Tag: Thursday August

US Open Qualifiers ~ 2018

Above: Vera Zvonareva after her win today

Thursday August 23rd, 2018 – The US Open is just about the only thing that will get me out of Manhattan nowadays. This summer, the Open is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

I had skipped the first day of the Qualifiers this year as the lineup of players did not include any of my particular favorites. The second day’s schedule was really appealing, but a predicted 3-hour rain gap at mid-day made me think twice about trekking out to Flushing; in the event, the rain never materialized.

But I lucked out today: it was perfect in terms of weather – not too hot, mix of sun and drifting clouds, and a persisting breeze – and many players I wanted to see were having their second-round matches.

The Tennis Center looks very glossy now, and very commercial…lots of shopping, and ‘trendy’ food and drink possibilities abound. Hordes of people come to this week of free matches, but lots of them do not seem really interested in the actual tennis. Bands of young people will take courtside seats, watch a few points, then move on to another court. I imagine they don’t know – or care – who the players they are watching are…what reputations are behind the names, and what’s at stake for players starting (or re-starting) their careers. Cellphone use and endless idle conversations among spectators mar the atmosphere of every match. You have to keep changing seats to maintain concentration. But for all that, I managed to have a great time today.

Above: Patty Schnyder

My first match was veteran Patty Schnyder playing against Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova. Patty’s story – including her ‘retirement’ from 2011-2015 – is fun to read. Ranked as high as #7 in 2005, she’s always been a bit quirky. And I have always enjoyed watching her play. Today I got to do so at close range.

Patty’s in great physical shape, looks pretty, and still plays a fine game of tennis. Ms. Kudermetova is physically impressive and plays strongly. She had to have the trainer at one point, and later took what seemed like a long bathroom break. Patty remained unfazed; after losing the opening set in a tie-beak, she handily won the second 6-1.

The opening game of set three seemed endless; deuce after deuce popped up. But after that, Patty sailed smoothly to victory.

I circled round to greet her – above, with fans – and congratulated her on her win. She was sweet as pie.

Over in Court 17, the mini-stadium, big hitters Alex Bolt (Australia) and Marcelo Arévalo (Spain) were going at it full-tilt. Alex took the first set, but Arévalo’s power serve and some impressive work at the net gained him the second set. The momentum seemed to have shifted. Fighting back, Alex managed to pull off a win. Each player had noisy supporters among the crowd for this very exciting match.

Above: Marcelo Arévalo during a break

Above: Alex Bolt

Above: Arévalo

Above: Bolt

Checking in at some other matches, it was fun seeing these winners:

Tommy Robredo…

…and Casper Ruud.

Putting up the good fight, but succumbing:

Hiroki Moriya, who made some perfect shots but was outgunned by Italy’s Federico Gaio…

…and newcomer Brandon Nakashima. This 17-year-old has talent galore, and he scored some really impressive points in his match against France’s Ugo Humbert. Brandon lost the opening set in a tie-break; the Frenchman then took control for the win. I feel certain we’ll be seeing the name Nakashima frequently in the future; I think it’s just a matter of finding himself the right coach.

Above: Vera Zvonareva

Vera’s match against Hungary’s Fanny Stoller was the happiest part of my day. Like Patty Schnyder, Vera is in comeback mode, though she herself is not thinking in those terms.

Rated world #2 in 2010, and with four Grand Slam doubles titles and an Olympic bronze medal (Beijing 2008) to her credit, Vera knows her way around a tennis court. Though her opponent today was physically more imposing, Zvonareva played a savvy match, coming up with solutions at all the right times. From my vantage point, I could see that she got a couple bad line calls (which she protested, to no avail), but in the end she achieved victory.

Zvonareva was surrounded by eager fans after the match, and she seemed elated.

Miscellany: above, the new Grandstand…

My view of Vera’s match…

US Open’s 50th, my 20th time being there…selfie for my Tico.

Heading home following a lovely day of tennis.

UPDATE: Schnyder and Zvonareva both advanced to the main draw.

~ Oberon

August 23, 2018
Round 2 @ The US Open Qualifiers ~ 2017

Author: Oberon

Thursday August 24th, 2017 – Less humidity but still scorching sun today at the US Open as the second round matches of the Qualifying Tournament were played. Lots of distractions – mainly from people gabbing courtside during play (‘straight’ men are by far the worst chatterboxes) – and unpleasant encounters with staff made me wonder why I continue to trek out there year after year. Well, I love tennis, that’s why.

Today my first match was between Vincent Millot and Tatsuma Ito. As on Tuesday, Ito began rather sluggishly but today he was unable to turn things around, and Millot won in straight sets.

