I’ve seen a few top 10 lists now on the best matches of the decade but none of them have really struck me as being well thought out, with this one in particular being very bemusing. A lot of people will value the significance and length of a match way too highly when deciding whether a match is great or not. I mean just because its a long Wimbledon final doesn’t mean the quality of tennis was outstanding.

Now the list I’ve compiled reflects mainly on the standard of play achieved. In pretty much all of the matches on the list both players were playing at or very near their highest levels. Context is important but it isn’t the overriding factor.

10.  2003 Women’s U.S Open Semi Final

Justine Henin def. Jennifer Capriati 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4)

Since the beginning of the decade there hasn’t been a single women’s U.S Open final that has gone to three sets or in any way been memorable (most probably as a result of playing the semis and the finals on consecutive days). There have however been a number of great semi-finals and this was definitely one of them. Henin’s comebacks in the second and third sets were incredible but even more unbelievable was that she beat Clijsters later on the same day to win the title.

Part 2 Part 3

9. 2006 Master’s Cup Shanghai Semi Final

Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-5

One of many Federer Nadal matches on the list, this one was probably the highest quality match they ever played. Just notice how many times Peter Fleming says ‘OH YES’ in the clip.

8. 2000 Men’s Wimbledon Semi Final

Pat Rafter def. Andre Agassi 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

What made this game so brilliant to watch was the overwhelmingly contrasting styles of the two players. Agassi was the aggressive baseliner with the greatest return game ever while Rafter was a classic serve-volleyer, chip and charger. This, along with their 1999 (Agassi demolition) and 2001 (also an epic) semi finals was one of the great tennis trilogies.

7. 2001 Men’s Wimbledon Final

Goran Ivanisevic def. Pat Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7

A homage to serve and volleying back when the Wimbledon grass courts were actually fast. Both men came into the final with priors in the tournament. Rafter had choked the 2000 final against Sampras and Ivanisevic had been a 3 time runner-up with psychotic tendencies. It still upsets me to this day that this match had to have a loser as both men are so genuinely likable.

6.  2007 Women’s U.S Open Semi Final

Justine Henin def. Venus Williams 6-4, 7-6(2)

Simply put, the best women’s match I have ever seen. Apart from the play which was extraordinary, there was clearly a lot more at stake than just the final here. Venus was trying to take revenge on Henin for defeating her sister in the quarters and Henin was just pumped to beat another Williams. This match was so intense that even though it lasted only two sets, both players seemed shattered by the end.

5. 2007 Men’s Wimbledon Final

Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-2

Lost in the hoopla of the ‘08 epic was how great the ‘07 final was. Arguably a better quality match as both men were at or near their peaks for the entire match. The level Federer reached after saving 4 break points early in the 5th was beyond belief.

Part 2

4. 2009 Men’s Australian Open Semi Final

Rafael Nadal def. Fernando Verdasco 6-7(4), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-7(1), 6-4

Just an out and out slugfest. How Nadal managed to stay in it while Verdasco was just crushing forehand after forehand is really a testament to Nadal’s superhuman will. I think I’ll remember the points at  3:39 and 6:35 in the clip forever.

3. 2006 Rome Masters Series Final

Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5)

I thought of having this match ahead of the Wimbledon final as this had everything and was the most pivotal game in the history of Federer Nadal rivalry. Federer was up a break in the 5th and had match points but from this moment on Nadal was just in his head. One of the biggest What ifs in tennis but if Federer wins this match it isn’t so farfetched to believe that he goes on and wins the French Open, redefining his rivalry in the process.

Part 2

2. 2008 Men’s Wimbledon Final

Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7

The main issue I have with this match is that Federer was not at his peak when the match was being played and for the first two and a half sets he was decidedly off colour. I also think this match could have been even greater had the Fed converted more than 1 of his 13 break points. Having said that the rain breaks, the darkness, the level of play for most of the last three sets and the fact that it seemed that Gavin Rossdale wanted Federer to win more than I think Federer did more than make up for the relatively lacklustre first couple of sets.

