Tag: Tuesday August

Chaya Czernowin ~ the divine thawing of the core

Above: composer Chaya Czernowin, photo by Astrid Ackerman

~ Author: Lili Tobias

Tuesday August 19th, 2025 – This evening, the Talea Ensemble, with Claire Chase on solo contrabass flute, performed the US premiere of Chaya Czernowin’s the divine thawing of the core at the DiMenna Center. The concert was part of the Time:Spans Festival, and the musicians delivered a stunning performance to a nearly full house!

Breathing played a prevalent role in the sound world of the divine thawing of the core. The unusual collection of instruments in the ensemble, which included six flutes, six oboes, and six trumpets, leaned heavily on the winds, which were truly “windy” to the greatest extent. It was as if the musicians made up a collective weather system, at times calm and at others, stormy. The music began with a plaintive, single-note call-and-response structure between Claire Chase on the contrabass flute and the other sections of instruments. Tranquil, but at the same time eerily apprehensive and ill at ease.

Above: Claire Chase (rehearsal photo)

Further on in the piece, the storm broke: the winds and brass howling and screaming, the notes swirling behind the frantic trills of the contrabass flute. Chase displayed incredible breath control when the music got chaotic. Although it seemed at first as though she was struggling for breath with sharp uptakes of air, I could ultimately tell that this effect was deliberate. The breath in was just as important as the breath out, as it added an extra layer of humanity to the music that can be difficult to achieve with a non-vocal ensemble.

From the first few delicate tones to the turmoil of a “demonic waltz,” Czernowin’s music continually circled around exact pitches, rarely landing solidly on a frequency. The winds bent the notes, wavering and unstable, while the cellos bowed deep into the strings, producing rumbly low sounds. Even the piano, when it first entered the soundscape, provided key strikes that oscillated up and down in their decay.

And together as an ensemble too, the musicians often behaved as one entity emitting and ever-shifting collection of sound. The addition and subtraction of tones from the cumulative voice of the ensemble created a brand new form of pitch variance, and this perpetual suggestion—but never clarification—of pitch kept me attuned to every tiny transformation.

Suddenly though, all airflow was cut off, and just the breathing of the audience was left in the hall. After a moment of silence, applause erupted through the rows of seats and lasted for a good 5 minutes!

The musicians of the Talea Ensemble:

Laura Cocks, Flute

Yoshi Weinberg, Flute

Isabel Lepanto Gleicher, Flute

Catherine Boyack, Flute

Amir Farsi, Flute

Michael Matsuno, Flute

Michelle Farah, Oboe

Stuart Breczinksi, Oboe

Christa Robinson, Oboe

Jeffrey Reinhardt, Oboe

Karen Birch Blundell, Oboe

Mekhi Gladden, Oboe

Sam Jones, Trumpet

Jerome Burns, Trumpet

ChangHyun Cha, Trumpet

Alejandro López-Samamé, Trumpet

Atse Theodros, Trumpet

Robert Garrison, Trumpet

Mike Lormand, Trombone

Dan Peck, Tuba

Margaret Kampmeier, Piano

Sae Hashimoto, Percussion

Chris Gross, Cello

Brian Snow, Cello

Thapelo Masita, Cello

Conductor: James Baker

~ Lili Tobias

August 29, 2025
@ The US Open Qualifers ~ 2024

Above: China’s Bu Yunchaokete

Tuesday August 20th, 2024 – Today, for the 25th summer, I made the trek out to Flushing to the US Open. For the first few years after moving to NYC in 1998, I would go to the main tournament once or twice a season. As that became increasingly expensive, even for a day pass, I started going to the qualifying matches. For several summers, this was perfect: as it was free, I sometimes went three of the four days. The people who came to watch were true tennis fans; sometimes only 2 dozen or so people would be watching a given match. But then the NY Times wrote about the qualifiers as an inexpensive destination for a summer’s day, and each year the crowds grew, bolstered by parents dragging their kids and by large groups of youngsters from summer camps.

