Major upset news here at Flushing Meadows.
Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic just lost to France's Julie Coin (pronounced "Kwan"), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
I caught most of the last two sets. Ivanovic definitely was not herself -- she seemed tentative at times, and when she did go for her shots, she swatted many of them long.
Coin, who is ranked 188th in the world and had to qualify to get into the tournament, hit the ball deeper and harder with more consistency, pushing Ivanovic onto her heels. In the end, she held off some shaky nerves to close out the match.
On her first match point, Coin slapped a serve well beyond the service box, an embarrassing miscue, then buried her second serve into the net. She lost another match point before Ivanovic cracked a forehand wide to end the match.
"My first time playing on a big court like this," Coin said, smiling. "I was hoping to play on another one -- smaller."
She will face countrywoman and No. 32 seed Amelie Mauresmo in the third round. Stay tuned -- Coin could turn into one of the big stories of tournament.
As for me, I'm off to the train. Mark Dwyer will be with you tomorrow for more updates. Enjoy the night matches!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
James Blake: Harvard man, Mets fan
So I learned two more things to like about James Blake.
First, that he went to Harvard. I had heard some of his interviews before and knew he was a bright guy. But listening to him in person for the first time today, I was definitely impressed by his honesty and intelligence.
Then my Newsday colleague, John Jeansonne, asked James whether he would be watching the Democratic National Convention tonight, on a big night for Barack Obama, another Harvard man. And now it all makes sense. They don't let dummies into Harvard (hence, I didn't bother applying)
The second thing I learned is that Blake is a Mets fan. He walked into Interview Room 1 sporting a gray cap with a white, Mets-style interlocking NY. One of the last questions he fielded concerned whether he felt extra pressure playing in a huge tournament in his home town, so close to Shea Stadium, home of his favorite ballclub.
"I see pressure as opportunity," Blake said, adding that feeling pressure means you're doing something people care about. Getting up from the podium a few moments later, he smiled when a reporter asked him what he thought about last night's come-from-behind 6-3 Mets win.
"Nice to see someone else's bullpen blow it for a change," Blake said.
I knew there was a lot to like about this guy.
First, that he went to Harvard. I had heard some of his interviews before and knew he was a bright guy. But listening to him in person for the first time today, I was definitely impressed by his honesty and intelligence.
Then my Newsday colleague, John Jeansonne, asked James whether he would be watching the Democratic National Convention tonight, on a big night for Barack Obama, another Harvard man. And now it all makes sense. They don't let dummies into Harvard (hence, I didn't bother applying)
The second thing I learned is that Blake is a Mets fan. He walked into Interview Room 1 sporting a gray cap with a white, Mets-style interlocking NY. One of the last questions he fielded concerned whether he felt extra pressure playing in a huge tournament in his home town, so close to Shea Stadium, home of his favorite ballclub.
"I see pressure as opportunity," Blake said, adding that feeling pressure means you're doing something people care about. Getting up from the podium a few moments later, he smiled when a reporter asked him what he thought about last night's come-from-behind 6-3 Mets win.
"Nice to see someone else's bullpen blow it for a change," Blake said.
I knew there was a lot to like about this guy.
Darcis retires with back injury
Listened in a few minutes ago on Steve Darcis' press conference, during which he explained he retired from his match against James Blake because of a lower back injury he suffered a week and a half ago at a tour event in New Haven.
Darcis said his back stiffened up after he won his first-round match, and he wasn't able to run and keep up with Blake once the American found his stride in the second set. After losing the second set and going down a break in the first game of the third set, Darcis decided to retire rather than risk aggravating the injury.
I'll be sitting in on Blake's interview in about 15 minutes, so I'll let you know what he has to say about his absolutely awful first set of tennis, during which he committed 17 unforced errors.
Darcis, who is from Belgium, suggested that American players may feel extra pressure to perform well on a big stage, which may explain why so many struggle to put away inferior players here.
But this ain't exactly Blake's first rodeo, as the saying goes, so I don't really buy that excuse. Hopefully Blake has a better explanation than that.
Darcis said his back stiffened up after he won his first-round match, and he wasn't able to run and keep up with Blake once the American found his stride in the second set. After losing the second set and going down a break in the first game of the third set, Darcis decided to retire rather than risk aggravating the injury.
I'll be sitting in on Blake's interview in about 15 minutes, so I'll let you know what he has to say about his absolutely awful first set of tennis, during which he committed 17 unforced errors.
Darcis, who is from Belgium, suggested that American players may feel extra pressure to perform well on a big stage, which may explain why so many struggle to put away inferior players here.
But this ain't exactly Blake's first rodeo, as the saying goes, so I don't really buy that excuse. Hopefully Blake has a better explanation than that.
It's Blake in a walk
So much for that. I was just on my way back to Ashe, but first I checked Newsday.com's scores page for an update on the Blake match.
Turns out, Darcis retired. I didn't hear or see what happened, but that's the disadvantage of not having wireless internet here.
