US Open Final Impressions

by Savannah

US Open 2009 Champions

Travis Parrot and Carly Gullickson Mixed Doubles Champions

Girls Champion Heather Watson (left) and runner up Yana Buchina

Boy's Champion Bernard Tomic (right) and runner up Chase Buchanan

Men's Doubles Champions Dlouhy and Paes (right) with runner ups Bhupathi and Knowles

Women's Singles Champion Kim Clijsters

Women's Doubles Champions Venus Williams and Serena Williams

Mens Singles Champion Juan Martin DelPotro

I have said it before and I'll say it again. A soft draw does not a champion make. The USTA did everything it could to give Roger Federer a "bye" to the Final while making sure the guys on the other side of the draw would have to fight it out for the chance to take the court against him.

There's an old saying that goes when you dig a grave for someone dig two holes. There were rain delays but this time the Monogram didn't get five days off while everyone else played. The rain mess - starting the second men's quarterfinal knowing that bad weather was coming didn't work out either.

In the end it was injury that prevented the marquee matchup in men's tennis from taking place and an unlikely, gangly twenty year old stood across the net from the man the talking heads were already handing his sixth straight US Open title.

At one point early in the match Mary Carillo made the statement that Del Potro was good "at being tall". When asked to clarify what she meant she said it again. I guess Juan Martin proved he's good at more than being tall.

Congratulations to all the winners. I've listed them in winning order. Many complained that this Open was just "meh" because it seemed as if the ending was preordained. We tennisheads should know better. They play the matches for a reason.

Miscellany

The Wall Street Journal" reports the following:

Look for foot-faults to be included among the calls in tennis that will be reviewable by the Hawk-Eye system at next year's U.S. Open.

Serena Williams was called for a foot-fault just two points from losing her semifinal match with Kim Clijsters on Saturday, and after the call she cursed at the lineswoman, resulting in a point penalty that ended the match. The play is not reviewable under USTA rules, but officials discussed changing that at a meeting Sunday morning, and they plan to revisit the issue in the coming months, said USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier.

Paul Hawkins, head of Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd., the United Kingdom firm behind the computerized line-calling system, said its digital cameras only track and make animated images of the ball for close line calls. They aren't set up to rule on foot-faults, though he said adding that would be fairly simple. As of Sunday, CBS said it had not found a better angle to show the call than an inconclusive shot from behind the baseline. However, Steve Gorsuch, director of broadcast operations for the USTA, said there is a camera positioned along the baseline of the north side of the court for most prominent matches. Unfortunately, Ms. Clijsters was standing on that side during Ms. Williams's service game.

—Matthew Futterman and Carl Bialik

Everyone is all in Serena's shit but the entire situation arose from a bad call. There is even a post on YouTube with subtitles alleging Serena used an anti Asian racial slur which did not happen.
John McEnroe, who's been threatening and cursing out lines people for about twenty years by the way, said when it happened and repeated on Sunday that you do not make that call at that point of the match. We'd seen Serena come back from being down already in that match so the call, on a match point, was bush league to say the least. Guess that lines person will be doing Futures and satellites although Mariana Alves, the most incompetent chair on the planet is still working majors so one never knows.

With all this carrying on let's look back to earlier this year when Victoria Azarenka had a stunning meltdown at Brisbane. She cursed and carried on something fierce at the chair umpire demanding that the chair agree with her. The chair refused. And let's not forget Yanina Wickmayer's ball toss during a fit of pique that sent a lines person to the hospital. I don't remember anyone screaming "off with their heads".

And just now the Monogram cursed out chair umpire Jake Garner. Dick Enberg says that the Monogram wasn't being "venomous". Mary Carillo reminded him that he still cursed the chair. CBS cut off the diatribe mid way so we really won't know what really got said.

It always amazes me that angry African Americans seem to scare the crap out of people and that the "fullest extent of the law" is always brought against them.

The brothers McEnroe mentioned that the kind folks who run the US Open are now seriously thinking about doing what all the other Slams do and put a day between the semi finals and final so that everyone gets the same treatment. The mentioned that this has been under discussion for thirty years. Guess the roof thing is simply a gleam in their collective eyes...

End Note

Why did Dick Enberg try so hard to stop Juan Martin from speaking in Spanish to his family and supporters?

US Open Day 13 Impressions

by Savannah


When they dragged out the Jimmy Connors vs Aaron Krickstein match you know the jig was up. There would be no women's semi final aired on the Eye this afternoon.

