Reflections on The 2009 U. S. Open

The 2009 U. S. Open—Reflections

What a fabulous three weeks of Grand Slam Tennis! All involved really outdid themselves. I’ve been going yearly to The Open since it was an Amateur Championships back in 1965, and watching it on TV since the days of Vic Sexias. This year’s edition was my favorite of all time, just pure tennis enjoyment. The TV coverage was excellent, with three networks providing coverage [CBS, ESPN and The Tennis Channel], and a live feed from 5 courts simultaneously on the U. S. Open IBM Web Site. Attendance set all-time records for attendees.

On site, there were few visible signs of capital improvements, with the exception of the completion of the indoor facility, which has a minimum effect on the three-week Tournament. The USTA is currently involved with a feasibility study regarding a possible installation on Ashe of a retractable roof, or failing that, the construction of a medium-size arena with such all-weather capabilities.

One personal suggestion I could offer would be an expansion of seating on the field courts, especially courts 8 through 17, which back up to the Adjacent Flushing Meadow Park grounds. The fact that the south exposure of those courts could be increased onto those grounds should make the expansion very possible with baseline seating on that side. Most of the field courts were packed again this year, only more so.

The court action during the Tournament was riveting. Several qualifiers stood out and were well worth watching during their 4 days of play, including Thomas Bellucci of Brazil, Horatio Zeballos of Argentina, and Josselin Ouanna of France, all making it to the second round. Marco Chudinelli of Switzerland topped the qualifiers by moving on to the third round before loosing to Daveydenko.

Then there was the emergence of young American Melanie Oudin, ranked number 70, making it all the way to the Quarters, the amazing run by wild-card Kim Clijsters a fan favorite who had won the Open in 2005 and was in only her third week of a comeback. Kim bested Viktoriya Kutzova, Marion Bartolli, Kirsten Flipkins, Venus Williams, Li Na, Serena Williams (who lost on penalty points after her unfortunate confrontation with a lines-woman) and finally Caroline Wozniacki in the finals. What a run, and “the crowd went wild.”

On the men’s side, John Isner continues to improve, highlighted by an unbelievable third round five set victory over Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic put on quite a show after his night match victory over Fernando Gonzalez, aided and abetted by Johnny Mac, and Roger Federer continued his astounding play right up to the Monday finals against the now over-powering Juan Martin del Potro. Roger left his “A” game in the locker room, serving a very dismal 50% on first serves, as against his earlier rounds average of 65%, committing 11 double faults and ended up with an unforced error to winners ratio of a negative 10%. Still, there is no denying the fact that the power and grit of the del Potro game had a lot to do with these numbers. The Argentinean was playing in his first Grand Slam finals and was obviously feeling the pressure. But he pulled himself together, stuck to his game plan, and played a wonderful match.

The Woman’s Doubles was totally dominated by the Williams Sister, who lost only one set en route to the Championship. Though ranked only 4th in the bracket, mainly due to their sparse play as a doubles team and their limited tournament schedule throughout the year, this teaming is far and away the best women’s team to play this year, if not in tennis history.

Disappointments were Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, and Rafa Nadal, whose blowout by del Potro in the Semis came as a shock.

All in all, a memorable Open. Even with two full days of rain at the end, the weather was very cooperative and the six days I spent in Flushing Meadows could not have been better.


Bill Breakstone
September 15, 2009