US Open—New York

Appearing cheerful and ready to rush toward his first US Open semifinal, Gael Monfils began his match today against Novak Djokovic in the best possible form. After sharing some thoughts with ESPN’s Darren Cahill, Monfils entered the court before Djokovic to set up shop. Taking out his yellow racket before bouncing it off his palm, the sleeveless wearing Frenchman was given an extra boost of energy when the music coordinator began to blast some French Euro pop. Immediately recognizing the native flavor of the track, Monfils threw his hands in the air and proceeded to jump up and down. Known as being a loose and laid back character, Monfils’ warm up was conducted under a cheerful grin and with less pressure. If anything, the French beats allowed Monfils to forget the moment, and begin the contest in top gear.

Starting his day full of promise, Monfils broke serve at 2-1, before stretching his lead to 4-1. However, exhibiting the lack of professionalism that was required to compete in the quarterfinals of a Major, Monfils’ downward spiral would begin at 3-1, 40-0. Leading comfortably in that game, Monfils attempted a forward swinging face-on tweener that flew past Djokovic’s backstop. Although the loss of that point wouldn’t cost him a break, his unnecessary shot selection would speak volumes toward how the rest of the match would be played.

Monfils has never embraced being outcome oriented. He doesn’t look at points or rounds of an event as pieces to a possible title; he treats his time on court as an opportunity to be flashy and reckless. After losing his serve to tie the set at 4-all, Monfils allowewd the unplayable conditions—trust me, I’ve never felt wind like that on a tennis court—deter his ability to focus and compete. Falling meekly in the first set tiebreak, Monfils’ game would hit rock bottom in a hurry.

Fearful of hitting his forehand, Monfils became dependent on slicing his favorite shot back in the court, while not paying any attention to his forward falling ball toss. Instead of making the necessary adjustments to the chaotic conditions, he decided to crumble under the wind, and put forth a lackluster effort.

While napkins and empty Evian bottles were thrown in every which direction, Djokovic continued to play with margin, and remained as opportunistic as he could be. Djokovic was also frustrated by the conditions, but he recognized that he needed to win ugly, and that’s exactly what he proceeded to do. There’s no question that Monfils made Djokovic’s day a lot easier by checking out after the end of the first set, but the Serb could have easily joined his opponent in moping around and being negative.

Putting aside Monfils’ miserable straight set defeat, I really began to feel bad for his coach, Roger Rasheed. Full of optimism and a positive philosophical outlook (see his Twitter account), Rasheed looked down right depleted by the poor effort of his pupil. Down 2-1 in the third set, Monfils would attempt his second trick shot of the day by engaging in a drawn out point at 40-30, Djokovic serving.

Monfils, who ran back after being lobbed, hit a reverse forehand down-the-line that was over hit by 15 feet. The correct play on the shot would have been to throw up a lob or to dip a short angled passing shot, but with Monfils eager to always make the highlight reel, there was no chance of any margin on the point.

All credit goes to Djokovic for reaching his fourth straight Open semifinal, but one has to remain frustrated when attempting to defend Monfils’ talent. He will likely go down as the greatest athlete to ever play the sport, but his lack of wherewithal toward competing, while remaining negative when things aren’t going his way, will always hinder him in reaching his potential.

For those of you who haven’t seen Monfils take part in a pro match, I encourage you to check him out whenever you can. You’ll be exposed to some serious screeching and halting from the back of the court; you’ll witness some breathtaking passing shots, and a few run-ins with the scoreboard. But as you continue to watch the dramatic 24-year-old deep behind the baseline, you’ll either ask yourself “How is this guy not the No. 1 player in the world?” or “How is this guy a professional tennis player?”

It is exactly that type of positive and negative emotion that the Frenchman extracts from spectators when he’s on-court. He can make you gasp in amazement, or he can just as easily make you shake your head in embarrassment.

Unfortunately for Monfils today, his inability to understand that serious matches do not revolve around a few startling winners, not only cost him a chance at reaching a big time semifinal, but he also let down the wind stricken sold out crowd, and more importantly his supportive and thoughtful coach.

Monfils was feelin’ the music before the first ball was hit, but it’s too bad that his fight was nowhere to be found when the conditions took over.

—Nima

US Open—New York

It must be difficult to be Stanislas Wawrinka. He’s had a more than respectable career on Tour, which has included reaching the top 10, and the latter stages of both Grand Slam and Masters 1000 events. But within  that “respectable” career for Stan the man, his accomplishments have always been overshadowed by the glory of 16-time Major champ Roger Federer.

Although Wawrinka did team up with Federer to capture the 2008 doubles crown at the Olympics, his efforts at the pinnacle of the sport were considered more of a supportive role toward the legend of his partner, than holding any individual merit. Known as one of the more soft spoken character around the circuit, Wawrinka’s press conferences have often featured more questions about Federer than how he’d performed on court.

After defeating Andy Murray for his greatest Slam victory to date, Wawrinka was asked if his result would put him ahead of Federer’s straight set thumping of Paul-Henri Mathieu back home?

A rehearsed and assured Wawrinka had this to say.