It's too bad for Darcis, but good for the tournament, which benefits from a fan-favorite like Blake advancing and staying fresh for the third round. He faces a potential second-round match with fellow American Mardy Fish.
I'll update you on Darcis as soon as I find out more about what happened.
Turns out, Darcis retired. I didn't hear or see what happened, but that's the disadvantage of not having wireless internet here.
It's too bad for Darcis, but good for the tournament, which benefits from a fan-favorite like Blake advancing and staying fresh for the third round. He faces a potential second-round match with fellow American Mardy Fish.
I'll update you on Darcis as soon as I find out more about what happened.
Blake not familiar with "the easy way"
Apparently James Blake isn't familiar that it is possible to win a tennis match in three sets.
The No. 9 seed appeared on Arthur Ashe court this afternoon for his second-round match against the world's 62nd-ranked player, Steve Darcis. But apparently he left his tennis skills back in the locker room.
Blake sprayed unforced errors -- backhands, forehands, volleys, you name it -- all over the court in dropping the first set, 6-4.
He rebounded to win the second set 6-3, but what is it about Blake that it always seems he ends up playing epic matches at the U.S. Open? Remember that classic against Andre Agassi in 2005? He also lost a five-setter to top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt in the third round in 2003, and a five-setter to Tommy Haas in a fifth-set tiebreaker last year. And then there was the five-setter he squeaked out against the young American Donald Young on Monday.
Maybe it's because Blake is from New York (he and I share the hometown of Yonkers, NY), but my guess his popularity at this tournament has as much to do with his penchant for drama as his place of birth. Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer get the headlines, but I would argue there is no more popular player at the Open than Blake.
Time to get back to Ashe court to watch the rest of the match. If history is any indication, I might not be back any time soon.
The No. 9 seed appeared on Arthur Ashe court this afternoon for his second-round match against the world's 62nd-ranked player, Steve Darcis. But apparently he left his tennis skills back in the locker room.
Blake sprayed unforced errors -- backhands, forehands, volleys, you name it -- all over the court in dropping the first set, 6-4.
He rebounded to win the second set 6-3, but what is it about Blake that it always seems he ends up playing epic matches at the U.S. Open? Remember that classic against Andre Agassi in 2005? He also lost a five-setter to top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt in the third round in 2003, and a five-setter to Tommy Haas in a fifth-set tiebreaker last year. And then there was the five-setter he squeaked out against the young American Donald Young on Monday.
Maybe it's because Blake is from New York (he and I share the hometown of Yonkers, NY), but my guess his popularity at this tournament has as much to do with his penchant for drama as his place of birth. Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer get the headlines, but I would argue there is no more popular player at the Open than Blake.
Time to get back to Ashe court to watch the rest of the match. If history is any indication, I might not be back any time soon.
Big matches coming up
Greetings everyone, Mike Casey back for Day 4 at the Open.
I confess. I did not look at the schedule of play before I left my house this morning. When I got to the Tennis Center just a few minutes ago, I glanced up at the big scoreboard outside of Arthur Ashe Stadium and was very disappointed to see the following matches on the show courts:
Dinara Safina vs. Roberta Vinci on Arthur Ashe
Stanislav Wawrinka vs. Wayne Odesink on Louis Armstrong
Bethanie Mattek vs. Alize Cornet at the Grandstand
At first, I was angry. Who are these people? These are the names the USTA wants to showcase??
Then I collected me thoughts on stormed off to the media center. There I found some good news.
Two good matches with high-profile American players on Arthur Ashe court this afternoon:
Venus Williams vs. Rossana De Los Rios
James Blake vs. Steve Darcis
Unlike yesterday, when I barely set foot inside Arthur Ashe, I think it's safe to say I'll be planting myself in Ashe for a few hours this afternoon. Hopefully I'll provide a little different perspective than I did yesterday, when I did some Ashe Stadium-bashing.
Catch up with you later.
I confess. I did not look at the schedule of play before I left my house this morning. When I got to the Tennis Center just a few minutes ago, I glanced up at the big scoreboard outside of Arthur Ashe Stadium and was very disappointed to see the following matches on the show courts:
Dinara Safina vs. Roberta Vinci on Arthur Ashe
Stanislav Wawrinka vs. Wayne Odesink on Louis Armstrong
Bethanie Mattek vs. Alize Cornet at the Grandstand
At first, I was angry. Who are these people? These are the names the USTA wants to showcase??
Then I collected me thoughts on stormed off to the media center. There I found some good news.
Two good matches with high-profile American players on Arthur Ashe court this afternoon:
Venus Williams vs. Rossana De Los Rios
James Blake vs. Steve Darcis
Unlike yesterday, when I barely set foot inside Arthur Ashe, I think it's safe to say I'll be planting myself in Ashe for a few hours this afternoon. Hopefully I'll provide a little different perspective than I did yesterday, when I did some Ashe Stadium-bashing.
Catch up with you later.
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