Tennis fans walk the grounds at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during matches at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, August 29, 2011.
Yesterday, Petra Kvitova was the first Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round of the US Open in the Open Era. Or so I thought I heard one of the commentators say. If it was Chris Evert, then you might want to fact check this stat for the things that fall from her lips are often so wrong as to be flatout ludicrous. But the young Czech hasn't won but a few matches since taking the crown jewel back in July and it seems she's still on the lawns of Wimbledon dealing with such an overwhelming accomplishment. I don't expect her to rebound till the indoor season begins.
16-year-old American Madison Keys won her first Slam match, taking out veteran wild card Jill Craybas in straight sets. The youngster has weapons. Christina McHale also rallied to victory, while Bethanie Mattek-Sands continues to disappoint, barely winning games in her straight-set loss. And what on earth has happened to Melanie Oudin? I didn't expect her to become a world beater after her run to the quarterfinals two years ago, but she's now eating bagels baked by journeywomen with no weapons.
Today, I don't foresee any big upsets, but with late arrivals to New York and interrupted rituals due to Irene, who knows? Look out for Igor Andreev.