Part 2 Part 3

1. 2005 Men’s Australian Open Semi Final

Marat Safin def. Roger Federer 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(6), 9-7

This game turned the tennis world upside down. This was maybe the only time ever that someone beat Federer at his invincible peak with the match not being decided on his racket (on surfaces other than clay of course). Safin was given literally zero chance going into it and yet played the most unbelievable game of tennis I have ever seen. I would say that you can’t call Safin an underachiever on the basis of this match alone. It was that good.

Part 2

Honourable mentions:

Nadal def. Federer Aussie Open 2009, Rafter def. Agassi Wimbledon 2001, Nadal def. Djokovic Madrid 2009, Federer def. Roddick Wimbledon 2009, Nadal def. Coria Rome 2005, Sampras def. Agassi U.S Open 2001, Federer def. Sampras Wimbledon 2001, Ivanisevic def. Henman Wimbledon 2001, Safin def. Philipoussis Paris 2000, Santoro def. Clement French Open 2004, Roddick def. El-Aynaoui Australian Open 2003, Gaudio def. Coria French Open 2004, Gasquet def. Roddick Wimbledon 2007

This week in Paris has been absolutely fascinating. As far as end of season tournaments go, Paris has been by far the best. Despite del Potro’s retirement, Federer’s first round loss, and Mandy’s loss to the ever annoying Stepanek, tennis fans have had plenty to enjoy. Rafael Nadal fought his way through to the semi finals, Gael Monfils gave the home crowd something to cheer for, and Novak Djokovic captured the title with his best tennis of the year. But before any of this happened, we said goodbye to one of tennis’s most loved men, Marat Safin.

Writing about a player you know hardly anything about should be difficult. Especially when you are hardly even a fan of said player. But the thing with Marat is, he inspired conversation and enthusiasm with all tennis fans, no matter how much you liked him. And even if, like me, you found it hard to support a man that dragged his feet through his last year on tour, appeared to hate the sport, spoke about having no friends on tour, and stated time and time again that he could not wait to forget about tennis, Marat Safin would somehow find a way to wiggle into your heart. Because despite his anti Federer/Nadal personality, there is a lot to love about the angry, misunderstood Russian. And I don’t just mean his good looks.

Marat Safin has something we don’t see much amongst the stern faced competitors of the ATP: a fabulous sense of humour. His pressers were always honest, interesting, and funny. Whether he was putting himself down, bemoaning the price of strawberries, or telling Andre Agassi where to go, Marat could always be counted on to say something funny and shocking. You can forget the formalities with Marat, want an alternative to Nadal’s humble post-loss speeches? Then Marat was your man.

Not the world’s best role model, this is the man who showed up to a match supported by a girl with her nipples showing. Then there was the time he arrived with a black eye, having found himself in a fight the night before. We were hardly suprised. Marat has walked off court after being called for a foot fault, and he has smashed more racquets than Fernando Gonzalez. He has never been very good at controlling his temper.

With all this anger, slutiness, and disdain for tennis, a casual tennis fan might find it hard to see what all the fuss is about. Indeed, hardly anyone could get away with the behaviour Marat has displayed over his career. Andy Roddick has acted similarly at times, but recieves as much criticism as he does love. The men I was too young to watch that threw racquets and went off their head seem to gather a lot of dislike as well. I have heard many people express their dislike of John McEnroe. Even Andre Agassi is finding the public against him after basking in their praise for many years. What is it about Marat that makes him so untouchable?

It sounds cruel, but Marat Safin simply has not had the career success to generate much hatred against him. Despite his two Grand Slams, fifteen titles, and a number one ranking, many people think that with a backhand that beautiful, Safin is an underachiever. Defenders of Marat point to a man called Roger Federer, and others say Marat is a choker through and through. The truth is probably a combination of both.

Marat has more than just an underdog charm to win so many people over. Marat has charisma. Oodles of it. He is funny, he is emotional, he loves his little sister, and, let’s face it, Marat is incredibly good looking. Marat wins male tennis fans over with his anger and sense of humour, women flock to his charm and his rugged bad-boy looks.

