Quantcast
nodot nodot
Pro Tennis Showcase
August 31 - September 1, 2008

Subscribe to Match Reports

Pro Tennis Showcase Archive

Player Profile Index (Men)
Player Profile Index (Women)

Contact Tennis Server

Tennis Server
HOME PAGE

Do You Want To Be A Better Tennis Player?

Then Sign Up For A Free Subscription to the Tennis Server INTERACTIVE
E-mail Newsletter!

Tom Veneziano You will join 13,000 other subscribers in receiving news of updates to the Tennis Server along with monthly tennis tips from tennis pro Tom Veneziano.
 
Best of all, it is free!

Tennis Features Icon TENNIS FEATURES:

TENNIS ANYONE? - USPTA Pro John Mills' quick player tip.
 
TENNIS WARRIOR - Tom Veneziano's Tennis Warrior archive.
 
TURBO TENNIS - Ron Waite turbocharges your tennis game with tennis tips, strategic considerations, training and practice regimens, and mental mindsets and exercises.
 
WILD CARDS - Each month a guest column by a new writer.
 
BETWEEN THE LINES - Ray Bowers takes an analytical and sometimes controversial look at the ATP/WTA professional tour.
 
PRO TENNIS SHOWCASE - Tennis match reports and photography from around the world.
 
TENNIS SET - Jani Macari Pallis, Ph.D. looks at tennis science, engineering and technology.
 
MORTAL TENNIS - Greg Moran's tennis archive on how regular humans can play better tennis.
 
HARDSCRABBLE SCRAMBLE - USPTA pro Mike Whittington's player tip archive.
 
TENNIS EQUIPMENT TIPS.

Tennis Community Icon TENNIS COMMUNITY:


Tennis Book, DVD, and Video Index
 
Tennis Server Match Reports
 
Editor's Letter
 
Become a Tennis Server Sponsor

Explore The Tennis Net Icon EXPLORE THE TENNIS NET:

Tennis News and Live Tennis Scores
 
Tennis Links on the Web
 
nodot
Pro Tennis Showcase Banner
 
Green Dot
 
Tennis Warehouse Logo
 
Green Dot

 
nodot
2008 US Open
Flushing Meadows - New York - August 31 - September 1, 2008
Editorial by Jane Voigt
Photos by Harvey Rubin
Tennis - US OPEN in the sky


 

Jane Voigt Photo
Jane Voigt

Character Essential on Court
 
September 1, 2008 -- Amelie Mauresmo had that kind of day. Her serve was off. She racked up 14 double faults in a two-set loss to Flavia Pennetta 6/3 6/0. For a player of her caliber -- a two-time Grand Slam champion -- Mauresmo's performance was distressful. Here's the odd thing, though. Mauresmo's first-serve percentage was 61% while Pennetta's was 42%. Peculiar? Not really. Because once the point started Pennetta fared better. She had half as many unforced errors -- 21 to Mauresmo's 40 -- and the Italian won more points on both her first and second serves. She only double faulted twice, too.
 
Mauresmo came to the U. S. Open hopeful and mentally rejuvenated, after her run to the semifinals at Pilot Pen Tennis last month. But her serve was shaky there, too, as if a harbinger of nightmares to come. Breaks of serves in her New Haven matches were as common as rain in a tropical jungle. Her head dropped too soon. Her hips rotated awkwardly. Her toss was off. And, her timing was rattled because of the poor consistency in her toss. No player can perform at an optimal level if the serve isn't grooving. The mind can't tolerate the errors when it intuitively understands the necessary standardÉ that the serve and return of serve are the two most important strokes in the game. If one's off the whole game could go because the mind bogs down in missed opportunities and, therefore, doesn't keep pace with the game as it moves forward.
 
Hopefully Mauresmo will take time to relax and regroup, watch video replays, pinpoint problems alongside her trusted coach Loic Courteau, then return to the game she fell in love with after watching her countryman and friend, Yannick Noah, win The French Open in 1983. Her fans would like that; and, the game of tennis needs her and her determination. Amelie is a leader in the women's game. Her versatility on court and her athleticism remain stalwarts of women's professional tennis.
 
Anna-Leon Groenefeld, the last remaining qualifier, lost to Dinara Safina today 7/5 6/0. Although the #6 seed Safina would have rather curled up in bed with a book today because of exhaustion, she persevered and found the answers she needed on court as the match progressed.
 
"I'm going to try what I can do today," Safina said in her after-match interview. "And slowly I started to feel like, okay, like I still can push myself."
 
Her perseverance worked beautifully along with her newly formed on-court patience and wisdom.
 
"I grew up I think a lot in the mind," Dinara began. "A year ago I would not be able to do these kind of things. I would already -- maybe even the match before against Baczinsky I would already lose. But somehow I started like to control better myself."
 
Dinara Safina will play Flavia Pennetta in the quarterfinals. The Russian is 4-0 against the Italian. But as Dinara said this afternoon, with regard to the possibility of one William's sister advancing to final after a number of years, "Well, there is always first time for everything in life." Her comment may be more prescient than she realizes.
 
