ATP
US Open Week 1 in review
HOW MUCH? Yes, it’s New York, the Big Apple for the US Open 2023. And Big prices.
Van Leeuwen ice cream, a bespoke organic New York speciality, doesn’t come cheap.
$9.50 US for one scoop!
The ice cream vendor was overheard saying he was selling about 50,000 scoops a day!
That’s a chilling $475,000 per day!!
Ben Van Leeuwen stared the business in 2008 with brother Peter and friend Laura O’Neill.
They claim their success is down to only the best natural ingredients.
At almost ten bucks a scoop it needs to be.
But it’s not just ice cream where the cash registers are merrily clicking away.
A Grey Goose vodka cocktail will set you back $22.00.
A glass of sparkling wine $19.00 and food?
Chicken Caesar wrap: $14.00. The same for as tuna sandwich.
Popcorn doesn’t come cheap either – $8.50 for a small tub. Add a coke, that’ll be another $7.50.
And the obsession with bottled water never ends – $6.50 for a 500ml bottle that would cost about $2.00 in a local supermarket.
But, it’s New York, where everything, including prices, is BIG.
THE USTA continues with its bizarre middle of the night match schedule that has seen many arenas half empty.
Novak Djokovic’s late night win last week ended at almost 2am, as did other matches.
With so many empty seats and no public transport at that late hour, is there another reason for witching hour tennis?
Late night TV viewing in Los Angeles perhaps. Certainly not in London or Paris -m or early morning in Australia where fans have already jumped on the commuter train for work.
To date, no one at the US Open has given a logical reason and it would appear, no one seems to care about player health welfare and recovery.
DANIIL Medvedev delivered some hilarious remarks when a doctor came on court to check his medical timeout in New York.
After losing the third set to Christopher O’Connell, Medvedev requested the medical timeout.
The doctor asked Medvedev if he had any symptoms. Medvedev responded: “Yeah. I lost the set. Give me whatever you gave him”.
Medvedev was also in hot water continuing his long-running feud with the New York crowd.
With crowd behind Aussie Chris O’Connell, Medvedev yelled: “Can you shut up guys?”.
Red rag to a bull… the crowd intensified their support for O’Connell.
ITALIAN Matteo Berrettini sent fans into shock after a horror fall during his match against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on Friday, badly twisting his ankle and screaming in agony on the court.
Berrettini was trailing in the second set at the time of incident and took no further part in the match, retiring injured.
He was surrounded by ball kids forming a protective shield with umbrellas as medics tried to comfort him, but he was is agony and could be heard mumbling, “oh no”.
Later, vision emerged of him in a wheelchair with his head in his hands.
DID you know… The last time Novak Djokovic won a match at the US Open after being down 0-2 sets was 2011.
SHOT of the week:
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz again showcased his talent defeating Britain’s Daniel Evans in the round of 32 clash 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday.
AUSSIE wildcard Rinky Hijikata had an amazing run through the US Open draw, resisting a fightback from China’s Zhizhen Zhang to win 6-3, 6-3, 4-6 6-3.
The win secured the 22-year-old a fourth-round date with Frances Tiafoe tomorrow and a payday of $US284,000.
THE 2023 US Open was hit with a mystery illness that has affected more than one player, but Ons Jabeur is not among them.
The Tunisian was thought to be part of a mass infection, but only has flu, according to reports.
Emil Ruusuvuori pulled out of the tournament because of “sickness”, and Dominic Thiem and Christopher Eubanks are also affected during their matches.
Thiem retired midway through his second-round clash against Ben Shelton and Eubanks was visibly struggling during his match against Benjamin Bonzi.
Jabeur cleared up her issues after her win over Linda Noskova.
“Actually my stomach is fine. It’s not the stomach. I think I got a flu or something,” she said.
“I know some other players got stomach issues. Not me, thankfully.”
PICTURE OF THE WEEK:
Britain’s Andy Murray still has his wedding ring neatly looped into the laces of his shoe.
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
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