Yet there is still much more to Marat than good looks, anger, and humour. These are all entertaining characteristics, but there is one more thing that makes Marat so loveable. So relatable. Marat Safin spend his last year on tour itching to retire. Especially in the first half of the year, he spoke frequently about how tennis was boring, coming across as a man who hated the sport that had made him rich and famous. He said he had no friends on tour, that he didn’t enjoy it. It was around this time I wondered if I liked Marat at all. Then his retirement grew nearer, and I think we all saw the truth. Marat Safin was a man once hailed as the next big thing. He must have been filled with hope and excitement after his grand slam success. Things just didn’t turn out that way for him. Over the years, Marat became someone known as a choker, an underachiever, and people wondered what could have been. When Marat spoke of tennis earlier this year like he did, I thought I heard hatred in his voice. But what I heard was disappointment and bitterness. Marat Safin won two slams, was number one, won fifteen titles, and finished his career inside the top one hundred. Looking back, what a marvelous career he had. At the time, though, we didn’t think so. It isn’t Marat that let himself down. Tennis let Marat down.

So heres to the most universally liked player of the last decade. The man that has made every fan smile at some point. Marat Safin is one of the most likeable players ever because he is one of the most human. There is no robotic like talent, no humbled victories, nothing we can’t relate to, or see within ourselves. He is a man noone hates. There is noone else like Marat Safin. No player can replace him. When we looks back on him in the future, it isn’t his tennis people will remember. It is the man.

Now what an achievement that is.

…vor einem der ganz großen des Tennis-Zirkus. Am 11.November 2009 hat Marat Safin endgültig seine Karriere beendet. Schon Anfang des Jahres hatte der 29-jährige angekündigt, dass das Tennisjahr 2009 wohl das letzte seiner Karriere sein wird. Er sollte Wort halten. Und auch einen Rücktritt vom Rücktritt wird es von ihm nicht geben. „Das wars’s für mich. Es wird Zeit ein neues Leben zu beginnen. Es gibt keinen Rücktritt vom Rücktritt.“

Mit einer Niederlage gegen den US-Open-Sieger Juan Martin del Potro verabschiedet sich der Russe. Ich persönlich habe mir immer gerne die Spiele von Marat Safin angeguckt. Bei ihm wusste man nie so recht woran man ist. Safin konnte an guten Tagen jeden Gegner schlagen, aber ebenso auch gegen jeden Gegner verlieren. Er war einfach unberechenbar. Dieses Manko an Konstanz und sein aufbrausendes Temperament auf dem Platz (Wutausbrüche und zerbrochene Schläger) wurden ihm häufig zum Verhängnis. Deswegen muss er sich wohl oder übel den Vorwurf gefallen lassen, dass er aus seinem Talent viel zu wenig gemacht hat. Aber vielleicht wollte er es auch einfach nicht anders. Marat Safin war beim besten Willen kein Profi, der alles dem Sport untergeordnet hat und gerade das macht ihn in meinen Augen auch so sympathisch. „Ich bin kein Typ, der in eine Schablone passt. Und Tennis konnte nie mein ganzes Leben sein“, hatte Safin gesagt, der am 20. November 2000 erstmals Weltranglistenerster wurde. Insgesamt war er zwischen November 2000 und April 2001 insgesamt neun Wochen die Nummer 1 der Welt. Zum Ende seiner Karriere wurde er im Ranking auf Position 65 geführt.

Trotz seines nicht ganz so professionellen Lebensstils, Feiern und Frauen gehörte für ihn halt zum Leben dazu, gelangen ihm insgesamt 15 Turniersiege, darunter 2 Grand Slam Siege bei den US-Open 2000 (vs. Pete Sampras) und den Australien Open 2005 (vs. Lleyton Hewitt). Zwei weitere Male stand er bei den Australien Open im Finale (2002 und 2004). Mit dem russischen Team gewann er 2002 und 2006 zwei Mal den Davis Cup. Erfolge die ihm niemand mehr nehmen wird.

Nun folgt ein Leben nach der Karriere und dem Rampenlicht. Ich wünsche ihm auf seinem neuen Weg alles gute und verneige mich vor einem der ganz großen…Chapeau Marat Safin!

Wind the clock back to the 2000 US Open and Marat Safin was effortlessly dismantling one of greatest tennis player to ever grace a court.

