Peng And Cilic Rewarded For Sheer Persistence
Locker Room
September 3, 2014
If at first you don’t succeed…try, try, try again. Just ask China’s Peng Shuai and Croatia’s Marin Cilic, neither of whom are quite used to the type of winning feeling the US Open has just given them. Cilic beat Gilles Simon for the first time, edging a five-set thriller 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. […]
Night-Fighter Nishikori Equals Record In New York
Locker Room
September 2, 2014
Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori finally triumphed in a marathon match that equalled the latest finish in US Open history. He defeated Canada’s Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 in a contest that ended at 2.26am local time. What is it about that magical hour in the city that never sleeps? Twice before, classic […]
Wizardry of Woz Proves A Point in NY
Locker Room
September 1, 2014
Caroline Wozniacki produced one of the great moments of the US Open to beat Maria Sharpova 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. Rory who? Novak Djokovic and his wonder-shot around the net-post against Diego Schwartzman still has to top the list of incredible points so far at this spectacular Slam. Yet for sheer defensive determination and athleticism – […]
Kvitova Stunned By Homeless Qualifier
Locker Room
August 31, 2014
Another day, another major shock in the women’s singles at Flushing Meadows. Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was defeated 4-6, 4-6 by a qualifier called Aleksandra Krunic. The upset has caused all kinds of accommodation problems for the unlikely winner, who initially hadn’t reserved a room beyond Wednesday, let alone for the second week. The 21-year-old […]
Venus Williams and Simona Halep crash out in NY
Locker Room
August 30, 2014
Venus Williams and second seed Simona Halep went crashing out of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. But the biggest talking point was the behaviour of the woman who defeated Venus 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (5) – Italy’s erratic star, Sara Errani. She cupped an ear to question the American crowd’s muted reaction to her victory […]
Murray’s Mission Impossible
Locker Room
August 29, 2014
Andy Murray will need a miracle to win the US Open, after it emerged that he faces a nightmare route to the final. A succession of big-name opponents await him, in theory at least – the heavy price Murray has paid for slipping down to eighth in the world. The best players hit you earlier […]
Stan Silences The Man
Locker Room
August 28, 2014
Stan Wawrinka has unashamedly done what so many sports stars have wanted to do over the years – he has told a rowdy fan where to get off. But the incident reignited the age-old debate: should paying customers have the right to say what they want to the players, or is there a line they […]
15-year-old stuns Cibulkova in NY
Locker Room
August 27, 2014
Picture this. You are not even ranked in the top thousand of women’s tennis. You are only fifteen. In the first round of the US Open you have to face the Australian Open finalist, the powerful pocket rocket, Dominika Cibulkova. A handful of supportive friends turn up at Court 6 to witness what we all […]
Murray Beats Pain To Down Haase
Locker Room
August 26, 2014
Pain-stricken Andy Murray almost fell at the US Open’s first hurdle – and looked a physical wreck by the end of his dramatic contest against Robin Haase. Yet somehow the 2012 US Open champion scraped through, having done just enough when it mattered against the unspectacular Dutchman. Murray took the first two sets 6-3, 7-6 […]
US Open’s Craziest Late-Night Finishes
Locker Room
August 22, 2014
They call New York ‘the city that never sleeps’ – and the US Open at Flushing Meadows does its best to live up to the reputation. Here are the most extreme late-night finishes this gloriously chaotic tournament has ever seen. Equal First: 2.26am 2012: Philipp Kohlschreiber beat John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in […]