Just before this "Classic" was aired for the gazillioneth time reports surfaced on Twitter that said the TD of the US Open, Michael Curley, and the executive director of the USTA Gordon Smith were holding a press conference. Do I have to say what Topic A was? Some of the more amazing statements that were tweeted include the following:

• Why should they spend $100m for a roof that will only be used once or twice a year?

• Rain is more of a problem in London than in New York.

I guess there's a reason so many are excluded from the ranks of the press at the US Open because my first question after the cost thing would have been "How much did it cost the AELTC? The FFT? Is the USTA content to put on the only Slam that has nothing to protect the players, and the tournament, from the elements?" As for the "Rain is more of a problem in London" quip I would've simply asked if they'd taken a look outside lately. Last year was a hurricane. Today it was a persistant drizzle.

That fecal matter apparently didn't stick to the wall so the message became that they are just beginning to contemplate a roof for Ashe. I talked about this earlier this year if you recall. They said that they wouldn't do it. Now with the second embarrassing weather related situation in as many years they're saying "maybe". Some fans are saying they will have to build a new stadium. Let's wait and see if the subject even comes up again in what passes for tennis media once the tournament is completed.

As I've said this system was known to be on it's way. Why is the USTA always caught flat footed when weather intervenes in their glorious plans? Is their first thought the players or one player? All major sports events have the best weather intelligence available. Only one player got protected during this interval. The fact that a couple of others got to come along for the ride doesn't make it any different than it was last year.

And while I'm on the subject once again I question having Mary Joe Fernandez anywhere near the Monogram with a microphone. I thought she and her husband's client were going to start dishing about where to eat dinner during her "interview". I swear I could count every one of her teeth she was smiling so broadly. Pammy may be a loose cannon, PMac wouldn't be able to get up off his knees, and Cahill would have the sense to recuse himself from that farce today. I'd rather Pammy ask to see the Monogram's Speedo than have that conflict of interest thrown in my face as "journalism". There was no way they were going to let the experienced sports journalist Mike Tirico near him was there? Oh, my bad, he works for ESPN. When the Monogram came out with he was home taking care of the twins I lost it.

The Women's Semi Finals

So why, when there was a short window, didn't the geniuses start either the men's doubles final or the first women's semi final? Only certain players get to play stop/start tennis? Did Dinara's little tantrum traumatize them that much? Did Serena's representatives go "Nuh-uh?" Seriously no way Serena and Saint Kim play on Armstrong so the only choice was to move the men's doubles or the teens. Guess who loses in that scenario?

Miscellany

Some were concerned about my proposal that both men's quarterfinals could have been played on Thursday. They seemed concerned that ticket holders would somehow be jobbed. I will say it again. This is the age of the computer. You can make the computer do whatever you want it to do with a few keystrokes. Take a look at the message now posted on the official web site, USOpen.Org. No more silly concerns okay people?

The Junior Tournament

Heather Watson
The junior tournament was moved indoors so there was no live scoring available. Once again Colette Lewis came through and tweeted results all through the day. There were some really surprising results to say the least.

Young Heather Watson of Great Britain defeated Noppawan Lertcheewakarn to making it to the final after beating Ms Gavrilova.

Laura Robson lost to Ms Buchina 7-5 in the third set.

Chase Buchanan who like Melanie Oudin is somewhat of an outsider defeated top ranked Yuki Bhambri in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(4). He then went on to defeat Gianni Mina of France making it to the final.

Enfant terrible Bernard Tomic got through to the final by winning his second match in straight sets.

As a side note this is Colette's latest Tweet.

Back at the Media Center--lots of frustration here. At least the juniors got to play some tennis today!

End Note

The BBC posted an article about today's presser. Most of it is just blather from TPTB but the article ends with this little gem.

The 'Super Saturday' format of playing both men's singles semi-finals and the women's final on the same day, before the men return 24 hours later for their final, has also come in for criticism.
"We have a particular finals scenario that we've had in place for several decades, and we're comfortable that it is, in fact, fair," said tournament director Jim Curley.
"If you were to ask a player, would they say it's ideal? No, they would not say it's ideal. A player would like to get a day in between the semis and the finals. We all know that.
"It's important from our USTA perspective to promote and develop the growth of the game.
"It gets to a much larger audience, and that's one of the reasons why we do it."

