The US Open-Eve Download

…Or maybe it’s a low down? Or maybe an unpacking of sorts! Regardless, the 2021 US Open begins tomorrow and there is a lot to cover. So find your favorite comfy spot and I’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about this year’s US Open.

Image: usopen.org

There is so much to cover, where to begin?

Let’s start with who you WON’T see at the Open. Ready for this?

Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and last year’s men’s victor, Dominic Thiem! Mother Time is roaring loud and clear! These incredible athletes are seeing their best days in their rear view mirrors. And you know what? I’m OK with this! Sports and sport stars are meant to evolve, and the evolution has begun.

Now, who WILL be there?

Let’s start with Novak Djokovic. He is vying for a year Grand Slam, having already won the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon. Can he win the US Open and make this a true calendar Grand Slam? We haven’t seen this since Steffi Graf in 1988. (Don’t ask me how a 13 year old cat can remember something that happened in 1988…it’s the miracle of blogging!)

The likelihood of Novak winning is high, however, let’s not forget what happened to him last year, when out of frustration, he hit a line judge in the neck with a tennis ball, which got him kicked out. And this year at the Olympics he committed code violations but wasn’t penalized for them (ugh!). So can he keep his temper in check? Will the chair umpires give him preferential treatment because he is Novak Djokovic?

Will his many formidable contenders finally step up and prove they should become household names? This, I have been hoping for for years! Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Matteo Berrettini...come on, guys!! The world is watching and waiting!

Let’s talk about the women’s side for a minute! I make no apologies for my unabashed love of Ash Barty! If I had to pick a winner, it would be her! However, the number of outstanding female players in New York will be something to watch! Naomi Osaka is back! Will she cinch US Open title #3? Barbara Krejcikova has had an incredible year…to be honest, she was not on my radar until very recently, winning the French Open, so she is one to watch! Ons Jabeur, Jen Brady, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabelenka, Elina Svitolina, Bianca Andreescu, Maria Sakkari, Belinda Bencic! Whew, my purrty little kitty paws are exhausted! So many women to keep my cat eyes on! This US Open should be fun!

Lastly, the fans are back!! Yes, the roar of New York City crowd will be electrifying and I am living for it! Last year, understandably, the US Open was played in a bubble. And actually, it gave the tournament a very interesting, once in a lifetime, vibe. Players were able to watch matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium from the corporate box suites, which gave a private, intimate feel to the grandest tennis stage. Having the stands at Flushing Meadows full again with loud, rowdy fans, will be a welcome change!

And anyone attending the US Open has to show proof of vaccination, which I support wholeheartedly! I will always back policies that will make it a safe environment for the spectators, workers and everyone involved!

So stay tuned and I’ll keep you in the know for all things US Open!

The Happy Couple

How do you pack a stadium for a mixed doubles match? Pair Nick Kyrgios with Venus Williams and…vwa-lah! Magic!

Image: Getty

Stylistically, they couldn’t be more different…Venus – classy, graceful, a legend; Nick – crude, unconventional, a “bad boy of tennis.” However, together they were sensational. The purrfect pair.

The partnership was Nick’s idea. It was “a dream come true” for him to play doubles with a Williams sister.

Obviously, they respect each other’s game, and they are both power players with big serves and big returns. If I was on the other side of the court from those two, I would be hiding behind my racquet and hoping for the best.

You could tell they were having a great time, too. Laughing, high-fiving, supporting each other. It was like watching a fun, low-stakes, exhibition, but it’s Wimbledon!

They won their first round match against American duo, Austin Krajicek and Sabrina Santamaria. Total blockbuster entertainment! Next up with be Eduoard Roger-Vasselin and Nicole Melichar. I don’t know much about mixed doubles, but I do know it will be fun to watch!

Heartbreaking Upsets and Heartwarming Victories

There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a player injure themselves during a match. It doesn’t matter if they are winning, losing, or flat out even against their opponent. Nobody wants to see a player unfairly robbed from competing.

But, it happened twice today at Wimbledon. On Center Court, no less! With the roof closed!

It had been raining in London and even though the roof was closed, the grass was slippery. The grass surface at the beginning of a tournament is always more slippery, than after it gets worn out a little by the players. Ugh!

First up, Adrian Mannarino was playing Roger Federer. He was up two sets to one. Roger was up in the fourth set, 4-2, so it was likely going to extend to a fifth set. It was really was anyone’s game. Mannarino won the first two sets easily, and by all accounts, was playing better than Federer. But he ran for a ball and one leg slipped one way, as his knee buckled the other way. He tried to recover and served out the set, but retired before the fifth set.

