Maybe US Open Doubles Upsets by American Teams Not a Surprise

The American Doubles teams of Jack Sock/Steve Johnson, Christian & Ryan Harrison, and Donald Young/Nicholas Monroe pulled off upsets against three of the top doubles teams in the 1st Round of the 2012 US Open.

Sock/Johnson defeated #1 seeds Daniel Nestor/Max Mirnyi, the Harrison brothers defeated #4 seeds Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski and Young/Monroe defeated #7 seeds Michael Llodra/Nenad Zimonjic.

Looking at it from the outside, it certainly looked major upsets, but maybe it really wasn't.

Let's take a look at the first upset, Sock/Johnson defeated Nestor/ Mirnyi.  These partnerships couldn't be any more different. Sock/Johnson have only partnered once and that was in Atlanta 2012, losing in the first round. Nestor/Mirnyi haven't lost in a first round of a Grand Slam.  But, maybe they were a little rusty playing together, considering that they haven't played together since May.  Plus, before facing Sock/John, Nestor/Minryi biggest upset loss was to a team that featured Steve Johnson, as Johnson partnered with Alex Bogomolov, Jr. to beat them in 2011 Cincinnati 1st Round.  So maybe, Steve Johnson knows a little something about beating Nestor/Mirnyi.

2nd upset, Harrison brothers defeated Fyrstenberg/Matkowski.  Again, two very different partnerships.  They are brothers, but on the pro tour, they've played together once, and that was in a challenger in Sarasota 2011.  Fyrstenberg/Matkowski have been partners for many years.  But this year, the Polish team have shown cracks in the armor.  During the summer, they did lose five matches in a row.  Plus, just like the Nestor/Mirnyi partnership, their worst loss in a grand slam came against one of the players they played at this year's US Open. In 2009, the partnership of Ryan Harrison and Kaes Van't Hof upset the Poles, in the 1st Round. So, like I said earlier, Ryan Harrison may know something about beating Fyrstenbrg/Matkowski.  Plus, playing with your brother certainly you have a deeper connection compared to other doubles partnerships.

However, taking a look at the last upset, between Young/Monroe defeating Llodra/Zimonjic, might be the hardest to explain.  Sometimes on a given day, upsets just happen.  Llodra/Zimonjic biggest upset loss was to Kevin Anderson/Julian Knowle in last year's Queen Club.  But rankings wise, much better than Young/Monroe. However, maybe there could've been some rust with Llodra/Zimonjic, as they haven't played together since the French.  Of course, Young/Monroe haven't played together since a challenger in summer of 2011 and never played an ATP WorldTour event together. Young/Monroe have played seven times together, but still, this might be the biggest upset of the three mentioned in this article.

Q& A with a First-Timer at US Open Qualifying (Aljaz Bedene)

Aljaz Bedene, 23, from Slovenia participated in his first US Open qualifying tournament at the 2012 US Open.  Bedene came in as the #2 seed and needed to win three matches to qualify for his first Grand Slam.  Bedene defeated his 1st opponent, China's Ze Zhang 6-2, 6-4, but lost in the 2nd round to world-ranked #372 American Daniel Kosakowski 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7).  Bedene came into this match ranked #82 in the world and has lost in qualifying at the other three Grand Slams this year. 

Bedene came into US Open qualifying playing well as of late, with a win, a runner-up and a quarterfinal finish in his last three tournaments, all challengers. We asked Bedene about his 1st US Open qualifying experience:

1. What were your first impressions of the National Tennis Center?
--I was already here in New York, 2007 for a junior event. (He finished in the Rnd of 16 at the US Open Juniors in 2007)  I felt really good here this year.

2. How much did you know about your opponents Ze Zhang & Daniel Kosakowski?

• --Ze Zhang I knew before, but Kosakowski didn't see yet.
• Kosakowski is much better player then Zhang I guess 

3. How close were you to winning against Kosakowski? Did you have a match point, and also a chance to serve it out?

• --It was pretty close, I had a match point at 6-5 3rd set tiebreak
• then lost it 9-7
  
  
  4. How different is it playing a Grand Slam qualifier compared to challengers?
  --It is not much different, just I am maybe sometimes expecting too much from myself on Grand Slams
  
  
  Bedene also added:
  • --After my match I had to go to hospital where I had a surgery
  • of appendix
  • --I had pain already before my match against Zhang
  • --I had a really good draw, I don't think I would have lost in qualies if I wasn't feeling pain. 

Experiencing a 1st Grand Slam Qualifying Tournament (Boy Westerhof)

Boy Westerhof, 26, from The Netherlands participated in his first Grand Slam qualifying tournament at the 2012 US Open.  Westerhof needed to win three matches to qualify for his first Grand Slam, but lost in the 1st round to Frenchman Nicolas Devilder 6-4, 7-6(5)  Westerhof came in ranked #203, only five spots lower than Devilder.