Translation: Mo' money, mo' money. It's absurd to continue the format when it can be so easily manipulated. But I've said that already.

Right now play is suspended. I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that any play was taking place.

We Must Never Forget

Tennis Talk US Open Day 12

by Savannah


All I have to say is this.

They knew that this weather system was coming. It's not like some freak storm that just appeared out of the blue. Would it not have made better sense to move the Women's Doubles semi and the Mixed Doubles final to Armstrong yesterday, cancel the night session, and allow fans with tickets for the night session to attend an extended Day Session getting both men's matches in? They had enough time to get the word out so that fans would know what to do.

I'm sure ESPN wanted that night match but at some point someone has to tell these network people to fuck off, we're doing what's best for our players and fans.

It's been announced that Serena and Kim will play on Ashe, Rafa and Gonzo on Armstrong, and Yanina and Caroline on the Grandstand. All matches will start at 2:30p Eastern weather permitting.

US Open Day 10 Impressions

by Savannah

It ended as it had to. The stage was huge, the hype was out of control, and the junior who had been overlooked for so long played her age and experience. Melanie Oudin never really relaxed last night. With so many people talking at her, including Fed Cup Captain Mary Jo Fernandez about what to do against Caroline Wozniacki it seems as if the voice of her coach got drowned out.
He said as much in his brief talk with Pam Shriver.
What happens now? Will she continue to play juniors with occasional forays onto the main tour or will her team encourage her stick to the main tour. As we saw last night she is really not ready to play the big dogs. She needs to work on her game if she's going to compete with the top seeds. It would be nice if she continues to do what she's been doing but the hypebeast is merciless and needs to be fed. Let's see what happens to young Ms Oudin over the next year. Oh, and look out for the Russian Fed Cup team. You, Melanie, are on their radar.

As for Caroline Wozniacki she played a beautifully focused match. She did not let the moment get to her. She was the seed and she played like it. Anyone who has raised children knows the two years from seventeen to nineteen are crucial for emotional and physical growth. Caroline has been playing the main tour for some time now. She's had her share of spectacular failures and glorious wins. She won the Pilot Pen tournament, the warm up for the US Open after taking some much needed time off. There was never a doubt as to who would win the match, all the quips about starting the match in the second set aside.

Caroline will face Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium in her semi final match. I'd never seen Wickmayer play before and unfortunately all I knew about her was from an incident earlier this year where she had a spectacular meltdown and threw a ball that hit a lines person causing the person to have to go to the hospital. I had no idea how she would play Kateryna Bondarenko who is also a fiery character.

The match was not bad. I've seen worse played by higher ranked players. The major disappointment was K-Bond who showed none of the fire that got her a love and love victory in the prior round. She was playing cautiously and never let herself relax enough to get into the match. She picked up a little in the second set but it wasn't enough. Wickmayer flared up but quickly calmed down and stifled any hope Kateryna had of forcing a third set. Yanina showed sound fundamentals and a good tennis brain. Her match against Caroline will test her new found calm, and her skills.

Hype, the US Open, and Privilege

It was the above mentioned Pam Shriver who got booed last night but long before that bizarre on court interview with the loser of the match while the winner stood by the people who run the tournament showed the worst judgement of the event so far.

Anyone who goes to the night session knows that if the day session on Ashe runs long there can be a substantial wait while the cavernous stadium is cleaned - believe me it needs to be cleaned - and prepared for the evening.

Anyone who has been to a tennis match knows that once play starts fans are allowed in only at changeovers. With last nights highly anticipated women's match the lower tier seats were going to be full early because people wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

If normal protocol had been followed the women's match would've started about 8p Eastern time. Not bad right? I mean if push came to shove one of the matches could simply be moved to Armstrong. That's what happened the other night right?

As it turned out the cleaning people were told to scram and the women took the court about seven thirty, plus or minus fifteen minutes. The seats were empty and ESPN did show the fans still trying to enter Ashe even as the women were playing the first set. Needless to say there were delays on the first couple of changeovers until the fans were seated.

Now why would that happen? Was ESPN anxious to get tennis off the air and so pushed for the match to start no matter what or was something else at work here?