I then went to have a look at a Women’s match: former world #2 Vera Zvonareva (above) was playing American Jamie Loeb. Zvonareva was trying for a comeback after a career beset by injuries and which included time off to have a baby. Today she looked to be in great shape and played with rugged determination and fine skill. Each player took a set – the scores were really close – and in the third, Zvonareva saved a couple of match points before Loeb was able to prevail. The crowd was overwhelmingly favoring the American; in fact I am not sure that many of them even knew who Zvonareva was, nor her history. It was great seeing her play again, and I hope she sticks with it.

The best time I had this week at the Open was watching the match between Go Soeda (above) and Marco Chiudinelli. I found a seat all by my lonesome high up in the gallery where a refreshing breeze periodically swept over me. Go was on fire and played the best tennis I have ever seen from him.

Go Soeda’s matches have been some of my happiest memories of past US Opens; win or lose, he always plays a beautiful game. He is among the players who, over the years, have made me see the excitement of the Qualifying matches and who have drawn me there annually, choosing the Qualies over the far more crowded and expensive main draw.

Today, Go allowed Marco Chuiudinelli very little room for error. The Swiss player could not get his foot in the door against his Japanese opponent’s good serving and well-placed shots. The match flew by and Go, cheered on by the crowd, was soon basking in his victory.

More photos of Go Soeda from today:

Above: Go signing autographs…

…and meeting his fans.

Nicolas Mahut (above), a mainstay on the international tennis stage since turning pro in 2000, was today facing up-and-comer Ramakumar Ramanathan of India. Like Leonardo Mayer, who played a great match here on Tuesday, Mahut has slipped down the rankings just far enough that he has to qualify this time around.

Mahut had vociferous support from the crowd and, although Ramamathan pulled off some impressive shots – and took the second set in a tie-breaker – the Frenchman held on for the win.

Mahut’s young son was courtside for the match and kept calling out “Allez, papa!”. It was charming, at least for the first one hundred times.

I was just heading towards the exit to catch the train when a beautiful breeze kicked up. I stopped randomly at the nearest court and watched a bit of the match between Frank Dancevic and Stephane Robert.

I recalled an incident from 2 or 3 years ago when Dancevic had an on-court meltdown over what he thought was a bad line-call. It happened again today – though as a less hysterical level – just during the few minutes I was watching. Chill, man. Everyone gets bad calls. Marco Chiudinelli thought he’d been deprived of a legitimate point during his match with Go Soeda earlier today and held up play as he unloaded on the chair umpire. What good did it do? Just keep playing and try to win, instead of whining.

My plan had been to stay on til the last matches of the day; I wanted to see Lukas Lacko and Duckhee Lee in action. But you’ve heard the phrase “twice-baked potato”…and that was how I was beginning to feel.

Heading home.

~ Oberon

August 24, 2017
US Open Qualifying Tournament 2014 #3

Above: Steve Darcis at the US Open Qualifiying Tournament 2014

Thursday August 21st, 2014 – Another great match from Steve Darcis at the US Open Qualifying Tournament today as the Belgian player eliminated the popular American Michael Russell. Steve showed off his impressive style yet again, hopefully heading to the main draw after tomorrow’s final qualifying round.

Michael Russell broke Steve’s serve early in the match but Steve broke right back. There were some great shots being exchanged, and Steve was coming to the net quite a bit, usually with good results. Despite some fine moments, Michael could not overcome Steve’s aggressive and technically sturdy momentum.

Over on Court 6, Japan’s Hiroki Moriya (above) – who played in the 2012 US Open – bounced back from losing the first set to Ruben Bemelmans of Belgium and played two very strong sets to clinch a place in the qualifying finals. Hiroki pulled off one incredible shot as he and Ruben tangled at the net. An enthusiastic crowd of Japanese fans gave Hiroki vital support throughout the match.

On Wednesday, as my horoscope accurately predicted, I was on an energy high. Today it seemed to have evaporated. The sun was baking the courts and I had a long space of time to wait til my next anticipated match. Between the heat and the crowds, I grew restless, walking from court to court.

I stopped to watch Gastao Elias (above) of Portugal play a set. Eventually the heat got to me and I decided reluctantly to leave. Checking in at the website later in the evening I found I missed several of my heroes chalking up wins: Tatsuma Ito, Di Wu, Yuichi Sugita, and Taro Daniel all advanced, with Rajeev Ram still playing.

I’m planning to go to see the final qualifying matches on Friday, though rain is predicted. It’s a long trek from Inwood to Billie Jean’s place, so we’ll see what the morrow brings.

It’s a bit odd that the heat defeated me today: I have been at the Open on far hotter days in past seasons. As someone who used to savour the heat and who spent many summers sunbathing devotedly, I’ve done a complete volte face since turning 64. Now I love the cold, the ice and the snow. Winter can’t get here fast enough.

