US OPEN 2012
US OPEN DIARY: CELEBRITIES OUT IN FORCE
New York, U.S.A.
by ATP Staff | 06.09.2012
Sean Connery watched the Ferrer-Tipsarevic thriller.
ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at the news and talking points at the US Open on the second Thursday.
Celebrities Out In Force
A number of celebrities came out to Flushing Meadows on Thursday, including Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, Adam Sandler, Kristin Wiig, Kevin James, Colin Quinn, Judith Light, Christine Taylor, Katie Couric, Martha Stewart and George W. Bush’s daughters Barbara and Jenna.
Two of those celebrities, Sandler and James, did more than watch the pros on court. They teamed up respectively with John McEnroe and Jim Courier for a charity exhibition match chaired by Quinn to start off the night session. James and Courier claimed the victory, though the players switched partners a couple times mid-match point, leaving McEnroe and Courier on the same site of the net when Courier put a winner past James.
“I loved it,” said McEnroe. “It’s always fun to be around Adam and Kevin, and you fans made it fun. You were intense! I can feel the energy. It was like a fifth set tie-break. It felt like Ferrer and Tipsarevic out there.”
Sandler said of his partner: “He’s got the most cameos in my movies, no doubt about it. He’s a great man, a great athlete, I love hanging out with him and this was an honour.”
A Salute To Warriors
After David Ferrer sent his quarter-final match against Janko Tipsarevic to a fifth set tie-break, the fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium rose to their feet to applaud the two warriors. “I didn’t look, but I heard it,” said Tipsarevic. “I would like to thank the crowd in New York, which was amazing. It’s not maybe a quarter-final that they wanted to see, without Rafa being there or whatever, but I think David and I - and not trying to over exaggerate anything - played, until now at least, the best match of the tournament. I'm happy that the crowd appreciate that coming into the fifth set tie-break.”
Murray's Perfect Player
Andy Murray sat down with The New York Times to build the perfect player. Asked what the best shot in tennis history is; the one Murray would most want? He answered, “Pete Sampras’s serve would definitely be up there”. The Scot would take the forehand of his coach, Ivan Lendl. “From what I’ve seen on videos... he used to just dictate matches with it, make guys do a lot of running as well. It was very accurate and a heavy shot.” The World No. 4 would like to have Novak Djokovic’s topspin backhand, while he admired Tim Henman’s “fantastic, fantastic slice” and Andre Agassi’s return game. He also would choose the volleying skills of Stefan Edberg, “probably one of the best movers at the net”, Patrick Rafter and Rod Laver.
Match Of The Day
While Darren Cahill called the 83-minute second set between Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro, “one of the best sets of tennis you’ll ever see”, the Ferrer and Tipsarevic quarter-final rivalled its quality over four hours and 31 minutes. Ferrer came from a break down in the 82-minute fifth set for a battling 6-3, 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) win. “It was a very emotional match, one of the best emotional matches of my career,” he said.
Tweet Of The Day
Actress Judith Light, who witnessed the battle firsthand, commended both players on Twitter. @JudithLight: “Ferrer&Tipsarevic what a match! Such stamina & commitment. So inspiring. 2 champions @USOpen. One of the greatest tennis experiences ever!”
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