Let's get real. There was no way the women's match was going to be moved. There was absolutely no way the mens match was going to be moved. I don't think Caroline or Melanie have enough juice to dig in their heels and say "we ain't moving" but someone else playing last night did. Could it be that someone was anxious to get back to his Carlyle apartment at a "decent" hour so he could rest his sacred head on his silk monogrammed pillow cases and contemplate his glory? I don't have a clue. I just found it odd that they literally threw the women on the court the way they did. Since no one in the main stream tennis media will ask the question I just thought I would.

As for Pam Shriver's behavior I give her a pass. She is told where to go and who to talk to. She doesn't have control over her actions in and around the court. Some asshole told her to grab Melanie right after the match ended. Melanie could clearly be heard asking Pam "Right now?" in total shock. She asked Pam if she was sure more than once before the interview started. I'd love to see what would happen if they tried to interview any other player, male or female, in that situation. I don't blame Pam, I blame the idiot produceer. There are those who will say she should have just said no. She has children.

This and That

Fernando Verdasco played through pain and finished his match against Novak Djokovic yesterday afternoon. Novak will face the Monogram next.

Lots of chatter among the talking heads about the Marin Cilic vs Juan Martin del Potro match, most of it having to do with their height. They're very tall. We know that. How do their games match up guys? Does either one have that one shot or element in their game that will neutralize the other? Oh wait, they're tall. My bad.

I've been trying to figure out why all the hate towards Yanina Wickmayer. Could it be because she went to Florida to train and then went back to Belgium? I don't know. It's just bizarre. I mean people train in Florida all the time and then play for their home country.

Rumors started flying last night about Justine Henin coming back to the tour. Soon. Guess that involuntary vacation must be over soon.

It should be mentioned that the McEnroe family has always had rather close ties with Novak Djokovic. Was the other night staged? Maybe. Did Novak's people want to rehab his image with American tennis fans? Probably. Did it work? Cute is good the first couple of times. After a couple of times it gives you cavities. Oh and John, now there really is only one American left.

Reports are that none of the top Russian women will play the Kremlin Cup. With the Roadkill schedule the way it is it makes perfect sense for them not to play. Rumors are that Elena Dementieva will be added to the draw via a WC so that if she does withdraw she doesn't end up with a zero pointer. As of now I'm reading Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova will also skip the event.

The WTA corrected itself regarding the number one ranking. Serena Williams has to win the Open in order to regain the top spot. Film at eleven.

End Note


There are people who don't like Andy Roddick. That is their perogative. I'm not a big fan but sometimes he shows flashes of the person he was when he first came on tour. In a startlingly frank online piece The Guardian did a pre US Open assessment of the American tennis scene. Andy's fans may read it and weep but the end of the article is what made me sit up and take notice. I have to thank tennis head "Special600" for posting this article.

Aficionados have long known about the talents of the 17-year-old Melanie Oudin, who beat the former world No1 Jelena Jankovic at Wimbledon this year, but casual observers – and there are always plenty of those in the stands at Flushing Meadows – embraced her second-round victory over the No4 seed, Elena Dementieva, early on Thursday as the second coming of Billie Jean King. Likewise, the local media heralded Oudin's progress into the third round, where she will meet Maria Sharapova, as a landmark moment for US women's tennis.

"Everyone keeps waiting for the American girl. You went through that being a boy," was the questioned posed to Roddick after his victory over Gicquel. There is one major flaw with that question and it is that no one is "waiting for the American girl", at least not if they acknowledge that in Venus and Serena Williams the host country has the two most dominant players in the women's game.


Indeed, while America's male players have floundered since Roddick's victory here in 2003, the Williams sisters have won eight grand slam titles between them. Serena currently holds three of the major trophies. It is hardly Oudin's fault that in the rush to diminish the Williams sisters her achievement has been elevated beyond its true status, but it doesn't diminish the ugliness of the sentiment.

Perhaps if the question had been "everyone keeps waiting for the 'white' American girl" there would have been no ambiguity.

As it was, Roddick, who is a close friend of Serena Williams, did not let the moment pass without kicking back.

"From what I have been looking at and reading, it doesn't seem like Venus and Serena are in any hurry to go anywhere,'' he said, with noticeable sarcasm. "Everyone is always looking for the next big thing. Well, the present, as far as the women's game goes, is pretty good. It feels like [people] will only really appreciate that once they are gone."

Don't count on it.

US Open Day 9 Impressions

by Savannah

That was a hell of a men's match last night. Props to Gael Monfils for playing his ass off especially since he had no legs after the second set. The drunks, I mean crowd, tried to buoy him but there was not much he could do.

