Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com Editorial-credit-lev-radin-Shutterstock.com-photo-credit-
August 28, 2021
An annual event that you mark your life by has major implications for you in terms of what happens on and off the court.
For us, the United States Tennis Open has been something that we have marked our calendar by and planned vacations around for over 30 years.
One person in our circle is a former USTA Official.
We have mentally lived and died with so many players over those decades. Their issues, both great and horrific, have caused us to ride an emotional rollercoaster during their tenure.
Would love to slow things down and savor every day and every moment. Tried to. Works to some degree but life ignores and keeps speeding forward.
At this year’s 2021 Open, the all-time great Serena Williams is withdrawing before it even starts.
That is devastating news.
Ms. Williams announced on Instagram, “After careful consideration and following the advice of my doctors and medical team, I have decided to withdraw from the US Open to allow my body to heal completely from a torn hamstring.”
Does that mean that she is retiring? Fortunately no.
She added, “New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favorite places to play — I’ll miss seeing the fans but will be cheering everyone on from afar. Thank you for your continued support and love. I’ll see you soon,”
Certainly hope so.
Sense there is still some unfinished business.
The Twenty-three-time grand slam singles champion for the last three years, who turns 40 on September 26, has been chasing the all-time grand slam singles record of 24 championships held by Margaret Court.
Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. Most likely for her and absolutely for us.
By far, for us, the most painful memory occurred in 2015.
As reported on September 11, 2015, by nbcnews.com, “In a stunning upset, Serena Williams was bounced from the U.S. Open on Friday and lost her bid for the first Grand Slam in tennis in 27 years. Roberta Vinci, an unseeded Italian ranked No. 43 in the world, beat Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.”
Couldn’t believe it. Still can’t.
Our eternal luminary was aiming for her 22nd major title, which would have tied her with Steffi Graf for the most in the Open Era. She had won the Australian, the French and Wimbledon and needed only the U.S. Open to clinch the Grand Slam mecca.
Keeping emotions in check, we accept we won’t experience the intensity of a Serena Williams run at the famed fall New York spectacular event this year.
Her sister Venus will not play this year either. Venus is suffering from leg issues that have plagued her all summer according to her Social Media.
Naomi Osaka is scheduled to be there. Whether she says a little or a lot, we don’t care. We’re just glad she plans to play.
Which version of Naomi are we going to see and hear?
Can she emotionally put aside the recent contentions regarding not speaking to the media? Will that conversation, not held by her, but by those in the media, some of whom are possibly angry at her, be a distraction?
The team at womenshealthmag.com shared, “Articles have called her a “diva” and accused her of reneging on her contractual responsibilities as a tournament player to navigate the media gauntlet. The heads of the French Open fined her $15,000 and the heads of the organizations that run the Grand Slam tournaments threatened to take more severe action should she continue to sidestep press events.”
Very tough balancing act.
Other sports luminaries have come out to support Naomi’s decision to protect her mental and emotional health like Golden State Warriors basketball star Stephen Curry, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and the legendary tennis great, Martina Navratilova.
Unfortunately, they don’t sign Naomi’s checks.
Naomi’s major sponsors, including Nike, released statements applauding her decision to protect her well-being. They too seem to be supporting her.
For now.
Good thing, since they do sign her checks.
We sense that could change.
Are things going to change for Madison Keys?
The Canadian media group montrealgazette.com posted, “Rebecca Marino, a 30-year-old Vancouver native who is ranked 220th, upset 16th-seeded Madison Keys of the U.S. 6-3, 6-3 in first-round action at the National Back Canadian Open women’s championships at the Jarry Tennis Centre.”
That was two weeks ago. Not a good sign for Madison.
This headline was three weeks ago. The news source republicworld.com informed, “China’s Zhang Shuai has reached her first quarterfinal at the San Jose Open on Wednesday (4 August). The 32-year-old journeywoman ousted former champion Madison Keys 7-5, 7-6 (5) in one hour and 41 minutes.”
Will this year’s 2021 US Open be the inspiration where Madison once again begins to harness all facets of her powerful game?
At the Grand Slams, Madison has been a major puzzle.
She achieved a career-high ranking of No. 7 in the world in October 2016 and has been consistently ranked inside the top 25 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) since early 2015.
Madison has played in one Grand Slam tournament final at the 2017 US Open, competed at the 2016 WTA Finals, and was a semifinalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She has won five WTA tournaments, all at the Premier level. Her biggest title came at the 2019 Cincinnati Open, a Premier 5 event.
Ah, the 2017 US Open, where she succumbed to Sloane Stephens, a super star player, who in terms of results at the Slams is an even great mystery than Madison.
After that incredible 2017 result, which now seems like a lifetime ago, Madison just can’t seem to sustain the previous success that she enjoyed at the US Open.
Known for having a fast serve and one of the most powerful forehands in the game, Madison has used her aggressive playing style to become one of the leaders of the next generation of American tennis alongside Sloane Stephens, CoCo Vandeweghe, and Sofia Kenin.
Or so we thought. Hoped. She doesn’t appear to be trending that way now. Have to keep saying to ourselves that this year will be different for Madison.
It won’t be different for us. That’s a good thing. Will savor every moment.
Once again we will alter our complete schedule to watch and write about the most important tennis tournament and time marker in our existence.
Maybe this year, for once, we can slow down time.
~ ~ ~
OPENING PHOTO Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com Editorial-credit-lev-radin-Shutterstock.com-photo-credit-
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/25/us/serena-williams-us-open/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/serena-williams-loses-grand-slam-bid-stunning-upset-u-s-n425986
https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/venus-williams-out-of-2021-us-open-follows-serena-announcement
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a37169178/naomi-osaka-mental-health-interview/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_Keys
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
https://fciwomenswrestling.com/