Pete Sampras was made to look powerless and the tennis world was at Safin’s feet. He only managed one more Grand Slam at the 2005 Australian Open, beating the imperious Roger Federer at the height of his powers, but a series of injuries and a temperamental nature led him into a wilderness of his own making and it was the last tournament he ever won.

So why is Safin, at the relatively tender age of 29, hanging up his rackets and walking into the sun set of the “what-ifs”?

Marat Safin- The enigma

At his last professional tournament in Paris, he said: “This time I know I have no pretensions to the title. I am just here to finish on a good note and to say goodbye to everybody.”

Indeed he lost in the second round and was given a send off fitting of a true legend of the game. But why? After all, all he achieved was two Grand Slams and notoriety for unprovoked outbursts and occasional nudity. The recognition he received at the Paris Masters from a litany of players who had come to bid him farewell was for a career that could have been, and not for the career he had.

The perplexing farewell throws into focus just how different things could have been in mens’ tennis and how sport boils down to the finest of margins. In his career Safin saw off both Sampras and Federer, arguably the two best players of all time, but Safin’s tale is ultimately a cautionary one. It is the tale of a man who had the world at his feet but his head in the clouds; a tale of the curse of talent.

The last few years of Safin’s career have seen him nonchalantly march towards this inevitable retirement, with the occasional reminder of the player he could have been (e.g. Wimbledon 2008).

Players play tribute to Safin, but why?

Safin scaled the heights of the game, but once he had fallen down the other side his desire to return to the summit was simply inadequate. Safin’s career highlights how important it is for talent to be tempered with mental resolve and how impressive the Federers and the Woods of this world are; they have the talent to get to the top and the stubbornness to stay there.

So aspiring talent pay heed to Safin’s story of the danger of success.

Just remind me why they play Paris so late in the year again? Doesn’t really seem like anyone is interested in playing there… except Julian Bennetau. Federer suffered a terrible loss to an on-fire Bennetau in the first round. Embaressing, to say the least. Good news for Roger fans is that Muzz lost to Stepanek today in the battle of the two uglies. That side of the draw is wide open for del Potro if he decides he could do with winning a Masters, (he could, just saying).

Nadal saved multiple match points in his first round victory over Almagro, world’s biggest choker. He is currently playing in a third set against Robredo. Not really players he should be challenged by, even on the fast courts of Paris.

Back to Federer’s loss. He posted on facebook earlier in the week that he had been practising at Roland Garros. Here’s an idea. When you are about to play in a tourny on a fast hardcourt, it is a wise idea to practise on one. Hard court, at least. Not CLAY. Seriously, clay?? Why did he bother entering?

Davydenko has qualified for the WTF, and he bloody deserves it. He may have lost in Paris to Soderling, (who is still in the hunt), but he will have a real shot at the end of year finals. Especially if Nadal, Muzz, and Fed remain uninterested.

Verdasco’s end of season has been as bad as Federer’s … but he didn’t win two Slams and make all four finals this year so it baffles me why he seems to be running out of steam. If he is going to play this averagly, I  don’t want him in WTF. Give it to Soderling, who is playing well and deserves it.

Speaking of playing well, Cilic beat Verdasco today and boy is just looking better and better. He is going to be a real contender next year.

Safin retired after losing against delPo, but I’ll post on him properly later in the week. Delpo takes on Gonzy next … please win.

EDIT: Well Nadal snuck through that one 7-5 in the third… I’ll reserve further judgement.

Un saluto grossissimo al tennista che più mi ha entusiasmato negli ultimi anni…un addio che prima o poi doveva arrivare.

Non sarà stato un super campione…ma il suo modo di giocare mi è sempre piaciuto tantissimo. Grande Marat…io ti voglio ricordare così (link)…e così (link).

Fenomeno!

Marat Safin begins the final tournament of his career in dramatic style by saving three match points as he beats Thierry Ascione at the Paris Masters…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: simply fashion. For a different topic see fun cake recipes. The blog is also related to: italian fashion.

