Tacos With A Side of @GiorgiCamilla: A Dream Tennis Tournament in the Bronx

Posted by Admin on August 20, 2019
Posted in: Bronx Open, New York, US Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Tacos With a Side of Camilla Giorgi

Tacos With a Side of Camilla Giorgi: Where’s my Swedish Meatballs?

Tacos With A Side of Camilla Giorgi: A Dream Tennis Tournament in the Bronx
Steve Fogleman in the Bronx

Last night I dreamt that I was in a glassy, air-conditioned Ikea, dining in the megastore’s cafe, dutifully waiting out my spouse’s shopping spree. But the weird part was that they were serving tacos instead of swedish meatballs. Or maybe I was in the waiting room of a brand new maternity ward waiting for news on the delivery of a child. Better yet, I may have been in the international flights terminal of an airport waiting for my plane to a dream vacation. Dreams fade fast, but wherever I was, the strangest thing happened next. I looked out on the tarmac (or the Ikea parking lot) and saw a professional tennis match being played in front of no one in particular. One player looked exactly like Andrea Petkovic, and the other player was a doppelganger for Zhang Shuai. It was a pleasant distraction from whatever I was doing, especially since I couldn’t find those meatballs drowning in lingonberry sauce anywhere.

Andrea Petkovic, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

It sure looked like Andrea Petkovic out there on the tarmac/Ikea Parking lot

This is the 2019 Bronx Open at the Carey Leeds Center in Crotona Park. Crotona Park is famous from “Fort Apache, The Bronx”, a lugubrious flick from the ’70s. This event is bound to have a happier ending. I’ve been to a tournament like this one before: the 2011 WTA Citi Open in College Park, Maryland. Then, like now, I considered it to be my private tournament and I mean that as a compliment. At least the Citi Open became a permanent moniker in Washington sports. Move the Bronx Open anywhere else and it just wouldn’t sound the same. And there’s talk of this being a temporary shelter for the tournament as they figure out how to keep it in the U.S. Just as Memphis took safe harbor in Long Island, this little tournament is also on life support in the Big Apple. It’s like a baby New Haven, and it means outrageous opportunities for fans to interact with top players. Did I say fans? I meant a fan.

Monica Niculescu, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

You didn’t even need to come into the tournament to see Monica Niculescu. She was hanging around out front.

It’s also free. So free that you didn’t even need to enter the grounds to watch main draw matches yesterday. You could just heel your dog and watch Alison Van Uytvanck or Monica Niculescu win a match. The fun thing about a WTA international level event is that they’re fighting it out to make the quarterfinals–on a Tuesday. Come out and soak this one in before it’s gone.

It’s straight out of a tennis fan’s dream.

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Who Will “Find it Here” in Ohio? Three @WTA Players Vie For World #1 at @CincyTennis

Posted by Admin on August 14, 2019
Posted in: Western & Southern Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Ohio Stateline Sign, 2019

Who Will “Find it Here” in Ohio? Three @WTA Players Vie For World #1 at @CincyTennis
Steve Fogleman in Mason

Who will find it here in Ohio? Today should give us some clues and the women’s world No. 1 ranking hangs in the balance. Naomi Osaka became world #1 on Monday but she can hardly afford to relax. Yet when you see her off the court, she’s pretty good at projecting a relaxed persona.

Naomi Osaka (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

#2 Ashleigh Barty has carried the mantle for most of the summer before yielding it to Osaka on Monday and #3 Karolina Pliskova has held the position albeit briefly in 2017. Pliskova’s only 232 points behind Osaka in the rankings and Barty is a mere 161 points behind the Japanese 2-year-old’s 6417.

Osaka owns a 3-0 record against today’s opponent, Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Barty should be tested today with a healthy Maria Sharapova eager to settle the score after the last time they met in January at the Australian Open when Barty went on to a three set victory.

Pliskova, the 2016 Cincinnati champion, comfortably faces off against Yafan Wang in a first meeting for both.

