US OPEN 2012
US OPEN WEDNESDAY DIARY: RECORD NUMBER OF COMEBACKS
New York, U.S.A.
by ATP Staff | 29.08.2012
Janko Tipsarevic is one of nine players
to comeback from a 0-2 sets deficit in
first round matches.
ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at the news and talking points at the US Open on the first Wednesday.
Record Number Of Comebacks
What a start! Incredibly, there has been a tournament-record nine players who have comeback from two-sets-to-love down to book their places in the second round. Nine players did it in 1982, but that was for the entire tournament.
Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who beat No. 21 seed Tommy Haas of Germany 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in three hours and 44 minutes on Wednesday, said, “The mind-set is that you don’t care anymore. You’re two sets down, you’re a break down. You simply don’t care. Then magic happens suddenly. You win a break back, you win a set and you’re back in the match. It’s nothing too much to think about.”
Here is a list of 0-2 sets comebacks so far at the 2012 US Open:
[8] J Tipsarevic (SRB) d G Rufin (FRA) 46 36 62 63 62
G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d [10] J Monaco (ARG) 36 16 64 76(6) 76(3)
[12] M Cilic (CRO) d M Matosevic (AUS) 57 26 64 62 64
[14] A Dolgopolov (UKR) d J Levine (USA) 36 46 64 61 62
E Gulbis (LAT) d [21] T Haas (GER) 36 46 64 75 63
P Mathieu (FRA) d I Andreev (RUS) 26 46 76(1) 76(4) 61
G Muller (LUX) d [28] M Youzhny (RUS) 26 36 75 76(6) 76(6)
P Petzschner (GER) d N Mahut (FRA) 16 46 64 75 76(3)
F Fognini (ITA) d E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 36 57 64 64 75
Baker Recalls First Visit
Brian Baker remembers his first trip to the US Open in 1993, because “I still have the poster in my room.” The American, who visited Flushing Meadows with his father, brother and sister, recalled, “I don't remember every day, but I definitely remember the Mikael Pernfors [and] Mats Wilander match. I think it was on Louis Armstrong, where I was until 2:30, 3:00 in the morning. We started up higher up, and then by like 1:00 a.m. they let everybody move down closer to the court.” Wilander eventually beat his fellow Swede 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 in the second round.
“I remember also watching Pete Sampras and holding up the 120 miles per hour signs, which now I guess you'd have to change that to like 135,” he added. “There are a few memories like that that stick out for sure. It was a fun time and I was already big into tennis.” Baker is competing at the US Open for the first time since 2005. When asked about what has changed, he said, “The general layout is the same, but the locker room [has] definitely changed a ton. It's a lot bigger.”
Harrison On Andre’s Final Match
Ryan Harrison, who played Benjamin Becker in the second, shared his memory of watching the German play Andre Agassi. Becker, then ranked World No. 112, won 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5 in Agassi’s final professional match at the 2006 US Open. “I was in the stands,” said Harrison. I was like 14 or 15 years old. I heard Agassi's whole speech after that match, too. I think everybody in the crowd was tearing up. It was an impressive speech and one heck of a career.”
Isner’s Dream Match
Agassi has another fan, John Isner. When asked who he’d play a fantasy tennis match against, Isner said, “I might choose Agassi probably because we play pretty differently. He arguably has the greatest return of all-time and I serve pretty well, so I think a match like that would be fun. I never got the chance to play him. We did intersect a little bit at the beginning of my career, the end of his, but I've never played with him or practised with him either.” So how would Isner respond to Agassi’s returns, “It would be tough, but I'd try not to let him touch it.”
Dolgopolov In The Driver’s Seat
Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov is already looking forward to after the US Open, because he is planning to drag race cars in Moscow. “My car is being tested in Ukraine at the moment. It is a big passion. I love speed and racing.”
Soldier Turned Ball Person
A 23-year-old Army specialist, from San Antonio, who lost his leg when he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan two years ago, is spending the end of his summer working for $7.75 an hour at Flushing Meadows. Ryan McIntosh said, ''They asked me, 'Can you throw a tennis ball?' I said, 'I've thrown grenades, so I think I can handle a tennis ball.''' McIntosh is part of the U.S. Tennis Association's effort to reach out to military members and introduce them to physical and psychological benefits of tennis.
Tweet Of The Day
@andyroddick: (Andy Roddick) “Tennis loves you @clijsterskim! It's been a pleasure to know and watch you... Wish you all the happiness in the world!” Clijsters lost to Briton Laura Robson on Wednesday.
Match Of The Day
Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller battled past No. 28 seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 2-6, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(6), 7-6(6) in four hours and 23 minutes. He saved 11 of 16 break points opportunities against the 2006 and 2010 semi-finalist on Court 7.