The love of my life, my PC, Charlotte, has had a minor accident. She doesn’t want to turn on for some reason and so she is being sent away to the PC hospital today. Hopefully she will be back around mid next week. I am currently blogging off my flatmate’s MAC (which is an awkward piece of machinery to say the least) but I will not be able to use this much at all. I have work computers and what not, but needless to say I will be blogging fairly seldom until Charlotte is back. I will try and get the Year In Review Kuznetsova blog out ASAP as that is the last one of that series of blogs. But yeah, I should be back soon and I will keep you updated on Charlotte’s health.

Just a few quick words on Shanghai:

I almost feel Andy Roddick pulled out of last night’s match against Stan Wawrinka to prove a point. He has been moaning a lot about the schedule of late. I agree that something needs to be done to give the players a larger off season. It would be best if the season could finish at the start of November and not commence until January. However, people like Nadal moan about the season and then go and play lucrative exhibition tournaments like Abu Dhabi. It just doesn’t make his case look very good at all.

Very angry and upset and disappointed Ernests Gulbis lost to Fabio Fognini on a hard court. Typical Gulbis.

Pleased to see Tomas Berdych take out Cilic and also to see Safin win another match. They play each other tonight, I am going for Berdych but will be nice to see either of them go through. Nadal vs Blake probably won’t live up to the hype, and hopefully del Potro manages to get his act together this time. Would be awful if he lost early again.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

1. O Aberto da China tem uma música tema.
Não tô brincando.

2. Colocou tudo que é jogador pra dar autógrafos.

Karlovic assinou uma camiseta que nunca será lavada, Zvonareva fingiu ser emocionalmente estável, Chardy posou pra foto com uma foto do Federer (??), Cilic assinou falsificações chinesas das bolas gigantes do US Open.

3. E colocou jogadores pra fazerem… outras coisas.

Essas fotos se explicam por si mesmas. (Ou não)

4. E pra variar, teve um festéénha pros jogadores, é claro.

Detalhe pra a) pessoas bonitas, roupas feias (quando você tem certeza que são tenistas); b) Marat, o gigante;  c) 1:04; d) o fim fora da casinha desse video.

5. Foi em Pequim que Serena Williams finalmente conseguiu o seu verdadeiro lugar no ranking.

E agora só tem 5 pontos a mais do que Dinara, já que é claaaro, depois que foi confirmado que ela seria a nº1 do mundo, ela perdeu a próxima partida. Eu sei Serena, que a última coisa no mundo que tu quer é o topo do ranking, mas um pouco de esforço não vale nada. Olha há quanto tempo a Safina tá te dando chances de pegar o lugar dela. Aposto que ela até comemorou um poquinho.

6. Nole também voltou pro número 3 no Aberto da China.

Desse modo o topo volta à ser Federer-Nadal-Djokovic. Murray continua sem um Slam. E o mundo está em paz novamente.

7. Mas o fato mais importante é: ninguém sabe o que realmente acontece nas conferências de imprensa do torneio.

Another absolute heartbreaker for Ernests Gulbis fans last night. After winning a brilliant first set against Tsonga, Gulbis squandered break point oppertunities in the first game of the second set and Tsonga never looked back. As his serve started clicking, Gulbis’s mental game began to falter and he dropped the last two sets. It has been the best week of 2009 for Gulbis, coming through qualifying to reach the quarter finals. It is hard not to be disappointed despite this result, as he had a really good chance to beat Tsonga in straights. With his new coach and hopefully new found remembrance on how to play tennis, we can only hope Gulbis continues to improve and play well throughout 09.

Marat Safin was completely disappointing in his routine 3 and 1 loss to Nadal. Nadal played well, but Safin was nothing short of woeful. I only saw the first set, but I saw him hit many a routine forehand long. Makes me grateful I am not a Safin fan.

Elena Dementieva was another disappointment in Beijing, losing 5 and 3 to twelth seed, Radwanska. Despite playing brilliantly up until this stage of the tournament, Dementieva couldn’t make her serve count when it mattered. A very disappointing performance from a girl who had a chance to claim another title in Beijing.

