2024 US Open

Women's

(13) Navarro 3/6 - 6/7 (2) Sabalenka

Sabalenka wasn't wildly better than Navarro on this night, but she was better enough. Sabalenka went up a break in the 1st and rode it to win the set. Then she went up a break in the 2nd, faltered when serving for the match (which bummed me out because I was hoping to skip off to catch the Ravens-Chiefs kickoff) and for a minute it felt like she was going to let the whole thing get away from her. But she pulled it together, got the match to a tie break and then breezed to victory (which she could've just as easily done 20 minutes earlier). As for Navarro, this was her first major semifinal and while she's a nice player, I'm not sure I really saw anything to make me think she's going to be a semifinal regular or anything. Always liked Sabalenka, on her best day she's a tough out, but she's (I'll say it) Russian and therefore an unpredictable head case and on her bad days can flame out Hindenburg-style. (The final has a real Rocky IV vibe to it, huh?)

(6) Pegula 1/6/6 - 6/4/2 Muchova

Dang, the first set was over so quick, I barely saw it. Seemed like Muchova was in the driver's seat, then all of a sudden she wasn't. Not really sure what happened, Pegula found her game and stuck to it and Muchova just couldn't hang. Nice run for Muchova but she wasn't built to win this tourney, though I was impressed how easily she dispatched Paolini in the Round of 16. 

(6) Pegula 5/5 - 7/7 (2) Sabalenka

Sabalenka is the better player, bigger game, better talent but....she's dying to blow it. So the opportunity for Pegula was to just stay on track and take advantage of Sabalenka's breakdown. Well, didn't happen in the 1st set, Sabalenka went up a break, then gave it back, but turned it on late and won the set. In the 2nd, Pegula got up a break early but Sabalenka unpredictably cranked it up, got her break back and rode the momentum to take the title (which suggests that Sabalenka keeps it together better when she's coming from behind?). Pegula is a nice player but I don't see the little extras to put her over the top--but she did take out Swiatek rather easily, which is maybe the most impressive match of the whole tourney. so.... Sabalenka is one of the best in the world right now, but again, she is a moody player and totally capable of giving it away. But she didn't here, she stayed strong, made the most of her opportunities, overcame her mistakes and looked pretty damn good doing this. Curious to see if she rides this momentum into next season. 

Men's

(1) Sinner 7/7/6 - 5/6/2 (25) Draper

Didn't get to see this, as my computer glitched while I was trying to catch the replay and I ended up catching the very end instead. Oh well, just two of the best, most exciting players in the world, I'm sure it was no big deal. 

(12) Fritz 4/7/4/6/6 - 6/5/6/4/1 (20) Tiafoe

I like Tiafoe, hell of an athlete, but I'm not sure he's good at tennis. He makes up in power what he lacks in mobility---almost! And that's what I mean: he doesn't have the ability to recover that the tippy top players have. He's got amazing strength and has the impressive ability to pick his spots (shows a real intuitive knowledge of the game) as well as anyone I've seen in ages, but I just don't think he's got that last little skill that the greats have. If we were to put in him the top tier right now, I'd put him at the very bottom: good enough to tromp over the lower tiers, but probably not good enough to get past the giants. As for Fritz, I like his game and while he doesn't have Tiafoe's strength or showmanship, I do think he possesses the intangibles to firmly ensconce him in the upper tier. This match was glorious back and forth action for the first 4 sets, felt like the 5th was gonna be an all timer. But, then, outta nowhere, Tiafoe just...I dunno what happened to him, he just couldn't finish any more and he totally lost his serve (his one game was a break, where Fritz tripped over himself serving for the match). I don't know what happened and while I think the overall outcome was pretty much correct, a 5th set tiebreak may well have bounced in the other direction. I like Tiafoe, fun to watch, a tough out, but I think he's a quarterfinals kinda guy (we'll see). Fritz has his shot at the championship, Sinner ain't be easy.

(1) Sinner 6/6/7 - 3/4/5 (12) Fritz

Yeah, that's about right. Sinner is the best in the world right now (I suppose Alcaraz would disagree, but I stand by it) and Fritz is a nice up-and-comer, but he ain't exactly ready to win a Major just yet. Sinner took control early and breezed through the first two sets. Fritz was up a break in the 3rd and just couldn't hold it together, Sinner surged back and reminded everyone why he is the #1 seed right now. I like Fritz, I think he has room to get better and I think he'll be around for the next few years. But Sinner is full-on ready to put Djokovic out to pasture and for the foreseeable future it is up to Alcaraz to dual the top dog, with Fritz and the rest waiting for the crumbs. 

