DAY 1 @ FLUSHING MEADOWS

Ok left my hotel @ 7.50 and had breakfast at Dunkin Donuts, egg & cheese muffin with hash browns and a hot chocolate, $5.40. Walked to the stadium and as I had to collect my tickets for today I started to queue at the “Will Call box office at 8.45. Office opened at 9am and by 9.05 I had got my tickets for today and all my night sessions for the rest of the tournament. I then joined the main queue to get into the stadium. Gate opened at 10am and by eavesdropping on the conversations in the queue everyone seemed to have the same plan, get onto Armstrong to watch Soderling v Davydenko. It was a mad rush as the gates opened but I managed to get good seats, 5 rows behind the baseline.

This match was my first taste of Soderling, seen Davy in Paris, and didn’t think he was that bad. Some good tennis played in the 1st set with a swap of breaks in the 7th and 8th games first set but a DF from Davy give Soderling the 1st set 7-5. 2nd set was slightly less interesting with a DF from Soderling handing Davy the break and another DF giving him the set 6-3 level at 1-1. Soderling breaks fist game and Davy calls for the trainer for left thigh. 5 breaks points go amiss from Soderling but later another DF gives Soderling another break and he eventually wins the set 6-2. Davy calls for the trainer again and retires from the match.

So it was then onto Ashe to catch the end of the Oudin v Petrova match. I was on the very back row behind the baseline, far corner opposite the chair. Even from way up there I still had a great view and could make out the players! Anyway the crowd were obviously pumped up for this one and it was good to see the local girl win. Typical Petrova meltdown in the 3rd after being in a great position to finish off the match in the 2nd set. BTW I was next to the big screen they have at the top of the stand and the music they pump out was really pissing me off as the speaker was next to my ear!

Next match Roger v Tommy. Feeding my stomach got the better of me and I missed the players coming on court and the first few games, BTW I got nachos @ $7.50, yummy!! After eating the nachos I decided to take a few photos so wasn’t really keeping track of the score but Roger gets the break late on in the set and serves out for 6-4. Down hill from Tommy after the 1st set and I was starting to think of things to do to pass the time until 7pm and the night session, should I go shopping or try and get onto Armstrong and watch Nando v Isner. Anyway Roger steam rolled the 2ns set 6-2. Into the 3rd set the weather started to get cooler so on came my jacket. By 4-0 half the crowd had decided that Roger had this one in the bag and had either left or, for people up near the top and opposite the players, were looking over the side of the court into Armstrong to watch the match there. Tommy manages 2 more games and Roger wraps up in straights, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.

Tried to get back into Armstrong but it was full so I went onto Grandstand and caught the start of the Paes/Black, Stubbs/Lindstedt match, I do like Paes! I left midway through the 1st set and found out that you cannot smoke in the grounds, bastards!!! Watched the last 5 games of the Nando/Isner match on the big screen then went back into Ashe for the night session.

Didn’t make any notes for the womens match but was hoping for a 2 set match as I was starting to get cold and feel tired. Anyway I got 3 sets and Caroline came out on top. Observations are that Caroline’s 2nd serve is shit and Kuzzy gets lots of coaching, it got shown several times on the big screen!! Onto the mens and Nole v the sex machine. By this time I really was knackered and set myself a leaving time of 11.30. Players came onto court at 9.51 and play started at 10, by 10.05 Radek had lost his contact lens and the first set was over by 10.23, Nole wins 6-1. 2nd set starts at 10.26 and Nole is 2 sets up by 11.03. I decided to leave at this point, as there was more chance of me finding Rafa tied naked to my hotel bed than Radek winning.

Jumped on the subway, grabbed a pizza on the way home and was in bed at 12.05 totally knackered. 11 hours of tennis and 5 matches so not bad for my first day.

Hope you have enjoyed reading!