tennis, life and a few things in between

Gaël Monfils played his first US Open 2021 match on Day 2 at Court 17. The fun loving player is being loved back from all of us.

So, the US Open tennis 2021 is underway and vendors come in doves as well, selling from bottled water ($3 for a spring or $5 for two) to flags. I’m bit of surprised to see the Japanese and Korean flags but not Chinese. The sweet lady said, she’ll get me one 🙂 all in good spirit. Thank you.

An update: the sweet lady did get Chinese flags when I returned on Thursday. The Program stand is still doing a brisk business: Program + daily for $20, $5 for a daily alone and $20 for a poster). Thought the program and daily could be replaced by smartphone, unless you would like it as a souvenir.

The bottled water, sells by the street vendors this summer:

• $1 on Brooklyn Bridge
• $2 at Yankee
• $3 for a bottle or $5 for two at US Open
• $5 at AMC Fresh Meadows 7 plus sales tax

US Open 2021, Day 2. Court 11, willowy Ashlyn Krueger (2004-; prize win $8,713) is playing Anna Karolína Schmiedlová from Slovakia. Two AKs, -:). Krueger lost 7-5, 6³-7^7ith , 6-3. I saw her teaming up with Robin Montgomery (2004-; prize money $8,493), in an American women’s doubles match on Court 4 two days later, winning the first round of women’s  over A. Muhammad and Jessica Pegula. 6-2 and 7-6. The pair lost their second round to Leylah Fernandez and Erin Routliffe 2-6 and 2-6.

Krueger lost her girls singles in the second round (1st round she got a bye), losing to P. Marcinko in three. The pair, Krueger and Montgomery got a bye in the first round and won their second round, defeating J. Garcia and M. Mutavdzic 6-4, 6-1.

Her singles match on Day 2

Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery on Court 6, Day 4, the first round of women’s doubles.

^{A great photo of Serena who’s absent at the Open; seen on FB}

US Open began yesterday, August 30, ending next Sunday, Sept 12. The prize is $57.5 million and the two singles winners take home $2,500,000 each, little less than 2020, $3 mil.

I got my day session (#3) ticket to Ashe at the window (ticket/box office), $44 (TicketMaster adds $5 per ticket service fee and $2.95 order processing fee) today. It’s cheaper than the ground pass which is at $65. To buy a day in advance or before the start of the match, $25 would do. Some ticket prices in 2013.

Gates opening time varies. On the first day, a huge crowd was gathered to get in and someone tweeted that a woman fainting, but I never encountered any lines on my days there. Actually, on my evening session, I got in way before 6pm. The parking isn’t as clear as Citifield’s.

The most talked about topic this year is bathroom breaks: Stefanos Tsitsipas (1998-) taking multiple 8 minutes bathroom break during his first round match, defeating Andy Murray (espn, WaPo, People, SportingNews …).

The perks: Amex, Chase and Benz all have their hangouts. Amex has Centurion Suite and the Lounge (photos above, is smaller than previous years), with a few booths to dispense their radios. Chase has one at the main building where we check in to play tennis. It required a sign up and reserve but my two reservations never materialized: Day 4 was on a waitlist and Day 9 never came. Benz had display room only inside. The outside of the gate one is gone.

Although I never encounter any lines to get in but I though USTA should or could offer wrist band for covid-19 vaccine proof, to reduce the among of work they’ve to do each time we go because many of us are multiple day attendees.

Day 2: I parked at Skyview (got hair cut too) and walked the Roosevelt Avenue pathway 5.2 miles for the day. The commuter lot is closed for the first four days. It reopens to commuters this Friday, at the usual rate $5.

Watched Barty at Ashe, Gaël Monfils at Court 17, and a young American, 17 years old Ashlyn Krueger (2004-), who lost to Anna Karolína Schmiedlová in three sets. Her prize winning is only $8,713.

Day 2, Tue 8.31 @ Ashe, $44 (Sec 317, row R), first round

1. Barty
2. Ashlyn Krueger
3. Gaël Monfils

Day 4 Thur, Sept 2, 2nd round; $32.95; LIRR

1. Jenson Brooksby defeat Taylor Fritz @ Grandstand
2. Sock def Bublik @ Court 5
3. Ashlyn Krueger/Montgomery def Pegula/Muhammad @ Court 4
4. Coco Gauff/McNally def Carla Suárez Navarro/Errani @ #17
5. Karolína Plíšková def Amanda Anisimova @ Ashe

Day 9, Tue Sept 7 @ Armstrong $135;

1. Giuliana Olmos/M. Arévalo def E. Perez/M. Demoliner
2. Stosur/Zhang def Dolehide/Sanders
3. Pegula/Krajicek def Guarachi/Skupski
4. Johnson/Querrey def Tecau/Krawletz

Day 11, Thur Sept 9 @ Armstrong, $0

1. Johnson/Querrey lost to ^#4 R. Ram/J. Salisbury
2. ^#8 J Peers n F Polasek lost to ^#7 Jamie Murray/B Soares
3. ^#1 Shingo Kunieda def Casey Ratzlaff  6:1, 6:0
4. Tom Egberink lost to Gordon Reid

The bathrooms are always well stocked, and what you can and can’t bring in with you.

The Ashleigh Barty Vera Zvonareva match was pretty boring, until Barty failed for serve out at 5:3. The second set went to tie break. After the match I spotted Vera Zvonareva got on the stationary bike. Looking over, is the New York Hall of Science, with the rocket park.

The K9s German shepherds, aren’t they handsome?! And the Mets dog too

The fashion is as usual, great to watch too. But I always miss the best dressers.

… and the uniform: on the first day, Sloane Stephens def Madison Keys – they wore the same outfits. Theirs, clearly set the tone for this Open.

more …

• the flag lady and the vendors
• Maria Sakkari the guangong 关公

… and the final,

Emma Raducanu and Daniil Medvedev won the Final.

Med wrote: “Imagine being 18, playing in your 4th pro event, winning only a 25k before and now being @usopen champ! Incredible. @EmmaRaducanu”

Yes, her run is incredible. Hope she can keep up the pace.