U.S. WIDE OPEN — The Weekly Opine

Serena and the Big Three dominated tennis when I attended the 2012 U.S. Open semi-finals. A decade later, their grip on the sport has loosened considerably. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

The biggin’

In the eyes of most deep-rooted sports fans and casual sports fans, Wimbledon is arguably, without much argument, the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament. Regardless, the U.S. Open is my incomparable favorite of the four major tennis tournaments.

The other three major tournaments are great, for sure. However, the Australian Open suffers from being played down under when it’s wintertime in the United States (hit the snooze button). The French Open is played in the mud (okay, on clay). Wimbledon is packed with traditions, such as a dress code that participants must wear nearly all white tennis attire. Unfortunately, with the tiresome British royal family hovering nearby, Wimbledon feels a tad stuffy.

On the other hand, the U.S. Open is a more dynamic environment. Players flaunt their individuality in a welcoming, raucous atmosphere. Played in New York City – cue Stevie Wonder, “just like I pictured it, skyscrapers and everything” – tennis’ U.S. Open is on a different level from the other major tennis tournaments.

You feel it in the participant’s intensity. You see it in their eyes. And hear it in their voices during pre- and post-match interviews. The U.S. Open crowd is amped up to level “11” whereas the volume dial at the other majors stops at “10.”

And this year, the U.S. Open serves as a passing of the baton.

The only thing missing was Serena Williams handing a baton to Ajla Tomljanovic. (Photo credit the San Diego Union Tribune)

Farewell?

According to her own statements, we may have seen the last of 41-year-old Serena Williams, who is the greatest tennis player of all-time. Serena, who left several major championships on the table with questionable choices, put up a valiant effort at the U.S. Open.

After notching an upset victory in the second round, Serena played even with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic for two sets in their third-round tussle. But the younger Tomljanovic took it to Serena in the third set, crushing the crowd favorite with ease, 6-1, in the final set. Not surprisingly, Serena succumbed to age, rust from not consistently playing high-level matches, and a strategic mistake.

During her post-match interview at center court, Serena notably said she regretted not playing tournament-level tennis earlier in the year. It was also notable that Serena virtually ignored Tomljanovic, who patiently remained seated on the court while Serena was interviewed.

Serena’s strategic error was her decision to participate in the double’s tournament, alongside big sis Venus. While it was surely nostalgic for the Williams sisters to play together as double’s partners one last time at the U.S. Open, Serena’s legs could have used a break during what would have been a much-needed day off in between singles matches. A deeper run into the tournament was there for the taking but Serena was unable to make it happen.

As it stands, Serena is stuck on 23 singles major titles, one shy of Margaret Court’s record 24 major championships. Court did win many of her major titles during the amateur era, meaning Court won while disposing of amateur competitors. Serena won her major championships against the top professional players, which is why many people acknowledge Serena as the greatest of them all.

Nada

On the men’s side, before the festivities even began, the Big Three quickly became the One and Only. Twenty-time major champion Roger Federer, nagged by injuries the past few years, pulled out of the U.S. Open. Novak Djokovic, the youngest and fittest of the Big Three, clung to his tired excuse for not taking a coronavirus vaccine jab. In a proper decision, 21-time major champion Djokovic was not allowed to travel to New York to compete against smart, vaccinated players.

Therefore, heading into the U.S. Open, the last Big Three man standing was Rafael Nadal, himself perpetually bothered by injuries the last few years. Holder of a men’s record 22 major championships, Nadal won the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year to leap past Djokovic. With the absence of his two rivals, the pathway to a Serena-tying 23rd major seemed pre-ordained for Nadal.

Ah, but the theme of this tournament is – to quote the great music artist Sam Cooke – a change is gonna come. Nadal was waxed in round four by American Frances Tiafoe, a supremely talented player who, at 24 years old, appears to have arrived. Tiafoe grew up in Maryland, spending hours at the tennis facility where his father worked, taking lessons and mimicking practice habits and drills performed by older players.

Tiafoe’s hard work and intelligence were on display as he disposed of Nadal in four sets and again when he beat higher-seeded Andrey Rublev, in straight sets, to earn a spot in the semi-finals (i.e., final four). Clearly, Tiafoe’s growth this season portends a bright future which should result in multiple major championships.

Unlike his superbly talented friend, Australian Nick Kyrgios, Tiafoe keeps his emotions under control, channeling his energy in a constructive manner. Kyrgios, who claimed the runner-up trophy at Wimbledon in July, frequently comes unglued as demons swirling in his head ruin his mojo. The talented Kyrgios, now 27 years old, should eventually break through and win major championships.

Anyone wondering what would become of tennis when Serena and the Big Three exit the scene now has the answer. The youngin’s have emphatically demonstrated, with an outstanding display at the U.S. Open, that the future of tennis is in good hands for the foreseeable future and beyond.

That’s as certain as Tiafoe winning a set drilling multiple 125-mph aces.