Image: Reuters

Then, immediately following that horrific outcome on Center Court, the slip and agony heard round the world! Just six games into her first round match, Serena Williams slipped and tweaked her ankle. It’s just painful to watch. She was vying for a 24th grand slam title and her favorite tournament, so to be out in this freak accident is just heartbreaking!

Image: Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images

But let’s talk about some heartwarming stories of the day!

Big sister, Venus, entering the tournament as a wild-card (which is totally wild, to me!) won her first round match!! It took her three sets, but she did it! Let me remind you…Queen V is 41 years old and this is her 23rd Wimbledon! Just remarkable!

Image: Wimbledon.com

Then we had the Ash Barty vs. Carla Suarez Navarro match! We knew that this would be an emotional one. As previously mentioned, Carla is a survivor, so to see her back on the court in competitive fashion was a victory, in and of itself! To be on Center Court, playing world #1, Ash Barty, just set the match up to have all the feels!

Image: @carlasuareznava

Carla plans to retire at the end of the year, so this was her last Wimbledon. She plans on representing Spain in the Summer Olympics and say farewell at the US Open. Barty may have won the match, but Suarez Narravo had our hearts!

All of these emotions has worn me out. I think I’ll go take a cat nap!

Till tomorrow…

Revisiting 2017 Grand Slam Predictions – Women

At the beginning of 2017, I wrote the following predictions about women’s tennis:

OK, here are my predictions for the 2017 Grand Slam winners on the women’s side:

• Aussie Open – Serena Williams
• French Open – Serena Williams
• Wimbledon – Serena Williams
• US Open – Serena Williams

Well, it may not go just like that, but I have no doubt that Serena will win Grand Slam #23 and pass Steffi Graf’s record at some point this year. And if I had to guess, it will be at Wimbledon…and then maybe the US Open. NO DOUBT!! And wow, wouldn’t it be awesome if she won all four at her age!

In other news, I really think we are going to see a breakout year from Karolina Pliskova. By the end of last year, her playing was on point and she could certainly be a Grand Slam contender. With the help of Darren Cahill in her coaching box, I predict Simona Halep to get to at least two finals this year. And last but not least, let’s hearing it for our American players. Wouldn’t it be fun to see Madison Keys get to a final? Go Madison!  USA! USA!!

Little did I purr, Serena Williams was going to have a big year in a different way! Yes, she did win the Australian Open, playing against her big sis, Venus, no less, in the final. That gave her win #23, surpassing Steffi Graf’s record for number of grand slam wins for women. But she also had a baby and got married in 2017! Talk about a BIG year. Congratulations to Serena!

How well did I do with the other predictions? 25% correct

Here is a list of all the grand slam winners in 2017:

• Aussie Open – Serena Williams
• French Open – Jelena Ostapenko
• Wimbledon – Garbine Muguruza
• US Open – Sloane Stephens

If Serena wasn’t busy becoming a mother and a wife, she would have certainly won at least one more grand slam, furr sure. But since she was out, this left room for the others, including Venus Williams, to make some big moves.

Simona Halep made it to the French Open final and ended as the year’s #1 player on the WTA rankings! Way to go, Simona! Karolina Pliskova did pretty well, ending the year ranked #4. Venus Williams made it to two grand slam finals this year, the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Not too bad for a 37 year old! And Madison Keys made it to the US Open finals, playing another American, Sloane Stephens! Yes, we had two American women in their home slam! USA! USA!

It truly was a remarkable year for American women’s tennis. And that sounds funny to meow when Serena was out for most of the year.

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Blow Out at Wimbledon’s Women’s Final

The table was set for a phenomenal Women’s Final today. Or as I like to think about it…my food and water, my best treats, and my favorite comb, were all waiting for me this morning at Wimbledon today. With Serena Williams out on maternity leave, that left things wide open for big sister, Venus, to step in and take the title. And why not? At 37 years old, she has been playing some of her best, flawless tennis this entire tournament. Unfortunately, so has her opponent, Spanish player, Garbine Muguruza.

I first noticed Garbine when she made it to the Wimbledon finals in 2015. Her opponent? Serena Williams! Nothing you can do when your playing Serena except pray that you don’t look too foolish on the court. Then she won the French Open in 2016. So I knew this would be no walk in the park for Venus.

