First Day At Flushing Meadow

The alarm went off at 4:30 A.M., which does not make one a happy camper. But it was off to the 2009 U.S. Open -- another year at the always chaotic last Grand Slam of the year.

Needless to say, the first day at the Open is getting settled and saying hello to everyone. At this task I am running two days behind my colleagues as the Open started on Monday even if Sandra was starting on Wednesday!

While it's a new year much about the media center is the same as it's been since Arthur Ashe Stadium opened in 1997. This year there seems to be a few less colleagues as the media world suffers from the financial crunch.

As I greeted colleagues -- the European two-kiss hello is tres chic around these parts -- I didn't mind throwing out that I am two days fresher than they are having already handled two nights hunkered in for matches.

In case you're wondering, for spectators, the invention of flood lights was a marvel -- there's an electricity to the night air, especially since it seems that the best matches tend to drink in the moonlight while dazzling fans.

However, as far as the media is concerned, for the guy, or the gal, who invented floodlights we say -- in jest, of course, -- let a plague curse your house! If you're thinking that's harsh, try watching and writing on a match that is ending way after midnight. I promise you that you'd change your mind.

Well, this is my first post and I'm going to leave the tennis etc. until tomorrow when I'm bound to be more awake and focused. But this is just to introduce the blog - Thoughts On This & That! And will see how it goes!

U.S. Open Historical Tidbits from Wednesday, September 2

1924 -- Bill Tilden wins his fifth straight U.S. men's singles title -- Will Roger win his record sixth straight in the Open Era this year?

1971 -- Former lovebirds Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors win their first ever U.S. Open singles matches of their career. Many might have heard of Connors' opponent, Alex Olmedo, who surrendered a two-set lead to Connors. But does anyone remember Edda Buding, who Evert beat 6-1, 6-0 in 42 minutes?

1991 -- That historic match where Jimmy Connors, senior citizen at age 39, comes back from two-sets-to-one down to upset a chipper at 24 Aaron Krickstein in the Labor Day fourth-rounder that has aired on many TV screens as fill during many U.S. Open rain delays. Krickstein says the match has made him a remembered man, so the loss became a win for him.

A NOTE FROM WEDNESDAY

The ever charming Rafa Nadal on why he cut his hair shorter: "That makes me feel younger, no?" The guy gets laughs!