“For sure not.” (Smiling.)

Whether or not Wawrinka has learned to manage his place in Swiss history, or whether or not he really doesn’t have a choice when considering the circumstances, his passive play during the big stages of his career have cost him. Never reaching the quarterfinals of a Major before today’s five set victory over Sam Querrey, Wawrinka hadn’t displayed the type of aggression that Federer or Rafael Nadal have provided in acquiring their multiple Slam victories.

However, by hiring Federer’s ex coach, Peter Lundgren, Wawrinka has adopted a new steal mentally that has been centered around accelerating through his western hit forehand, and continuing to swing away at this technically perfect backhand. But Wawrinka’s ability to lace his bulky groundstrokes aren’t the only facet of his game that have improved. Gaining a new degree of fitness after Wimbledon, Wawrinka was able to battle Nadal for a 93-minute first set during the second-round of the Rogers Cup. Even though Wawrinka was ousted in straight sets, his ability to match Nadal’s physicality during the grueling set would provide a positive platform for the summer.

There was one game in particular against Querrey today that Wawrinka showcased his new found outlook to the sport, while following his success with some of his old bad habits.

Leading by a set and on serve and 4-all, Wawrinka manufactured three perfectly struck short sliced backhands to bring Querrey into the net. With the American finding difficultly hitting effective forehands from his knee to ankle area, Wawrinka was rewarded with two of the three points, and a break of serve. Continuing to swing out on the ball, Wawrinka also proved that his feel of shot—especially off of his backhand wing—was now used with better point construction in mind.

The old Wawrinka would pop back up in the ensuing game, and his inability to serve out the set would ultimately cause the match to be tied at one set apiece.

Querrey was beginning to find his range, and the crowd was starting to realize that a long match was waiting in the bounds. While the players would split the next two sets—the third set to Wawrinka, and the fourth set to Querrey—the feeling around the Stadium remained that Wawrinka’s headlock on the contest would eventually pay off.

Finding himself with the fortune of serving first in the fifth set, Wawrinka would save three break points before prevailing, while ending the encounter with some vintage execution. Realizing that the windy conditions would reek havoc on Querrey’s compromised movement, Wawrinka decided to crash the net as much as possible.

Wawrinka’s chip and charge play of off Querrey’s second serve on match point—a point that was definitely by design—would ultimately send him into his first Slam quarterfinal.

Keeping an eye on Lundgren in the players’ box, it was nice to see him jump up and down and throw a fist pump after his charge became the victor. Coaching Federer to his first Wimbledon victory in 2003, Lundgren could become the voice of reason that Wawrinka needs to finally reach his potential.

Not talked about enough before this year’s US Open, I think it’s safe to say that the Swiss press, and the world press for that matter should get to know Stan the man a little better.

He may not have 16 Slams to his name, but Stanislas Wawrinka could be headed for a position of Swiss familiarity before the end of the tournament.

—Nima

US Open—New York

There were definitely a few immediate concerns that needed to be addressed at the US Open on Labor Day. People were still stapled together all around the grounds, but with school starting for many youngsters on Tuesday, the anxiety of classes and homework had everyone a little preoccupied. The sun was still out in full force, but a hint of fall was also in the air, leaving a variety of leafs scattered in the corners of the facility.

However, the biggest concern of the day took place in front of a partisan Ashe crowd. Hoping and praying that Mardy Fish would continue his fine summer form, American fans became thoroughly disappointed as Fish proceeded to lose in straight sets. Known as an aggressive all-court player, Fish was reduced to a mere counter-puncher by No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic.

Fish’s lack of aggressiveness throughout his straight set loss became even more strange considering his opponent. Djokovic, who had played this season predominantly with a defense mindset, began the contest full of early ball-striking and imposing footwork. Gaining a break of serve to begin to match, Djokovic took Fish’s competent second delivery and crushed it into the corners. Continuing to gain momentum as the set grew in length, Djokovic would win 70 percent of his first serve points, while only allowing Fish to win 25 percent of his second serve points.

Taking away the American’s greatest weapon, Djokovic continued his onslaught of textbook footwork to control the second set. Cleaning the lines with his backhand up-the-line, Djokovic began to utilize his trademark backhand drop shot, while keeping Fish pinned deep behind the court. I had thought going into this encounter that Fish would be the one pushing Djokovic around the baseline from the get go. Winning 25 of his past 29 matches, the 28-year-old had proven that he was more than willing to take matters into his own hands, and accept the consequences of his actions. But as the match moved past the one hour mark, it became very apparent that Fish’s Flushing campaign would be over shortly. Laboring to get into the net and dig out another Djokovic drop shot, Fish was frozen on more than one occasion when attempting to read the passes of his opponent.

To Djokovic’s credit, though, he set the tempo of the match early with his foot speed. He had decided that if Fish was going to beat him on the day, that his legs would have to be ready for explosive steps, and off-the-rise hitting. Taking into account Fish’s recent upgrade in fitness, I was quite confident that his two five setters in the event wouldn’t hinder his chances. But as the court began to shrink for Fish—solely due to Djokovic’s court positioning—the American’s fitness and body language would continue to crumble.