Nowadays the qualifying tournament is more like a big event where tennis matches are there to be watched if you’re interested. There’s lots of shopping and dining opportunities, and various entertainments for children. Crowds mill around; people will drop by to watch a few points in a match and then drift away.

Today, I set out early but a delay on the #7 line caused me to arrive just as the first matches were starting. I picked the least crowded court and watched a match between Germany’s Eva Lys and the American-born Czech player Gabriela Knutson. Ms. Lys dominated the first set, but in the second, Ms. Knutson got her bearings and gave the German a run for her money, coming from behind while Lys had match-point within her grasp. The audience, which grew in size as the match became more heated, seemed vocally supportive of Ms. Knutson; but Ms. Lys prevailed. Highlights here.

I then went over to Court 12 where the “match of the day” between China’s Bu Yunchaokete and Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama was soon to begin. Wei had urged me to check out his compatriot, Bu, and I’d seen and enjoyed the Japanese fellow at prior Opens.

Bu has a cracking wallop of a serve, but it sometimes flew long, or went into the net. His shots in general showed blistering power, which Uchiyama could not always deal with. Bu took the first set, but Uchiyama stepped up his game in the second set, where Bu seemed in better control of his power, but Uchiyama had more answers. The set went to a tie-break, with Bu the victor. Watch highlights here.

Above: the Cerundolo brothers, Francisco and Juan Manuel

On the schedule I saw the name ‘Cerundolo’ but I could not imagine why the talented Argentine, Francisco Cerundolo, would have to qualify. I went to have a look, and found that Cisco has a kid brother: Juan Manuel.

Today, Juan Manuel was facing a tall and lanky Brit: Billy Harris. Harris, who has a rather peculiar service motion, took the first set comfortably. But then Juan Manuel’s plucky determination took hold; he had some great shots in the second set, and the audience, seemingly intrigued by the David-and-Goliath situation, seemed to be urging him on. The final set could have gone either way, and while Harris won in the end, the Argentine played admirably and won new fans along the way. Highlights here.

I headed for the train to Manhattan; weather-wise, this had been the most perfect day I’d ever spent at the Open. Thinking of all the players – renowned or forgotten – I’ve seen play there since 1998 (Kim Clijsters won my first-ever live US Open match!), I wondered if this might be my last trip out to Flushing. Time will tell.

~ Oberon

August 20, 2024
US Open Qualifiers ~ 2023

Tuesday August 22nd, 2023 – One of the most pleasant days, weather-wise, I have ever spent at the US Open. In recent years, my enjoyment of the matches has been compromised by extreme heat; the sun beats down on the courts, and there’s no escaping it. I sometimes wonder why more people – and especially the players and ball-boys – don’t faint. But today, clouds allowed the sun to make only passing appearances, and there was a lovely breeze.

I watched two matches: Taro Daniel of Japan (seeded 4th in the qualifying tournament) facing India’s Samit Nagal, and then the 18-year-old Chinese “rising star” (according to Wei) Shang Juncheng dueled the Argentine Genaro Alberto Olivieri.

Tall and lean, Taro Daniel dominated the first set of his match against Samit Nagal. Nagal is a talented and energetic player, but despite some fine moments, he had few answers for Taro, who took the set 6-1. But Nagal fared much better in the second set, winning the crowd’s acclaim for some brilliant shots. Nagal pulled ahead at one point, and it seemed that we might be headed to a third set, but then Taro’s years of experience took hold and he swept to victory.

Above and below: Taro after the match.

I had expected to go directly from the Daniel/Nagal match to watch the Shang/Olivieri contest, but the women’s match on court 15 was running late. I took a long walkabout, checking out several matches in progress; very few of the players were familiar to me. They all seemed terribly young.

Shang Juncheng (above) opened his match with a perfectly placed ace. His Argentine opponent fought ardently but most of the first set was all about China. Olivieri stepped up his game in set 2, and the momentum shifted somewhat. Shang Juncheng’s serve could be erratic – there were a couple of double faults – but in the end he prevailed.