Westerhof has played numerous futures and challengers but has yet to play in an ATP World Tour event.  Westerhof came into US Open qualifying on a roll winning his last two tournaments, two futures events in Russia. We asked Westerhof about his 1st time experience qualifying for a Grand Slam event:

1. What were your first impressions of the National Tennis Center?
--really good and organised..players getting treated very well.

2.. Have you been to New York before?
--never been in nyc before.

3. How much did you know about your opponent Nicolas Devilder?
--I knew him, saw him playing many times before.

4. How different (or the same) was it playing at the qualifier for a grand slam compared to the futures and challengers you've played?
--a slam brings a different feeling with it than other tournaments cause it's a great event with all the best players over the world..

5. How much nervousness if any did you have?
--of course more nervous than normal,thats why I couldn't play my best I guess.

6. What improvements do you need to make in your game to qualify for a grand slam, and eventually play on the ATP World Tour and 250 events?
-- have to play more matches in these sort of tournaments

7. Did you stay in New York afterwards to watch the US Open?
--I stayed some days to enjoy nyc and watch some Dutch players in their matches.. 

US Open Hopeful Spencer Wolf

Spencer Wolf is one of 50 men vying for the US Open National Playoffs Midwest Sectional Men's Singles Championship. The tournament is from June 30-July 3 at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. If Wolf wins this sectional, he'll be one of 16 regional winners who'll vie for a wild card in US Open Qualifying.

Wolf just finished his junior year at Northwestern and was ranked as high as #97 in singles last year. If Wolf wins this sectional and the US Open National Playoffs, it'll be the first time he'll be in qualifying for an ATP Tour event. 

In the 1st round, Wolf will face off against Josh Osswald a former top junior in the mid 90s and is now a teaching pro and a musician.  Here is the draw


We asked Spencer his thoughts about his chances at the US Open National Playoffs Midwest Sectional Men's Singles Championship:

2012 US Open National Playoffs Midwest Women's Singles Preview

One of my favorite tournaments, the US Open National Playoffs, has already started with winners in multiple sections, (which you could see here) and here's a preview of who's competing in Women's Singles in the Midwest section, which is June 30-July 3 at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.  The Midwest section is one of 16, and the sixteen sectional winners will compete for a wild card spot in US Open qualifying.  Also part of the US Open National Playoffs, is a Men's singles and mixed doubles tournament, and the 16 teams will advance to compete for a spot in the Mixed Doubles main draw of the US Open. 


This tournament will have a new champion as defending champ, Romana Tedjakasuma is not in this field.  This tournament includes juniors, collegians and seasoned pros, including Alexandra Mueller, who won the US Open National Playoffs in 2010. 

Here's a look at many of the competitors:

Alexandra Mueller, Philadelphia, PA--Ranked #394 in the world, ranked as high as #280; Won the US Open National Playoffs in 2010.
Adesuwa Osabuohien, Hazel Crest, IL--Ranked #6 in Illinois in National Recruiting, Class of '13
Julia Moriarty, Ireland--Ranked #1070 in the world, ranked as high as #615
Erin Paul, Southeast Michigan--Has played some smaller pro tournaments
Kathleen Hawkins, Portage, MI--Finished Sophomore year at Western Michigan; Named to All-Mid- American Conference Tournament team
Elyse Steiner, Allison Park, PA--Has played smaller USTA and Pro events and played at Temple from '08-'11
Elizabeth Vlachakis,S.E. Michigan--Has played in smaller pro tournaments
Komal Safdar, Mason, OH--Finished Freshman year at Syracuse
Andrea Burkhardt, Indiana--Played at IUPUI '05-'08, now works in the Health Industry
Karyn Guttormsen, Kenosha, WI--Finished Freshman year at Florida International
Aliza Williams, Loveland, OH--Ranked #13 in Ohio in National Recruiting
Wendy Strauss, Chicago--Teaching Pro
Caroline Aleck, Ada, MI--Finished Freshman year at Western Michigan
Ashley Thai, Galloway, OH--Ranked #14 in Ohio in National Recruiting, Class of '13
Louise Johansson, Sweden--Has played numerous smaller pro tournaments
Sharon Danquah, Liberty Township, OH--Ranked #39 in Ohio in National Recruiting, Class of '15
Nicole Collie, Australia--Has played numerous smaller pro tournaments
Jasmine Minor, Mundelein, IL--Finished Freshman year at Georgia Tech
Bianca Moldovan, Livonia, MI--Ranked #18 Nationally in Class of '15
Alyssa Ritchie, Franklin, OH--Finished Freshman year at UNC-Wilmington; Colonial Athletic Association Co-Rookie of the Year, CAA Third-Team Singles and w/partner Christina Lee, Third-Team Doubles
Nicole Flower, Upper Arlington, OH--Finished Freshman year at Ohio State
Jessica Wise, North Carolina--Played at Cincinnati
Veronica Corning, Beverly, MA.--Ranked #912 in the world; Finished Sophomore Year at Northwestern

