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Dangerous @DenisKudla Advances to First @USOpen R3, Set to Face @DjokerNole Tomorrow

Posted by Admin on August 29, 2019
Posted in: ATP, New York, US Open. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Denis Kudla, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Denis Kudla, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Dangerous @DenisKudla Advances to First @USOpen R3, Set to Face @DjokerNole Tomorrow
Steve Fogleman in Flushing Meadows

American Denis Kudla took a giant step forward in his tennis career on Thursday at the US Open in New York, advancing to the 3rd round of America’s Open in four sets against the red hot Dusan Lajovic, 7-5, 7-5, 0-6, 6-3. The win earns Kudla a date with Novak Djokovic on a stadium court tomorrow and questions have arisen about the Serb’s shoulder after last night’s match.

This match was all Kudla in the first and second sets, but Lajovic dug deep and won the third set at love. Kudla did a hard reset and erased memories of the third set to win an extremely competitive fourth set and final game at 5-3 as Kudla needed five match points to close it out.

Denis Kudla, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Denis Kudla, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

“I mean the first two sets, I played really solid and had a lot of opportunities maybe to win those at 3 and 3,” Kudla said. “It was there I knew he was still trying to find his game. He’s beaten me three times before so I know his level wasn’t it’s highest and I needed to take advantage, but out of 3 out of 5 sets you have a chance to find your game.”

Denis Kudla, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Denis Kudla, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

Kudla admitted he played “a little sloppy” in the third and Lajovic ran away with the set.

“I was like, O.K., I’ve got to dig in,” Kudla said of the fourth set. “It was 5-3, 40-love and then I just got super tight” before winning the match on his fifth match point.

Kudla said he watched the Djokovic match yesterday, and he’s not too worried about any weakness on the part of the world #1. “Even if he’s on one leg, he’s still tough.”

Kudla also spoke of the desire to play the best players early. “You want to play the top guys early,” he said. “That’s when they’re the most vulnerable. You play them in the quarters and semis, that’s when these guys are five matches deep playing some unreal tennis and it almost feels like it’s impossible.”

Impossible is not the word I’m thinking when assessing Kudla’s chances tomorrow.

It’s a First @USOpen Round 3 for @Ons_Jabeur After Comeback Win Against Sasnovich

Posted by Admin on August 29, 2019
Posted in: New York, US Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Ons Jabeur, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

Ons Jabeur, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

It’s a First @USOpen Round 3 for @Ons_Jabeur After Comeback Win Against Sasnovich
Steve Fogleman in Flushing Meadows

Ons Jabeur said that today is her birthday, even though yesterday was the official date. Jabeur was all smiles as she told press that she didn’t like yesterday, so she “changed” her birthday to today and promptly presented herself with a 25th birthday gift in the form of a Round 3 US Open appearance after a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich in New York.

“It’s amazing, I mean, I love it in here. I love a city that is busy, noisy, I love the City that doesn’t sleep. I love playing on these courts.”

Ons Jabeur, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

Ons Jabeur, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

I’m glad that I stayed focused and got the energy to move better in the second and third set and I’m happy to be in the third round.”

Though she appeared in the third round at Roland Garros in 2017, Jabeur said she’s a more mature player now. “I couldn’t realize how I made it to the third round with less experience than now. Now I feel like I know what I’m doing on the courts. I have a great team behind me now.”

Part of that team includes Karim Kammoun, her fitness coach and husband. He planted a very romantic courtside kiss on Jabeur after the win.

“It was a long day yesterday, so it was kind of tough to wake up this morning to get in good shape on the court,” she said. Sasnovich “has a tricky game, she doesn’t give you the same, so I had to adjust my movements,” she continued. “I tried to not play her game, hit, hit, like she likes. Of course, mixing is my specialty so I try to put more pressure on her, and not giving up any points. That helped me when I was down 15-40. It helped me win more games, especially in the second set.”

Ons Jabeur, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

Ons Jabeur, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)


The Tunisian took up tennis at 3, and she reflected on her beginnings. “My mother (Samira) wanted to play tennis from a long time ago, and when she became a mom, I was the youngest one, and she took me with her to the club. I started to play a little bit with the small racket.”

“Her love for tennis gave me the opportunity to be here today,” she reflected. Mom’s not in NYC, but could be there on a moment’s notice but there’s one problem: she’s worried about being a jinx for her daughter since Ons has already won twice this week without her.

A more mature Jabeur faces #3 seed Karolina Pliskova in Round 3. The two have never met. An upset could be in the making.

First On at @USOpen, @KeiNishikori Punches Ticket to Third Round

Posted by Admin on August 28, 2019
Posted in: ATP, New York, US Open. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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First on @USOpen, @KeiNishikori Punches Ticket to Third Round
Steve Fogleman in Queens

Morning rain delayed outdoor courts to a late start at the US Open in New York today, so Kei Nishikori and Bradley Klahn found themselves the center of all attention for an hour on Louis Armstrong Stadium at 11:00 a.m. It was a first meeting for both players, both 29 years old. Nishikori’s US Open main draw record improved to 25-9. Coming into the match, Klahn’s US Open record resembled the record of a rebuilding NFL franchise at 4-12.