Each year, I think: “This will be my last Open!” In fact, I almost didn’t go today. But in the end, I was glad that I did.

~ Oberon

August 21, 2023
@ US Open Qualifiers ~ 2022

Above: China’s Yue Yuan

Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 – Every Summer, since moving to New York City in 1998, I have gone to the US Open. For several years, we bought tickets and saw favorite players like Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters Paradorn Schrichaphan, and Richard Gasquet; but as tickets became increasingly expensive and audiences seemed to be there more for the event than the actual game of tennis, I started going to the qualifying tournament. For a few years, this was a perfect solution for me, since most attendees were very serious about tennis; but then one summer the NY Times ran an article about this fantastic, free, all-day tennis event in Queens, and the qualifying tournament became a destination.

The qualifiers take place the week before the main tournament starts. Admission is free, and all day – and sometimes until late at night – you can move from court-to-court and see exciting newcomers as well as established players who – thru injury or just plain bad luck – have fallen down the rankings and who have come to the Tennis Center hoping to win a berth in the main draw. This year, such wonderful players as Fernando Verdasco, Gilles Simon, Andreas Seppi, and Pablo Cuevas were among those vying for a spot in the main draw line-up; unfortunately, none of them played today…they were all scheduled for Wednesday instead.

Having missed 2 years of live tennis due to COVID, I truly enjoyed being back at the Open. The first match I watched today today was between two Americans: Zachary Svajda (above) and Aleksandar Vukic. This year, there were no lines-people on the courts: Hawkeye is now in charge of determining what’s in and what’s out. Still, from somewhere, cries of “out!” were heard throughout the day. During the Svajda/Vukic match, the scoreboard malfunctioned; a ball-boy took a bathroom break and wasn’t on court when he was needed. But the match proceeded, with the youthful Mr. Svajda cruising to an early lead. The taller and seemingly stronger Mr. Vukic pulled even at 4-all, but the cunning Mr. Svajda held fast and took the first set. Svajda pretty much dominated the second set, though Vukic had his moments.

Over on court 17, a duel between big hitters – Ernesto Escobedo and Ethan Quinn – was great fun to watch: both players were simply pounding the ball, and Escobedo produced some brilliant aces. It was Escobedo who took the first set; but Quinn, who is 18 years old, seemed to have the audience’s backing, and he was relentless in the next two sets, claiming the win.

After a walkabout, I circled back to Court 17 where the long-legged Chinese beauty Yue Yuan faced America’s Katie Volynets. Ms. Volynets could not seem to do anything against Yue Yuan’s onslaughts in the first set, but she stepped up her game considerably in the second set, which went to a tense tie-breaker, which Yue Yuan finally won. The Chinese player’s cracking serve was something to see, and she used it as a weapon in her march to victory.

Thundershowers had been predicted, but none materialized: it was a simply perfect day. Despite the usual distractions – and the fact they wouldn’t take cash when I went to buy my humble lunch – I was very happy to be back at the US Open.

Above: Go Soeda at the US Open Qualifiers in 2017

Among the lesser-known players who I came to love over the years of watching the qualifying matches, I was sad – though not surprised – to see that the Japanese player Go Soeda was not participating this year. I think I have seen Go in more matches than any other player; he has a beautiful, classic game with deep shots, perfectly placed. He won almost every match I saw him play over the years, but I don’t remember him ever getting beyond the the first round of the main draw. Recently, I read that Go has become a father, and has retired from tennis. I certainly missed him at the Qualies this year.

UPDATE: How did the players I saw on Tuesday fare in the rest of the qualifying tournament? Both Zachary Svajda and Ethan Quinn lost in their second-round matches, by Yue Yuan won both her second and third round matches, and she advances to the main tournament.

Interestingly, two Chinese players – Wu Yibing and Zhang Zhizhen – prevailed in their three qualifying rounds, and they become the first Chinese men to enter the main draw at the US Open.

~ Oberon

August 23, 2022
@ The US Open Qualifiers ~ 2019

Above, Jason Jung: the big news of the day at the US Open Qualifying Tournament was Jung’s hard-fought win over Donald Young

Tuesday August 20th, 2019 – The heat has become a factor in determining which days and how much time I can spend at the National Tennis Center, pursuing my favorite non-musical pastime. I’ve gone to the US Open every Summer since I moved to New York City in 1998. After a few years of attending for main-draw tennis, I discovered the Qualifying Tournament, and I have continued to attend matches during that event even after I gave up on the main tournament as being too expensive and too crowded.

The Qualifying Tournament has changed a lot since I started going. It used to be that only serious tennis buffs would attend. Sometimes only a handful of people would be watching a given match. Hardly any children were to be seen, and cellphones had not yet proliferated our culture. You could watch match after match, sure of getting a seat, and without worrying too much about extraneous distractions.

Over time, the general public has discovered the Qualifying Tournament…and the fact that it’s FREE. The Qualies have become a destination. Baby strollers are now a court-side fixture – even though the occupants themselves are indifferent to the game itself – and hordes of school kids always show up. People who run summer camps bring large groups, giving them something to do for a day.. Shopping, eating, and irrelevant musical entertainment became part of the Qualie Experience.

Despite these developments. I have continued to make the trek to Flushing; I have learned to move about to avoid chatterboxes, bored and fussing children, and listening to cellphone conversations about the most inane things while the players are giving their all.

The Open has become sleeker, more commercial, more…plastic…over time, and I suppose that was inevitable. But now there’s a different element to the Qualies (and the entire tournament): the heat factor. There have always been the random hot days at the Open, but now they seem far more frequent…and far more intense. Most of the courts are exposed to the baking sun from morning to sunset. I do not know how the players are able to carry on in such conditions; yesterday, apparently, a ball-kid fainted on court.

So, anyway: this year, I skipped the first day – temperatures exceeding 90 degrees were forecast and indeed came to pass. Today the heat was very slightly less extreme, and a breeze kicked up from time to time. I arrived before the 11:00 AM start of play, and planned to stay for the Go Soeda-Tommy Robredo match, which I knew would not start until 6:00 or later.

Above: Sumit Nagal (an Associated Press image)

Despite wearing a baseball cap and a light-weight long-sleeved shirt, by 4:00 PM I began to feel like the Roasted Swan in CARMINA BURANA. I realized it was time to head home during the Tatsuma Ito-Sumit Nagal match. When their first set was to be decided in a tie-break, I held on to see how it would end. Nagal, a very intense, good-looking guy, won the tie-breaker, and went on to win the match.

But the excitement of the day centered on Jason Jung’s victory over Donald Young. Donald of course had the enthusiastic support of much of the crowd, but a goodly number of Jung admirers were vocal throughout the match – which might have helped propel him to a 3-set victory which ended with a tension-filled tie-breaker. The crowd was hanging on every point.

The exhausted Jung was interviewed on-court after his win…

…and greeted fans…

…and posed for dozens of photos.

One charming element of Fan Week was a band of roving jugglers and stilt-walkers; the girl above towered over me with her out-sized racquet, and cheerily posed for my camera.

My other pictures from today are of players who – unfortunately – lost:

Italy’s Lorenzo Giustino lost to Spain’s Guillermo Garcia Lopez, though Giustino made a fine impression.

Taro Daniel was defeated by Mario Vilella Martinez, a big-hitter who plays a passionate game. Both of the first two sets ended with tie-breakers, with Martinez winning the first and Taro the second. But the Spaniard prevailed at the end.

Tatsuma Ito, a long-time favorite of mine, got off to a good start against Sumat Nagal, but then the player from India stepped things up a notch or two.