Simona Halep (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

World #4 Simona Halep, while unable to return to #1 this week, is in an interesting position with finalist points to defend in order to stay in striking range. After that, she’ll have nothing to lose at the US Open as she was ousted in the first round there last year by Kaia Kanepi.

Qualifiers Acquit Themselves Quite Well In @CincyTennis Main Draw Monday

Posted by Admin on August 12, 2019
Posted in: ATP, Cincinnati, US Open, Western & Southern Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Yoshihito Nishioka, 2019 Western & Southern Open

Qualifiers Acquit Themselves Quite Well In @CincyTennis Main Draw Monday
Steve Fogleman in Mason

Some welcome clouds rolled in at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio for the first day full of main draw action after two very sunny days of qualifying.

This morning, I looked at the order of play and it dawned on me that these qualifiers might stand a fighting chance today against main draw entrants given their strong performances over the weekend. Turns out I wasn’t off the mark. The qualifying women went 2-2 today and that Peterson/Konta match doesn’t seem to want to end. On the men’s side, the qualifiers are 1-2 today. As I post this, qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta is up a set on Gilles Simon. But the qualifying story of the day belongs to Miomir Kecmanovic, who continues to be a giant killer over the last month as he ousted the Boy Wonder, Le Garcon Merveille, Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in 63 minutes. Shame on you, Miomir.

Qualifier Veronika Kudermetova embarrassed Bernarda Pera 6-2, 6-3, much as she embarrassed Monica Puig in straight sets yesterday. And she’ll face either Bec Peterson in Ronde Deux. Aryna Sabalenka dazzled on Grandstand court in removing Petra Martic from the singles draw with a final of 6-1, 6-4.

Aryna Sabalenka, 2019 Western & Southern Open Photo:

Yulia Putintseva, 2019 Western & Southern Open

And the Pluckster–the plucky Yulia Putintseva is ready to take on Sloane Stephens under the lights after watching Jelena Ostapenko melt down with 15 double faults and Putintseva was all too happy to accept, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3.

Andy Murray, 2019 Western & Southern Open, Photo: @Renzaero

On the men’s side, it was an early exit for Andy Murray, and Lucas Pouille wasn’t feeling particularly sentimental in the 6-3, 7-6(6) victory. And Yoshi Nishioka, who drew massive crowds at qualifying through the weekend, won a dramatic three set match of almost two and a half hours against the mustachioed Jordan Thompson, who looked a little like Borat out there on Court 11 today. Nishioka takes on Kei Nishikori next, which will be pretty cool.

Novak Djokovic and Janko “Sunglass Hut” Tipsarevic drew Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo and the specialists outgunned the Serbs today, who lost 6-2, 6-3 and never got a chance to break serve of the #2 seeded team here in Cincinnati.

Tipsarevic & Djokovic, 2019 Western & Southern Open Photo:

Maria Sharapova takes on Alison Riske tonight in another possible upset alert, while wild card Reilly Opelka faces Borna Coric in the nightcap.

Tomorrow’s highlights include Venus Williams and Novak Djokovic on Stadium in the afternoon followed by a blockbuster night session with Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Petra Kvitova.

N.B. They opened a brewery in Mason over the spring which is only a few minutes from the tournament and has excellent wi-fi. The best tennis tournament in America just got a little better.

Kudla, Jabeur Among Early Qualifiers on @CincyTennis Sunday; Strycova, Puig Out

Posted by Admin on August 11, 2019
Posted in: ATP, Washington, Western & Southern Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Kudla, Jabeur Among Early Qualifiers on @CincyTennis Sunday; Strycova, Puig Out
Steve Fogleman in Mason

Ons Jabeur, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

It’s easily been some of the loveliest August tennis-watching weather I remember in Cincinnati qualifying, and it’s always reassuring to see jammed stands and practice sessions. Soon the crescendo of the American tour will begin, as the tennis world moves onto New York. That’s a world away from the smell of the chili in Mason and, I’ve said it before, this is America’s U.S. Open. After the Open, the world of tennis shrinks for me. The Challengers, where dozens cheer, kick up in the fall and while there are quality offerings all over the country, there’s something beautiful in the way Cincinnati serves its experience. This moring was no exception.

