US Open: Look Behind You

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

The U.S. Open quarterfinals are special. There have been so many classics on both sides, but since men’s tennis is the focus here, it is time to look behind you. Yes, there and there and also over there.

The year is 1974 and the month is September. The number one is "(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka. And Arthur Ashe was due to play John Newcombe, the Australian great. In those days talent was rife, in a way it simply isn’t these days. After a four set classic in 1970 they played each other once more. Newcombe would triumph in the most dramatic of styles in a classic match full of great tennis. Ashe took the first set before exchanging a pair of 6-3 sets with the Aussie. Up two sets to one, Ashe played a great fourth set but lost it in the tiebreaker. And that would prove to be the hammer blow as Newcombe took the momentum with him and closed it out 6-4 in the fifth.

The year is 1992. Disappointingly Boyz II Men were atop the charts with their song "End of the Road," but there was a big match on between two great players. Ninth seeded Ivan Lendl had struggled throughout but had beaten seventh seeded Boris Becker in five epic sets in the fourth round. His reward was that he got to face off with second seeded Stefaf Edberg. Edberg has been on shaky form all year, losing his number one ranking in April. He re-found form on the American hard courts and he took it with him into the U.S. Open. He dismissed an exhausted Lendl 6-3, 6-3 in the first two sets. Lendl managed to win the third 6-3 and ignite some hope. But Edberg, one of the greatest closers, served for it at 5-4 in the third. Lendl survived four match points and won the set 7-5. The next day, after the rain interruption, Lendl lost the shootout in a breaker with all of New York seemingly on his side.

Andre Agassi was a quarterfinalist back in 1992 with long hair and a great amount of ‘tude, too. In 2005, he was again a quarterfinalist. This time he faced James Blake, but back then he had lost to top seed Jim Courier in four tight sets. In a month where "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey was at number one he was seeded second. Blake was a wild card who had beaten Greg Rusedski [28], Rafael Nadal [2] and Tommy Robredo [19] to make the quarters. Blake then rolled through Agassi 6-3, 6-3 to go up two sets to none. I remember watching a replay of this a few years later during a rain delay. The standard and quality was incredible. Agassi looked out of his depth. But then Agassi used his champion qualities to fight back, and fight back he did. He took the next two sets by the exact same score. In the fifth set James had his chance and took it. He served for it at 5-4 but could not hold on. Agassi came back and into the final set breaker they went. He reached match point but, no, Blake saved that. On his second, however, there would only be one outcome.
I just picked three matches from different eras. I can always talk about more if you want. Right, let’s get on with it then...

