Observer » Sybille Bammer

Safin, Santoro Say Goodbye to Open

Zachary Woolfe — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:31:22 -0400

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 to his game. He was also blazingly inconsistent and prone to regular fits of pique towards umpires and himself. Even recently, he was still capable of a run deep into a draw, as when he made it to the semifinals of last year's Wimbledon, but he never truly delivered on his potential. Had he risen a few years earlier, in the uncertain days of late-90s men's tennis, he may have seen his Slam collection double, triple, or more, but he was unable to really compete against the likes of Federer and Nadal.

Fabrice Santoro also ended his 18th and final Open in the first round, losing to Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Like Safin, another popular and flamboyantly entertaining player, Santoro is retiring after this season. Both his forehand and backhand are two-handed, and he was nicknamed "The Magician" by Pete Sampras for his dazzling array of trick shots. Incidentally, his record against Safin is 7-2.

American Robby Ginepri, a semifinalist here in 2005 but since then not much of a factor, defeated Andrei Pavel, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. And, in continuing bright news for American women's tennis after yesterday's win for Melanie Oudin, 20-year-old Vania King upset 15th-seeded Samantha Stosur, 7-5, 6-4.

Venus Williams defeated the unmissable Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 6-4, 6-2. And sadly, Sybille Bammer, who lost in her first round match yesterday, lost in the first round of mixed doubles, too, alongside Lukasz Kubot of Poland. The winners were Lisa Raymond and Marcin Matkowski, 6-3, 6-2.

Auch Engel Haben Ihre Dämonen

Zachary Woolfe — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:44:52 -0400

The Austrians were out in full force last night, calling out "Ja, Sybille!" (pronounced "Si-bill-uh") and "Aufgeht!" Many of the spectators had clearly read the Times profile ("It was inspiring. She's with child!" we overheard one man telling his wife). But all the interest couldn't push hyper-local favorite Sybille Bammer to victory in her first-round match. The 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5) loss, against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, was a big disappointment for the 29-year-old Bammer, who's had her best results at the Open, reaching the Round of 16 in 2007 and the quarterfinals last year. There were classic baseline rallies galore in the match, but Martinez Sanchez was able to incorporate some excellent play at the net, enough to get her the win.

A few minutes after the match, Bammer spoke to us and a couple of German-language reporters in tiny Interview Room 3. She had taken off her bright blue Asics sneakers and seemed tired and shaken, as well as ten or fifteen years younger than she appears on court. She explained her tightness during the match, and her lack of power on her serve, by citing the injury which caused her to withdraw before the semifinals at Indian Wells back in March. "I have big problems with my shoulder," she said, pulling down the the neck of her shirt a little to demonstrate the limits on the range of motion in her left arm. "If it wasn't a Grand Slam I wouldn't go on court. I have an AC joint inflammation. I play doubles here then I go back home and then I will rest and start to practice when my shoulder is fine." Asked if she expected to rejoin the tour, she said, "Yeah, I hope so. We'll see."

We hope so, too!

The Sybille Bammer Train Is Leaving the Station

Zachary Woolfe — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:47:38 -0400

We're so pleased that the incandescent Sybille Bammer, a secret star of the 2008 Open, is finally getting the attention she deserves from other news organizations. The Times now gives us some incredible tidbits about her wonderful boyfriend, Christophe Gschwendtner, of whom we are epically jealous. After blazing her way to the quarterfinals at last year's Open, she is now seeded 28th and plays Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez this afternoon. It's out on Court 10, but we wouldn't miss it for the world.

What to Watch on Day 1

John Koblin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:13:20 -0400

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 Mattek-Sands vs. Iveta Benesova; Court 4, late afternoon:

We have a soft spot for Bethanie, and we can't wait to see what she'll wear this year.

Donald Young vs. no. 14 Tommy Robredo; Court 7, early afternoon:

Young had to qualify his way into the Open and he's got a rough opening match, but Court 7 is one of the back courts that's always obscenely loud. If Young can push Robredo, this place will be rocking.

(28) Sybille Bammer vs. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez; Court 10, late afternoon:

Just because.

Opening Ceremony; Arthur Ashe, 7pm:

Andre Agassi finally gets feted at the Open. Plus: Doug Flutie!

Jankovic Defeats Bammer, Angels Cry

Zachary Woolfe — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:54:46 -0400

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" indicate that Bammer's near-ridiculous number of unforced errors (40, to Jankovic's 14) sealed her fate, but it doesn't make the result any less unfathomable.

The Late Show

John Koblin — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:54:15 -0400

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 be going home well after 1 a.m.

Bammer! Austrian Southpaw, Mom, Tennis Deity Beats Bartoli, Reaches Quarters

John Koblin — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:18:45 -0400

Sybille Bammer, the 28-year-old mom whose every movement we've been chronicling, is now, at least in our mind, the greatest story in what is an otherwise very disappointing U.S. Open for women's tennis. For the first time in her career, the women's No. 29 player will make it to a Grand Slam quarterfinals after she beat Marion Bartoli this afternoon in a 7-6, 0-6, 6-4 match.

The match took an astonishingly long 3 hours and 3 minutes to complete, which will no doubt take a toll on the 28-year old Austrian's body as she gets ready for Jelena Jankovic in the quarters. So far, though, problem.

Match of the Day: Bammer and Bartoli

John Koblin — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:07:41 -0400

The great Sybille Bammer takes on the unflappable Marion Bartoli today in our Match of the Day on Louis Armstrong. Bammer, as we've discussed all week long, has inspired us all with her prowess on the court; Bartoli, the little French lady with the impossibly long ponytail, has always been one of our favorite players.

Based on how Jelena Jankovic struggled today--she won in three tough sets over Caroline Wozniacki--it's not unimaginable that the winner of the Bammer-Bartoli match could knock off Jelena and get to the semis.

I won't break the tie and root for anyone, (unlike Zack) but give us Bartoli in three sets and things will get really interesting.

The Mother of Us All

Zachary Woolfe — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:46:11 -0400

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, is known for telling tennis fans to be quiet "because Mummy is concentrating."

Bammer, as everyone knows, yesterday moved on to the third round, where she will face Tatiana Perebiynis. If all goes according to the Lord's plan and Bammer is triumphant, she could very well play Davenport in an improbable Battle of the Moms in the Round of 16.

Oh, Bammer!

Zachary Woolfe — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:25:36 -0400

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 it is limitless -- is looking steadily less funny.