N.Y.C. AMONG UNIQUE AND HIDDEN COURTS
Architectural Digest took a look at eight of the most unique tennis courts around the world, and if you attended the US Open and were in the area of Grand Central Station, you were right on top of one likely without knowing it.
The “secret” Vanderbilt Tennis and Fitness Club is located within the walls of Grand Central Station. Donald Trump for 30 years ran the club, which in its heyday had two clay courts and an indoor ski slope. When Trump’s lease ran out the facility was moved to the fourth floor and converted to hard courts.
Check out which facilities made the list, including “The Couch” in Amsterdam, the Burj Al Arab helipad court in the United Arab Emirates that Roger Federer and Andre Agassi made famous, a hidden court in Paris over an Aston Martin dealership, rooftop tennis in Miami, and an “Infinity Court” in Los Angeles.
FAREWELL TO ‘THE COLONY’
As you’re reading this, Florida tennis history is being bulldozed in Longboat Key, near Sarasota, where The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort is undergoing demolition.
The resort was a longtime haunt of former tennis broadcaster Bud Collins, who died in 2016, and famed tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who worked there before going off to launch the Bollettieri Tennis Academy. In the early days of NBC broadcasting Wimbledon, Collins and NBC executives came up with the “Breakfast at Wimbledon” concept, which elevated tennis in the U.S., while lounging at The Colony.
Bollettieri was The Colony’s tennis director in 1975-76, turning the resort into one of the top tennis destinations in the U.S. before launching his academy in 1978. The new $650 million replacement resort will tragically not feature a single tennis court.
MISCELLANEOUS
Althea Gibson will be honored next year with a statue on the grounds of the US Open…Women That Achieve was the theme for the 2018 Billie Jean King Power Hour during the first weekend of the US Open, where current and former WTA players met with Billie Jean King to discuss the tour’s past, mentoring and personal and professional growth…Jacksonville’s David Witt, coach of Venus Williams, won the WTCA coaches award presented by the WTA tour…According to Reuters, both Wimbledon and the Australian Open are considering fifth-set tiebreaks…The U.S. Davis Cup team will be without top player John Isner who is expecting a baby any day now — the team plays at Croatia in the Davis Cup semifinals on Sept. 14-16. Named to the team are Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Mike Bryan and rookie Frances Tiafoe…The internet is getting riled over a woman caught on camera at the US Open dipping chicken tenders into her cup of soda…If you like the giant tennis balls at the US Open you’re not alone as around 10,000 will be sold this year in Flushing Meadows…Andy Roddick and current WTA star Danielle Collins are among players that have lifted the trophy — get ready for some of the best doubles in the country when the USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Doubles Championship kicks off next week.
Serena, Rising Star Osaka to Square Off in US Open Final
A potential all-American final was derailed on Thursday night at the US Open, but Serena Williams will still vie for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title when she takes on Japanese rising star Naomi Osaka for the championship on Saturday.
Williams rolled over Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-0, winning 12 of the final 13 games after going down 0-2 to start the match.
“This is just the beginning of my return,” Williams said after the match. “I’m still on the way up. There’s still much more that I plan on doing. You don’t reach your best a couple months in. That’s kind of where I am now.”
The 20-year-old Osaka in the Thursday night semifinal upset last year’s finalist Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4. Osaka, the first Japanese woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles final, beat Williams earlier this year at the Miami Open and says the former No. 1 is her idol.
“This is going to sound really bad,” Osaka said on her thoughts during the match. “But I was just thinking, I really wanted to play Serena. Because she’s Serena.”
The men’s semifinals today will feature former champions Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin del Potro, and Kei Nishikori vs. Novak Djokovic.
They Said It
“It’s nice, fun, grueling, but at the end of the day, I have a very good life. I play a sport for a living. I’m not a doctor. I’m not saving lives. My role in life is so insignificant. I play a sport on TV for entertainment. Enjoying your life is the most important thing.”
— Sloane Stephens speaking to ESPN
“I have never seen Roger [Federer] sweat, ever. If he’s sweating a lot and has to change clothes, then you know it’s pretty humid out there.”
— John Isner, who went through 11 shirts in one match, at the US Open
“Over the years I’ve watched the game getting so much tougher physically and the calendar getting so much more demanding on the players, emotionally and physically. At the end of last year there were so many of the Top 10 who were out of action with serious injuries — you need to look after that.”
— Judy Murray on her preference for getting rid of the best-of-five set format, speaking to Reuters
Tennis on TV This Weekend
(EST, times subject to change)
Friday
Noon — US Open Junior/Wheelchair (live), ESPN3 streaming
Noon — US Open Men’s Doubles Final (live), ESPN2
4pm — US Open (live), ESPN
Saturday
Noon — US Open Junior/Wheelchair (live), ESPN3 streaming
Noon — US Open Mixed Doubles Final (live), ESPN3 streaming
4pm — US Open Women’s Singles Final (live), ESPN
Sunday
Noon — US Open Junior/Wheelchair (live), ESPN3 streaming
1pm — US Open Women’s Doubles Final (live), ESPN2
4pm — US Open Men’s Singles Final (live), ESPN