2023 US Open

Men's 

(3) Medvedev 3/6/3 - 6/7/6 (2) Djokovic

Medvedev never seemed ready to be in this match, he dropped his first serve and that was pretty much that. He rallied to a tie-break in the 2nd set and I thought he was going to take it, then on set point it was like he was forgot he was playing tennis or something, just flaked away his last service and it was all over. Then in the 3rd he put up no effort at all. Djokoic is so effortlessly awesome that we just assume he's going to win all the time but I think Alcaraz would've pushed him (as he did at Wimbledon), whereas Medvedev already looked as if he'd lost from the jump. Kinda lame Final really, since Alcaraz was watching on TV instead of hoisting the trophy. 

(1) Alcaraz 6/1/6/3 - 7/6/3/6 (3) Medvedev

Wow, I was shocked when Medvedev won that first set tie-break, it just felt like Alcaraz was going to roll up over him pronto, but Medvedev hung tight and was able to steal the tiebreak.  Then Alcaraz fell asleep to start the 2nd set and Medvedev was in the driver's seat. Alcaraz is the man right now, not sure why he flamed out so badly here because he was dominating early on, faltered, gave away a set and then was too deep in the hole to rally. I think he had a good shot at hanging with Djokovic in the final, not sure what happened against Medvedev because he should've won this match. 

Shelton 3/2/6 - 6/6/7 (2) Djokovic

I watched Shelton in his Round of 16 match and was impressed with his power game (BIG serve!) but in that match mostly what I noticed was how badly his opponent flailed. So when it came time for the young American upstart to go up against Djokovic, I didn't give him much of a chance. And Djokovic didn't either. He was spunky enough to get a 3rd set tie-break (nice work), but that was too little, too late. Shelton is interesting but I can't help thinking he overachieved this year and probably isn't quite ready to hit the top ten just yet. 

Women's

(6) Gauff 2/6/6 - 6/3/2 (2) Sabalenka

Sabalenka doomed herself with way too many unforced errors, if she could've stopped spraying her returns and stayed within the lines, I think she would've overpowered Gauff. But Sabalenka was wild, Gauff was measured and stayed within her game plan and though I think Gauff arrived here a little early, she is now a Major champion. Good for her! She's got real star power, a total cutie, amazing athlete, slyly good serve and her lateral quickness is going to keep her deep in tournaments for years to come. I think right here, right now Sabalenka is the more talented player, but in this Final she couldn't keep her game together (Russians, man, I'm just sayin'...) and I'm curious to see if Sabalenka can get back to the top (I'd say 50/50).  

(6) Gauff 6/7 - 4/5 (10) Muchova

Gauff was the better player, Muchova is a nice player but just doesn't have the quickness or staying power that Gauff possesses. Gauff was really impressive here, just sticking to her plan and getting it done. 

(17) Keys 6/6/6 - 0/7/7 (2) Sabalenka

I missed the first set, Sabalenka obviously had trouble getting started. But once she got going, Keys just couldn't keep up. Keys is a nice player but I think she was over her skis in this semifinal. 

2021 US Open

Raducanu 6/6 - 4/3 Fernandez

Fun match! I didn't see much of the Ladies' side this year but I doubt I would've paid much attention to either of these girls anyway because they were both such crazy long shots, so just as well that I missed it. Fernandez was the crowd favorite who came out of nowhere to win everyone's hearts but all I saw was the Final and I gotta say: holy balls, she looks like a little child! She looks like she should be selling candy bars so her middle school soccer team can go to the state finals. The crowd (including Steve Nash) was clearly rooting for her. She moves well, big hitter, great footwork, I think she's got a future. But I was blown away by Raducanu--she's the shit! First qualifier to ever win the US Open and I don't think she's done. I was impressed with Fernandez, but Raducanu was legit better at every phase of the game. She's top ten right now. And considering the standard bearer on the women's side is Ashleigh Barty, who probably has the most all-around talent but just does not get it done in the Finals, I think Raducanu can be the next big big big star. I would be surprised if this was her last major. Great match, a lot of fun, the crowd was totally into it, always great to see new faces and I think both Fernandez and Raducanu are gonna have staying power (which should elevate this particular Final to an all-time classic). 

