The US Open review

Tournament: The US Open 2013

The tennis review picks the best of the bunch from the US Open.

Player of the tournament: Stanislas Wawrinka.
The tennis review takes whatever chance it gets to give props to Stan but this US Open he really outdid himself. Stan proved he could beat two of the top ten at a Slam when he knocked out an outside favorite in Tomas Berdych and then beat one of the most favored, the defending Champion and Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray. His eventual demise at the hands of Djokovic was one of those matches neither deserved to lose. It was a Major run that proved Stan learns from his lessons on matches with the big guns and bodes well for more props come 2014.

Match of the tournament: Djokovic d. Wawrinka, SF, Zheng d. V. Williams, R1.
For drama, both these matches went unequalled. Djokovic and Wawrinka cranked it up to such a degree that spectators gave them a standing ovation mid game in the fifth set. And Venus Williams’ fight against Zheng was a reminder of why she had won two US Open titles and that she is far from gone yet.

Performance of the tournament: Wawrinka d. Murray, QF.
Aggressive mindset, check. Flair and panache, check. Belief in oneself. Check. For Wawrinka that last one was the most important. He had been in good form at the Australian Open and in a winnable position only to lose to Djokovic. In Indian Wells, he had led Federer only to choke. In Paris, he beat Gasquet in the match of the year only to flunk out in straights versus Nadal. But on this chance he did not collapse. As each set went by, Wawinka’s class and confidence rose while his Opponent’s game and mind fell apart. Wawrinka took advantage and took his place in his first Major semi.

Shock of the tournament: Robredo d. Federer.
Federer’s vulnerability of late has not been quiet. A world ranking of 7, a second round defeat at Wimbledon and a bad back caused great speculation that the Great’s days were numbered. But still many expected the five time winner of the US open to make the last eight against Nadal, especially considering Robredo was considered anything but a stumbling block. A stumbling block he was though. Edging Federer in a tight first set, the Spaniard used his wiles, point construction and forehand to knock a Federer keen to rewrite the defintion of error prone out in straight sets.

Run of the tournament: Flavia Pennetta.
The Italians have made the top ten something of a hang out the past few years with Errani and Vinci taking their places. Both women were seeded and riding high this Open but the original Italian top tenner Flavia Pennetta popped by to say hello and then goodbye as she sent both compatriots out the tournament. Employing flair, touch and guile, Pennetta made her first last four appearance in a Major and one we hope to see achieved again.

Shot of the tournament: The Nadal forehand.
Inside out, down the line, angled crosscourt, hit from position or on the run, this was the shot to beat this Open. For the first six rounds and the first set of the final, it went unquestioned. Once Djokovic took it on and threatened to better it, the Spaniard went a little passive only to come back in the third from a break down to take the set and then take the fourth to the loss of one game. It was a forehand display of ferocity and belief that would define the Spaniard and, like its wielder did to the tour this year, dominate the highlights reel of this US Open.

The US Open lacked the great early matches of the French Open, the shock element of Wimbledon and the controversy of Melbourne but what it did have was champions of consistency and brilliance. The victories of Nadal and Williams proved that there are still some champions capable of adapting and improving their games to adapt to an evermore fragmented and uneven tour.

Grade: B minus.