Nishikori made the quarterfinals of every grand slam in 2019 and he’s halfway to that mark after the win today.

Kei cruised in the first set but his play was marred with errors in the second, giving up a pair of breaks to the American. He found comfortable form in the third but gave up two breaks of serve in the fourth to give a little false hope to Klahn. In the end, Klahn’s 18 aces could only keep him in the match for so long as Nishikori prevailed, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Kei will play either Alex de Minaur or Cristian Garin on Friday.

It’s a Day of Dreams at Friday’s @USOpen

Posted by Admin on August 23, 2019
Posted in: ATP, New York, US Open, US Open Qualifying, WTA. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

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It’s a Day of Dreams at Friday’s US Open
Steve Fogleman in New York

Friday qualifying has always been my favorite day of the year, and it’s finally upon us. When some people think about dreams coming true, they think of someone like Naomi Osaka winning a grand slam final in her first attempt. I don’t completely agree. Osaka’s run to the 2019 US Open title was indeed an incredible feat, but it’s likely to happen to less than 1% of pro players in their entire careers. For the rest of them, the dream isn’t winning the US Open, it’s playing in it. These athletes spend enormous amounts of cash to come to New York with their team and it’s a gamble unless you make it to the third round. A win in the third round, though, and it’s all gravy and glory: a $90,000 check awaits today’s main draw qualifiers.

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These athletes won’t be talking about the money today, though. They’ll be talking about how they’ve watched the US Open since they were kids and always wanted to play here. They’ll be talking about their success stories in the past in juniors here and how they always wanted to compete with the grown-ups in the main draw.

Today’s qualifiers, by and large, harbor no delusions of grandeur. They’d love to win majors, but they know you’ve got to play in the main draw to reach the next career goal. Yes, dreaming of winning the US Open final may tantalize them, but in the end they can achieve a manageable goal of playing in the US Open main draw and come in here next week with house money looking to knock out a top seed. Today could also be a pinnacle career highlight for some qualifiers, the greatest memory they ever have when they finally put the racquet down for the last time.

Either way, it’s a day of dreams come true for the best 32 players on an uncharacteristically cool August day in New York. You must be dreaming if you think I’d miss it for anything.

11 Americans on 4 Courts Looking for a Ticket to a @USOpen Qualifying Final Today

Posted by Admin on August 22, 2019
Posted in: ATP, New York, US Open, US Open Qualifying, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Asia Muhammad, 2019 US Open (Photo: TennisAtlantic.com)

11 Americans on 4 Courts Looking for a Ticket to a @USOpen Qualifying Final Today
Steve Fogleman in Queens

It’s last call to be a part of a dream-making Friday at the US Open where 16 men and 16 women will emerge from the hundreds of competitors who came for the very same thing. 11 Americans play on Thursday to attempt to join Taylor Townsend and one Jenson Brooksby as qualifying finalists.

Court 4 features Asia Muhammad against Bulgaria’s Isabella Shinkova. American Asia Muhammad faces #16 seed Barbara Krejcikova in the third and final match.

Caroline Dolehide takes on Australian Zoe Hives in the opener on Court 7 and 15-year-old Katrina Scott tries to stun the Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the third match.

Courts 11 and 12 boast an American player for every match. In one case, two compatriots will clash. Robin Anderson and Nicole Gibbs go head to head for the third time and Anderson holds the 2-1 head to head edge. Before the all-American match on Court 11, fans will look forward to perennial American qualifier Mitchell Krueger battle Egor Gerasimov followed by a bout between Hailey Baptiste and British talent Harriet Dart.

Home-grown pros Noah Rubin and Christina McHale are showcased on Court 12 today, after the opening match pitting American Varvara Lepchenko against Georgina Garcia Perez.

The Battle in the Bronx Heats Up for Quarterfinalists #NYJTLBronxOpen

Posted by Admin on August 22, 2019
Posted in: ATP, Bronx Open, New York, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Wang Qiang, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

Wang Qiang, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

The Battle in the Bronx Heats Up for Quarterfinalists
Steve Fogleman in the Bronx

It’s been a slow march at the Cary Leeds Center in the Bronx’s Crotona Park as the tournament scheduled four second round matches on Tuesday and Wednesday. Today’s four matches offer the survivors a place in the semifinals as a reward for their perseverance during this hot week in a tournament virtually isolated from the New York they’ve come to know and love.

Magda Linette, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

Magda Linette, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for TennisAtlantic.com)

Including qualifying, Magda Linette has won five straight matches on the Bronx courts this week, embarrassing Aliaksandra Sasnovich with a 6-1, 6-4 win yesterday. She’d like to make it six in a row, but 10th seed Karolina Muchova stands in the way. The Czech dispatched the penultimate American in the draw, Kristie Ahn, 6-3, 6-1.

