Where Have All the American Champions Gone?

“Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing…after they have exhausted all other possibilities.” — Winston Churchill The politician’s eyes twinkle. His voice quivers as he speaks of “a shining city upon a hill.”  The TV analyst muses on “American exceptionalism,” while down at the arena frenetic fans rock the gym with [...]

Of Armed Hippies and Wild Animals

The Buzz

AUTO (NOT) CORRECT: Andy Roddick tweeted, “I just texted the word ‘badass’ and it autocorrected it to Nagasaki.” Bob Bryan wrote, “I meant to send ‘xoxoxo’ to my wife and it autocorrected it to Codfish!”

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. [...]

Roddick and the Best Match Only 584 Fans Saw

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Back in 2003, we called the Andy Roddick vs. Younes El Aynaoui Australian Open marathon, which stretched into the middle of the night and was aired at an ungodly hour, the best tennis match nobody ever saw. Roddick’s fourth-round match against David Ferrer on Thursday at the U.S. Open was the [...]

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 [...]

U.S. Open: A-Rod Exclusive

Not Exactly Another Day At the Office For Andy Roddick

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — As Andy Roddick raced off Court 13 after his memorable 6-3, 6-4, 3-6 6-3 payback win over Spaniard David Ferrer, Inside Tennis risked life and limb to penetrate a hefty New York-tough phalanx of beefy, yellow-clad security guards, protecting the heroic-once-again Texan from adoring crowds. As the USO quarterfinalist wound his way [...]

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 [...]

Where Have You Gone, Justine? (and Other Burning Questions)

U.S. Open Buzz Day 10

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. – Caroline Wozniacki’s miraculous fourth-round comeback against ’04 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova should prove a confidence builder as the still-Slamless Dane heads into the quarterfinals against No. 10 seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany.  Her 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-1 triumph showed some real staying power.