Friday’s Overheard in the Stands
During Fernando Verdasco’s practice: “How do you say in Hispanic, ‘homemade T-shirts?’”
Friday’s Late Bloomer
While many view Donald Young’s success this week as long overdue, his semifinal opponent, 32-year-old Radek Stepanek, has been a staple on the ATP World Tour, having been ranked as high as World No. 8. But, surprisingly, on Saturday, the Czech veteran finds himself in the same position as Young – in his first ATP 500-level semifinal. Stepanek admitted to psychologically wearing down his quarterfinal opponent, 5th seed Fernando Verdasco, in order to win. “I got him to miss strokes he’d normally make,” said Stepanek. Donald Young will be Stepanek’s fourth left-handed opponent in a row.
Friday’s Best Awkward Answer
When asked about his feelings on Wayne Odesnik’s return to the Tour, Fish paused. “How to word this correctly? [pause] I don’t follow his results.” Fish went on to elaborate at uncomfortable length on his disinterest in Wayne Odesnik. Odesnik replaced Fish in the draw as a Lucky Loser.
Friday’s Most Unsolicited Quote
As Fish sat down in the Media Center’s plush interview armchair, he asked, “How many sweaty people sat here?”
Friday’s Doing It for the Free Head Shave
Janko Tipsarevic said Friday that his preliminary plans for the Olympics are to play Men’s Doubles with Nenad Zimonjic and Mixed Doubles with Jelena Jankovic. He surprisingly remarked that, while he enjoys playing for his country, he is “not a huge patriot.”
Friday’s Setting Up a Rematch
They have played four times since, but when considering a semifinal match-up with Gael Monfils, John Isner admitted his mind goes straight to the pair’s first meeting, the 2007 Semifinal here in Washington. With no breaks in the match at 5-5 in the third set of the late-night blockbuster that welcomed John Isner into the world of professional tennis, the flamboyant Frenchman broke to have the match on his racquet. Monfils bellowed an emotional scream right towards Isner, while at net. On Friday, Isner diplomatically noted that the scream, “probably took a lot of energy” from Monfils, letting the American break back in the next game and win the match in a third set tiebreak, as he had in his previous four matches, advancing to his first final in only his second ATP-level tournament.
Monfils also had vivid memories of the four-year-old encounter, though what he remembers most is the crowd. Despite both players becoming more experienced since then, Monfils does not think their Saturday match should be any different. “You know what you are going to get,” he said of Isner’s game, but added that knowing his game doesn’t make playing the tall American any easier.
With their other matches going three or four sets, Isner believes he and Monfils, “bring the best in each other.” We hope that happens again on Saturday night.
Friday’s To the Lighthouse
Donald Young played fearless tennis on Friday to overcome a slightly sluggish Marcos Baghdatis and reach his first ATP World Tour semifinal. Young admitted it has taken him longer than he hoped to make this breakthrough, although he also noted that it would be normal not to expect a career turning point until his age. The American attributes his success to a newfound belief in himself, acquired by finally starting to listen to those who surround him. He hopes that, “the light is coming on.”
Friday’s The Family that Plays Together…
Young, who brought in his entire support team, led by his mother, into the post-match interview, told the media that this is perhaps the best week of his professional career. But he has the best time when off-court with family and friends, like at his 22nd birthday party a couple of weeks ago. “That was fun,” he recalled.
Friday’s Easy As Quantum Physics
“It’s not difficult to coach me,” said Monfils, who split with his Australian coach of nearly three years, Roger Rasheed, earlier in the summer. Having witnessed Monfils’ dynamic with Rasheed up close, PTN will have to respectfully disagree. However, Monfils did support his argument with a very valid point. Everyone knows his two weaknesses, Monfils pointed out: “Stay close to the baseline and be aggressive.” If what he needs to do is so clear, why is it that he hasn’t done it already? “Like everything in life, easy to say, hard to make it,” said the Frenchman.
Monfils went on to talk about his love of the crowd – referring to himself as “an entertainer.” He further expanded on this topic in the French-language section of the interview, and spoke of his love of playing at home in Paris in front of his family and countrymen. He also discussed the joy of having French support around the world. Indeed, throughout his defeat of Tipsarevic, a young boy in the crowd kept cheering, “Allez, Monsieur Monfils! Allez!”
Friday’s Avian Attack
“Il y a d’oiseau? Il y a d’oiseau?” (“Is there a bird? Is there a bird?”) Gael Monfils shouted this excitedly minutes before his quarterfinal match against Janko Tipsarevic. The top seed was warming up on the Grandstand court with countryman Michael Llodra when the latter stopped and came towards an object on the court, stirring it with his racquet. The object moved and began fluttering its wings but refused to leave the cushy DecoTurf court surface. As Llodra - who was barefoot and rather scantily clad (he wears Bjorn Borg’s underwear line, for those who are curious) – ran backwards in fear of an attack, Monfils approached the net to see the creature. Precisely as he got to the net, an official came, telling Monfils it was time for the match. Perhaps Monfils’ new coach, his former fitness trainer Patrick Champagne, can finally get the Frenchman to come in and play aggressively with a system of avian target practice.
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