Djokovic still proved to be shaking with his serve at times, but his overall aces to double fault ratio never got him into any significant trouble.

While Fish saw his stunning summer come full circle, the near sold out crowd had very little to cheer for. Down 4-1 in the third set, a fan beside me told his friend to begin a ” Let’s Go Mardy” chant. While Fish uncharacteristically struck another tight backhand into the net, the reluctant fan told his friend “what’s the point?”

This got me thinking that while Fish could have certainly used the support, he was giving the crowd nothing to feed of off.

Athletes essentially create atmosphere in sporting events by playing well or showing promise. But when the landslide of negativity begins, it becomes nearly impossible to warrant any type of support. Although Fish had proved that he was the real deal this summer, his role reversal with Djokovic during the match; going from aggressiveness to defensiveness, resulted in a listless Stadium.

Djokovic, who reached the quarterfinals or better in New York for four straight years, commented on his strategy against the American.

“It’s very encouraging fact at this stage of the tournament that I’m raising my game and feeling more comfortable on the court,” said Djokovic. I played a great match today. Conditions were tough as well with a strong wind. I was using my serve in important moments extremely well and opening the court and kind of not giving him enough chances to come to the net and be aggressive.”

Fish, who appeared ready to end the contest after the second set, commented on his long summer of tennis, and his inability to raise his game when he needed to.

“It’s just, you know, you’re at the end of a long summer. I haven’t played many tournaments, but I played way more matches than I ever have, which is a great thing. I’m certainly not complaining, but, you know, I don’t think anyone feels 100 percent at this point.

“I think it kind of comes down to just a matter of, you know, trying to put together the best plan of attack to play him, and then execution. You know, because, I mean, I think sometimes I sort of get into a rut of it’s so much fun for me now to be able to sort of run down shots and play a little bit of defense. I do that too much, and I’m aware of it, for the most part. But he plays defense as good as anyone, and so he’s better than me at it, for sure. That was the case. I tried to, you know, get to the net, tried to stay more, you know, be a little more aggressive towards the middle part of the match. I just didn’t—I had some chances. I just didn’t execute, generally. He played great. He played—he kicked my butt. He played great.”

Fish certainly got himself into the best possible shape over the past year. His sacrifices regarding his nutrition and off-court regimes were well documented. But his lack of execution, and poor match up against the Serb, left him with little reason to leave New York with his head held high.

—Nima

US Open—New York

With Hurricane Earl out of the way, and the unsettling heat and humidity from earlier in the event a distant memory, this year’s US Open remains deprived of one of it’s perennial, and well-loved favorites, Andy Roddick.

While Roddick bowed out in angry fashion to Janko Tipsarevic on Wednesday evening, this year’s Open, and more importantly the New York fans, can breath a sigh of relief with the emergence of three key players.

Sam Querrey is already into the fourth-round after a stunning display of “big man” tennis over No. 14 seed Nicolas Almagro, while John Isner will face Mikahil Youzhny under the lights tonight. Mardy Fish will highlight American tennis on Monday, bringing his sizzling form into a Labor Day round of 16 match against Novak Djokovic.

Querrey, who has historically struggled in bigger events, continues to keep his head down, and his reflexes in check as he marches through the field. During the second set against Almagro on Saturday, the American attempted a reverse forehand volley, before missing the second “routine” put-away. Talking to commentators after his victory, Querrey’s immediate thoughts on his volley included a potential shout out as the shot of the day. Losing his focus for split moment, Querrey would follow his mouth-watering shot with a backhand miss. The loss of that point in no way changed the outcome of the match, but what it did indicate was a looser, and more confident American.

Querrey has struggled with motivation and nerves throughout his career—his meltdown at the French Open in May comes to mind—but through the difficult and lethargic times, Querrey’s easy going demeanor has allowed him to rebound and improve. Querrey will next face either Andy Murray or Stan Wawrinka in the next round; two players that have troubled him in the past. However, Querrey did defeat Murray to capture last month’s LA Open, and Wawrinka continues to be a player that can be rattled.

It’s far from the finish line for Querrey in New York, but there’s no doubt that his form at this year’s Open has been promising.

Isner is another crowd favorite that won’t soon be replaced. Fighting through the pain of a recent ankle injury, Isner has used his atomic serve to advance to the third-round. Displaying more vigor and emotion than his good friend Querrey, Isner’s boyish looks and imposing physique remain a combination that no player wants to face. Struggling through his second-round match with Marco Chiudinelli, Isner continued to pace himself between points, and hit his groundstrokes with great depth.

Isner will likely have to address his backhand if he’s to become a consistent contender at the Majors, but to his credit he understands what he can and can not do with the shot, and he never ventures outside of that box. Isner will have a tricky opponent in Youzhny tonight, but something tells me that the 24,000 supportive fans in attendance will aid him toward the final 16. Isner’s serve hasn’t been his only weapon in New York this year; the aura of attention that he’s gained after his Wimbledon epic continues to spill over to his matches in Flushing. Isner’s ankle could get the better of him at some point in New York, but I wouldn’t be surprised if doesn’t exit without a strong showing.

The final American in the remaining group, one who is significantly older than Querrey and Isner, could very well be the most dangerous. Fish has put himself in the position of being able to control everything that he can when he enters the court, and that type of discipline has resulted in a 19-2 record since Wimbledon. Fish still remains suspect on his forehand wing, but his improved net play as well as his ability to better deal with the the ebbs and flows of five set matches has brought him into the second week.

Fish has not only been acquiring a truck load of victories in recent months, he has also gained an increased level of respect from his fellow pros. Losing to Roger Federer during the recent Cincinnati final, Fish was given a promising future analysis by the current world No. 2.

“His talent was never questioned, was it? I played him back in maybe was it 2003, 2004, when I won my first couple Wimbledons,” said Federer. He was the only guy to take a set off me. I always thought he was an incredibly good player, regardless of his weight, to be honest. I think it’s great to show maybe other players, too, to see what’s possible at a later stage in your career, if you come up with some new ideas. You know, let’s change it up and see what happens. I think that’s what he’s doing. That the results follow, it’s not always a guarantee. But with him now, it’s happened. Obviously this is the big stage for him now, the US Open. So the next 45 minutes will be huge for him. You know, this is what it’s about for him now. This is where it’s really going to pay off for him, not in Washington or something. It’s great to see him playing well, doing well. He’s a nice guy. He’s always been talented, so we knew that.”

Taking on Djokovic on Monday, Fish will be confident that he won’t get tired, and that his ability to go for his shots regardless of the scoreline remains the cornerstone of his current game.

While Andy Roddick departed his favorite Grand Slam earlier than he would have liked, the former champ can rest assured that his American buddies will do their best to follow in his footsteps.

—Nima

US Open—New York

Strange things can happen to a player when sets wind down to 4-all or 6-all scorelines. Groundstrokes and serves that were previously finding the lines with ease, suddenly are sprayed wide and long. Heart rates that were hovering around 55 BPM, instantly skyrocket to the tense 125 range. When analyzing players’ choices from the sidelines, we readily forget what goes on in the heat of the moment. The gust of a windy day, or a sharp shadow that begins to inch through the court, can drastically alter the performance level of the respective players in the blink of an eye.

Holding his own to begin the match against the five-time champ Roger Federer, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu exhibited great variation off of his western held forehand. Keeping Federer honest by spinning an angling his favorite shot, Mathieu found himself in an opportune position to make the Swiss serve to stay in the first set. Beginning the ninth game with a framed backhand wide, Mathieu continued to dig himself into a hole by not adjusting his footwork to the blustery conditions. Generously over-hitting a routine forehand past the baseline, the stubborn Frenchman quickly saw himself starring down the barrel of a one set deficit. With Federer’s game improving and gaining momentum, Mathieu’s poor body language and inability to play with more margin, resulted in another loss of serve.

Continuing to shrug and complain to his players’ box, Mathieu would inevitably drop to 0-5 against Federer lifetime, but more importantly he would once again fail to find a way to incorporate a different strategy when his plan A wasn’t working.

The overtly talented Frenchman ended the match by strolling to the net with a “too good” look on his face, while accepting his fate as a second tier competitor.

Sitting in a courtside box for this encounter, I couldn’t help but remember a quote that Lleyton Hewitt used to describe Mathieu after he defeated him in the first-round of the 2001 French Open. Ranked No. 1 at the time, Hewitt needed four sets to dismiss the No. 238 ranked youngster.

“I’m not really concerned with the rest of my tournament at the moment,” said a relieved Hewitt when admitting that he was lucky to survive the stern challenge of the top ranked junior player and future prospect. Hewitt would irinically lose to Mathieu earlier this week, but the Australian’s decade old praise of the Frenchman still remains relevant today.

It’s not that Mathieu can’t move or hit the same type of shots as the current crop of top players on the circuit. It’s not that his belief system, and required confidence is lacking. And just to make sure that we’re on the same page here, Mathieu does enjoy winning and wants nothing more for his career. If anything, Mathieu constantly fires from the hip on his groundies, and provides a soft heard French grunt to his cause.

However, his troubles are of a deeper nature which are emphasized by his inability to win the important points of a match with any level of dexterity.

Where Mathieu got tight and couldn’t cash in on any of his four break point chances today, Federer knifed and converted on four of six break opportunities by thinking two or three shots in advance.

Today’s conditions undoubtedly forced Federer to play with more margin, while allowing his footwork and calm mindset to out think the strong winds.

By contrast, Mathieu allowed the swirling conditions to get the better of his time in Ashe Stadium, while adding another disappointing outing to his underachieving career.

Federer told the assembled media after his victory that he was well aware of the struggles that Mathieu was experiencing in the tough circumstances.

“The wind was very strong. Tough conditions to play in, especially if you’re down in the score. I think you could tell Mathieu was really struggling after being down in the score. His serve, his returns, everything kind of falls into pieces. That’s what the wind can do to you. It’s really hard to stay positive when you’re down and the wind is the way it is, like today. I kind of felt comfortable, you know, because you can also use it to your advantage and play really great tennis. You have to be careful with it. Maybe not aim at the lines as much. After, like I said, four games or so, I knew what I could do and what I couldn’t do.”

I’m not quite sure, but something tells me that Mathieu has never felt comfortable in the wind, and that feeling of knowing what he can do, and what he can’t do, has never been an easy practice for him.

Wind or no wind, tennis remains a game that is won with the mind, and not on sheer talent alone.

—Nima

US Open—New York

A funny thing happened to Ryan Harrison today when he was up 6-3 in the final set tiebreak. Holding three chances to move into the third-round, the spunky, gritty, and eloquent 18-year-old heard his name being chanted by the brim full crowd, and couldn’t handle the pressure. Although Harrison had ample opportunities finish off New Haven champ Sergiy Stakhovsky, his lack of experience, or “execution” as he put, sent him towards a crushing second-round exit.

Following Harrison since his first career win over Pablo Cuevas at the Houston event in 2007, I’ve observed a green and exuberant 15-year-old, turn into the Grand Slam competitor of today.

Harrison will likely never have a rally ending forehand a la Robin Soderling or Sam Querrey. The shot contains too much wrist action, and his low wind-shield whipper follow through allows for untimely short balls and lack of penetration. There’s no debating that his forehand has improved, but I just don’t see it ever rivaling his rock-solid two-handed backhand.

What I’ve always liked about Harrison from watching him practice and play a fist-full of a Tour matches has been his commitment to competing. He’s never been interested in perfect technique or a flashy repertoire of shots—give Harrison the “W” and he’ll be more than satisfied. Working diligently at the IMG Academies in Florida, Harrison has predominately been coached by his father, Pat, from an earlier age.

When asked if he was disappointed that he lost in the second-round after squandering three match points, the Bradenton native responded with the best possible house money answer.

“In all honesty, I could have lost second round quallies. I mean, I was in full leg cramps down 3-0 in the third set, and I fought through that and had a good match and then played one of the best matches I’ve ever played in my life,” said Harrison when referring to his road to the round of 64 which included a first-round upset win of No. 15 seed Ivan Ljubicic.

It should also be noted that Harrison was forced to serve underhand during his second-round qualies tussle against Portuguese workhorse Rui Machado. For those of you who have attended the Open over the past two years, you’ll know that Machado is a hard nosed competitor that will do anything to survive. For Harrison to dismiss Machado—serving underhand no less—proved that his desire to compete remained second to none.

When asked what he needed to do in order to reach the top 10 or to win a Grand Slam, Harrison provided an almost scripted, but genuine response to his future.

“You know, I’ve always—I’ve always not been one to say, like, top 10 and top 5, all that stuff. Because my general personality has always been, you know, if I’m top 10 in the world and I’m 10 in the world, there’s still nine guys ahead of me. So I’ve always had the mentality where I’ve wanted to be the best and I’ve always wanted to, you know, be the top, to win Grand Slams. But with that being said, it’s a ways away. You know, this was the breakout run of my career, and in the round of 64, you know. So I’ve got to really keep working and hopefully try and improve. And guess it’s just been a great experience.”

We’ve seen many players come up and rip the cover off of the ball, and display the type of promise that all but ensured Slam success. Whether or not that success was ever achieved, I can’t recall many previous up-and-comers possessing the type of maturity and professional that young Harrison holds.

With the departure of Andy Roddick earlier in the event, American fans can rest assured that Harrison’s days at US Open have only just begun.

–Nima

US Open—New York

It’s often difficult to understand the genius or the questionable choices of an elite level athlete. Whether it’s a reverse inside-out forehand, or a back-pedaling overhead into the corner, the seemingly unthinkable appears like a walk through Central Park for the pros.

Entering tonight’s Louis Armstrong match between James Blake and Peter Polansky, I certainly had my fare share of reservations towards the potential winner. I knew that Blake would be coming in slightly injured and not confident, while Polansky was in the best form of his career, defeating Juan Monaco and Jurgen Melzer in recent outings.

Knowing Polansky quite well from his junior days, I thought that he held a more than even shot at victory. His forehand contained enough juice to penetrate the slick court, and his foot speed and athleticism allowed him to complete with the best players in the world.

Beginning the contest locked in a servers duel, neither player would manage to dent the others delivery, while marching forward to an inevitable tiebreak. Unleashing a picture perfect backhand return to take a 5-1 lead, Polansky would gain a first set advantage after 38 minutes. While Blake remained suffocated in his go-for-broke game-style, Polansky continued to display his ever improving game.

Fast forwarding to the end of the match for a moment, Blake told the supportive crowd that “I played a pretty passive, not-so-spectacular first set, especially in the tiebreaker. But I turned it around and played great.”