Camilla Giorgi, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Camilla Giorgi, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

It seems like Camilla Giorgi is on the cusp of another title. After a good run through the draw in Washington, she ended up in the final only to wilt in the notorious heat and humidity there. Coming back from injury, that wasn’t surprising. Her preparation over the last month suggests that she may be ready to rake in her third title. To do it, she’ll need to overcome the player with the most career titles left in the draw, Alize Cornet. It will not surprise me if the winner of this match takes home the Bronx Open gold-plated manhole cover on Saturday.

Wang Qiang has done all she’s needed to do to justify her #1 seeding. A rather routine win against Fiona Ferro yesterday gave her just enough court time to compete well today. Sometimes a bye can be a curse in a tournament, but she showed no signs of rust and should be in good form to edge past Anna Blinkova. The 20-year-old lucky loser stunned Mihaela Buzarnescu on Wednesday.

The last American standing, in singles or doubles, is Bernarda Pera. She’ll face the top seed remaining in the bottom half of the draw, Karolina Muchova. I’m sensing an upset here as Pera’s shown signs of improved confidence with her matchplay this month.

RESULTS – AUGUST 21, 2019

Singles – Second Round
[1] Q. Wang (CHN) d [Q] F. Ferro (FRA) 61 64
[Q] M. Linette (POL) d [9] A. Sasnovich (BLR) 61 64
[10] K. Muchova (CZE) d [WC] K. Ahn (USA) 63 61
[LL] A. Blinkova (RUS) d M. Buzarnescu (ROU) 16 63 63

Doubles – Semifinals
[3] D. Jurak (CRO) / M. Martinez Sanchez (ESP) d [2] H. Chan (TPE) / L. Chan (TPE) 16 63 12-10
Quarterfinals
S. Aoyama (JPN) / A. Krunic (SRB) d R. Olaru (ROU) / Z. Yang (CHN) 06 61 11-9

ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019
VICTOR KIAM STADIUM start 11:00 am
[5] K. Siniakova (CZE) vs [WC] B. Pera (USA)
[10] K. Muchova (CZE) vs [Q] M. Linette (POL)
C. Giorgi (ITA) vs A. Cornet (FRA)
[1] Q. Wang (CHN) vs [LL] A. Blinkova (RUS)

PERSHING SQUARE STADIUM start 12:00 pm
M. Gasparyan (RUS) / M. Niculescu (ROU) vs S. Aoyama (JPN) / A. Krunic (SRB)

Quarterfinals Finalized on Wednesday at @WTA @NYJTL Bronx Open

Posted by Admin on August 21, 2019
Posted in: Bronx Open, New York, US Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Camilla Giorgi, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz)
Quarterfinals Finalized on Wednesday @NYJTL Bronx Open
Steve Fogleman in the Bronx
Photos by Mike Renz

Barbora Strycova, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

Barbora Strycova, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

Barbora Strycova had a meltdown in the sun yesterday as wild card Bernarda Pera made the tournament organizers look like prophets upon moving into the quarterfinals at the Bronx Open at the Carey Leeds Center in Crotona Park. Pera came back from a first set deficit to break #3 seed Strycova, and with each game, it seemed that Strycova had had enough of the Bronx. Luckily, she and her team were doubled over in frenetic bouts of gut-busting laughter no more than fifteen minutes after the loss. I didn’t hear the joke, but it had to be good.

Bernarda Pera, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

Bernarda Pera, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

Pera’s elevation to the quarters is a little relief for the tournament to have an American go deep in a home event. This is the tournament that lost Carla Suarez-Navarro and got the ultimate tease from Petra Kvitova asking for a wild card, only to pull out as soon as receiving it. This is also the place that Coco Vandeweghe was upset on Monday, and where #1 seeds Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai were upset in doubles.

Bernarda Pera, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)

They could use a little luck.

Camilla Giorgi, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz)

Earlier in the day, Camilla Giorgi became the first quarter finalist as she outlasted Andrea Petkovic in three long sets in a stunning comeback win in the heat, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(3).

Alize Cornet took the first set tiebreak and then looked to bagel opponent Zhu Lin before Zhu retired at 7-6, 4-0. Cornet was later joined by Katerina Siniakova after she blew out Anastasia Potopova 6-0, 3-0 by retirement.

Kristie Ahn, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic) Kristie Ahn, 2019 Bronx Open (Photo: Mike Renz for Tennis Atlantic)[/caption]

There’s only one American on Victor Kiam Stadium Court today: Kristie Ahn. She opens play against Karolina Muchova, followed by Linette/Sasnovich before #1 seed Wang Qiang goe up against 22-year-old Fiona Ferro of France. The session closes with baby-faced lucky loser Anna Blinkova taking on Mihaela Buzarnescu. It’s still free and there were surely be some choice seats available.

You can fund the full order of play here.