America probably hates me because I beat Venus and Serena – Karolina Pliskova Well, I can’t speak for all Americans, but I sure don’t hate Karolina Pliskova. Then again, I’ve always had a soft spot for Czech players dating back to Ivan Lendl and Hana Mandlikova. Only Madison Keys ranks above Petra Kvitova among active … Continue reading
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Karolina Pliskova, Serena Williams Advance To 2016 US Open Semis
Ok, Karolina Pliskova. Your turn. After Simona Halep tried…and failed…to take out the world’s best tennis player, Serena Williams, in the 2016 US Open quarterfinals, it is now time for the streaking Pliskova, who came into Flushing Meadow off a big title in Cincinnati, to get her chance to unseat The Queen. Despite blowing through … Continue reading
2016 US Open Day 9: Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber First To Advance To Women’s Semifinals
Angelique Kerber making it to the semifinals of the 2016 US Open…okay, that I could see coming. But Caroline Wozniacki, the former world #1 who has slipped to world #74, being there to meet Kerber in the finals? That is quite the surprise. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been. This is the Major that has seen … Continue reading
2016 US Open Day 6: Simona Halep Survives Upset Bid; Agnieszka Radwanska Advances
After her 6-1 2-6 6-4 third round victory over Timea Babos at the 2016 US Open, there was a look on the faces of Simona Halep and her coach, Darren Cahill. I don’t know what they were thinking, but it sure seemed neither was pleased. Was it relief? Concern? Whatever it was, the #5 seed … Continue reading
2015 US Open Day 12: Roberta Vinci Shocks The World With Upset Of Serena Williams, Will Face Countrywoman Flavia Pennetta In Final
Veni. Vidi. Vici. Vinci! I don’t know if Roberta Vinci told herself “I came. I saw. I conquered.” when the final point of her 2015 US Open Women’s Semifinal triumph over the massively favored Serena Williams was won, but she certainly could have. Who would begrudge her that moment? Instead, it was tears that flowed … Continue reading
2015 US Open Day 10: Simona Halep Defeats Victoria Azarenka, Advances To Semifinal Versus Flavia Pennetta
With perhaps the most famous athlete in her country’s history, gymnast Nadia Comaneci, in the stands rooting her on, Romania’s Simona Halep punched her ticket to the 2015 US Open Women’s Singles Semifinals with a 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory over 2-time Major winner and 2-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka in a tightly contested quarterfinal. … Continue reading
2015 US Open Day 9: Serena Williams, Roberta Vinci Book First Two Semifinal Berths
Buster Douglas did what was previously seemingly impossible against Mike Tyson. Rulon Gardner stopped the 13 year unbeaten streak of Aleksandr Karelin. They made a major motion picture about the Miracle On Ice USA hockey win over the USSR in 1980. After Serena Williams marched past sister Venus Williams 6-2 1-6 6-3 in their 2015 … Continue reading
2015 US Open Day 8: Simona Halep Survives Test By Sabine Lisicki, Moves On To Quarterfinal Showdown Against Victoria Azarenka
Fighting physical ailments and a feisty opponent, Simona Halep won her round of 16 match against Sabine Lisicki at the 2015 US Open on guts and heart, 6-7 (6) 7-5 6-2, to advance to her first ever quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows. The play on the court wasn’t always pretty or artful, but these two Major … Continue reading
2015 US Open Day 3: Madison Keys, Eugenie Bouchard Advance…Both To Face Stern Tests In Third Round
I came into the 2015 US Open with a keen eye on many players. Two, in particular, are 19th seeded American Madison Keys and 25th seeded Eugenie Bouchard. Madison is my favorite active player so naturally I want to see how far she can go and how her game is developing. She has been very … Continue reading
2015 US Open Day 2: Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka Advance
With many conceding the top half of the 2015 US Open Women’s Singles draw to Serena Williams, the question for most is whom will she play in the final from the bottom half. First of all, it’s sports…anything can happen. It would be shocking for Serena not to at least reach the final, but it’s … Continue reading
Fairways and Forehands 