I’ll touch on how impressive Blake performed after the first set shortly, but I would certainly disagree that he played passive in set one. Sitting front row for the entire match, I witnessed a fifth gear Blake right from the first point. Taking full cuts at Polansky’s serve, the American’s mind set was ultra aggressive, but his accuracy and shots were far from consistent. Finding the green area of the blue hard-court at inopportune moments, Blake’s “passive play” won him 80 percent of his first serve points, while racking up 17 winners and committing 10 unforced errors. Still sound like he was holding back?

However, with the beginning of the second set came the Blake of old. Connecting on numerous clean return winners, and spectacular running forehands, Blake displayed his best ball-striking of the season. Short-hopping forehands off the baseline, Blake annihilated his first serve, and even struck his predominately flat backhand with precise sharp angles.

While Polansky continued to play at a high standard, Blake’s speed of shot, and his ability to pound away from the back-of-the-court, kept him in line for the victory.

Blake to my mind has always been the epitome of a microwave player. When he’s on he can bring forward lights out tennis, but when he’s off he can lose love and three like he did to Denis Istomin a few weeks back. Within the good, the bad, and the blistering velocity, Blake has always remained a player that can hit some miraculous shots.

Most of what Blake can do with the ball was never taught. His fast twitch muscles were a god given trait, and his quick split step—which has decreased in recent years—remains admirable.

There was a point in particular in the middle of the forth set when Blake was forced to hit a cross court passing shot. Becoming wrong footed by Polansky’s forehand down-the-line, Blake changed his grip to a continental forehand and slapped the ball cross-court for a winner. Glancing over at Polansky’s player box, Blake provided a rye smile of disbelief. Although he was aware that his shot was aided by good fortune, a part of him also acknowledged that he knew exactly what he was doing.

After losing a double break lead in the fourth set, Blake would once again break Polansky to lead 5-4. Serving the match out with purpose, Blake provided an encouraging sign that he may be on the rebound before the final point. Walking over to receive his usual selection of three balls before choosing his desired two, Blake murmured a strong “this is my house” under his breath.

Striking a power slice serve down the tee, Blake dusted the hopes of the young Canadian, while setting up an intriguing third-round match with Novak Djokovic.

There’s no doubt that the challenge of Djokovic will be difficult to combat come Saturday. But the unteachable talent of Blake; a talent that deservedly brought a smile to the former top four player’s face, was more than worth the price of a so-called passive start.

–Nima

US Open—New York

Could we be seeing a different Andy Murray at this year’s US Open? A Murray, who takes charge and doesn’t wait for the ball to come to him, rather, a player that wants to win his first Major, and is willing to go after the title the same way Juan Martin del Potro did last year?

There’s no denying that Murray will never be able to clock his groundstrokes with the same lighting speed as Delpo, but he certainly does have room to take the ball earlier, and not solely rely on his defense and court speed.

During today’s match against Lukas Lacko in Ashe Stadium, Murray was adamant on taking it to his opponent, while conserving his energy in the scorching heat.

Defeating both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to take the Toronto title last month, Murray was proficient in mixing up his game when he needed to, while stepping up and blasting a first serve or a backhand when required.

I’ve always felt that Murray had enough power to spare, but his stubborn demeanor and mindset prevented him from achieving his potential. Slicing a backhand when he could have hammered the ball across his body, Murray would venture off deep behind the baseline, and provide his opponent’s with short shots. Brad Gilbert once suggested that Murray’s mentally was centered around playing every player in a different way, and his game style would be dependent on what his opponent would bring to the table. Depending on how you look at that philosophy (it can obviously be both beneficial and detrimental), Murray has more often that not opted to choose a passive approach to victory, while drowning in his unproductive court positioning.

However, based on what we’ve seen from Murray as of late, a smarter (could that even be possible?) Murray has sprung up during the summer season. Perhaps it’s the Scot’s lack of a coach at the moment; no coach usually allows players to rely solely on their own thoughts instead of falling victim to strategies that they wouldn’t want to employ. Again, I’m not suggesting that I’m against on-court coaching, or coaches in general—because I’m actually a big advocate of what a good coach can bring forth—but a little independence can certainly allow for some beneficial results.

Playing a shot-maker in Lacko today, Murray made sure that his strategy was built around the oppressive heat. He wasn’t interested in drawn out rallies, and decided to pull the trigger on his groundstrokes earlier than he usually would. Although Murray’s shot selection against Lacko was based more around conserving energy, his 37 winners and eight aces showcased his ability to hit through the court and stay in total control.

Lacko, who had drawn comparisons to Roger Federer because of his easy flowing strokes, managed to win only 65 points during the straight set white wash. Neutralizing his Slovak opponent to only 26 percent of his second serve points won, Murray managed to use his greatest weapon—his return—to get off the court in one hour and 51 minutes.

Morphing his game to the moment, Murray confessed that his Wednesday start could get him in trouble as the tournament progressed.

“Well, it’s a lot easier to play seven matches in fourteen days,” said Murray. Anyone would tell you that. It’s just different here with the Saturday, Sunday, semi and final is always tricky for all of the players.”

Taking into account Murray’s condensed tournament, he would surely benefit from continuing his aggressive play well into the second week, and remain in prime position for potential matches against Federer or Nadal.