ARTHUR ASHE: DJOKOVIC d. MURRAY
...This might well go down as the best half a match in the tournament. In fact, it probably was the best two sets of the entire tournament. Murray and Djokovic both knew the importance and they both showed it. There was intent from both men from the first ball struck. Djokovic came out on top in four long sets, 7-6 [1], 6-7 [1], 6-2, 6-4. You can see there the difference between the two. Djokovic is the perennial contender, Murray the perennial pretender. Murray could not find a consistent level as high as the Djoker’s. It would prove costly. The first two sets took two hours and thirteen minutes and the match lasting three hours and thirty-two minutes. Djokovic went 46-48 with the winners whilst Murray went 47-65. Those errors would prove too costly to undo for the Scot. Djokovic broke seven times but did lose serve four times. As we thought, Murray served bigger [nine aces to eight and a higher top speed on serve] but struggled to consistently serve bigger. Murray played well and hit the right shots but was, eventually, outclassed by Djokovic. Djokovic has Nishikori is the next semifinal. Nishikori wasn’t even born before two of those classic matches. Djokovic has to be more physically in shape than Kei. Djokovic has to extend the rallies and force Kei to go for more. Djokovic will need to make Kei play out of his comfort zone. Djokovic can also punish the weaker serve of the Japanese. What is also important is that Djokovic raises the second serve point win percentage.
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ARTHUR ASHE: NISHIKORI D. WAWRINKA
...Well I was wrong. I thought there was absolutely no way Wawrinka could lose. He was in better shape physically and he had a lot to play for. It almost looked like a foregone conclusion. Nishikori has far exceeded what I expected of him. He has already had an excellent U.S. Open by anyone’s standards and that makes him dangerous. This match would turn into a modern classic. In four and a quarter hours, Nishikori overcame the Swiss star 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 [7], 6-7 [5], 6-4. He was done 3-0 in that third set. Wawrinka broke just twice but Nishikori broke thrice. Wawrinka also threw down eighteen aces and 68 winners overall. The 78 errors were forgivable. Nishikori went just 41-51 with the errors to winner ratio. Kei must hit more winners against Djokovic. Nishikori had an average first serve speed of just 109. That is not going to cut it in his next match either. Wawrinka had opportunities to wrap this up in three sets but could not seem to shake the Japanese man despite having an advantage in both the power and variety department. Nishikori comes through despite winning fewer points than his opponent. Nishikori has to win points quickly, although going for it will play into Djokovic’s hands. Kei cannot outlast Djokovic in those long rallies, so he must try to play one-strike tennis. He has got to out-return Djokovic, as well. Also, try to avoid letting Djokovic get an opportunity on that backhand wing.
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LOUIS ARMSTRONG : CILIC D. BERDYCH
...This was the least exciting of the quarterfinals. Cilic is having a banner year and Berdych is always there. Berdych has mastered the art of staying in the top ten -- achieve positive results but nothing too stellar which will cost points if he fails to defend those points. So he is always around in the quarterfinals or semifinals. Cilic simply overpowered Berdych. Cilic hit 19 aces and 46 winners overall. He won 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 in two and a bit hours. It was a routine match for Cilic. Berdych provided little resistance for two and a half sets. Cilic broke five times but did somehow lose service twice. Berdych it 29 errors but, more worryingly, he hit just 21 winners. For a powerhouse like Berdych 21 winners is unacceptable. There were only 24 combined net approaches with 15 of those being converted. Apart from the occasional drop-shot there was no variety here. It was two ball strikers sitting behind the baseline serving big and exchanging very similar shots. Cilic has Federer next. For Cilic it is simple. He must serve huge and hit bigger than Federer. That is Cilic’s entire game plan. And if I were the Croat I would cut out that drop-shot. It is a smart tactic against Berdych but Federer will snap that up.
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LOUIS ARMSTRONG : FEDERER D. MONFILS
...Where do I even begin? I don’t quite know. Monfils has yet again shown his brilliance, talent and his flakiness. He has advertised the very best and very worst he has to offer. I think there is a chance this match may break or make his career. He lost, but either it will give him new confidence or it will break his spirit utterly. Some players never quite recover from heartache -- Coria can attest to this. Federer came through in an absolute epic 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 but it did take him exactly 200 minutes. Federer was down two sets to love and playing very badly. He clawed his way back into it by taking the third set. In the fourth he was in trouble again. He was barely clinging on but Monfils could not quite finish him. Federer’s race looked to be run when he was down 4-5, 15-40 but he played two brilliant, all or nothing points to get to five all. From there it was all Federer to the end. Monfils hit 43 winners and 49 errors. Federer had similar stats of 48 winners and 44 errors. Monfils hit ten double faults and they were a thorn in his side. Federer also broke six times but was broken six times .That is not sustainable against either Djokovic or Cilic. Federer did win 40 per cent of receiving points, which he needs to keep doing. Federer needs to return well against Cilic but he has been the master of defusing bombs over his career. He has a great return especially because most servers are not varied but readable. It doesn’t help when they are 145 out wide but by getting a read on them one does get an advantage. Federer will have few troubles on his own serve but he needs to cut out his errors. Another useful thing for Fed to do would be to use lots of different shots. He needs variety like slices, chip and charges and different spins and paces. Luckily nobody in history has mastered this art with as much competency as the Fed.
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Any other notes?

* = The U.S. Open scheduling always confuses me. I wanted to write before the semifinals. I think I have succeeded.

* = The WTA, ladies and gentlemen. Yes, it is always like this.

* = Is this as good as Japanese tennis has ever been? I think it might well be. A seed in men’s and women’s events is pretty impressive.

* = Nadal will be twenty-nine at next year’s Wimbledon. I believe his birthday is during the clay swing if not the French Open. Tied with Sampras at fourteen majors but riddled with injuries, can he catch Federer’s slam total? Not if Federer wins one more.

* = The best Spaniard at this year’s U.S. Open? Bautista-Agut, of course. Silly question.

* = Can we have Jim Courier commenting more please? I miss that guy.

* = Did you know Sveta and a certain Miss Backspin [an ex-Miss Backspin] used to dine together?"


Thanx all and visit WTA BACKSPIN please.

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