Despite the horrible heat, I had fun today and will try to go back – but not tomorrow, as I originally planned: I can’t take another episode of baking quite so soon.

~ Oberon

August 20, 2019
@ The US Open Qualifiers ~ 2017

Author: Oberon

Tuesday August 22nd, 2017 – As many readers of this blog will know, starting in early March of this year, I developed severe hip arthritis – or maybe bursitis: the exact diagnosis remains unclear. I was literally homebound until, after six weeks of physical therapy, things began to improve…very slowly. Aside from the pain, I also suffered from a literal terror of going outdoors. This hindered my progress considerably. But by the end of May, I began setting goals to commence re-connecting with my world of music, dance, and…tennis.

My improvement stalled more than once; but, encouraged by my physical therapist and by friends who had been thru similar interruptions in their lives (thank you especially, Ask LaCour and Lydia Johnson!), I stuck to my course and one by one achieved my goals. The final one was set for today: to attend the first session of the US Open Qualifying Tournament. This has been an annual event for me for several years and I was determined to be there, come Hell or high water.

Just two weeks ago, the last level of recovery I had hoped for was attained: I was essentially 95% pain-free and weaned off the meds. But then, going to the US Open is not the same as going to a concert or a dance event: it’s an all-day experience that includes a very long subway ride from Inwood, lots of walking and standing about, and plenty of stair-climbing. Just as I was leaving my apartment to catch the train, I thought: “Should I pop some Aleve just to be safe?” Nope. Fuck it.

I won’t complain at length about the many inconveniences and distractions of going to the Open; I guess you have to shut up and put up with things like tantrum-throwing toddlers (small children don’t belong at the Open, especially on blisteringly hot days); badged employees – there are hundreds of ’em – who seem to have nothing else to do but congregate courtside and gab with one another or on their walkie-talkies during play; and staff members barking at you for one reason or another. And it’s all become so terribly commercialized.

But…on to the tennis:

Seventeen-year old Félix Auger-Aliassime (above) of Canada prevailed…

…over Japan’s Hiroki Moriya (above). Hiroki’s a good player and he made some nice shots, but he didn’t have the replies for what Félix was sending him from the opposite end of the court.

One court over, a huge throng had gathered to watch another Canadian teenager, Denis Shapovalov, who is building a reputation as a giant-killer. Today he defeated Denis Kudla; I had no energy to fight the crowds to get even a glimpse of the Battle of the Two Denises. Another bright young player on the ascent, Noah Rubin, succumbed to Germany’s Tobias Kamke in two sets; Rubin was treated for a shoulder or neck issue during the match, which undoubtedly affected his chances.

I stopped by to watch part of a match between two gentlemen from Portugal: Gastao Elias (above) and Goncalo Oliveira. Each player took a set, and it seemed to me that Oliveira had gathered steam in the second and might outlast Elias in the third, but instead Goncalo seemed to wilt and Gastao claimed the win. One fun aside: Goncalo Oliveira has a unique service preparation: it’s something you really have to see.

The only match I watched in its entirety today was between…

…Argentina’s Leonard Mayer (above)…

…and the Frenchman Maxime Janvier. Both men are tall, and both are big hitters: the Wilson balls took a real pummeling during their match. Mayer, seeded #1 in the Qualifying draw, made one exquisite drop-shot and had a bit of luck as one of his returns caught the tape and then dropped into Janvier’s end of the court. Despite his height, Mayer is an agile mover and was great fun to watch. It took just one break in each of the two sets for the Argentine to secure the victory.

More images of Leonardo Mayer from today’s match:

The serve…

…on guard…

…liftoff…

…signing autographs…

Leonardo turned pensive as well-wishers surrounded him after his win.

The predicted cloud-cover had dissipated into a haze and the sun was baking the courts. The match I had most wanted to see today, between Japan’s Go Soeda and India’s Yuki Bhambri, was scheduled for Court 10 but when I went to see if they’d started, the match preceding theirs was just getting underway.