(2) Medvedev 6/6/6 - 4/4/4 (1) Djokovic

Yipes! I don't remember the last time I saw Djokovic just get roasted like a hog before....yeah, I've never seen that happen. Djokovic was weird all through this tournament, kept dropping sets when normally he's just a robot that crushes all comers, so I don't know what kind of funk he was in. But the fact that he was not exactly at his best in this tourney and still made the Finals (even eviscerating Zverev in the semifinal), just shows what an unholy badass he is. But, man, Medvedev came to play--and he was talking shit, whooping up the crowd, staring Djoker down--and Djokovic couldn't smooth talk his way back into this. Wow, it's amazing how far off the baseline Medvedev was hanging--holy shit, when he was in the near court, you couldn't even see him on the TV broadcast! I'm amazed that that strategy worked. You would think a craftsman like Djokovic could find the holes (he was definitely pumping drop shots whenever possible, but it wasn't enough), but Medvedev is just a such a big dude, he was tracking everything down. I like watching Medvedev, the way he unfolds as he takes his shots is funny to watch (reminds me of Utah's Joe Ingles). Is Djokovic done? Is Medvedev ready to de-throne him (seems like Zverev has shown that he is not)? We'll see, it could be Meevedev's for the foreseeable future. Good match, even Djokovic at half strength still makes for great tennis. 

US Open Final (Atlanta United 2-1 Minnesota United)

Dang, nice deep cut of the final game (of which I saw none).  Felt like Minnesota had a lot of chances in the 2nd half and that Brad Guzan finished really strong. Atlanta are now the League champs and Cup champs, nice.

2018 US Open Tennis

Mmmmm....well, this is weird.



This type of bratty meltdown is par for the course for Kyrgios, a massively talented player but clearly a headcase kinda guy (reminds me of Marat Safin). This may look like a 'feel-good' moment but this isn't cool. For the ref to take an interest in one of the players is not part of his mission. I would be surprised if this umpire isn't suspended for at least the rest of this tourney. As for Kyrgios, he needs to get his head together on his own, I doubt he'll find any chair umpires that take this level of interest in him ever again. 

US Open

Kerber over Pliskova. It felt early on like Kerber was gonna run Pliskova out of the stadium, then Pliskova got it together and felt like she was gonna get it done.  But Kerber had a solid push at the end of the 3rd set to take the championship. Pretty good final, went back and forth. The semis were the only other women's matches I watched this year: Kerber whooping unranked Wozniacki; and Pliskova over Serena (like Duke basketball, always a pleasure to watch Serena lose). Kerber looks good but not unbeatable, it's a good time for women's tennis.

Wawrinka over Djokovic. Oh, good stuff! Wawrinka dropped his opening serve, looked real nervous early on and it felt like Djokovic was gonna steam roll him. Djokovic had two walkovers leading up to this so he was fresh while Wawrinka had gut check matches against Nishikori and Del Potro (he played hard but I reckon that's the last we'll ever see of Del Potro) in the quarters and semis. (I'd like to go back and see Djokovic's match with Monfils in the semis, apparently Monfils was fucking with him pretty hard) I guess being tested worked in his favor. Wawrinka was able to get his break back, then crumbled in the tie break. But he was able to take the 2nd and then outlasted Djok in a marathon 3rd set and I knew it was over. I missed the 4th set, Djok had a controversial medical delay but Wawrinka seemed cool with it. Good match, good win for Wawrinka.

US Open

'He's stepping up to a 78 foot putt....just wants to get a good touch on it...oh, it looks like it might drop, its got the right angle, an amazing shot...no, it curled away from the cup at the last minute....and he's left with a 15 foot uphill putt to save par.' (Not an actual quote, rather a composite of dozens and dozens of shot opportunities in this tourney)

Can't say I'm surprised the US Open was determined by a 3-putt. When I first saw this wacky course on Thursday night I foresaw a lot of 3-putts. This was one of the most brutal courses (certainly the weirdest looking) I've ever seen. These guys looked like they were playing on the bottom of a swimming pool. It was hard to watch on the TV, can't imagine how frustrating it was in person.

Jordan Spieth pulled it out, good for him, clearly this season belongs to him regardless of what transpires over the summer.  Felt bad for Dustan Johnson but this course was born to be a heartbreaker.