Bill Simons
New York
Apologies for this, the eighth most deceptive headline in Inside Tennis history. This item has nothing to do with a possible Novak retirement or the chance of his breaking Margaret Court’s record of 25 Slams. Rather, it’s about Novak going to Yankee Stadium, where he met slugger Aaron Judge. Nole got a signed bat, he said the star was humongous, and overall he gushed about his first contact with America’s pastime. But Nole’s opening pitch was an unforced error. It didn’t even reach the catcher. He explained what it was like from throwing from the mound: “I was on elevated ground, like a little hill. I didn’t throw that accurately, but it still wasn’t as embarrassing as some of the other guys I saw in the past.”
SABALENKA’S CALL FOR CHANGE: Defending US Open Champion Aryna Sabalenka was asked, “What are your thoughts when you realize that over the last 11 years there have been 10 different women’s singles champions here?” She succinctly responded, “My thought is to change that.”
WHAT’S MORE SHOCKING? Many were stunned that Jannik Sinner had brought back onto his team trainer Umberto Ferrara, who was front and center at the Italian’s doping suspension.
Perhaps even more astonishing is that just days before the US Open, Coco Gauff has brought in the bio-mechanic whiz, Gavin MacMillan, who’s known as “Sabalenka’s Serving Savior.” Already MacMillan has been working on her problematic serve. Coco explained, “I’m obsessed with the process of getting better. Sometimes too much…I feel like I have a clear future…and I feel I’m really close. I think this aspect of the game [the serve] will bring everything together for me.”
As for the timing of her move just before the Open, Gauff said, “A tournament is a tournament. I hate losing, regardless of where I am. If this was a 250, I’d feel just as crazy to do it…I don’t have that many points to defend…I’m looking at the long term. I hope I can get it all together…If not, I have the rest of this year to work on it. But I do know I needed to make a technical change to it, and I don’t want to waste time continuing doing the wrong things.”
QUOTEBOOK: “There are giants, and then there is Novak Djokovic.” – Chris McKendry
“You come into the city and right away feel the vibrations.” – Emma Navarro about New York
“We do all we can to confuse you and we’re really good at it.” – a fun-loving US Open usher
“Will it ever come?” – US Open Radio, wondering whether Novak will break Margaret Court’s record of 24 singles Slams
DJOKER’S JUDGEMENTS: In his first press conference since Wimbledon, Djokovic said it was a step in the right direction that the US Open and other Slams have significantly increased their prize money but there’s still “a lot of room for improvement,” especially since the Slams are making lots of money, and there’s always an inflation factor.
Novak pointed out that, globally, only a handful of players make a living out of tennis. He then went on to diss superstars who have talked the talk but haven’t walked the walk. (We wondered whether he was thinking of Roger and Rafa, or maybe Jannik and Carlos.)
Djokovic commented, “At the end of the day, when the players needed to be active and when there was a time of negotiations and decision-making, players weren’t participating enough.
“This is an ongoing story…[for] the players, particularly top players. They express their feelings, but then when you really need to put in the time and the energy into conversations, meetings, which I know are very difficult [they are not there].” I have been there, trust me, many times.
“But it’s necessary, because then you’re doing something not only for yourself but future generations, and you’re making the right moves and contributing.”
Nole also criticized the move to make many Masters two-week tourneys. “I don’t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore. It’s just way too long. My focus is mostly on the Slams…We have currently – informally, unofficially – 12 Grand Slams a year. A Slam is two weeks and the other Masters events are almost two weeks, as well…
“[Now] for me, it’s really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play?…I don’t actually have any schedule other than Slams, to be honest.”
Novak noted that the new lengthened Masters tournaments are locked into their time slots and have solid 30-year contracts.
He also praised the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry, and added, “Hopefully somebody [else] can get in the mix. [Holger] Rune was there, and he kind of goes up and down. [Joao] Fonseca. There are players that are able to have that Djoker spot, the third spot.
“I kind of empathize with the third guy, because I was in those shoes, with Federer and Nadal. I want to see a third guy coming in.”
RAFA’S KIDS: Rafa Nadal just welcomed his second biological son, Miquel, to the world. He now has two sons. But Iga Swiatek, who adores the Spaniard, and Casper Ruud, who trained extensively at Nadal’s academy, said she and her Norwegian doubles partner were also “Rafa’s kids.”
ALEXANDRA THE GREAT PREVAILS IN MATCH OF THE DAY: Speaking of Rafa’s kids, Alexandra Eala, who long worked at Nadal’s academy, scored a stunning come-from-behind victory over the in-form No. 14 seed Clara Tauson, who beat Iga Swiatek en route to the Montreal quarters. The Filipino was down 5-1 in the third set but, on her fifth match point prevailed 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) to become the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles match. The Grandstand Court crowd was elated. Eala gushed, “I was over the moon,” and added, “Anything is possible – dream big!”
Eala’s friend Janice Tjen, from somewhat nearby Indonesia, also scored a notable win that lifted hearts in Southeast Asia. The Pepperdine product stunned the No. 24 seed, Russian Veronika Kudermetova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. It was the first time in 22 years an Indonesian has won a Grand Slam match.
A GOOD DAY FOR EMMAS: Brit Emma Raducanu had one of the Open’s greatest runs in 2021 when, out of nowhere, she won the title. But since then, her New York days have been a daze. Today she won a feel-good victory, her first US Open win since 2021.
America’s Emma, that would be Ms. Emma Navarro, had a great US Open run, too, reaching the semis last year. She’s had some daunting moments since, but she beat Yafan Wang, 7-6 (11-9), 6-3 today.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS:
1. In eight tries, Serena Williams had the chance to equal Margaret Court’s 24 Slams. Novak Djokovic has had seven chances to break Court’s record. He hasn’t played a singles match since losing in the Wimby semis – but never count the Serb out.
2. When, in recent years, has Team America had a better chance of winning a Slam than in this year’s US Open? Toronto winner Ben Shelton is No. 6. The 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz is No. 4. Tommy Paul is No. 14. Plus, America now has an emerging bench that includes No. 17 Frances Tiafoe, No. 28 Alex Michelsen and No. 30 Brandon Nakashima.
3. What a wide-open women’s draw. After reaching the semis or finals at the first three Slams of the year, Sabalenka didn’t get past the quarters in Cincinnati. Last spring, Iga Swiatek’s confidence wavered, her ranking dropped to No. 8, and the queen of the French Open lost in the semis at Roland Garros. But then she won Wimbledon and Cincinnati.
Elena Rybakina was once considered part of the Big 3, alongside Aryna and Iga, but the Kazakhstani has had to deal with the suspension of her coach Stefano Vukov, as well as injuries. Still, she’s come on strong in the hardcourt events, making the semis in Cincy, Toronto and DC. Coco Gauff wowed us by winning the French Open, but won only four matches in Toronto and Cincy. Now she’s shaken up her coaching team and has brought in a serving guru.
Indian Wells and Dubai champ Mirra Andreeva has risen to No. 5 and is the WTA’s next champion-in-waiting. But observers note that the 18-year-old has yet to reach a Slam final. Others say that her winning a Slam is just a matter of time, and suggest Mirra could collect many Slam trophies.
4. Another 18-year-old, Charlotte-born Canadian Victoria Mboko was the second great WTA Cinderella story of the summer. France’s Lois Boisson, who at first this year created many a spicy story about her lack of Old Spice deodorant, flicked aside the inconvenient fact that she was ranked No. 361 before the French Open and became the darling of Paris when she reached the semis. She faces former Wimbledon champion, Czech Barbora Krejcikova.
Also reporting: Lucia Hoffman