I went to watch Japan’s Tatsumo Ito (above) playing against the Frenchman Kenny de Schepper but it was during their first set that I began feeling ‘the burn’. Ito is often a slow starter, and de Schepper took the opening set. When I got home, I checked the website to find that Ito had turned things around and scored a win.

I swung by Court 10 again to see if the Soeda/Bhambri match was anywhere near ready to go but that was not the case. It would have been one of those matches that’s hard for me to watch, as I like both players; in fact, they are my only tennis-playing Facebook Friends. I later found that Go had prevailed in a 3-setter.

On the women’s side, one name piqued my curiosity: Vera Zvonareva. In 2010, Zvonareva was a finalist both at Wimbledon and the US Open and reached a career-high ranking of #2. Injuries, marriage, and motherhood subsequently took her away from tennis. She is now making a comeback. I wish I had seen her play today; I didn’t notice her name in the listings until her match was over. Maybe I’ll catch her on Thursday, when I plan to go back to the Open.

So, In the end, my day turned out very well. The only pain involved was the sunburn I acquired, and that will fade in a day or two.

Leaving the tennis center, I couldn’t resist photographing this poster which reminded me so much of my Brix:

~ Oberon

August 22, 2017
US Open Qualifying Tournament 2015 – Day 1

Above: Renzo Olivo, of Argentina, serving in the sunshine

Tuesday August 25th, 2015 – Right up until the morning of, I was unsure if I’d be making my annual trek to the US Open qualifying tournament this year. Over the last two or three years, I have changed from being a “Summer person” to being a “Winter person”. I – who used to sunbathe avidly, and always loved hot, steamy weather – have done a complete volte face. I now find heat and humidity oppressive and really annoying.

But the lure of watching tennis live overwhelmed my concerns for comfort and so, after having a ‘private car’ on the 7 train out to the tennis center, I tried to ignore the sun beating down and the trickles of sweat. Around 2:00 a lovely breeze kicked in, and if you sat high enough up in the stands, you could maintain reasonable comfort.

The day started badly as two of my favorites went down to defeat: Tatsuma Ito (above) was over-powered by the big-hitting Russian Aslan Karatsev…

…whilst Somdev Devvarman (above) fell in a three set battle to the Slovakian Norbert Gombos.

Wei had asked me to check out the tall young Chinese player Ze Zhang (above), who won his first-set in an exciting tie-breaker against France’s Tristan Lamasine. In the second set, Ze Zhang was serving for the match but somehow lost a bit of momentum; Lamasine stepped up his level and took the set. In the deciding third, Ze Zhang seemed to be hobbled by an injury to his serving arm; his big serve was compromised and often he would just tap the ball into play. The trainer was out and did what he could to alleviate the problem, but Lamasine took advantage of the situation, playing even harder and forcing a victory. The Chinese crowd were demoralized. But Ze Zhang has the goods; I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of him in the seasons to come.

Japanese-American Taro Daniel (above), who impressed me at last Summer’s tournament, played a beautiful, dominating first set against the Argentine Renzo Olivo; Taro’s serve has a lovely slice to it. Olivo made some headway in the second, but Taro kept his cool and swept to victory.

I so enjoyed watching Taro’s match from my perch up in the stands. It was everything I love about tennis.

Above: Taro Daniel after the match.

I would have loved to have stayed on to see the 19-year-old Swede Elias Ymer, and my longtime favorite Alejandro Falla, but I was already sunburnt, and so I grabbed a big bottle of water and headed for the train. Both Ymer and Falla won their matches today, so hopefully I can catch them in the next round.

August 26, 2015
US Open Qualifying Tournament 2015 – Day 1

Above: Renzo Olivo, of Argentina, serving in the sunshine

Tuesday August 25th, 2015 – Right up until the morning of, I was unsure if I’d be making my annual trek to the US Open qualifying tournament this year. Over the last two or three years, I have changed from being a “Summer person” to being a “Winter person”. I – who used to sunbathe avidly, and always loved hot, steamy weather – have done a complete volte face. I now find heat and humidity oppressive and really annoying.