2012 US Open National Playoffs Midwest Men's Singles Preview

One of my favorite tournaments, the US Open National Playoffs, has already started with winners in multiple sections, (which you could see here) and here's a preview of who's competing in Men's Singles in the Midwest section, which is June 30-July 3 at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.  The Midwest section is one of 16, and the sixteen sectional winners will compete for a wild card spot in US Open qualifying.  Also part of the US Open National Playoffs, is a Women's singles and mixed doubles tournament, and the 16 teams will advance to compete for a spot in the Mixed Doubles main draw of the US Open. 


This tournament will have a new champion as defending champ, Eric Quigley is not in this field.  The competitors include many juniors, collegians, teaching pros, and even more "experienced" players.  Here is the draw.


Here is a look at many of the competitors: 

Jay Joshi, Rochester, MI--Finished Freshman Year at Detroit-Mercy
David Dukeman, Northeastern Ohio--High school tennis coach
Jared Woodson, Hilton Head, SC--Ranked #11 in South Carolina recruiting Class of '14
Ian Wagner, Columbus, OH--Finished Freshman Year at Emory
Ryan Dloski, S.E. Michigan--Teaching Pro
Shawn Buehnerkemper, Central Indiana--Plays in USTA adult tournaments
Nick Chappell, Indianapolis, IN--Finished Freshman year at TCU; Mountain West Freshman of the Year, and All-Mountain West singles
Douglas Zade, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI--Finished Freshman year at Michigan St.
Kevin Metka--Finished Freshman year at Ohio State
Mark Huntsinger, Wisconsin--Has played some NTRP 4.0 tournaments
Raleigh Smith, Miami, FL--Finished Sophomore year at Northwestern
Aaron Pfister, Grand Blanc, MI--Finished Sophomore year at Michigan State;Named All Big-Ten 1st team
Peter Brewer, Tennessee--Has played in Men's 35s and other adult events
Christian Welte, North Carolina--Played at NC State from '06-09
Karan Narula, Poughkeepsie, NY--Ranked #38 in New York recruiting, Class of '14
Srikar Kuchibhotla, Mason OH--Has played some junior tournaments, he's Class of '15
Josh Osswald, Ohio Valley--Played in Doubles Challengers and Futures in '97 & '98 and now a teaching pro and a musician.
Spencer Wolf, Coral Springs, FL--Finished Junior year at Northwestern
Eric West, Tulsa OK--Finished Senior year at Oklahoma State
Larry Brown, Shelby Township, MI--Finished Junior Year at Detroit-Mercy
Peter Carpenter, Alburtis, PA--Finished Sophomore year at Duquesne; Named to Atlantic-10 First Team
Travis McCall, Wisconsin--Has played some smaller NTRP and Adult events in Wisconsin
Derrick Kincheloe, S.E. Indiana--Played at Evansville about a decade ago
Jimmy Stevens, Northwestern Ohio--Has played numerous Boys 18 events in Ohio
Chris Wettengel, Arkansas--Currently playing in challengers/futures, ranked #722. Won the NorCal section last year and lost in quarters of National Playoffs
Chris Essick, Fishers, IN--Will begin Freshman year at Indiana this fall.
Ryan Jorgensen, Toledo, OH--Finished Freshman year at Toledo
Austin Hussey, Edgewood, KY--Ranked #1 in Kentucky Recruiting in Class of '15
Anwar Khan, Western Michigan--Teaching Pro
Matt Brewer, Kentucky--Played at Tennessee '06-'09
Alex Pasareanu, Bluffton, SC--Finished Freshman year at Northwestern
Darius Frick, Cincinnati, OH--Finished Freshman year at Drexel
Trey Keating, Troy, MI--Finished Freshman year at Grand Valley State

2012 US Open National Playoffs Southern Women's Singles Preview

One of my favorite tournaments, the US Open National Playoffs, has already started with winners in multiple sections, (which you could see here) and here's a preview of who's competing in Women's Singles in the Southern section, which is June 29-July 3 at Windward Lake Club in Alpharetta, Ga.  The Southern section is one of 16, and the sixteen sectional winners will compete for a wild card spot in US Open qualifying.  Also part of the US Open National Playoffs, is a Men's singles and mixed doubles tournament, and the 16 teams will advance to compete for a spot in the Mixed Doubles main draw of the US Open.    


This tournament will have a new champion as defending champ, Amanda McDowell is not in this field.  The competitors include many top collegians, including All-Americans Mary Anne MacFarlane and Natalie Pluskota, and four juniors who are ranked in the top 31 in national recruiting.  Here is the draw.


Here is a look at many of the competitors: