US Open and Rain

The US Open enjoyed a splendid first week. Against all odds, the hurricane that everyone predicted would bring doom to New York passed by with a little wind and rain but nothing like the damage it had caused elsewhere in the world. Opening Monday woke up to blue skies and blazing sunshine. The first week floated by on a few white fluffy clouds, watching match after match of tennis's biggest names going through, getting beaten (Kvitova, Wimbledon Champion only a few short weeks ago, fell at the first hurdle) and breaking records (Stosur v Kirilenko saw a 17-15 second set tie-break finally won by Kirilenko - the longest tie-break in a Grand Slam Ladies singles match - Stosur went on to break early in the third set and seal the match).

The week was not without its dramas, however, as no less than 18 players withdrawed through injury or illness; 14 of them retirements during matches which is a grand-slam record in the Open era - among them Venus Williams and Robin Soderling. This had players and press alike up in arms about the punishing schedule and fears falling on deaf ears. Schedulers, however, had more to worry about than players dropping out.

Ray-ray had been due to play his fourth round match against Donald Young, the young American wonder-kid-turned-mediocre who beat Murray during his bad patch in the first round of Indian Wells earlier on in the summer, on Tuesday at 4pm (BST). It is now Thursday at 12:30pm and they have played a total of three games, with Young 2-1 on serve. These three games, according to Murray, Nadal, Roddick and others, should not even have been played, such was the condition of the courts. It's been raining in New York for nearly three straight days and for all Brian Earley's (tournament referee) confidence that the tournament will finish on time (Sunday), I just don't see it happening. The US Open has finished on the third Monday for the last three years and I can't imagine 2011 will be any different. Even finishing on Monday will be a push with the weather reports for the next few days. Rain, rain and more rain; and when it's not raining it'll be windy and muggy. IF the rain miraculously clears and the weather is beautiful for the remainder of the tournament, yes, the final will be on schedule, but it will also have meant the (male) players will have played four five-setters in four days. Ouch.

Roof, anyone?  

I'll keep you blogged...