Denis Kudla, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

Denis Kudla had a packed Court 4 of American supporters, and he became the first man to book a trip to the main draw here today with a solid 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over 20-year-old Aussie Alexei Popyrin. Ons Jabeur was the first women’s qualifier of the day, winning 11 straight games en route to a thrashing of crowd favorite Andrea Petkovic, 6-3, 6-0 in 59 minutes.

Veronika Kudermetova, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

Was it a late night out? Monica Puig looked exhausted at the conclusion of yesterday’s qualifying win, and she was not ready to bounce on court this morning as Veronika Kudermetova took full advantage with a 6-2, 6-1 exit for the gold medalist.

Veronika Kudermetova, 2019 Western & Southern Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Speaking of deer-in-the-headlights, top qualifying seed Barbora Strycova, who played both of her matches on Stadium, went out with a whimper in a 6-2, 6-1 routining at the hands of Rebecca Peterson.

We’ll be back later.

Call Her an Olympic Gold Medalist, A Puerto Rican Legend. Just Don’t Call @MonicaAce93 a Girlfriend #CincyTennis

Posted by Admin on August 10, 2019
Posted in: Cincinnati, Western & Southern Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Call Her an Olympic Gold Medalist, A Puerto Rican Legend. Just Don’t Call Monica Puig a Girlfriend
Steve Fogleman in Suburban Ohio

Cincinnati–It was a quiet morning in Ohio farm country as I drove down I-71 on a cool Saturday and then…the man came on the radio to talk about the Western & Southern Open matches. After rolling through the local talent in the tournament like Lauren Davis, John McNally and JJ Wolf, the WLW sports reporter said “and Monica Puig, who is the girlfriend of the Cincinnati Reds’ Derrick Dietrich.” I almost spilled my YooHoo. They had just mentioned that Lauren Davis was once the Ohio state high school tennis champion but they couldn’t say anything about Puig’s gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics or the fact that she’s the first athlete in recorded history to win a medal under the Puerto Rican flag? WTH.

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Puig, with her lesser-known boyfriend in attendance, persevered in the wilting sun in three sets and vanquishing Anastasia Potapova in a comeback win 6-7, 6-1, 6-4. She dropped to the court after the match and didn’t stick around long after winning the match as she clearly wanted to get out of the sun. It was less than her best tennis as she didn’t win 70% of her first serves until the third set. But it was good enough to put her up against American Jennifer Brady in a qualifying final tomorrow.

Monica Puig. 2019 Western & Southern Open

It’s a common sport to talk WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) in sports, but Puig’s no WAG. She won freaking Olympic Gold three years ago. In fact, she won that medal and came to Cincinnati to announce that she was withdrawing from the tournament that year straight out of Rio. You don’t remember that, Cincy sports media? WLW, the Voice of Cincinnati, either do your homework (google) or keep your mouth shut.

After 2 Straight First Round Losses, She’d Much Rather be in Charleston: @Madison_Keys Commits to 2020 @VolvoCarOpen

Posted by Admin on August 7, 2019
Posted in: Charleston, Volvo Car Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Madison Keys (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

VOLVO CAR OPEN CHAMPION MADISON KEYS RETURNS TO CHARLESTON

Keys has reached the quarterfinals or better in five of the last eight Grand Slam tournaments

CHARLESTON, S.C. – After winning the 2019 Volvo Car Open in April, Madison Keys has committed to defending her title in 2020. Next year’s event will be Keys’ eighth consecutive Charleston tournament. The 2020 Volvo Car Open will take place April 4 – 12 on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC.