But the lure of watching tennis live overwhelmed my concerns for comfort and so, after having a ‘private car’ on the 7 train out to the tennis center, I tried to ignore the sun beating down and the trickles of sweat. Around 2:00 a lovely breeze kicked in, and if you sat high enough up in the stands, you could maintain reasonable comfort.

The day started badly as two of my favorites went down to defeat: Tatsuma Ito (above) was over-powered by the big-hitting Russian Aslan Karatsev…

…whilst Somdev Devvarman (above) fell in a three set battle to the Slovakian Norbert Gombos.

Wei had asked me to check out the tall young Chinese player Ze Zhang (above), who won his first-set in an exciting tie-breaker against France’s Tristan Lamasine. In the second set, Ze Zhang was serving for the match but somehow lost a bit of momentum; Lamasine stepped up his level and took the set. In the deciding third, Ze Zhang seemed to be hobbled by an injury to his serving arm; his big serve was compromised and often he would just tap the ball into play. The trainer was out and did what he could to alleviate the problem, but Lamasine took advantage of the situation, playing even harder and forcing a victory. The Chinese crowd were demoralized. But Ze Zhang has the goods; I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of him in the seasons to come.

Japanese-American Taro Daniel (above), who impressed me at last Summer’s tournament, played a beautiful, dominating first set against the Argentine Renzo Olivo; Taro’s serve has a lovely slice to it. Olivo made some headway in the second, but Taro kept his cool and swept to victory.

I so enjoyed watching Taro’s match from my perch up in the stands. It was everything I love about tennis.

Above: Taro Daniel after the match.

I would have loved to have stayed on to see the 19-year-old Swede Elias Ymer, and my longtime favorite Alejandro Falla, but I was already sunburnt, and so I grabbed a big bottle of water and headed for the train. Both Ymer and Falla won their matches today, so hopefully I can catch them in the next round.

August 25, 2015
US Open Qualifying Tournamement 2014 #1

Above: Belgium’s Steve Darcis

Tuesday August 19th, 2014 – Steve Darcis played an immaculate first set at the US Open Qualifying Tournament today. The Belgian is one of my favorite tennis players; I first encountered him in 2007 when he played in the Qualifiers and secured a position in the main draw. He has been ranked as high as #44 (in 2008) but his successes have been counter-balanced by injuries that have kept it from attaining his rightful place in the tennis world. He has everything: serve, return-of-serve (really on today!), depth, variety of shots, great court coverage, and agility at the net.

Throughout the first set today there was virtually nothing Spain’s Inigo Cervantes could do to keep the steam-rolling Darcis at bay. As the second set started, Cervantes seemed newly energized: his powerful serve began to work more impressively and there were some great rallies. And also some vocalism: both players loudly questioned line calls – Steve at one point rushing towards the chair umpire yelling “Jamais! Jamais! Jamais!” – and a bit later Cervantes smashed his racquet to the ground in frustration. Darcis had Cervantes at 5-4 and was serving for the match but he couldn’t close it out. They went on to a tie-breaker where Darcis finally prevailed.

Earlier, Go Soeda – a great favorite of mine and ranked #2 among the qualifiers – played his usual gorgeous game. But Oscar Hernandez’s power and grit were too much for Go to handle. The opposite happened when Ireland’s Louk Sorenson, a powerful and almost brutal player, took the first set from Portugal’s Gastao Elias. Thereafter Elias seized the upper hand, grinding down Sorenson’s stubbornly sturdy game with craftiness and finesse and going on to victory.

Above: Gastao Elias

Sorenson is a player who grunts emphatically every time he hits the ball. God help us if he and Azarenka ever team up for mixed doubles.

Growing weary of the crowds, I decided to head home a bit earlier than I had originally planned.

August 18, 2014
US Open Qualifying Tournament 2012

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 21, 2012