But, as Murray suggested, he’s not looking that far into the future.

“[I'm] not really thinking that much about Roger and Rafa right now because I’m only in the second round,” admitted Murray. That’s disrespectful to all the other guys that you might have to play on the road to get there to think about playing against them. For me, I love playing against those guys. But a lot of tennis, you’ve seen someone like Berdych who has been great in the Grand Slams this year lost in straight sets today; Soderling nearly went out the other day; Djokovic nearly went out. It’s so pointless thinking ahead. I say it every Grand Slam. That’s how I feel.”

Respect is one thing, but here’s hoping that Murray continues to lace his groundstrokes, and not rely on the game to come to him.

US Open—New York

With record temperatures soaring through the grounds of the National Tennis Center on Tuesday, an interesting question was posed during ESPN’s daytime coverage: “Should the heat rule apply to ATP World Tour, the way that it does to the women of the WTA?”

While the ladies receive 10 minute breaks after each set during extreme heat, the men are only allowed to be treated for heat related issues. Considering that the men are forced to play best three out of five sets, I’d be inclined to support longer breaks for the men during days like today. It wasn’t confirmed if the conditions were the hottest the tournament had ever witnessed, but judging by the difficult matches that Marcos Baghdatis, Mardy Fish, and Novak Djokovic encountered, a further assessment of the men’s heat rules should be considered.

A Long Summer

Marcos Baghdatis’ recent summer of success hit a brick wall today against Frenchman Arnaud Clement. Reaching the finals in Washington, the semifinals in Cincinnati, and the quarterfinals in New Haven, Baghdatis’ heavy legs and his consistent former top 10 opponent would end his event early. Although Baghdatis provided enough charisma to give the Louis Armstrong crowd their moneys worth, it was Clement’s fresher physique, and experience that would prevail.

During his post-match presser, Clement provided—to my mind anyway—the reasons why he became the victor.

“You know, I start my summer, my U.S. summer in Los Angeles, and play like five tournaments before coming here. I won only one match in quallies in Cincinnati, so my confidence is very, very—was very, very low before this match,” said Clement. I didn’t expect anything from this match. In my mind I was—when I went on the court, maybe I have just one percent chance to win this match. He played great in Washington, in Cincinnati, so he’s in good shape. So it’s gonna be very, very difficult for me. Maybe that’s why I was more relaxed on the court in my game and my shots, because for me I have no chance to win before the match. That’s strange. Now it’s a little bit different. Now I played my best match, that’s for sure, for all the summer.”

It sure became “a little bit different” after the Frenchman won his 12th match of the season. Although Baghdatis completely overshadowed Clement in summer results, his poor scheduling—especially by playing in New Haven—severely hampered his US Open chances.

It certainly pays to have matches under one’s belt, but playing too much; a tad too much, won’t pay off in the long run, either.

Two Bagels And A Near Upset

Experiencing the “kiss of death” after winning the first set 6-0, Mardy Fish quickly found himself in the position of playing better, but trailing Jan Hajek by two sets to one. Picking up his fitness level in one of the most incredible stories in the past 12 months, Fish rolled through the fourth set 6-0, and nearly provided his third bagel of the match before capturing the fifth set 6-1.

Stating that the heat in New York was a “cakewalk” compared to what he faced in Atlanta against John Isner, Fish certainly didn’t look like a vibrant player after losing the middle two sets against his obscure opponent.

I appreciate Fish’s newly found fitness, and his ability to take the conditions in stride after the match, but there’s no doubt that he needed a little breathing room before marching to victory. Although he never would have prevailed today by carrying his previous weight and fitness, the 28-year-old American did showcase nerves that he will have to shake off if he intends on moving forward.

Feeling as good as he ever has at the Open, Fish will be a tough hombre to defeat during the remainder of the event.

The Shade Feels Like…

The writing appeared all but written on Ashe Stadium today when Novak Djokovic found himself down two sets to one against countryman Viktor Troicki. Never one to play well in the heat, Djokovic’s serve remained passive, while his inside-out forehand found the doubles alley far too often. Falling down a break in the fourth set, Djokovic began to zero-in on his defensive foundation, while thoroughly embracing the merciful shade.

Pounding his chest, while embracing his player’s box after his win, Djokovic told Brad Gilbert that the welcome shade was “like sleeping with my girlfriend.”

The humorous and brutally honest remark by Djokovic further exemplified his need for cooler conditions.

Make no mistake about it, as much as the pundits discuss Djokovic’s allergies and breathing woes, there has been more than enough evidence provided that the Serb can’t handle the heat, and he could fall earlier than expected in this event if he continues to play under warm conditions.

For now, though, let’s give our kudos to Djokovic and his witty humor. We can’t blame him for telling us how he feels, and I guess we also can’t blame him for feeling the conditions.

***

Two surprising results on the day: Peter Polansky defeated Juan Monaco 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-3, and Jeremy Chardy upended Ernests Gulbis 6-2, 7-6(1), 6-4.

Talk soon, folks.