Petrova struggled against the gutsy Peng, but eventually prevailed 6-2 in the third.  Bartoli prevailed over a potentially exhausted Zvonareva, as did Kuznetsova, Soderling, Cilic and Bartoli over their opponents. A good win for Novak Djokovic, who didn’t play his best tennis 63 16 61 win over Verdasco, but he played well enough to give himself a very good shot to reclaim the number three ranking, (which he will if he wins his next match against Soderling). Djokovic still seems slightly too scared to go for his trademark down the line shot when it really matters, his first serve needs to go in the box more, and his forehand was spraying a touch much. Hopefully he can improve for his next match against the always tough Soderling.

Another exciting night of tennis… but not exactly the match ups I was hoping for… *tear*

Ernests Gulbis finally beat his second round curse and beat Juan Monaco to move into the Quarter Finals of Tokyo last night. He was absolutely pummeling Monaco until Monaco was so shocked he had to retire down a set and 1-4. Something has changed in Ernests Gulbis. Including qualifying, he is now on a four match win streak, which is unheard of for 09. Tonight he takes on Tsonga. Someone he could have beaten last week and has a very good chance of beating tonight. Hopefully Ernie can hold his nerve and take it out.

In other crazytennisgirlsaywhat news, Marat Safin won his second round match… against Fernando Gonzalez… in straight sets. I watched this match and Marat was nothing but dominant. Gonzalez was lacking enthusiasm and firepower, but Marat wasn’t. I know, insane. Marat says he is actually… EXCITED… about tonights match versus Nadal. Don’t believe me? The exact quote was;

‘ I know I will play better tomorrow. Nadal is going to be the favorite. I have no pressure; I’m just going to play my game, go for it, be aggressive   and then we’ll see. It’s going to be my biggest match in a long time so I’m pretty excited.’

Insane. Speaking of Nadal, he dropped a set to a James Blake who actually looked like he knew how to play tennis. He, much like Gulbis, has a new coach and seems to be going through something similar.

On the womens side, some very exciting tennis which I am quite gutted I missed. Nadia Petrova took out the new world number one Serena Williams in an epic three setter. In what is more suprising, the third set scoreline was 76(5). It is hard to beat Williams in such a tight match but Petrova managed to keep her cool and take it. Serena Williams gave her great credit, saying she, ‘ran into a girl today that has never played so good in her whole life’.

Vera Zvonareva beat Flavia Pennetta in a very tough three setter. This would not be suprising if you have forgotten the huge mental lapse Vera had at the US Open against Flavia in the third. This time she kept her cool and took the match 63 57 75. Seems she has learnt from her mistake and really took it to Flavia. Really good news for Vera fans.

Tonights match ups look really exciting, with Marat vs Rafa, Ernie vs Tsonga, Nole vs Verdasco, and Peng Shuai (who took out Masha and JJ) vs Petrova. Good stuff.

Essa é Kimiko Date Krumm pra quem não sabe (ou seja, todo mundo)

1. Ganhou um torneio da WTA depois de mais se aposentar e voltar. (Oi? Clijsters?)
2. O último título que ela tinha ganhado foi em 1996.
3. Bateu no caminho Kleybanova, Hantuchova, Kirilenko nas semis e Medina Garrigues na final.
4. Em um fácil 6-3 6-3.
5. Isso um dia antes de fazer aniversário de 39 anos.
6. Se tornando a segunda jogadora mais velha à ganhar um torneio de tênis feminino profissional. (Billie Jean King ganhou um quando tinha 39)
7. E fez tudo isso sem parecer ridícula com um rabinho no topo da cabeça. Sabe por quê? Porque ela é uma MULHER.

Que fique de lição pra esses aí. Rabinhos = mulheres apenas, entenderam?

1. Roger’s hypothetical faux-slam. Seriously people, he hasn’t won three in a row yet, but you’re already hyping him up for Australia and four in a row, which is being called the completion of a Grand Slam? Some nerve. Martina Navratilova completed the faux-slam but didn’t get credit for it… because it isn’t a grand slam. Grand Slam = all four majors in the calendar year. How come the pundits are unanimously claiming that IF Roger wins the US Open and IF he wins Australia, his four in a row WILL BE as impressive as a real Grand Slam? It ain’t so. And he hasn’t done it, so let’s move on. Please.

