Mondays with Bob Greene
STARS
US Open
Men’s singles: Novak Djokovic beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-3
Women’s singles: Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams 6-2 6-4
Men’s doubles: Mike Bryan and Jack Sock beat Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo 6-3 6-1
Women’s doubles: Ashleigh Barty and Coco Vandeweghe beat Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic 3-6 7-6 (2) 7-6 (6)
Mixed doubles: Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray beat Alicja Rosolska and Nicola Mektic 206 6-3 11-9 (match tiebreak)
Boys’ singles: Thiago Seyboth Wild beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-1 2-6 6-2
Girls’ singles: Wang Xiyu beat Clara Burel 7-6 (4) 6-2
Boys’ doubles: Adrian Andreev and Anton Matusevich beat Emilio Nava and Axel Nefve 6-4 2-6 10-8 (match tiebreak)
Girls’ doubles: Cori Gauff and Caty McNally beat Hailey Baptiste and Dalayna Hewitt 6-3 6-2
Men’s wheelchair singles: Alfie Hewett beat Shingo Kunieda 6-3 7-5
Women’s wheelchair singles: Diede De Groot beat Yui Kamiji 6-2 6-3
Men’s wheelchair doubles: Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid beat Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer 5-7 6-3 11-9 (match tiebreak)
Women’s wheelchair doubles: Diede De Groot beat Yui Kamiji 6-3 6-4
Quad wheelchair singles: Dylan Alcott beat David Wagner 7-5 6-2
Quad wheelchair doubles: Andrew Lapthorne and David Wagner beat Dylan Alcott and Bryan Barten 3-6 6-0 10-4 (match tiebreak)
OTHER
Lorenzo Sonego beat Dustin Brown 6-2 6-1 to win the Aon Open Challenger in Genova, Italy
Denis Istomin beat Reilly Opelka 6-4 6-2 to win the Oracle Challenger men’s singles in Chicago, Illinois, USA
Petra Martic beat Mona Barthel 6-4 6-1 to win the Oracle Challenger women’s singles in Chicago, Illinois, USA
SAYINGS
“If you told me in February this year when I got the surgery that I’ll win Wimbledon, US Open and Cincinnati, would be hard to believe. But at the same time there was always part of me that imagined and believed and hoped that I can get back on the desired level of tennis very soon.” – Novak Djokovic, after winning the US Open.
“I was playing almost at the limit, all the time, looking for winners with my forehands, backhands, and I couldn’t make it because Novak (was) there every time.” – Juan Martin del Potro, after losing the US Open men’s singles final to Novak Djokovic.
“I know everyone was cheering for (Serena) and I’m sorry it had to end like this.” – Naomi Osaka, after beating Serena Williams to win the US Open women’s singles.
“She played an amazing match. She deserved credit, she deserved to win. At the end of the day, that’s what it was.” – Serena Williams.
“I know that she really wanted to have the 24th Grand Slam, right? Everybody knows this. It’s on the commercials, it’s everywhere. Like, when I step onto the court, I feel like a different person, right? I’m not a Serena fan. I’m just a tennis player playing another tennis player. But then when I hugged her at the net, I felt like a little kid again.” – Naomi Osaka.
“She was so focused. I think, you know, whenever I had a break point, she came up with some great serve. Honestly, there’s a lot I can learn from her from this match.” – Serena Williams, after losing the US Open women’s singles final to Naomi Osaka.
“When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions. Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.” – Billie Jean King, tweeting support of Serena Williams.
“I’m still waiting to get to be the Serena that I was.” – Serena Williams.
“(Roger Federer) is a player I’ve looked up to throughout my career. But it’s like anything; I have never been a fan of playing anyone’s reputation. When you go out on court, it’s about engaging in a battle.” – John Millman, who beat Federer 3-6 7-5 7-6 (5) 7-6 (3).
“I felt like the six months off served me very well to find new motivation, inspiration, to recharge my batteries and also to understand how I want to continue playing tennis, in which way, whether there are certain changes that I want to make with my racquet and my game itself.” – Novak Djokovic, on being sidelined after undergoing surgery earlier this year.
“I just really want to have fun with every match that I play because tennis is a game. But, like, professional tennis players, sometimes I think we lost sight of that.” – Naomi Osaka, who became the first Japanese player to win Grand Slam singles title, beating Serena Williams in the women’s final.
“You can only focus on things you can control. Yeah, I’m nervous, but I can still move my feet. Yeah, I’m nervous, but I can still hit my serve over 60 miles an hour. There’s things you can do to control the moment.” – Sloane Stephens.
“I had the chances and I didn’t take them. Against Roger, you’re not going to get many.” – Nick Kyrios, after losing to Roger Federer.
“A great learning experience for me.” – Alex de Minaur, who won the first two sets had eight match points but lost to Marin Cilic.
“I think we should no longer play five sets. That’s my opinion. I think that’s the past. They won’t stop until someone dies.” – Leonardo Mayer, who retired from his match in the fourth set due to heat exhaustion.
SERB DOMINATES
Novak Djokovic is back. Fully. The Serb won his third US Open title and his second straight Grand Slam tournament singles crown, tying Pete Sampras with 14 Grand Slam titles. It also is the third time the 31-year-old Djokovic has won the Wimbledon-US Open double. Del Potro was playing in his second Grand Slam final nine years after winning the US Open. It also means that 50 of the last 55 major singles titles have been won by the “Big Four” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Djokovic.
SINO STAR
Playing great tennis despite the turmoil surrounding her, Naomi Osaka pounded Serena Williams in straight sets to become Japan’s first Grand Slam singles champion. Staying cool through the drama-filled second set, the 20-year-old Osaka won with brilliant strokes and a calm demeanor. Not easy to do with Williams receiving three code violations, the second one resulting in a point penalty, the second a game penalty. The game penalty gave Osaka a 5-3 second-set lead and she calmly served out the final four points. The loss ended another chance for Williams to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles. And it was the second Grand Slam tournament final defeat for the American.