August 20, 2014
Rehearsal: Intermezzo Dance Company

Above: Shoshana Rosenfield and Kurt Froman rehearsing for Intermezzo Dance Company; click on the image to enlarge.

Thursday August 29th, 2013 – Craig Salstein, founder of Intermezzo Dance Company, invited me to a Company rehearsal today at the ABT Studios. Choreographers Lisa de Ribere and Gemma Bond were working on the 2nd and 4th movements – respectively – of the Verdi string quartet which will be shown at Intermezzo‘s premiere performances in October.

Intermezzo Dance Company will debut at the 92nd Street Y with a programme celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian opera composer Giueseppe Verdi. Craig Salstein, a serious opera-lover, will honor the Maestro with a setting of the composer’s string quartet as well as a fantasia of melodies from the dramatic opera UN BALLO IN MASCHERA (A Masked Ball), specially arranged for these performances. Four choreographers – Marcelo Gomes, Lisa de Ribere, Adam Hendrickson and Gemma Bond – will each set a movement of the quartet, while BALLO will be choreographed by Raymond Lukens. Tickets for the performances are on sale now: click here to order.

Craig has put together a handsome roster of dancers, including established favorites and some exciting newcomers. It was great to see everyone today, and if they were for the most part moving too fast for my camera to capture, I do have a few images to share:

Kurt Froman

Aran Bell warming up

Shoshana Rosenfield and Nancy Richer

Nadezhda Vostrikov, Carlos Lopez and Kaitlyn Gilliland

Nancy Richer, Rina Barrantes

Kaitlyn Gilliland, Stephen Hanna and Nadia Vostrikov getting notes from Gemma Bond

Kaitlyn!

Carlos and Nadia

Striking a melodramatic pose: Carlos Lopez

Rina, Kaitlyn and Stephen

Aran Bell

Carlos and Nadia, one of my few actual dance shots that turned out

Kaitlyn Gilliland and Sarah James

Nancy Richer, Gemma Bond

Carlos Lopez. I met Carlos this past Spring when he danced with Lydia Johnson Dance.

Another of the Intermezzo choreographers, Adam Hendickson, is creating the 3rd movement of the string quartet as a pas de deux for Kaitlyn Gilliland and Stephen Hanna. I’m hoping to watch a rehearsal of this part of the programme soon.

Meanwhile, a short film featuring all the Intermezzo dancers moving to music from Verdi’s NABUCCO is in the works.

August 30, 2013
US Open Qualifying Tournament 2012/Day 3

Above: India’s Yuki Bhambri signing autographs after winning his first-round qualifying match at the US Open.

Tuesday August 21, 2012 – Over the past few years I’ve discovered and followed certain players during the US Open qualifying matches – people like Alejandro Falla, Bjorn Phau, Go Soeda, Tatsuma Ito and Rajeev Ram. This year all five of those men were up in the rankings and so were into the main draw already; congratulations to all of them, but it meant I would be spending this year’s tournament mostly checking out players new to me. Yuki Bhambri was the most exciting new discovery for me: he has an powerful serve and, after losing the first set, he buckled down and gave an impressive display of tennis skills in defeating the excellent and exciting Argentine Horacio Zeballos. It was close match, ending with a tie-breaker for the third set. I will definitely want to see Bhambri play again later in the week.

It was a beautiful day at the Open, breezy and with a nice mix of sun and clouds. There was a sizeable crowd and the usual annoyances of small children (parents: little kids get restless and cranky at tennis tournaments so leave ’em with a sitter), cellphones, and people gabbing during play. But for the most part I was able to find quiet spots to watch from, or to move if things got distracting. I was delighted to see the great Billie Jean King walking from court to court early in the day (the whole place is named after her, and deservedly so).

My first match was between two women I didnt know anything about: Dinah Pfizenmaier and Heidi El Tabakh. I initially pegged Pfizenmaier as the likely winner,but on the big points El Tabakh was able to capitalize and she won the match.

Thailand’s Danai Udomchoke, who I’ve seen play many times, put up a valiant fight but was out-gunned by Spain’s Adrian Menendez-Maceiras.

Three Asian women – all new to me – scored impressive victories: Ying-Ying Duan (very tall) and SaiSai Zheng (with a tendency to moon-ball) were representing the next generation of Chinese players, while Taipei’s Yung-Jan Chan presented her opponent with a double-bagel victory.

After watching Yuki Bhambri’s exciting victory, I decided to head home on a high note although there were still matches in progress. There’s some construction going on at the Tennis Center and both the noise and the necessary ‘detours’ are inconveniences.

But I did take a look at the newly-opened Court 17, a smallish arena-style venue with an intimate feeling. I hope to see a match there at some point this week.

August 23, 2012