2. Clijsters is a mom. And it’s incredible, only two women have won grand slam titles as mothers and her baby is adorable, looks just like her. Even as a Kim fan, I’m tired of hearing about the mom thing on every headline. She’s back, she may well win a grand slam title, as a  mother. What’s more interesting is the story we aren’t hearing about:  the death of her father Leo Clijsters, from lung cancer last year. I have a feeling that his illness was known to her when she retired. We don’t know, ’cause no one’s asking. ‘Cause she’s a mom.

3. Oudin is the future of American tennis. Might be, probably will be a big factor in years to come. But as Jon Wertheim noted over on his blog, the hype machine is roaring to life on this one, so get ready for a frenetic couple of months (and probably the next year) of relentless stories on America’s Next Top Model..er, Sweetheart. Oudin strikes me as one of those rare breeds, the kind who step up in the face of pressure rather than being beaten down. Even so, she will run into a wall at some point. Then we’ll get “what’s wrong with her” stories that talk incessantly about the media overhyping her.

4. The McEnroe Brothers. “We’re from Queens and isn’t it amazing John/Patrick, us two Queens boys, broadcasting night matches together at the US Open for ESPN! Remember when we used to ride the train in, from Queens, and we’d see that stadium. Even though it wasn’t this stadium, nor was it Forest Hills, it was Forest Meadows, but who’s counting? Two Queens boys, we are… Now here we are. At the US Open. Probably no one out there in TVLand is familiar with the story of the two McEnroe Brothers.” Sock. in. it.

5. Sharapova’s “comeback” instead of “Sharapova’s dicey shoulder.” There is only one commentator getting this one right and it is the venerable Pam Shriver, no stranger to the destructive aftermath of shoulder surgery. To paraphrase Shriver, there is no guarantee Maria gets back in the top 5 if that shoulder won’t hold up. The “comeback” has been going on since May, and as Shriver points out, we’ve seen many comebacks in women’s tennis that have taken half that time.  Kim’s is just the most recent. It isn’t Maria’s fault, shoulder surgery strikes terror into the heart of a tennis player. Unlike pitchers who have to pitch only once every four days (and they are not assured of a positive outcome either), tennis players must play for several hours every day, with hundreds of serves. The coming back part is over, now we watch as her career hangs in the balance on a sketchy shoulder.

6. Roddick’s weight loss. I’m hedging on this one because I haven’t minded it too much. It certainly has been the catalyst for his resurgence. But I’m certain that a lot of you cannot stand to hear one more word about this – just like I was ready to take the gas pipe after we spent the last five years of Andre Agassi’s career hearing about his training regimen with Gil Reyes up magic mountain. (There oughta be a way to make With Gil Reyes Up Magic Mountain into a folk song about acid, but alas, that’s not my era.)

7. What’s wrong with Safina: I have no clue. Turn the page. Big Brother Marat was a nut who wasted his considerable gifts, but he was a toad. His sister is not a toad. Like Wertheim, I’m inclined not to pile on. Watching her mentally torture herself is horrible. She may benefit from not being number 1 – but we said that about Jankovic and Ivanovic, too. How’s that working out?

8. Who’s number 1 on the WTA Tour? Serena. Williams. Is. Number. 1. Got it? The rankings don’t reflect it, but let’s acknowledge reality – Serena is number 1, Safina number 1 on paper. Don’t get me wrong, Safina earned the ranking. There’s just no need to bandy this about incessantly. Until the system changes, or Serena decides to try to win non-G.S. tournaments, we’re stuck with this bogus argument. A year from now this may be fascinating, especially if Maria fixes her shoulder, Clijsters is in the mix and Henin is back. Until then.. Serena. Williams. Is. Number. 1.

Honorable mentions: James Blake as a title contender (how’s that working out for you, Brad?), Verdasco’s training with Gil Reyes (referenced repeatedly by yours truly), Rafa’s low expectations (part legit, part sandbagging by Rafa’s camp), The Tennis Channel’s firsts (first night match, first morning show, first time Jimmy Connors has been interesting), shots of someone’s girlfriend during the middle of a point (a losing battle, this one)