Speaking of fans how the hell did this happen? I know the woman security official is well trained but she was literally standing by herself when this particular fan made his way on court from the high priced seats. She was eventually helped but the lapse is startling. I've seen security run the kids with the big yellow balls off when it was perceived they were too close to the court or too rowdy. To its credit ESPN2 brought the man who runs security for the Open on live this morning to ask what happened. He blathered on about increased security, etc and said that it won't happen again. If your forces can behave like the gestapo towards kids why was no one guarding the sidelines against an incident like this? Fortunately this clown was only armed with a camera. It's a time honored US Open thing that after a certain time you can sit where you want. I hope one fool doesn't cause that tradition to be suspended.


I missed the Marin Cilic vs Andy Murray match yesterday. Kind of. I mean it was on the television but I had the sound down because I was watching Juan Martin del Potro vs Juan Carlos Ferrero online. I figured that would be the better match. I glanced at the television and saw that Cilic had won the first set. I shrugged and went back to the match I was watching. When I looked up again Cilic was waving to the crowd. Knowing how heavily invested some of the talking heads were in Murray I put the sound back on. The common refrain seemed to be "it's not that he lost but how he lost". That has continued into today. I don't know what happened so if anyone was watching please reply with details. Thanks.
The Fashion Disasters

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Nadia Petrova during their match yesterday. Just in case you wanted to know why Bethanie has her own little place in the annals of tennis fashion. If you haven't seen the dress Craig has described as a garbage bag with ruffles it'll be on display tonight when Caroline Wozniacki plays Melanie Oudin. Let's hope Melanie and Usain Bolt never get together on shoe designs. I mean really. Who will win tonight? Who the hell knows.

End Notes

Brad Gilbert was having a ball making fun of Yanina Wickmayer's last name. He also keeps calling Kateryna Bondarenko "The Flying Bondarenko Sister". One would think that any discussion of the Tier III section of the women's draw would focus on why Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams are the last seeds standing not on what you perceive is a funny name. I find it amusing that when the subject of the WTA situation is broached it's in terms of the "depth" of the women's game. Kind of reminds me of that old joke about the degrees of education one can obtain. You start with the Bachelor of Science = BS = Bull Shit. You move on to the Master of Science = MS = More Shit, and finally you get the PhD = Piled Higher and Deeper. We're at the PhD stage with the WTA now.

It can't be said often enough that Kim Clijsters was crazy like a fox coming back in the second part of the year after the FO and Wimbledon. She's got fresh legs, a clear mind, and a nanny to help her focus. That said Li Na seemed beaten before she took the court yesterday. She said she never plays well on Ashe and that she was just going out there and, well, play.
The key to Clijsters is her quick style of play. If you take that away from her she has to think too much and she gets flustered. If she controls the pace of the match her opponent is in trouble.

You live and learn. I never knew it was the brothers Luke and Murphy Jensen who started the chest bumping that has been made famous by the Bryan twins. I'm enjoying the commentary this morning. A lot. Jensen wants to talk about the match and is pointing out the strategy involved and what each team is doing. Cliff is letting him talk. Good work.

Think the Australians are a tad upset about Lleyton Hewitt moving his family from his native Australia to the Bahamas? Yahoo reports the following:

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP)—Lleyton Hewitt is defending his adopted Bahamas home.

Hewitt called a Bahamian newspaper to angrily reject an Australian media report that he and his wife are living in fear amid crime and poverty on the island.

The former No. 1 player told The Tribune in an interview published Wednesday that the Australian magazine report was “absolute rubbish.” He told the paper he and his family have had nothing but “fantastic experiences” in the nearly nine months they have lived in a gated community on New Providence island.

“We’ve made great friends over here, everyone’s been so friendly and we feel so safe,” he told the Nassau-based Tribune. “For us it’s a fantastic place to raise a young family.”

Sugiyama Ai is pondering retirement.

The 34-year-old Sugiyama has indicated the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this month likely will be her last in a 17-year career in which her singles ranking rose to a high of No. 8.

“I am normally the type that can picture what the near future holds, but to be honest at this moment in time, I can’t see myself competing next season,” Sugiyama told Kyodo news on Wednesday.

At the U.S. Open on Monday, Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchova lost to Yan Zi and Zheng Jie 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. She lost in singles to Samantha Stosur 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round.

“I knew that the moment I realized I could play well in fits and starts but not over the course of a season, then it would be time to retire,” she said. “Now I would like to give something back to tennis.”