SHARING THE WEALTH
Following her three code violations she received during the women’s final, Serena Williams was fined USD $17,000 by the US Open. During her loss to Naomi Osaka, Williams was handed a coaching violation, a point penalty for breaking her racquet and verbal abuse of umpire Carlos Ramos. The tournament referee’s office fined Williams USD $10,000 for the “verbal abuse,” USD $4,000 for the coaching warning and USD $3,000 for racquet abuse.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Naomi Osaka’s US Open victory means there have been eight different winners of the previous eight Grand Slam tournaments. It’s the first time that has happened since the 1937-38 seasons. This year’s winners were Caroline Wozniacki (Australian Open), Simona Halep (French Open) and Angelique Kerber (Wimbledon). Last year’s winners were Serena Williams (Australian Open), Jelena Ostapenko (French Open), Garbiñe Muguruza (Wimbledon) and Sloane Stephens (US Open).
STRAIGHT IN
US Open champion Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have clinched spots in the season-finale Nitto ATP Finals, which will be held in London November 11-18. Djokovic clinched his spot by reaching the final with a victory over Kei Nishikori of Japan. That also meant that Federer automatically gained a spot for a record 16th season as a result of the Grand Slam champion rule. That rule reserves one place in the eight-man field for a current-year Grand Slam champion who finishes between numbers 8 to 20 in the ATP Race to London. Federer is the reigning Australian Open champion and may not need the rule to qualify. But he is guaranteed to finish the year in the Top 20 and thus gain a spot.
SO LONG
Brian Earley’s reign at the US Open is over. Earley has been a part of the US Open for 39 years, including the last 26 as tournament referee. Earley has been the person who decides when play stops and starts, and in recent years when the roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong open and close. As tournament referee, he also is the person responsible for overseeing the “Code of Conduct.”
SUCH CROWDS
An all-time record 828,798 fans attended the 2018 US Open, including a week of qualifying and the two weeks of the main draw.
SAD NEWS
Lucy Pope Hopman, the widow of Australian tennis great Harry Hopman, is dead at the age of 98. She died in Largo, Florida, USA. Born in Bass Rocks, Massachusetts, Lucy Pope married Matthew Bernard (Ben) Fox, a national and North American pairs ice-skating champion. After they were divorced, she married Hopman in 1971 after he moved to the United states and became a professional tennis instructor. They spent the early 1970s on Long Island, New York, USA, where Hopman oversaw the early training of John McEnroe, Vitas Gerulaitis and Mary Carillo at the Port Washington Tennis Academy. In 1975, the couple moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Hopman died in 1985.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Chicago (men): Luke Bambridge and Neal Skupski beat Leander Paes and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela 6-3 6-4
Chicago (women): Mona Barthel and Kristyna Pliskova beat Asia Muhammad and Maria Sanchez 6-3 6-2
Genova: Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies beat Martin Klizan and Filip Polasek 6-2 3-6 10-2 (match tiebreak)
SURFING
Genova: www.challengergenova.com
Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com
Szczecin: www.pekaoszczscinopen.pl
Hiroshima: www.jta-tennis.or.jp
Quebec City: www.coupebanquenationale.ca
St. Petersburg: www.spbopen.ru/
Metz: www.moselle-open.com/
Kaohsiung: www.oecopen.com/
Guangzhou: www.guangzhouopen.org/
Tokyo: www.toray-ppo.com/
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
DAVIS CUP
World Group Semifinals
France vs. Spain at Lille, France, hard
Croatia vs. United States at Zadar, Croatia, clay
World Group Playoffs
Argentina vs. Columbia at San Juan, Argentina, clay
Great Britain vs. Uzbekistan at Glasgow, Great Britain, carpet
Austria vs. Australia at Graz, Austria, clay
Switzerland vs. Sweden at Biel, Switzerland, hard
Serbia vs. India at Kraljevo, Serbia, clay
Canada vs. Netherlands at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, hard
Hungary vs. Czech Republic at Budapest, Hungary, clay
Japan vs. Bosnia/Herzegovina at Osaka, Japan, hard
Group I Relegation – Second Round
Americas: Barbados vs. Ecuador at St. Michael, Barbados, hard
Asia/Oceania: Korea vs. New Zealand at Gimcheon, Korea, hard
Group I – Relegation – First Round
Europe/Africa: Ukraine vs. Portugal at Bucha, Ukraine, hard; Russia vs. Belarus, at Moscow, Russia, hard
Group II – Third Round
Americas: Uruguay vs. Mexico at Montevideo, Uruguay, clay
Asia/Oceania: Thailand vs. Lebanon at Nonthaburi, Thailand, hard
Europe/Africa: Romania vs. Poland at Cluj-Napoca, Romania, clay; Egypt vs. Finland at Cairo, Egypt, clay
MEN
$147,896 Pekao Szczecin Open, Szczecin, Poland, clay
WOMEN
$250,000 Hana-cupid Japan Women’s Open, Hiroshima, Japan, hard
$250,000 Coupe Banque Nationale présentée par IGA, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, hard
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
MEN
$1,241,850 St. Petersburg Open, St. Petersburg, Russia, hard
$648,466 Moselle Open, Metz, France, hard
$150,000 Kaohsiung OEC Open, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, hard
WOMEN
$799,000 Toray Pan Pacific Open, Tokyo, Japan, hard
$250,000 Guangzhou Open, Guangzhou, China, hard
$250,000 Korea Open, Seoul, South Korea, hard
