Safin, Santoro Say Goodbye to Open

The day was highlighted by two goodbyes. Marat Safin fell to Juergen Melzer in the first round, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, ending his final Open early. Safin won here in 2000, and also won the Australian Open in 2005. One of the most promising players of the past decade, he brought power and passion Read More

What to Watch on Day 1

It’s the first day of the Open, which means chaos. Lots of matches, all courts full and crowds–everywhere, crowds.

Here’s what we’re most looking forward to today:

Viktoriya Kutuzova vs. Kim Clijsters; Arthur Ashe, 11am:

The former Open champ returns for the first time in three years! And she might be more than respectable.

Bethanie Read More

Jankovic Defeats Bammer, Angels Cry

Sometimes God tests us, forcing us to confront unthinkable pain in order to know better the scope and power of His will.

This is one of those times. Sybille Bammer has lost in the quarterfinals of this year’s Open to Jelena Jankovic, 6-1, 6-4. It’s O.K., breathe. It’s hard for me, too. The "statistics" Read More

The Late Show

Novak Djokovic got his first test of the tournament this afternoon, and now it’s Roger Federer’s turn. Federer and Igor Andreev have nabbed a set each (at 7-6) and Federer is up a break in the third. At this point, we’ll start the women’s match at about 8:30, Roddick’s match at 10:30, and we’ll all Read More

The Mother of Us All

We thought that Sybille Bammer was only the mother of our hearts, but it turns out that she is one of only three mothers (of children, not hearts) on the WTA Tour (one, Rossana De Los Rios, was blown out by Venus Williams today, and the other is Lindsay Davenport).

Her seven-year-old daughter, Tina, Read More

Oh, Bammer!

Sybille Bammer continued her quest for truth and justice today with a scintillating 6-1, 7-5 win over Aravane Rezai. Rezai, I regret to inform you, had more winners than The Golden One, but — BUT! — far more errors, too, and Bammer’s strong second serve carried the day. Our limitless enthusiasm for Bammer — and Read More