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Grand Slam tournaments are grand by definition. And likewise as a result of they’re usually chock-full of twists, marvels, stats and highs.
The foremost that simply got here to an in depth within the Large Apple is not any exception. Listed here are a number of the moments and matches that caught my consideration.
THE HEIR TAKES THE THRONE
I’m fascinated by this picture: comedian ebook superhero Carlos Alcaraz expels an enormous tennis ball to crush all of the villains in his wake in a single devastating blast.
That’s just about how issues went down over the past two weeks and certainly all season.
On September 11, he toppled Casper Ruud of Norway 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3. As Ruud moved as much as No.2, the Spaniard secured his first Slam singles crown and the World No.1 rating.
On the age of 19.
The younger man from El Palmar truly kicked off his climb to the apex of males’s tennis two years in the past. Since then, he’s made regular meteoric progress and met the great expectations that arose from his distinctive potential.
Let’s rewind to late August 2020, after the pandemic break, when Carlo Alcaraz, age 17 years and three months, was No.310. He reached the ultimate of 4 of the 5 Challenger tournaments during which he competed, received two and by no means regarded again.
The subsequent 24 months seem like a supersonic Everest expedition.
After his five-set loss to Alcaraz within the semis on September 9, Frances Tiafoe expressed what lots of gamers have been most likely pondering: “I’ve by no means performed a man who’s moved in addition to him. He’s a hell of a participant, and he’s going to be an issue for a really very long time.”
As if to rub salt within the wound (Frances’ and others’), Alcaraz’s countryman and coach, former Grand Slam champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, added this: “As I inform him, I believe he’s on 60% of his sport. He can enhance lots of issues. He is aware of and I do know that now we have to maintain working.”
I don’t know if he selected the fitting time to place that on the market. Did he must take it one step additional when the tennis world was nonetheless surprised by Alcaraz’s prowess? Then once more, if there’s anybody who is aware of Alcaraz and the way far he can go, it’s Ferrero.
It’s scary stuff.
Only a few days after Charles III was proclaimed Britain’s reigning monarch, the Spanish day by day La Verdad killed two birds with one stone and put King Carlos I entrance and centre.
In conclusion, and within the curiosity of objectivity, let’s put the win into perspective by contemplating the numerous absentees.
For the primary time in practically twenty years, there was no Nadal, Djokovic or Federer within the quarters. Rafa tried his hardest however his physique couldn’t sustain, Novak isn’t vaccinated and Roger continues to be nursing his knees.
The previous World No.2 Alexander Zverev is out with an ankle harm.
Who else was lacking in motion? Nobody.
The remainder of the High 25 have been in all attendance, together with the younger skills who make up the elite. And that confirms how nice Carlos Alcaraz actually is.
The subsequent gen we’ve heard a lot about over the previous 5 years has settled within the High 10 and appears to love it there. It even put its youngest consultant in command.
He might not have set a report like Michael Chang or Boris Becker, who received a Slam at 17, however we haven’t seen a participant scurry up the rankings like Alcaraz in fairly some time. Along with his extraordinary tennis sense and creativity, he might reign of an extended, very long time.
TOP SHOT
Whereas we’re on the subject of Alcaraz and in case you missed it, right here’s the purpose of the match—not owing to its size however slightly to the superb reflexes with which the brand new No.1 secured it after Jannik Sinner had foiled him by driving the ball behind him.
Distinctive.
The late present
I’ve already shared my opinion on best-of-five matches. In case you haven’t learn it no less than a number of instances previously 18 months, I’ll repeat it: best-of-five matches ought to be abolished.
Apart from the occasional epic comeback, the match instances are absurd for gamers, spectators, match organizers and broadcasters, and there are extra drawbacks than advantages.
It’s so simple as that. And please don’t carry up custom as a legitimate argument.
The latest US Open solely offered additional proof to assist my opinion.
On September 6, the showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and US Open champion Marin Cilic ended 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, after practically 4 hours (3:56), at 2:23 a.m. The conflict got here this near setting a brand new report.
Two days later, Alcaraz and wunderkind Jannik Sinner broke the late-finish report after they closed out their 5-hour, 15-minute battle 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 at 2:50 a.m.
