Rafael Nadal was walking along West 59th Street by Central Park last week, talking on his cellphone, when he spotted the gangly figure of Justin Gimelstob , a retired tennis player, puffing and panting while jogging by him.
His verdict is typically blunt. John McEnroe believes only three men can win the US Open title this year and tips Rafael Nadal to emerge victorious.
In this sort of heat, New Yorkers long to be in the Hamptons, the desirable Long Island beaches, not still in the city, and tennis players want to be off court as quickly as possible.
Rafael Nadal plays his first match in New York later tonight, but don’t expect him to tell you how much he wants to win in New York .
Spain’s Rafa Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the top seeds at the U.S. Open, will open their tournament’s during Tuesday’s night session while Briton Andy Murray will have to cool his heels for another day.
Does the US Open court surface favor Roger Federer over Rafael Nadal? For years, Nadal has been designated as a slower court specialist, with clay as his favorite.
Venus Williams defeats of the U.S. defeats Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-4, 6-1 and meets Rebecca Marinoon Wednesday.
Marcos Baghdatis will always have a special place in my heart for the five-set, four-hour marathon he and Andre Agassi played here in 2006 - one of the most memorable matches in United States Open history.
Every year or two, Fish, 28, will make a sensational run, like his quarterfinal appearance at the 2008 United States Open, then fall back to the tennis equivalent of the peloton, frustrating admirers of his all-court talent.
Fans attending the US Open at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, now have myriad ways of following Rafael Nadal, Melanie Oudin, Venus Williams and the rest of professional tennis’ elite, whether they’re sitting in Arthur Ashe Stadium or checking in from their work computer.
Tennis players Roger Federer, left, and Rafael Nadal look on during Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday.
These tennis champions are hot on and off the court. This steamy Spaniard is the No.
Photograph: Peter Jones/Reuters Andy Murray is encouragingly relaxed before this US Open but so is the man who has twice blocked his way to winning a first grand slam title and remains the biggest threat to everyone here, Roger Federer .
Close August 30, 2010, 10:06 AM ET By Carl Bialik Roger Federer’s decline from the summit of men’s tennis has been gradual, so it takes a close look to identify just how far he has fallen.
As the U.S. Open gets under way Monday in New York City, the state of U.S. tennis couldn’t be much worse.
