainy Churchyard
U.S. Open Buzz Day 13
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — His four-set triumph over tireless Spaniard David Ferrer having all but exhausted his reserves, Andy Roddick knew it would be a tough ask to come back the next day against 10-time Grand Slam titlist Rafael Nadal in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. And from the moment he stepped onto the practice court [...]
Friends, Romans and a 63-Year-Old Ballboy
U.S. Open Buzz Day 12
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Despite pressure from the USTA and others, Donald Young has made it clear that he has no intention to sever the family ties, preferring the parental coaching of his parents, Donald, Sr., and Illona. Following his loss to Andy Murray in the fourth round, the 22-year-old talked about the importance of [...]
ATP: There Is Power In a Union (Or Is There?)
Players Sound Off; 'Until We Unite As One Voice, We're Not Going to Get What We Want'
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — As a kid, Rafael Nadal was convinced his uncle/coach had supernatural abilities. “Toni even convinced me he had the power to make rain,” writes Nadal in his hot-off-the-presses autobiography, “Rafa.” Too bad Uncle Toni can’t stop the rain. Consecutive days of on-again/off-again, start-and-stop tennis due to rain delays had exasperated U.S. [...]
Lucky 13
After Rains Render Armstrong Unplayable, Roddick Vents Frustration, Then Wins
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — The real action at the U.S. Open on Thursday took place not on the court but underneath it. Just when it appeared that the players finally had a window of sun in which to play after two straight days of maddening rain delays, the effects of the recent weather woes struck [...]
Of Federer’s Kryptonite and a Visit From RFK
U.S. Open Buzz Day 11
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — In the midst of all the rain delays, ESPN commentator Cliff Drysdale recalled a rain delay story of his own. During the Drysdale vs. Manuel Santana ’65 U.S. Championships final at Forest Hills, Drysdale was forced to the bottom reaches of the stadium to lie down during a delay. He soon [...]
U.S. Open: Rainy Day, Dream Away
Day of Frustration Becomes Day of Controversy as Weather Worsens
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — With rain wreaking havoc on the U.S. Open schedule, emotions began to wear thin on Wednesday before Rafa Nadal and Gilles Muller even took the court for their fourth round matchup. Nadal took some heat when he appeared to make his opponent wait nearly 10 minutes to walk out on the [...]