Liguori: Top Stories Heading Into Week 2
By Ann Liguori
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As week two is underway here at the US Open, here are some of the top stories:
Four American guys are into the Round of 16 for the first time since 2003: Mardy Fish, Andy Roddick, John Isner and Donald Young. (Mardy Fish plays 11th seed Jo Wilfried Tsonga Monday afternoon)
And of course, Serena Williams has the best shot of all Americans to win the US Open title! She has not dropped a set on her way to the quarters. Serena disposed of Ana Ivanovic, 6-3, 6-4, on Monday afternoon.
Another Grand Slam record was set Sunday evening when the second set tie-breaker in Maria Kirilenko and Samantha Stosur's match went to 32 points! Kirilenko took that tie-breaker 17 points to 15; however, Stosur won the match in three sets, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, to move into the quarter-finals.
And there is another record here at the US Open, one that shows that the tennis calendar is too long and too strenuous for players as 14 players have retired during their matches so far here. So many injuries!
Every time you turn around, a player is sidelined with an injury or getting treated for one during a match. Rafael Nadal has been a big proponent of shortening the tennis calendar which runs too long, from January to November. The guys only have one month off, and not even that if they get to the finals of the Davis Cup! Nadal was quoted in his pre-US Open interview: "It's crazy now, it was crazy before and it will still be crazy next year. You can't make your body go to the limit for the whole year. It's just not possible."
Mary Carillo said on CBS Sports that the players should not have to play on 'cement.' She has a point! Hard-tru, clay and grass are so much easier on one's body. And the hard court season is long. It's a lot of wear and tear for any one!
Nadal, at 25 years of age has suffered numerous injuries throughout his career, including perpetual knee issues. Yesterday after his match in the interview room, he suffered such painful leg cramps, that he slid from his chair to the floor where trainers worked on him. That was probably due more from the humidity but Nadal is continually battling injuries and cramps.
And the player with the longest name in the draw, 17th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova from Russia, ousted 7th seed Francesca Schiavone in straight sets, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. I think these names could be shortened for the benefit of broadcasters. Anastasia 'Pav' sounds perfect, don't you think?