Congratulations Sam Querrey! Congratulations for your positive outlook. For your willingness to take risks in the face of ultra wiggy topspin, Road Runner foot-speed, and a drive to win we have never seen demonstrated on a tennis court. Finally, congratulations Sam Querrey for taking a set from Rafael Nadal even though in the end when you shook hands with the Spaniard you did so knowing the score didn't go your way -- 6/2 5/7 7/6 (2) 6/3 -- today. You will be back. We can't wait.
 
Mardy Fish, an inspired man-on-court today, will play Rafa next. Nadal's match record against the American serve-and-volley player is 4-0. The last time they played was in the first round at Wimbledon in 2007. Much has changed since then. For both players. We are very familiar with Rafa's stellar year. However, this will be his first foray to the quarterfinals of the U. S. Open. Mardy has matured, too. Much of it occurring right here at this U. S. Open.
 
Like Querrey, Mardy Fish is unseeded. His run through the draw is noted by wins over qualifier Robert Smeets, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, his friend James Blake in straight sets and, today, against Gael Monfils 7/5 6/2 6/2. This soon-to-be-married American has done himself proud, even if he doesn't make it to the semifinals. But, Mardy can't think of that now.
 
According to reports, Fish thinks he "'absolutely'" has confidence. He knows his style of play affronts Nadal's baseline grinding. Mardy knows he can't play the Spaniard's game. It isn't his gig. And, more importantly, it won't work against Nadal.
 
"'You've got to be able to finish points quickly,'" Mardy said in an interview with tennis reporter Kamakshi Tandon. "'He's going to last longer than anybody. He wants to keep the points as long as possible and run the guys down, kind of body blow after body blow. If he's on the other side of the net, I don't intend to let him do that.'"
 
Mardy Fish won 65% of his points at net today. With his big serve, height, and willingness to approach, who knows what could happen. His style will dictate to Rafa the need for him to produce accurate and efficient passing shots. In return the crowds will roar, as both men try their best to make it through to a first-ever semifinal at The U. S. Open.
 

Tennis - US Open Grounds


 
 
9/1: Mardy Fish (USA) d [32] Gael Monfils (FRA) [red shirt] 75 62 62
 
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Mardy Fish
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Gael Monfils
Tennis - Mardy Fish

 
 
8/31: [3] Novak Djokovic (SRB) [green shorts] d Marin Cilic (CRO) 67(7) 75 64 76(0)
 
Tennis - Marin Cilic
Tennis - Marin Cilic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Marin Cilic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Novak Djokovic
Tennis - Marin Cilic

 

Green DotGreen DotGreen Dot

Player Profile Index (Men) | Pro Tennis Showcase Archive | Player Profile Index (Women)

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TENNIS SERVER PHOTO FEED

join our mailing list
* indicates required

All Tennis Server photography is copyrighted by the photographer and/or the Tennis Server, and all rights are reserved. You may not copy these images without permission. While you are welcome to create hyperlinks to Tennis Server web pages, you may not embed these images into other web pages or blogs without permission. To request permission, please use this contact form. Please be sure to clearly indicate exactly which photograph(s) you are requesting permission to use, as terms and conditions will vary depending on the photographer and the photograph.


 

nodot
nodot
Google
Web tennisserver.com
nodot nodot
The Tennis Server
Ticket Exchange

Your Source for tickets to professional tennis & golf events.
 
SAI Team Tennis Tournament Tickets
 
Dallas Open Tickets
 
Delray Beach Open Tickets
 
ATX Open Tickets
 
BNP Paribas Open Tickets
 
Miami Open Tickets
 
Credit One Charleston Open Tickets
 
US Men's Clay Court Championships Tickets
 
Wimbledon Tickets
 
Infosys Hall of Fame Open Tickets
 
Atlanta Open Tickets
 
Mubadala Citi Open Tennis Tournament Tickets
 
National Bank Open Women's Tennis Canada Tickets
 
National Bank Open Men's Tennis Canada Tickets
 
Western & Southern Open Tickets
 
Winston-Salem Open Tickets
 
US Open Tennis Championship Tickets
 

 

Popular Tennis books:
 
Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis-Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert, Steve Jamison
 
The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Mental Strategies for Fearless Performance by Jeff Greenwald
 
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
 
Most Recent Articles:
 
October 2022 Tennis Anyone: Patterns in Doubles by John Mills.
 
September 2022 Tennis Anyone: Short Court by John Mills.
 

 

 

 

"Tennis Server" is a registered trademark and "Tennis Server INTERACTIVE" is a trademark of Tennis Server. All original material and graphics on the Tennis Server are copyrighted 1994 - by Tennis Server and its sponsors and contributors. Please do not reproduce without permission.

The Tennis Server receives a commission on all items sold through links to Amazon.com.

 

Tennis Server
Cliff Kurtzman
Editor-in-chief
791 Price Street #144
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Phone: (281) 480-6300
Online Contact Form
How to support Tennis Server as a Sponsor/Advertiser
Tennis Server Privacy Policy