Of course I was behind Venus the whole way. It’s no secret that she’s one of my favorite female players of all time! (Venus!) But you can’t will/pray/wish someone to win a Major. They have to do it on their own, and Venus just didn’t have it today. She gave a convincing effort in the first set, but when Muguruza went up a break to win it 7-5, not was no turning back. Muguruza won the second set in a quick 22 minutes, 6-0. Bye, Venus!

Even in defeat, Venus Williams is gracious, classy, and displays all around sportsmanship! A true role model and winner in my book!

Notable Spanish presence at the Women’s Final: the King of Spain, Juan Carlos (yeah, the King of Spain came to watch Garbine play!), four time Grand Slam winner, Arahtxa Sanchez Vicario, who is almost unrecognizable with her blonde hair, but OK. And yes, I had to google her to make sure I spelled her name right. And of course, Conchita Martinez, former Wimbledon champ who is currently supporting Garbine in a coaching role.

Next grand slam is the US Open, and if there ever was a place Venus is more well-loved, it is the hallowed grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center!

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True Cat Confession #3

I don’t think it is a deep hidden secret that I absolutely LOVE Venus Williams…you know, the older of the power duo, The Williams Sisters…you might have heard of her little sister, Serena. Venus is powerful, graceful, athletic, fun, and down right strategic when she takes the court. She is about to turn 37 years old and plans to play professionally well into her 40’s! Go girl!

A lesser known fact is the champion she has been off the court fighting for gender equality in sports and life in general. She was instrumental in women receiving equal prize money at Wimbledon (the last of the four majors to offer an equal purse) in 2007. And in my opinion, she is right up there in the bad-ass-ery department with Billie Jean King. And you know I love me some Billie Jean King! But for now, it is all about VENUS!

Here is an excellent article highlighting just a few of her accomplishments off the court, and the main reason I can’t get enough of her!

Venus William, The Role Model

Vintage Tennis in 2017?

Vintage tennis is alive and well at the 2017 Aussie Open. It is exciting, surprising, a bit baffling, but I am totally loving it!

We’ve got Roger, we’ve got Rafa! We’ve got Serena AND Venus!  Holy cow, I can’t even believe it! You would think it’s 10 years ago, 2007! Yeah, Roger was #1, Rafa was #2 back then. And here they are, all in their glorious 30’s, playing with skill, power, speed, desire…heart. You can see it with every point, every set, every victory. It is palpable.

Yes, I know…I got it wrong earlier last week when I said Roger was on his way out. I’m calling that match a slight hiccup now because since then, he has been on point! I do think he will get it handed to him when he plays Stan Wawrinka next. Yep, I predict Stan the Man will win the whole damn thing.

And Rafa! Whaaat? I mean look at the guy. Sometimes my human and I hit pause on the TV and do just that…look–at–him. Ahhh, Rafa! If I didn’t know any better, I would think my human has a slight crush. And he’s so strong and hits his shots with such precision. And just when you hold your breath and doubt every single slice backhand he hits, the slice lands exactly where it’s supposed to and Rafa wins the point. Damn!

Venus! Possibly my favorite women’s player on the tour is killin’ it! She’s got CoCo CoCo Vandeweghe next, and I predict CoCo is going to win that match quickly and precisely. But still, it’s Venus and she is a bad ass!

Serena…yep, I predicted she will win every major this year, so I’m not at all surprised that we see her at the stage.I predict she takes down Konta in three sets.

So sure, let’s step back in time to ten years ago and enjoy this vintage tennis that is the Aussie Open 2017. Wait, hold up. I wasn’t here ten years ago, so that’s no good. I guess I’ll just settle for the here and now, where “the greats” are still GREAT!

Opening Day Down Under

Day 1 of the Aussie Open! Meow…one of my favorite days of the year. This tournament sets the tone of the whole year, in my opinion, yet by the time the US Open rolls around, it seems so far away.

Here are a couple of takeaways I had from today:

• “36 is the new 26.” Yes, Venus. Preach it, girl!! Venus Williams survives first round! Yay!
• Nike…better, ever so slightly. But the men’s shorts, though! NO! That diagonal pattern seems to work very nicely on the women’s skirts, but does not at all work for the men’s shorts. Maybe you could change that before the French?
• Coco Vandeweghe pulls out a win, even after yacking on the court! A pretty purrfect day for the Americans today, all around!  USA USA!
• Andy Murray is a class act after withstanding that incredibly awkward on-court interview after his match. It was a rough start, but you managed to wrap thing up nicely.
• Last but not least…those umpire chairs! Is it just me or do they look like blue versions of the green robe that the Ghost of Christmas Present wore in the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carole?