Enjoyable for the report books however not enjoyable for the 1000’s of ticket holders who must get residence, usually utilizing public transit, at a time when they could not really feel particularly secure on the streets. To not point out the truth that followers, whether or not they watched from their stadium seats or their couch at residence, have a really brief night time and doubtless aren’t particularly productive the subsequent morning.
It’s additionally unfair to the participant who will get so much much less relaxation than their opponent within the subsequent spherical. Within the semis final week, Frances Tiafoe wrapped up his quarterfinal a full ten hours earlier than Alcaraz walked off the courtroom. Regardless of the two-day break, the Spaniard was at a transparent drawback.
And Tiafoe knew it. Earlier than the Alcaraz–Sinner conflict, he stated: “I simply hope they play a marathon match, a super-long match, and so they get actually drained come Friday.”
Apparently Alcaraz wasn’t worn out sufficient and proved his resilience towards Tiafoe, who was buoyed by all of the Individuals who stuffed the over 22,000 seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium. As if so as to add to his legend, the Spaniard punched his ticket for the ultimate after over 4 hours of combating (4:22).
Whereas the gamers’ performances are admirable, best-of-five matches represent an actual logistical drawback for which there’s no easy answer.
It’s unacceptable for a participant to go to mattress when others are having breakfast. As a result of a match that ends at 2:50 a.m. is essentially adopted by a while within the locker room, a therapeutic massage and/or ice tub for restoration, a sit-down with the media, a experience again to the lodge and a chunk to eat.
Shouldn’t an evening session function just one males’s single match on the 2 foremost courts? That might imply depriving ladies’s tennis followers of their favourites after dinner—precisely what match organizers should keep away from. That includes solely males’s matches in the course of the day is unthinkable for a similar purpose.
The WTA and ATP should handle this recurring drawback of matches that begin too late and finish at ridiculous instances. In 2018, Andy Murray needed to forfeit his quarterfinal in Washington (towards Alex de Minaur) as a result of his earlier match (towards Marius Copil) ended at 3:01 a.m.
Worse nonetheless is the report at a Slam: a match that ended at 4:33 a.m.
On the 2008 AO, Lleyton Hewitt spent 4 hours and 45 minutes dismantling Marcos Baghdatis in 5 units after enjoying the primary level at 11:48 p.m.
Want I remind you that Hewitt was expediently ejected in three by Novak Djokovic? The eventual champion secured the win whereas twiddling his thumbs and whistling a number of Serbian tunes.
QUEEN SUPREME
A consensus has emerged.
She isn’t invincible however not often loses. Very, very not often.
Since claiming the WTA throne after Ashleigh Barty’s departure, Iga Swiatek has confirmed she is certainly the rightful inheritor.
And he or she’s set her sights on an extended reign.
When she surpassed Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (5) within the US Open ultimate, the 21-year-old earned her third Slam crown and consolidated her place on the very prime of the WTA rankings. So far, she’s collected over 10,000 factors—greater than No.2 Ons Jabeur and No.3 Anett Kontaveit mixed.
Solely two of her seven matches in NYC required three units. Each instances, she misplaced the primary set after which made her rivals remorse their presumptuousness.
Iga is 55–7 this season.
In 14 tournaments, she’s competed in seven finals and received all of them, together with six straight titles between February 22 and June 4.
At Billie Jean King Cup final April, she dropped solely one of many 13 video games she performed towards her two Romanian opponents.
We must always all bow down in admiration.
Separated at beginning (6)
To conclude, right here’s the newest within the Separated at beginning phase devoted to tennis gamers who bear a resemblance to different notables.
It got here to me on September 2, whereas I used to be watching Tommy Paul versus Casper Ruud.
On a shot of Paul, his laughing eyes and tiny smile underneath his nascent moustache jogged my memory of Canadian spaceship commander Chris Hadfield, who’s as charismatic as he’s sensible.
As a result of good issues are available in pairs, the 2 males additionally discover commonalty in a number of the late David Bowie’s most well-known lyrics of all time: floor management.
E mail: privard@tenniscanada.com
Twitter: @paul6rivard
Comply with all our Canadians in motion here.
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