I'm kind of loving the NY Times' coverage of the US Open this year, and I am really enjoying the blog. Interesting tidbits: Andrei Pavel's emmy-worthy performance as foil to the American hero; TIF (The Immaculate Federer) was the one major player who came over to Donald Young to wish him luck in the locker room; Ljubicic's sorry support; and Federer = what musician?
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The Agassi-Pavel match was the first time watching tennis I felt that the crowd was unnecessarily and excessively rude. Andre, in the present incarnation, has always been a perfect gentleman. Consequently, at times during the match, I expected him to ask the crowd to root fair. Not that he was obligated to do so, but I felt he should have.
Posted by: Peacemaster | August 30, 2006 at 12:07 AM
Well certainly the chair umpire should have. Some of the people in the crowd were definitely trying to disrupt Pavel on his serve in the part I saw. Unfortunately this goes on a lot in USO night matches, particularly when a player like Connors or Agassi is playing. Pavel handled it pretty well I thought. But no, it's never fair. If people can be asked not to snap photographs when golfers swing, they can be asked not to shout "Go Agassi" when Pavel serves.
Posted by: | August 30, 2006 at 12:18 AM
Sorry that was me. My computer doesn't let me stay signed in :)
Posted by: Rosemary | August 30, 2006 at 12:22 AM
I watched up to the third set tiebreaker and then I turned off the TV in disgust. That is one "ugly" crowd.
I have nothing against Agassi but will root for Baghdatis in the second round.
Posted by: | August 30, 2006 at 12:27 AM
I'm rooting for Baggy anyway because he's a hoot to watch. But yes, I hate it when these crowds (a lot of whom I suspect watch tennis once a year) try to make the opponent lose.
Posted by: Rosemary | August 30, 2006 at 12:44 AM
I agree with you, Rosemary. The chair should have been more insistent about crowd behaviour. However, it probably wouldn't have mattered. I felt only a request from Andre would have brought - and easily so - the spectators back in line.
Full marks to Andrei for keeping his temper in check (especially when he was jeered for using his challenges!). If I were him, I'm not sure I could have done the same.
Posted by: Peacemaster | August 30, 2006 at 02:00 AM
In one of the replies to the Agassi-Pavel blog, someone mentioned a fan yelling "F*#k you!" at Pavel. I heard it too and couldn't believe it. Pavel played with so much heart and effort and didn't deserve the venomous taunting
Another unruly night match crowd but what do you expect out of New Yorkers. They want another Connors-type 1991 run and as long as Agassi plays at night, the behavior will be ridculous.
And since when do they play the Hey! song and Start Me Up between sets at a tennis tournament, let alone a major? It was a circus.
Posted by: Stellcat | August 30, 2006 at 02:29 AM
wow, stellcat. I ony saw parts of the agassi match...I missed that. That is a shame. Full marks indeed to Pavel for keeping it together--and for playing so well in the face of all that.
Posted by: federated | August 30, 2006 at 08:15 AM
I was totally disgusted by the bahaviour of the crowd, too. Andre should have said something. Or at least made a "quiet down" motion. I'll be rooting for Baggy, too.
As for fed, well, what can you say. A class act all the way. And I think it's shameful the US Open scheduled him for the third day! He's the two-time defending champ, for heaven's sake!
Posted by: Allie | August 30, 2006 at 08:49 AM
If anyone's interested, a great interview with Fed at eurosport: http://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/u-s-open/2006/sport_sto954188.shtml
Posted by: Allie | August 30, 2006 at 08:56 AM
I have nothing against Agassi but I'm beginning to think that this announcement of his retirement at the US Open 2006 is not a class act and is ill-conceived.
Go Baghdatis and send a message to the hooting hooligans. Let's do it in three convincing sets.
Posted by: | August 30, 2006 at 11:40 AM
If you remember also last year's US Open final, the crowd were cheering most of Roger's errors against Agassi. Very unfair and you could tell at the end when he yelled in celebration just how much Rog felt the negativity towards him. I understand their support of a legend like Andre but still it's not like Rog (or Pavel) did anything to deserve the treatment they got. It's not like Hingis at the French Open in 99 against Graf, crossing the net to point out a bad line call, which deserved heckling by the crowd. Both Rog and Pavel just happened to play against home-favourite Agassi and the crowd showed them no respect. I'm not going against Agassi tonight but I'll be smiling at the crowd's reaction if he loses, they'll get what they deserve.
Posted by: Mark | August 31, 2006 at 04:22 PM
Not much has been said about Nadia Petrova lately, after struggling big time to even win a match since her injuries, she's won 2 in a row for the loss of just 5 games. Can she pose a threat again?
Posted by: Mark | August 31, 2006 at 09:28 PM
Mark,
I didn't get to see the US Open Final last year. I thought that the crowd would not do to Roger or Rafa or Roddick what they did to Pavel. I thought that it's open "hissing" season only on relatively lesser-known players.
I'll be with smiling with you when Baghdatis wins. And I wouldn't mind if the children of those hooligans get jeered at their little league games.
Posted by: | August 31, 2006 at 09:41 PM
No smiles for Mark tonight
Agassi does it again!!!!
Posted by: Stellcat | September 01, 2006 at 03:09 AM