tennis, life and a few things in between

Day 8 at the US Open. Ladies’ round of 16. Zhang Shuai (1989-; 5’10”, 2003; $8.9m) is playing Coco Gauff (2004-; 5’9″; 2018; $4.8m) on the center court, the Ashe Stadium. So far it is a good match. Coco was born a year after Zhang turned pro.

Zhang’s career isn’t as promising as Coco’s. In 2016, she even thinking of retiring due to 14 failed attempts in the main draw. She took her mother to Australian Open … however, she beat Simone Halep in the first round and advanced to the quarter. The good result encouraged her to remain in the game, and won a couple of slam doubles (2019 Aussie and 2021 US) with Stosur.

Zhang vs Gauff (r of 16) is pretty good. Both plays well. Coco was born a year after Zhang turned pro. Zhang’s career isn’t as promising as Coco’s and she almost retired in 2016 due to poor results… Now, two slam’s doubles titles and, a very confident player. I watched Coco here in 2019 when she reached the 3rd round. It was a night game and we went nuts for her. She was little (only 15 at the time), reminded me of Degas’ Little Dancer. I didn’t realize that Zhang grunts too, till now.

Delta flight DL1695 took off on time, on 7:10pm, just as the women’s doubles first round began. The Williams sisters play Linda Nosková (2004, 2019; $165,486) and Lucie Hradecká (1985, 2004; $5,989k), both are Czech.

What are treat! Delta streaming espn live.

However, Venus isn’t up to the task and is making unforced errors left and right. She isn’t moving at all, like a tree, as if to stand her ground; often caught unprepared.

Serena played on the Day 1 evening session, beating Montenegrin Danka Kovinić (1994; 2010, $2.6m) 6:3, 6:3. Her fans packed her practice session too. Her blue skirt is pretty.

A Facebook post: top 10 best paid tennis players in the past 12 month; when Serena plays, the Who’s who / stars coming out to watch; Spike Lee is at the coin toss ceremony.

6-3, 6-3, not too much work for Serena.

This year’s Open is from Aug 29 to Sept 11, has $60,102,000 prize purse, with $2.6m to the two winners in singles. Last year was $57m/$2.5m, and 2020 was $53m/$3m.

• Day 1 Serena def Danka Kovinić 6-3, 6-3
• Day 2,
• Day 8, Gauff defeat Zhang Shuai
• Day 11, men’s doubles semi

^{Getting ready for the opening day, driving in the last nail}

The biggest news is that Serena is retiring after this tourney. So, this is the last. Where she won her first in 1999, as a 17 years old girl – two weeks shy of her 18th birthday.

Perks from the sponsors

• Chase Lounge is booked out solid: two days after they opened up for reservation. I thought I’m early.
• Amex Lounge

A part sunshine, part cloud and part of rain. Declines figs freshly off the tree. We also got wontons & beancurd from Flushing.

We stayed in the Louis Armstrong, watching the pros practicing, also wait out the occasion rains.

A view of NY Mets‘ Citifield from Armstrong Stadium. A nice tattoo on the coach’s arm.

The exit to parking lot, flowers and the benches by the City park courts that now used as the practice court for the tourney.

I started to play tennis since 1986. And don’t buy many gears. Cleaning today, found some of my past rackets.

My first one was the most expensive one: a pearl white Prince that cost over $200 in 1986 and it was heavy. The only thing made me buy it was the look. My next one was a radish Thunderbolt that I lost in the park.

Got new grips and re-strung the handles. The red Babolat on the left was purchased in 2011, right after Li Na won her first grand slam in Paris. It’s weak and soft, that I use it when I play with girls. The blue on the right was a hand me down, with adequate power and is my main toy.

The ball holders are my favorite – made in West Germany. They’re solid and looking pretty.

The final is on the 2nd Saturday is pretty good: 17 seed Elena Rybakina (1999; 2016;) of Kazakhstan (originally from Moscow) beat 3 seed Ons Jabeur (1994-;2010;) of Tunisia 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.

Catherine Middleton (1982-;), the waity Katie Princess of Wales in a bright yellow dress came out to present the trumperies, in high heels. What the heel … she won’t wear the flat bottom wedges on grass?

Tatjana Maria (1987-; 2001; $3.5m) def her countrywoman Jule Niemeier (1999-; 2016; $343,672) in three sets. They hugged for a long time at the net, which is heartwarming. Maria has two daughters.

• Serena (1981-) 1995-, 23 slams, $94.5m
• Venue (1980-) 1994-, 10 slams, $42m
• Graf (1969-) 1982-99, 22 slams, $21.9m

Look at the above stats, it’s hard to win a grand slam during their reign.

温网🎾 小威 第一圈就被一个名不经转的巴黎中国女打出局了 (没胃口说她 … 丑)
威威该退休了
(最帅的是 Sampras 三浦斯 赢完第14个大满贯就宣布退休. 急流勇退 [强] 完美)
让其她娃娃们有个机会举举杯 享受享受赢的滋味儿 😋

这不 牛鬼蛇神粉墨登场 没贬义哈二个🇩🇪娃争妍 进半决赛
姜 还是老的辣
二娃的妈赢了
虽然年纪差好多 但赛后的拥抱好温馨
威威独霸网坛20多年 赢了23个
她姐姐大威 同期赢了10个
在她姐妹前是Steffi Graf 崮拉福 赢了22个 [苦涩]

毁了多少其她娃子们的梦 [呲牙]

㊗️[福] 福这个妈妈 更胜一筹[玫瑰]

Matches at Wimbledon are awesome:

1. Kyrgios def Tsitsipas: a zoo like atmosphere; bully
2. Amanda Anisimova def Coco Gauff
3. Taylor Fritz def Molcan
4. Brandon Nakashima def Daniel Elahl Galán
5. Alizé Cornet def Iga Świątek, ends her 37 match win streak

Unfortunately, Jessica Pegula, Jack Sock and Jenson Brooksby all lost.

Harmony Tan def Boulter.

Chris Evert came back from her ovarian cancer and is warmly welcomed by her colleagues in the booth.

Women’s final

Coco started out as Cori – as seen here at Wimbledon in 2019 vs Venue Williams, wondering what made her to change her name to Coco.

I got up at crack of dawn to watch Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula (1994-; 2009; $4.9m) vs two French women Caroline Garcia (1993-; 2011; $11m) and Kristina ‘Kiki’ Mladenovic (1993-; 2009; $12m), but was disappointed after the first set: the two Americans couldn’t get their act together any more, specially Pegula being passed left and right in the alley.

The two French women came back strong and won. They’ve many similarities: both were born in the same year in France – from their names, their origins suggest Spain and Yugoslav; of similar high and physiques, and prize income. They deserved the win and $620,000.

Rafael Nadal def Casper Ruud (1998-; 2015; $7.5m) easily: 3, 3, 0. It’s Rafa’s 14th on the red clay and 22 overall. Their respective royal family came to cheer them on: King Felipe VI (1968-; since 2014) of Spain and H.R.H. crown prince Haakon (1973-) of Norway.