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Tennis history on the line this afternoon to see if Rafael Nadal can accomplish what Bjorn Borg never did — win in New York.  Borg won six French Opens and five Wimbledons, kneeling down on the last one like he was giving thanks to the tennis gods above.  But by September, those gods were frowning [...]

Of the more than a decade now that I’ve been attending the U.S. Open, it never fails that wherever I sit I end up in the seat in front of a loudmouth dimwit, the kind of tennis fan who tells his kid that it is match point when the score is deuce at 5-games all, [...]

Compelling dynamics for the American men at this year’s U.S. Open, with Andy Roddick losing to Janko Tipsarevic (a match I thought would be tough for him when I first saw the draw) and qualifier 18-year-old Ryan Harrison upsetting No. 15 Ivan Ljubicic, a wily veteran and no easy win for Harrison.  After a strong [...]

On Monday I was back and forth between the Grandstand and Armstrong courts, looking for the Rocky of tennis.  But something occurred to me as I watched the underdogs go down:  In boxing, you always hear about a puncher’s chance.  But in tennis, one great punch is only one point, and to win a best-of-five [...]

Most every  article or broadcast preview of the U.S. Open I’ve seen focuses on the obvious questions, as though most tennis journalists are sharing notes– will Nadal win his first Open?  Can Federer reclaim another title?  Is Murray going to cash the U.S. Open Series bonus check for obscene millions and go to Disney World [...]

As soon as I write a post about Americans hoisting trophies in the summer hardcourt tournaments, the news all turns bad.   Roddick, Querrey, Isner and Fish all lose early in Washington. Roddick falls to 11 in the rankings, marking the first time since the ATP rankings began that there are no American men in the [...]

It’s not alway easy writing a blog about American men’s tennis (remember those Wimbledon predictions?) but the past two weeks have produced plenty of fodder, especially this weekend.  Sam Querrey wins his fifth title of the year, coming back on no less than Andy Murray.  The Bryan brothers set the all time record for doubles [...]

It’s about time the USTA amps up the U.S. Open Series with a real tennis town — Hotlanta.  Good to see Atlanta joined by L.A., Washington and San Diego on there too.  One day we’ll quit making the ATP tour pass through Indianapolis and Cincinnati, towns known more for farm shows and fast cars than [...]

Last year, two American juniors bound for the pro circuit — Devin Britton and Jordan Cox — played an epic three-set semifinal in the boys singles.  Cox, then 17, won 6-3, 6-7 (5), 16-14, the final set lasting 83 minutes (which in the pre-Isner/Mahut days seemed liked a long time). Cox lost in the finals (pictured [...]

6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68.
Epic. Unbelievable.  Amazing.  Classy.  Gracious. 
Aces 112 to 103.
Eleven hours, five minutes.