US Open—New York

Tennis players get four chances each season to show the world, their colleagues, and their fans what they’re capable of. Although the rest of the year can’t be taken for granted, player’s resumes will always be remembered by how they rise and fall at the Majors.

Injury or illness can sometimes prevent a player from participating in an event, but for the most part anything and everything will be done in order for a chance to take part in the field.

Monday’s start to the US Open showcased four high profile men, and their respective but often questionable outlook toward their playing styles. Three of the four men advanced to the second-round, but it became apparent through each of their matches that this year’s Open may not end with the desired result.

Gone-zo

It’s been a difficult year for Fernando Gonzalez. He started the season in middle-of-the-road form, but soon fell victim to the grief of a devastating earthquake in Chile, which was later followed by a pesky knee injury. Never relying on his foot speed as one of his strengths, Gonzalez took to Court 13 during the heat of the day to hopefully swat enough groundstrokes to defeat his No. 148 ranked opponent Ivan Dodig. Capturing the first set with a tight knit tiebreak, Gonzalez’s injury soon became an evident hindrance to his movement and mood.  Displaying very little positive energy throughout the second-set, Gonzalez would pull the plug on his campaign after netting a meek slice backhand to start the third set. Although he’d shown up in an effort to put on a show, his sound shattering forehand, and his clan of devoted followers, were left with little to celebrate after a conceding handshake was brought forth.

There was no famous racket break from Gonzalez—no chi chi chi…eh eh eh from the crowd—only a head down exit from the final Slam of the year.

The Open remains worse off without last year’s quarterfinalist.

In Need Of A Helmet

You gotta love the way Gael Monfils goes about his tennis. He knows that he’s putting himself in harms way each and every time he dives on the court, but for whatever reason (no scratch that, there is a reason), Monfils seems to constantly defy gravity, while delighting a flabbergasted audience. Taking on Robert Kendrick of the US today, Monfils needed five sets, and all of his athleticism to reach the round of 64. Injuring his elbow earlier this summer in Toronto (you guessed it, by diving on court against Andy Murray), the Frenchman entered Flushing Meadows with not a lot to count on. Using his deceptively quick serve to hit 17 aces, Monfils was required to use his backstop positioned passing shots to offset the serve and volley tactics of Kendrick.

I’ve always put Monfils right up there as perhaps the best athlete in the game, but I think it’s safe to say that he’ll never become a serious threat to win a Grand Slam. Choosing to awe the crowd instead of putting forth the point construction and foresight that’s required to hoist the hardware, Monfils will remain a great opening door prize at the Majors, but until he proves that he’s willing to use his strengths for the long-haul, and not for the highlight reel, we’ll have to catch him while we can.

Finding It Haider

Brad Gilbert just came out and said it today during the Robin Soderling vs. Andreas Haider-Maurer match on the Grandstand: “There’s no way you can look at Haider-Maurer and consider him a Challenger player.”

Well, Gilbert was right on the money with that comment, and during the third and fourth set comeback efforts by the Austrian, it appeared that Soderling was in danger of suffering his second first-round hard-court Major loss of the season.

It’s amazing to consider that a player with Soderling’s power quotient struggles on faster courts. His long backswings can’t generate the same amount power that they can on clay or grass, and the outcome often results in mistimed, and framed groundstrokes.

However, Soderling had more than the fast paced courts of the Grandstand to deal with today. His unheralded opponent dropped 34 aces in total, while zipping 58 winners into various corners. Putting the shoe on the other foot for a majority of the match, Soderling was forced to use his improved confidence, and clay-court foundation to squeak into the second-round.

I didn’t like what I saw from Soderling today; I more than enjoyed Haider-Maurer’s desire, and judging by the Swede’s current level of play today, his upcoming “easy” draw will have to be reassessed.

Bday Bashing

Andy Roddick’s 28th birthday brought with it some nervous moments against through-back player Stephane Robert. Leapfrogging to a 5-0 first set lead, Roddick quickly lost the next three games before closing out the set. Although it was tough to assess Roddick’s play based on the non-modern game of his opponent, I wasn’t at all convinced that the American will be able to put forth a sensible title run this year.

Roddick is certainly low on confidence at the moment, and as he regains his energy from a brief bout with mono, he would be better served to give his groundstrokes some more velocity.

Jonny Mac made a great point today in dissecting Roddick’s fourth-round loss to Yen-Hsun Lu at Wimbledon. Stating that Roddick pushed his groundstrokes like an under 12-year-old junior in London, McEnroe highlighted Roddick’s overall problem throughout the past three years. We saw Roddick climb back against Marin Cilic at the Aussie Open in January by giving his groundstrokes a ride; we later witnessed Roddick defeat Rafael Nadal during the Miami event by smoking four forehand winners during the middle of his three set comeback victory.

Aside from Roddick’s tremendous serve, the rest of his game has become extremely timid. He’s too reliant on deep court positioning and defense, and not on exhibiting the lethal forehand he used during his late teens and early 20s.

The one positive for Roddick today was that he did advance in straight sets, and that will aid him in conserving energy for the latter rounds.

He will however need to step up his aggression if he intends on making the second week.

–Nima