The Sun Sets on the US Open
Do not go gentle into that good nightOld age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
--Dylan Thomas
I won't run circles around the news that Roger Federer beat Andre Agassi in the men's final. In the first three sets, Agassi was in every service game of Federer's and even claimed the second set by breaking Federer's serve twice. Flustered, Federer had to raise his game and cut down on the errors streaming from his backhand in order to win the third set.As the fourth set progressed, though, you could see Agassi was in trouble; he wasn't moving to balls he could have returned, much like what happened at the French Open when his nerve inflammation flared up in the first round. Federer began throwing some heat on his serves and groundstrokes as well, holding at love and breaking Agassi in all but one of his service games. Then, Federer served for it and claimed the championship 6-3,2-6,7-6,6-1.
The sky was in the final throes of sunset as the USTA officials handed the two players their trophies. It would have been a poetic end to the day if Agassi had won the title in this sunset of his career (and on the anniversary of 9-11, too...). But tennis--even with the best players making it seem like an art--is a sport, and no master writer holds the pen to give us the Cinderella ending for Agassi. It's not the end for him, anyway; at this point, Agassi intends to keep working. Rage on, Andre.***
Though there was no fairytale ending for Andre Agassi, Kim Clijsters ran away with the glass slipper and the US Open women's singles title. Being the winner of the US Open Series leading up to the Open, Clijsters is set to fill that trophy with a whopping $2.2 million in prize money and bonus from the USTA. It is the biggest single payday for a tennis player. One could say that after failing to bag a major four times previously, Kim did it this time in grand fashion, steamrolling Mary Pierce 6-3,6-1.***
Other results from the 2005 US Open:
After making the final of all three previous Slam tournaments this year, the Bryan twins Bob and Mike finally say Four's the charm and win the US Open men's doubles. Chest bump, anyone?
Daniela Hantuchova captured the US Open mixed doubles title with first-time partner Mahesh Bhupathi. She now has doubles titles for each of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Samantha Stosur and Lisa Raymond claimed the US Open women's double title by defeating Elena Dementieva and Flavia Pennetta 6-2,5-7,6-3. This is Stosur's first title from a major.
***
It's also time for me to take a short hiatus. With my thesis work heating up and tennis in the doldrums until later this month, I'll only be updating sporadically over the next two weeks. Good night!
posted by Noelle De Guzman @ 10:44 AM
4 Comments:
Contrary to your opinion, I did watch the match. This really is my opinion of what happened. I do think Agassi's movement was hampered by the fourth set; I do not think he tanked it. And I did watch that painful five-setter first round at the French Open, so I know what I'm talking about.
Perhaps Andre ran out of gas; as he's said, the three five-setters weren't good preparation for a final versus Federer.
This is not Andre of yesteryear we're talking about, who used to tank matches because he didn't care. He and his coach admit that this is the last stage of his career. I think Agassi's very aware that this final was a good opportunity to add to his collection of Slam trophies, and that he couldn't blow it. He may never have this chance again.
TwistServe, if you can't be civil to other people who leave comments, I'm going to have to start deleting yours. This is your first and last warning.
Your choice, TS. I'm fine with contrary comments, but when name-calling starts, I draw the line.
hmmm... hard to argue with someone who contradicts their own point no noelle?
anywayz, congrats to daniela for a career grand slam in mixed doubles! woohoo!
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