I have been in Cincinnati for two day and, first and foremost, the upgrade to the facility has been fantastic. A big congrats goes out to Bruce Flory and his team. I am very much looking forward to the finished product next year!
Some of the matches have been good but nothing outstanding. The crowds have been a little disappointing, perhaps off the back of the women’s event they needed two days to chill out, but I’m sure we’ll see the Cincy faithful back in their droves Wednesday for what is a spectacular line-up with the four best players in the world in action!
I enjoyed Mardy Fish’s match Tuesday. It is good to see the American being rewarded for all the hard work he’s been putting in of late. Long may it continue. And a shout David Nainkin, his coach, for getting the best out of his charge! Big John Isner is looking so comfortable on the big stage, it’s a joy to watch. Surely his coach, Craig Boynton must be up for coach of the year for all he’s been able to get out of John??
My biggest disappointments were James Blake and Paul-Henri Mathieu, who given their current rankings (both outside the top 100), showed little determination out there. You’d have thought they would have given sweat, blood and tears considering their circumstances. It wasn’t easy on the eye.
I’ll tell you one thing though, Wednesdays tennis will be very easy on the eye when the “quad squad” – Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as I like to call them – take center stage!!!
– Robbie