I just spent three days at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, my 10th consecutive year among the sport’s best and brightest at the US Open.
Although I’m tired from the trip, I returned home with all my limbs intact.
Unfortunately, many of the top players in the men’s draw can’t say the same thing.
In all my years faithfully watching professional tennis, I have never seen so many walkovers and retirements. And the fact that they predominate in the men’s tour makes me question the best-of-five format.
The ladies play best-of-three in all tournaments, whereas the men play best-of-five in all majors and many masters classics. The sport continues to become more physically demanding, and over the course of the year, these long matches can really takes their toll.
I love watching tennis; I hate watching men in tears as they are forced to withdraw due to injury.
The USTA pays men and women equally as they should — why not require them to play the same amount of tennis?
Who knows…it might lengthen some tennis careers and will definitely make the current tournaments more competitive.
Just one fan’s point of view…
Hat trick
If you’ve been watching the US Open Championships this week, you probably recognize this guy:
Denis Shapovalov, phenom from Canada
I first saw him beat Rafa Nadal a few weeks ago in a tournament in Montreal. Now he’s cutting a similar swath through the men’s bracket at the Open.
I’m pulling for him.
But I am distracted by his hat. It is always cinched so tight.
I have to wear caps like that at the widest possible position. Some don’t fit me at all. Which begs the question…
How small is Denis’ head? And how big is mine?
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Tagged Denis Shapovalov, hats, Humor, Rafa Nadal, Sports, Television, tennis, US Open