These past two days have been about many things: A Rockstar, A Flexing Scotsman, Monfils "funkin' it up," and good old thunderbolts from Andy.
A Rockstar
Rafa Nadal...yeah, he is now officially "the Rockstar" in NY, as in he is the face of the open this year. His match against Troicki was vintage Rafa today; he practically "chased" Troicki to submission.
I couldn’t help wonder at a point, if Troicki hit a forehand smash into stratosphere, Rafa would have still chased it down using a rocket ship and hit back a backhand cross screamer. (The point in this clip at 1.36 embodies my perspective.)
Chiseled, ruthless and insanely efficient...it will take a dream day for either Federer or De-Joker to stop Rafa from his third slam for this year. Others can only watch him chase them to submission. I love the red and white fiery outfit, too.
The Flexing Scotsman
Is it me or everyone, every time I see Murray, I remember the ship in Pirates of the Caribbean: "The Flying Dutchman." Andy was on the brink today, two points away from going down in straight sets against Melzer and he managed to turn in around. He played with a lot of fire and passion, and he stringed together some brilliant shots at times.
- B/R Ticket Guide
He was on Louis Armstrong (Court One) today, and the crowd took to him like he was a vintage New Yorker. Try as they might to convince me otherwise, I actually think New York suits him better than the serenity of Wimbledon. He is marginally brash, he has a very off -the-cuff, undertoned, subtle, yet brilliant, sense of humor, and he lets the crowd know what he is thinking...oh yeah, and the New York crowd loves him.
He realistically should get through the Other Swiss (Wawrinka) in the next round, and who does not love the muscle flexing? This was at Wimbledon...but a similar rendition was made on Louis Armstrong yesterday. He is indeed the FLEX-ing Scotsman. I’ll see you in the final four, Andy (I just really wish, you need not run into Rafa next Saturday).
Monfils Funkin’ it Up
Gael (or Sliderman, as they call him) pulled one over quite a podgy (darn those butter pies in Argentina) Nalbandian today. It was not even close, as Gael won in three. He made it into my write-up today because of his funk-trance, in the celebration afterwards.
Maybe it is me again, but doesn’t it look like the life-size air balloon of people that dances due to the wind blowing? It is just flat out odd, and it makes me all squiggly when I see it. I just want to curl up into a blanket and bury my head inside for some reason when I see it.
Here is a rendition of the same, judge by yourself. Gael is fine, but he is again one of those players whom I speculate will end up slam-less. He belongs to the fun, entertaining, decent and ‘Almost Good Enough’ category.
Good Old Thunderbolts
ROD was neck-deep in trouble last evening at Arthur Ashe. With a set and a break down, I thought he was gone for all money. I had just settled in after a long week on a Friday evening, and thought this could be a very unpleasant start to the long week end. Is there any doubt that Gulbis can play?
Remember his name, for he is one of the vanguards of the next generation. He has an efficient and a compact game reinforced with power and pop on the serve and ground strokes, he is here to stay.
I have to give a lot of credit to ROD, however, for surviving in four. The second set was the key. ROD hung in there, when Gulbis was serving for it, broke him and managed to win it, too.
I think, at a set and a break down, ROD decided to go for it, independent of winning or losing, and he decided to go down bombing. If one of those airport alert lights were in place in Arthur Ashe last evening, I am sure it would have been glowing RED all the way, for there were some huge thunderbolts from ROD.
He bombed relentlessly and mercilessly. His serve kept him in the match, which he would eventually take in four. Brilliant effort for hanging in there, and I offer a shout-out to the young Latvian, for he is the future of the game.
It was also both of their birthdays last night, so belated wishes. At least ROD is old enough to have a Guinness on his birthday in the states.
The Conundrum
My adorable, deranged Russian went down in round two to Robredo, but the worse part was he got bageled in the fourth. The explanation was somewhere along the lines of, he lost interest in the competition. I think being a masochist is a quality to root for Marat.
He destroys himself and us, every time I see him, I go with the exact same sentence of someone who is heart broken, "Ohhh, Marat, what are you doing to me?...and yourself?"
I mean, why rock up to NY and Arthur Ashe if you lost the desire to fight...the perennial conundrum—Marat Safin.
That wraps up week one of the Open. Early rise tomm (Sunday) for both Rodge and ROD play on Arthur Ashe day session. Would love to sit back and watch an entire uninterrupted match of Rodge. Would love to see ROD, too.
A quick morning Starbucks run for a grande iced white mocha and settle in—comfortably on the couch.
I’ll see you all next week when we get to the business end of the tournament.
In the first week, it's just cookin' now...ready to be served warm and spicy next week (with a glass of elegant dry red, of course).
Enjoy the (long) week end
Cheers -
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2 months ago
Murray looks in good form, it's got to be him and rafa in the final!
from 2 months ago
murray meets rafa in the semis Ricky - if they both get there
2 months ago
first week was so so many top seeds were crashed out in us open 2008. it would be tough for nadal and murry to crash in semifinal as Del petro is also in same group. i would love to see roddick and federer in semifinal of us open 2008
from 2 months ago
aditi
ROD - De-Joker before should be a firecracker ?
two blokes with tons of personality-
check back in about two hours, i have a game that am gonna post -
2 months ago
yeah for roddick it is also tough as in 4th round he had to face Fernando Gonzalez and in quater novak.
but nobody knows what happen may be SAM query put some surprise today.
from 2 months ago
yeah - may be the NEW YORK effect ?
murray has been brilliant too hah
2 months ago
I know Roddick is playing well Long:) I occasionally look beyond Murray haha
Great read mate. Keep it up.
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