Sugiyama won six WTA tour singles titles and doubles titles at all the Grand Slam events except the Australian Open. She reached the final there this year.

SOURCE

Rain is predicted for tomorrow in New York.

A Novel Idea...

by Savannah

I have no idea how I missed William C. Rhoden's New York Times piece on Richard Williams and Oracene Price and their future in tennis.

When Venus Williams broke through more than a decade ago, tennis officials predicted a far-reaching impact: a deluge of young African-American players from places like Compton, Calif., and Harlem would be playing world-class tennis.

More than a decade later, Venus and her sister Serena continue to dominate a sport that is still waiting for young African-American women to make the journey from urban areas to the world stage. Why hasn’t there been another Venus or Serena? The question is asked during every United States Open, and there never seems to be a plausible answer.

“I’ve been actually thinking about that, too, and wondering why and looking for them,” Oracene Price, their mother, said Monday during a telephone interview. “I was hoping that there would be one following them, but it seems like that hope is kind of fading. It’s a disappointment.”

•

Price and her former husband, Richard Williams, have presided over one of the great stories in tennis history: the rise of Venus and Serena Williams. Coached by their father, the sisters first played on public courts in Compton, and have grown to dominate women’s tennis. But why hasn’t their success been duplicated?

Studies have shown that more African-American girls were attracted to the game when the Williamses did well. Few, however, have stuck with the sport — fewer still in places where high unemployment and a lack of resources and exposure put the pursuit of a tennis career out of reach.

“You hear a name and they never come through,” Price said.

Kevin Clayton was hired this year as the United States Tennis Association’s chief diversity officer. His mission was to begin an aggressive initiative to attract a larger pool of players that more closely resembles the United States’ changing demographics.

“Our image as an industry has not really connected to that community,” Clayton said Monday. “It hasn’t been a focused effort where we’ve said, ‘Tennis is for everybody.’ ”

Clayton said that the U.S.T.A., with the best intentions, would show up in places like Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant, put a few rackets in kids’ hands and call that diversity.

The U.S.T.A. realized that there must be a deeper investment in the communities, targeting potential athletes and forging business relationships. Clayton is reaching out to historically black colleges and universities; African-American fraternities and sororities; and prominent social and service organizations to spread the word about tennis.

Beyond that, the U.S.T.A. could use the guidance and counsel of two people who broke the mold and created two champions. The organization should formalize its relationship with Oracene Price and Richard Williams. There is not a title broad enough to encompass what they could do, but let’s call them Ministers of Tennis, in charge of giving the sport its long-sought-after traction in underserved areas.

Price and Williams are divorced, but they have the answers to many questions that have puzzled the U.S.T.A. about bringing large numbers of African-American players — especially young girls — to tennis and turning them into champions.

Williams is more of a training guru, a scout who recognizes talent. Price, as she did with her daughters, could prepare talented young women emotionally for the rigors of world-class tennis. Their greatest challenges would have nothing to do with what takes place on the court. The players Price and Williams find and mentor would enter a world that is largely unfamiliar, often uncomfortable, initially intimidating and hostile — often without intending to be.

Price and Williams have helped Venus and Serena negotiate this world and they have done it largely on their own terms.

“It’s a totally different world,” Price said. “And if they don’t know how to cope in it and deal with the things they have to deal with, they won’t make it.

“If they can’t stand on their own as women, not reading all their own press, they can’t make it.” They could do the same for an untapped population of players the U.S.T.A. says it wants to target.

•

U.S.T.A. programs are commendable and tennis academies are often crucial, but if the Williams sisters have demonstrated anything it is that the major battles are fought and won in the mind.

“It’s not just programs,” Price said. “They have to be trained in their heads. It takes a lot of mental ability. They have to be prepared for the ups the downs — everything. If they’re not willing or able to do that and they’re not committed to doing that, then it’s going to be difficult.”

People often talk about the economic realities that make tennis seem unattainable for many. Money can be overstated.

“There’s a way around that,” Price said. “You don’t have to have the academy that’s just a bunch of people hitting balls. Anyone can learn to hit a ball; what’s important is what you have behind the ball, and what kind of mind you have when you hit it.”

Where are the next Venus and Serena?

Their parents could be pretty good judges of where and how to look.

I'll take it a step further. Why can't they work with our Fed Cup team as well? I'm just saying...