What a crazy day!

Posted by BESS: I was just asked (by Dave) if I had lost interest in blogging. :-( That is not the case. However, yesterday was not only a crazy day in tennis... it was a crazy day at home with my computer acting like I had killed its mother in the midst of me trying to get something done for work. So I was running between tennis, working and trying to convince my computer that I don't hate it... while simultaneously hating my computer's guts.

I still blame James Blake.

However, I seem to have nursed my computer back to its old self (not saying much) now, so I'll take advantage and try to get caught up on blogging.

Hi. Lots to discuss! Yesterday was just a nutty day in tennis. After nearly two days of washouts, the U.S. Open had some catching up to do. It was a packed schedule--so packed that some of the match-ups really got very little airtime. On court yesterday: Nadal, Federer, Roddick, Isner, Murray, Serena, Wozniacki and more! Oh my. Not often the world's top four men + two dangerous Americans plus the women's statistical #1 and true #1 all take the court on the same day. It was a sight to behold. Oh, and Kim Kardashian was in the house. So you know it was major. (But I refuse to boldface her name.)

I feel for the tournament officials. They have no control over the weather. And without a roof over any of the courts, they have no alternatives. They also have oodles of people they're trying to keep happy--players, ticket holders, networks, sponsors, etc. What a headache this has been for them.

In the midst of trying to get all the matches played yesterday, and based on strong opinions from Roddick, Murray and Nadal, they made the decision to move the men's final to Monday (for the fourth straight year!). This gives the schedule a little breathing room which means the men won't have to play four straight days in a row. And there's a little wiggle room in case it rains again. Which it very well may do.

It's a smart move. But a Monday final is no one's idea of fun. I well remember last year's debacle... racing home early from work only to discover that my local CBS affiliate (which hadn't planned to air tennis that day, I know) was opting to show Dr. Phil during the first hour of the match. DR. PHIL!!! I'm sorry, but WTF? They then cut over to tennis, only to cut away again when Monday night football coverage had to start. Leaving us all to finish watching online.

It was, uh, not good.

Hopefully, with as much advance notice as they've had about this year's Monday final, the networks can get a plan in place so these things don't happen again. But I'm already bracing for Dr. Phil 2.0. It's times like these I really should just buck up and fork out the money for the Tennis Channel.

Also complicating matters yesterday? Louis Armstrong stadium (the second largest on the grounds) was deemed unusable due to water seeping up from underneath the court in one spot. So they had to scramble to find suitable courts for the Roddick/Ferrer and Wozniacki/Petkovic matches. But so many other matches were being played that it wasn't easy.

They both ended up playing on Court 13--with just shy of 600 seats for fans and no permanent cameras. Numerous people have said it's like seeing [insert major rock star here] in your local bar. A great opportunity for fans with grounds passes that day. While the fans raced to get seats, ESPN2 had to scramble to get camers out there to show some of the action.

Mind you, Roddick hadn't played outside of Arthur Ashe stadium in nine years! So Armstrong stadium was already going to seem like a novelty for him. Court 13? Just funny. Here's a great article about how it all went down, which paints an almost nostalgic feel about the whole thing.

It's a fun read, but it really skims over the drama of the water on Armstrong, which is just fine by me. But since loyal reader Vernon brought it up, I'll discuss here and will await Dave's chastising, pro-Roddick words...

So they're finally starting play after two delayed days. And out on Armstrong they're two games into the Roddick/Ferrer match. That's when Roddick noticed water behind the baseline and called the chair umpire over to look. They in turn called the tournament director. And they all stood there trying to figure out what could be done. With another delay in the offing, the players were justifiably frustrated. At first, Roddick and Ferrer seemed resigned to waiting and left the court.

Thinking they had the problem fixed (after using towels, vacuums and blowers on the spot), the tournament officials called the players back out. Alas, while the players were re-emerging, more water appeared. That's when Roddick started to get pissed. You can see it here.

And there's another clip somewhere of them back in the tunnel again, awaiting a solution. To his credit, Roddick's plea was just to let them play--wherever they had to. But his demeanor says, "You guys are all idiots, just let us play." Vintage Roddick.

I understand this must have been hugely frustrating. I just still maintain that Roddick doesn't have to be quite such a **** about things. And my feelings about that were affirmed much later in the day, watching Federer's on court interview after winning his match. His response to repeated questions about the weather and the scheduling changes and the court issues was calm and professional. He didn't take the bait the reporter was clearly offering. He was reasoned and diplomatic and dignified, all while making his points. Vintage Federer.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... Roddick can be completely entertaining, and he keeps things interesting. But it's often at the price of looking like a jerk. I'll take Fed's way any day. [Cue Dave's impassioned response.]

But enough about that. Let's talk about the tennis! Stay tuned for more on that...

For now, a palate cleanser of sorts. Check out this clip of Novak Djokovic having a dance-off with a fan who's been entertaining the crowds by dancing in the upper deck of Arthur Ashe stadium during changeovers. His performance last night earned a big smile from Federer when it was shown on the jumbotron.