Andy crashes out of the Open

September 8, 2015

Andy Murray went down to Kevin Anderson in four sets on Labor Day evening at the US Open. You knew this one was going to be trouble, because Andy had already had a match in which he was down two sets and had to rally and the chances that he could do it twice were not good, plus Anderson was the one who took Novak Djokovic to five sets at Wimbledon.

He’s a big guy with a big serve, and guys like him can upset the more complete players in the earlier rounds of a Wimbledon or a US Open, where a serve counts for a lot and where luck, let’s face it, counts for everything. ...

Rafa and Tebow – out of sight but not out of mind

September 8, 2015

Well, Rafael Nadal is out of the US Open (again) and Tim Tebow is out of the NFL (again). As a fan of both, I’m sorry to see them go but not surprised.

Rafa was up to two sets and 3-1 in the third against Fabio Fognini (yes, I know, Who?) in the third round of the Open Friday night into Saturday morning when, depending on your viewpoint, Rafa lost it or Fabio staged a fab comeback. ...

Deflategate ends with a TKO

September 4, 2015

A New York judge has overturned the NFL’s suspension of Tom Brady in effect on a technicality, saying the process that led to the suspension was flawed.

Is it any wonder? In the NFL, the process is almost always flawed, because commish Roger Goodell is no Alexander when it comes to leadership. ...

Is it ‘Open’ season for Federer?

September 2, 2015

Well, they’re dropping like the proverbial flies at the US Open with a record 12 retirements in the first round.

It’s no surprise. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – site of the Open in Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, Queens – is one of the happiest places this side of The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. It’s a rich, beautiful experience with great food and shops – and, of course, great tennis. It’s also hotter than Hades. ...

Of studs and duds – Loss, American Pharoah & Novak Djokovic

September 1, 2015

After the highs of June (American Pharoah winning the Triple Crown) and July (planet Pluto, Novak Djokovic defending his Wimbledon title), August has been a bit of a dud for me, with AP losing to Keen Ice at the Travers this past Saturday and Nole losing the Rogers Cup (to Andy Murray) and then the Western & Southern Open (to Roger Federer). ...

At the US Open – The two temperaments (Nick and Andy); plus Rafa and the recent past

August 31, 2015

Two terrific matchups in Round 1 of the US Open, which begins today – Andy Murray versus Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal versus Borna Ćorić.

But really it’s the battle of the two temperaments and Rafa versus his recent past.

Not for nothing is “A star is” Borna known as “Baby Nole.” That range, that return, that poise – all at 18. He’s already beaten Rafa (at Basel in October) but really, it’s more than that. For Rafa’s it’s got to be like looking in a mirror at when it all began to unravel for him, back in 2011. ...

Nick Kyrgios receives further punishment – sort of

August 27, 2015

So follow this: Nick Kyrgios has been fined an additional $25,000 and suspended 28 days for going all Scarlet Letter on Stan Wawrinka’s girlfriend, tennis player Donna Vekic, at the Rogers Cup.

Except he hasn’t been. Nick will only pay the additional fine and serve the suspension if he misbehaves over the course of a six-month period ending Feb. 24. ...