http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/jon_wertheim/09/05/usopen.midterm/
Given what's being televised when you turn away from the matches, the intrigue of the tennis world has never seemed more trivial.
It's a shame, because tennis seldom has looked better -- exceptional matches, exceptional crowds, exceptional weather. Old faces hanging in there; new faces crashing the party. American men finding the mojo. Internationals getting a warm reception in New York.
Herewith my midterm grades (through Sunday's matches), handed out on a bell curve.
A
Top seeds: Awfully strong first week for Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova.
The Roddick-aires: Taylor Dent, Robby Ginepri and especially James Blake all acquitted themselves well.
Mother Russia: Sharapova, Nadia Petrova, Elena Likhovtseva and Elena Dementieva still remain at the party.
Tennis philanthropy: Both the USTA and both tours deserve credit for a quick response to Hurricane Katrina. And kudos to Andre Agassi, Blake, Kim Clijsters, Sharapova, Lleyton Hewitt et al for taping those Red Cross PSAs.
B+
Andy Murray: Bonus points for giving new zest to the phrase "boot and rally." Teenage Brit showed guts (and assorted other innards) in a first-round saga over Andrei Pavel. Had be been granted a wild card, might he have more fuel in the tank against Arnaud Clement?
Sania Mirza: As much for her irrepressible personality as for her tennis. The Indian teen reached the fourth round before failing to Sharapova, winning countless fans in the process.
Rafael Nadal: He never hit the groove in New York and fell in four sets to Blake. But how's this for a money quote? "I know James has had some difficult moments, and so I'm happy for him. I like to see people do well who have suffered and been through hard things."
Fabrice Santoro: Lost in straight sets to Federer, but what a joy it is to watch him play.
B
Gilles Muller: Dr. Gilles and Mr. Hyde. The Pride of Luxembourg played stunningly well against Roddick -- and then stunningly poorly against Ginepri in round two.
Concession prices: Maybe it's because we've been hardened by the cost of gas. But for some reason, the food pricing doesn't seem quite so exorbitant this year.
C
Andy Roddick: Who remembers Reebok's "Dan & Dave" campaign?
Tim Henman: A semifinalist in 2004, Henman went out with a whimper in the first round. Unless his back heals, Henmania might be a thing of the past.
Svetlana Kuznetsova: Defending women's champ put the capper on a poor summer by mustering only five games against the world's 97th-ranked player.
Mark Philippoussis: former finalist couldn't muster a set in a listless effort against Karol Kucera. At least the U.S. will get an Australian Open wild card in exchange for his services.
D
ATP Board: Rejecting the recommendation of the player council and instituting doubles "enhancements" have turned into a black eye.
Given what's being televised when you turn away from the matches, the intrigue of the tennis world has never seemed more trivial.
It's a shame, because tennis seldom has looked better -- exceptional matches, exceptional crowds, exceptional weather. Old faces hanging in there; new faces crashing the party. American men finding the mojo. Internationals getting a warm reception in New York.
Herewith my midterm grades (through Sunday's matches), handed out on a bell curve.
A
Top seeds: Awfully strong first week for Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova.
The Roddick-aires: Taylor Dent, Robby Ginepri and especially James Blake all acquitted themselves well.
Mother Russia: Sharapova, Nadia Petrova, Elena Likhovtseva and Elena Dementieva still remain at the party.
Tennis philanthropy: Both the USTA and both tours deserve credit for a quick response to Hurricane Katrina. And kudos to Andre Agassi, Blake, Kim Clijsters, Sharapova, Lleyton Hewitt et al for taping those Red Cross PSAs.
B+
Andy Murray: Bonus points for giving new zest to the phrase "boot and rally." Teenage Brit showed guts (and assorted other innards) in a first-round saga over Andrei Pavel. Had be been granted a wild card, might he have more fuel in the tank against Arnaud Clement?
Sania Mirza: As much for her irrepressible personality as for her tennis. The Indian teen reached the fourth round before failing to Sharapova, winning countless fans in the process.
Rafael Nadal: He never hit the groove in New York and fell in four sets to Blake. But how's this for a money quote? "I know James has had some difficult moments, and so I'm happy for him. I like to see people do well who have suffered and been through hard things."
Fabrice Santoro: Lost in straight sets to Federer, but what a joy it is to watch him play.
B
Gilles Muller: Dr. Gilles and Mr. Hyde. The Pride of Luxembourg played stunningly well against Roddick -- and then stunningly poorly against Ginepri in round two.
Concession prices: Maybe it's because we've been hardened by the cost of gas. But for some reason, the food pricing doesn't seem quite so exorbitant this year.
C
Andy Roddick: Who remembers Reebok's "Dan & Dave" campaign?
Tim Henman: A semifinalist in 2004, Henman went out with a whimper in the first round. Unless his back heals, Henmania might be a thing of the past.
Svetlana Kuznetsova: Defending women's champ put the capper on a poor summer by mustering only five games against the world's 97th-ranked player.
Mark Philippoussis: former finalist couldn't muster a set in a listless effort against Karol Kucera. At least the U.S. will get an Australian Open wild card in exchange for his services.
D
ATP Board: Rejecting the recommendation of the player council and instituting doubles "enhancements" have turned into a black eye.
