Impressed

I know some people referred to Rafael Nadal’s  reaction to the short court time in misty conditions yesterday as “venomous.”   Still, Nadal joined notorious rebels such as  Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander who stalled before their 1987 US Open semifinal match as a protest against what the two Swedes saw as disastrous scheduling.  Nadal, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray then meeting with the tournament referee struck me as a hard nosed  yet sensible stance being taken to make sure the talent of professional tennis is not neglected or put into preventable danger.  I am not saying Rafael Nadal is the next great labor organizer, but the AFL-CIO may want to give him a call.

Crazy Options

I know it is impossible to change venues and surfaces mid tournament, but my need for a tennis fix had my mind racing.  I considered that so long as lines are dry green clay can be played on in periods of intermittent rain.  My guess is that the West Side Tennis Club of Forest Hills would have been a fun if impossible option for keeping the draw moving.  Finally, Madison Square Garden used to be home of some major tennis tilts during the end of the year Masters event.  I know neither could be used, but my mind did think it would be cool to see live tennis on green clay or on carpet in New York versus watching video clips.

A Roof is a Must

The crazy options listed above would be unnecessary if the National Tennis Center had a retractable roof on at least one show court.  The past 3 years of Monday men’s finals might have been clue number one that a roof is needed.   This year is messed up beyond the previous 3 years combined.  The person who decided to place a roof at the Australian Open in the 1980’s deserves tennis’ equivalent of a Nobel Prize.   The French Open now starts on a Sunday instead of a Monday and is played on a surface that can absorb mild rain.  Wimbledon now has a roof.  The US Open is living in an antediluvian past.