“Madison’s win in Charleston this year was something our fans have been rooting for since she started competing in the Volvo Car Open in 2013,” said Eleanor Adams, Volvo Car Open Tournament Manager. “Her personality shines when she plays and our fans have loved watching her grow up on our courts. We’re ecstatic that she’ll be back in 2020 to defend her well-deserved title.”

Keys holds a 16-6 record in Charleston, where she captured the title in 2019, reached the semifinals in 2018 and was a finalist in 2015.

Her 2019 season also includes a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open and fourth round berth at the Australian Open. In addition, she was a member of the US Fed Cup team. The 24-year-old has remained in the WTA’s top 20 for the past five seasons.

“Winning the Volvo Car Open after coming so close in the past was the most amazing feeling,” said Keys. “Charleston has always been one of my favorite tournaments and being able to win the title was such a special moment. I’m excited to come back next year to play in front of the best fans around.”

Keys was awarded a key to the City of Charleston by Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg during the singles final trophy presentation. The Volvo Car Open also honored her with the 2019 Player Who Makes A Difference award for her work with the anti-bullying nonprofit, Fearlessly Girl.

The Volvo Car Open will celebrate its 20th year in Charleston in 2020. The tournament relocated to Charleston from Hilton Head Island, where it was held from 1973 – 2000.

The nine-day Volvo Car Open is the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America. The event attracts an average of 90,000 attendees and more than 100 of the top singles and doubles tennis players to Charleston every year.

Patrons have the option to choose from individual tickets, ticket packages and travel packages. Ticket prices range from $25 for an individual session to $540 for an all-inclusive weeklong package with complimentary access into a private hospitality suite. The Volvo Car Open also offers packages that include premium seats, ticket savings and membership into the tournament’s Ace Club.

Tickets for the 2020 Volvo Car Open will go on sale on Monday, September 9.

For more information on the tournament and ticket options, visit volvocaropen.com or call 843.856.7900.

—A. Alpino, Volvo Car Open

Good Weather and Great Playing Field Made 2019 @CitiOpen A Champion Among Tournaments

Posted by Admin on August 4, 2019
Posted in: ATP, Citi Open, Washington, Washington Kastles, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Good Weather and Great Playing Field Made 2019 @CitiOpen A Champion Among Tournaments
Steve Fogleman in Washington

Coco Gauff, Mark Ein, Caty McNally, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Coco Gauff, Mark Ein, Caty McNally, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Saturday was simply spectacular at the Citi Open in Washington. The fired-up crowds for the women’s doubles final and the Kyrgios-Tsitsipas men’ semifinal were unprecedented in my decade at this event. Fans paid upwards of $300 to get into the sold-out men’s semifinals yesterday. Between the dry conditions all week, also unprecedented, and the the stellar player field, this Citi Open was bigger and better than ever.

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Tournament owner Mark Ein, who also owns the Washington Kastles, couldn’t have imagined that the weather would cooperate for him in this fashion, nor did he know Cori Gauff was going to come to Washington straight off of Wimbledon. He didn’t know that Andy Murray would make his triumphant return to Washington only a year after exiting on pain in suffering here.

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Let’s face it, the only thing that didn’t go Mark Ein’s way this week was that, in a perfect world, Andy and Jamie Murray would be playing for the doubles title this afternoon. Sure, Sloane Stephens, Genie Bouchard and Madison Keys dropped early, but that happens everywhere, every day. All tolled, this nine day event was nearly flawless and everything the new owner could have hoped for when he signed on.

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Nick Kyrgios, 2019 Citi Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Whether Daniil Medvedev, Nick Kyrgios or Camilla Giorgi notch another title and get their names installed on the ring of honor on Stadium Court today will be entertaining. Whether Jessica Pegula wins her first tour level title in front of an American audience would be lovely, but at the end of this week, I can reflect and say that the real champions of this event are the staff and volunteers who make order from all of this chaos known as a pro tennis tournament. And for Mark Ein, he’s got to be proud of his champion among tournaments that was the 2019 Citi Open.