What To Make Of the U.S. Open Scheduling

By Sandra Harwitt



Another dreary day of rain at Flushing Meadows, much to the frustration of all – players, media, fans, etc.


The only silver lining is that they were able to complete the remaining men’s quarterfinal between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez. We can thank Gonzo for forgetting he was supposed to put up a fight. Instead, he allowed Nadal to close out the win in 33 ½ minutes – the conclusion of the second set tiebreaker took only 90 seconds as Rafa won all four points.


The bad news is I just went outside – it’s nearly 3:30 in the afternoon -- and my weather instincts tell me they could be hard-pressed to get in anymore tennis today. (Okay, more than a few hours have been clocked off since then, it’s now 8:30 p.m. and we’re still waiting, and it’s still raining!)



They walked out on the court at 9:11 p.m. -- tennis will be played and the women are warming up -- it's been a long, boring wait!


At the very least with the women and the men into the semifinals the predicted good weather for the next two days means the Open should close its door on the singles competition on Monday, although the women’s doubles final could be held over until Tuesday – UGH! But with Nadal’s quarterfinal win tucked into his gear bag today, and if the weather the next two days is better, the singles championships should end on Monday.


The juniors are on schedule as they took them north to Port Chester to play indoors at the Sound Shore Indoor Tennis Club. The big news on the junior front is that Ohio State’s Chase Buchanan, 18, not only unseeded, but playing on a wildcard, is into the boys’ final. Buchanan, who won the U.S. National 18s at Kalamazoo this summer, will play 16-year-old Bernard Tomic of Australia, who already owns a Grand Slam trophy from the 2008 Australian Open.


Two really nice girls’ – 11th-seeded Heather Watson of Great Britain and unseeded Yana Buchina of Russia – will tangle for the girl’s title.


This entire week I’ve been charmed by Watson, who is the only person I’ve ever met that I know of that comes from Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel that is closer to France than its own country’s mainland. I recently read the Guernsey Literary Club and Potato Peel Pie Society and now have a keen interest in visiting the place. I had no idea that the Channel Islands were occupied by the Germans during World War II, which was when the novel took place. Watson paints a beautiful view of her hometown, although she’s been training at the Nick Bollettieri Academy since she was 11 and loves the beach and American shopping malls.


But back to the controversial subject of the day, which actually is not particularly applicable to this U.S. Open, but is interesting to ponder.


The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam that does not keep to the every-other-day-off pattern for the players when it gets down to the wire. At the other three Slams, they play the men’s semifinal on Friday and the men’s final on Sunday, the women’s semifinals on Thursday and the women’s final on Saturday.


At the U.S. Open it’s different – weather permitting. They play the women’s semis on Friday and final on Saturday night, the men’s semifinals on Saturday and the final on Sunday late afternoon.


The problem with this scenario is that it works against the players in terms of producing the best tennis possible. The day of rest in-between the semifinals and finals enables the players to recharge, most especially the men, who can be playing five-set matches.


In case you’re not aware, it’s all about TV and what host network CBS wants to air and when it wants to air it.


The players are not approving of the way the U.S. Open does it and they have always campaigned for a change to how it’s done at the other Slams.



But it does seem that this is one argument where the players don’t rule as host TV sponsors come with big fat check books, which help fund the big fat checks the players receive.


This is a good debate to contemplate and everyone should feel free to weigh in on their thoughts.

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As for the last blog's issue to ponder, here's a statement released from Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and Pesident, USTA, regarding the exploration of a roof for Arthur Ashe Stadium.



"The USTA actively investigating retractable roof concepts for Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of a broader exploration of long-range planning needs for the U.S. Open. However, any decisio regarding a potential roof must be balanced with the USTA's overall mission of growing the sport of tennis at every level in the U.S. For this reason, we will take the time to make the right decision, and will not hold ourselves to a specific timetable."



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U.S. Open History For September 12, 2009


In 1936, Fred Perry becomes the first non-American to win three U.S. Open titles. Interestingly, Perry would soon move from Great Britain to the United States, change his citizenship and fight with the Yanks during World War II.


In 1981, Tracy Austin wins her second and last U.S. Open title over first time U.S. Open finalist Martina Navratilova.


In 1998, Californian Lindsay Davenport wins her first Grand Slam trophy by beating Martina Hingis in the final. Davenport is the first American-born women to seize the title since Chris Evert won her last of six U.S. Open titles in 1982.


In 2004, Roger Federer, who is hoping to win his sixth consecutive U.S. Open title this year, won his first of that run with a straight-set victory over Lleyton Hewitt.