It had to be tough. Knowing you were about to end someone's career. Not only that, but on your opponents home turf.
Such was the task for Juan Martin Del Potro defeating Andy Roddick in his last match.
There are going to be many, many recaps of Roddick's fine career littering the web in the next 24 hours. Here in the Cheap Seats, we will mostly concur with everything written. While Andy has not been our favorite, we have always been a fan. He carried the American men's tennis torch by himself for many years.
Here we want to give some love to Del Potro. After he ended Roddick's career, what ensued was one of the classiest demonstrations I have seen in sport. DelPo did not fist pump, he did not celebrate. He slowly walked to the net and embraced Roddick, had a brief exchange and took a seat.
By this time, Del Potro had won over most of the crowd with his demeanor. With his on court interview, we think he won many new fans.
Del Potro could easily have been the villain, just by being the guy who ended Roddick's career. The way he handled himself at the end of the match quashed any of that. We have always liked Del Potro. Now he may have become one of our favorites.
Showing posts with label Andy Roddick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andy Roddick. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
US Open 2012: Roddick survives for another day
Andy Roddick's farewell US Open lives one more day. With play suspended due to rain with Roddick and Juan Martin Del Potro just starting a first set tie-breaker, the rains came. Roddick won the first point of the tie-break, so Del Potro will be serving down 0-1 when play resumes.
Who does this favor? We think both players, to a certain degree. Roddick alrealy leading the tie-break, has the first set advantage in our opinion. However, with the urgency with which Del Potro left the grounds at Flushing Meadows, maybe the delay will give him a chance to get himself together.
This match leaves us here in the Cheap Seats somewhat conflicted. While we are on record as predicting a surprise Del Potro US Open championship, how can we really root against Roddick? Wouldn't another major title in his final tournament be the ultimate farewell?
Match of the Tournament
Victoria Azarenka's three set victory over defending champion Samantha Stosur in a thrid set tie-break (7-5) was the match of the tournament thus far. Men or women. After so many lop-sided matches (especially in prime time) this was a great match.
Rain, rain go away
Where we live, rain and more rain would be a welcome site. At the US Open, not so much. And while they can't control the atmosphere, the UTSA deserves some blame here if the men's final ends up being on a Monday once again.
First and foremost, the idiotic three day first round. Weather permitting, let's get everyone into the second round by end of play on the first Tuesday. Give yourselves some leeway for when the almost inevitable weather comes. I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express at some point in my life. That makes an expert on pretty much everything.
Who does this favor? We think both players, to a certain degree. Roddick alrealy leading the tie-break, has the first set advantage in our opinion. However, with the urgency with which Del Potro left the grounds at Flushing Meadows, maybe the delay will give him a chance to get himself together.
This match leaves us here in the Cheap Seats somewhat conflicted. While we are on record as predicting a surprise Del Potro US Open championship, how can we really root against Roddick? Wouldn't another major title in his final tournament be the ultimate farewell?
Match of the Tournament
Victoria Azarenka's three set victory over defending champion Samantha Stosur in a thrid set tie-break (7-5) was the match of the tournament thus far. Men or women. After so many lop-sided matches (especially in prime time) this was a great match.
Rain, rain go away
Where we live, rain and more rain would be a welcome site. At the US Open, not so much. And while they can't control the atmosphere, the UTSA deserves some blame here if the men's final ends up being on a Monday once again.
First and foremost, the idiotic three day first round. Weather permitting, let's get everyone into the second round by end of play on the first Tuesday. Give yourselves some leeway for when the almost inevitable weather comes. I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express at some point in my life. That makes an expert on pretty much everything.
Monday, September 3, 2012
2012 US Open: A strange first week
The first week (and a little more) of the 2012 US Open is behind us, and, quite frankly, it's been just a little strange.
Not so much the actual tennis, for the most part the usual suspects are still around, but just the whole feel of it. With this being the last hurrahs of Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, the entire event has been a kind of nostalgic, feel-good tournament. The on-court interviews after every match have turned into a tribute to the two retirees.
Not that it has been a bad thing. Roddick and Clijsters deserve all the good things being said about them. It has just brought about a different kind of aura to the event.
Serena is Scary Good
Since Serena Williams surprise dismissal in the second round of the French Open, she has been playing frighteningly well. I don't know that I have ever seen a player that looks like so outclassed the competition before. Serena was quoted as saying her opponent on Monday played well. Her opponent failed to win a game. Imagine if she had not played well.
It would require a complete meltdown by Serena for her to lose a match right now. But we have seen that happen before. However, I would not count on that happening at this point in time.
Isner is what he is
John Isner has a huge serve and huge forehand. Not much defense. If a set doesn't go to a tiebreak, one break either way usually decides it. That is Isner. A top 15 player. With that huge serve, probably for long time. We don't see him ever getting to the point where he can win a major.
Isner will play a ton of matches that go the distance (whether that be three or five sets) against good players. He will lose as many as he wins. Because it all revolves around one service break or the tie breaker.
Not so much the actual tennis, for the most part the usual suspects are still around, but just the whole feel of it. With this being the last hurrahs of Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, the entire event has been a kind of nostalgic, feel-good tournament. The on-court interviews after every match have turned into a tribute to the two retirees.
Not that it has been a bad thing. Roddick and Clijsters deserve all the good things being said about them. It has just brought about a different kind of aura to the event.
Serena is Scary Good
Since Serena Williams surprise dismissal in the second round of the French Open, she has been playing frighteningly well. I don't know that I have ever seen a player that looks like so outclassed the competition before. Serena was quoted as saying her opponent on Monday played well. Her opponent failed to win a game. Imagine if she had not played well.
It would require a complete meltdown by Serena for her to lose a match right now. But we have seen that happen before. However, I would not count on that happening at this point in time.
Isner is what he is
John Isner has a huge serve and huge forehand. Not much defense. If a set doesn't go to a tiebreak, one break either way usually decides it. That is Isner. A top 15 player. With that huge serve, probably for long time. We don't see him ever getting to the point where he can win a major.
Isner will play a ton of matches that go the distance (whether that be three or five sets) against good players. He will lose as many as he wins. Because it all revolves around one service break or the tie breaker.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)