Inside the Open – The Day of the Donald

Written by: Staff on 3rd September 2011

Inside the Open - The Day of the Donald

Donald Young of the US hits a return to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during their second round match on the fifth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 02 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

Inside the Open

Donald Young provided just part of the fireworks on Day 5 at the Open with his incredible comeback fifth-set tiebreak win on Friday in New York City.

THE DAY OF THE DONALD: In a career-best victory, Donald Young finally grew up on Friday at the US Open.

Down 4-1 in the fifth set, the 22-year-old Young found a new gear and gunned it, roaring past Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka, the No. 14 seed, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1), in 4 hours, 20 minutes.

He’ll meet Juan Ignacio Chela for a chance at the fourth round in a match that is very winnable. It was the first time in his career that Young had won a fifth-set match (remember the first-round loss to James Blake at the 2007 Open) and he said afterward that his fitness level at the end even surprised him and attributed the win to his conditioning.

After losing his serve for the third consecutive time, Young fell down to Wawrinka 4-1 in the deciding set, and it looked like the match was all but over.

But at 4-2 DY sensed he had nothing to lose and started taking some chances, at one point hitting a scorching forehand winner and then watching a ball sail just long at the baseline which was called in but quickly overruled after a replay. Suddenly, just like that, we had ourselves a match.

“This is big-time tennis,” said Luke Jensen on USOpen.org live stream. “This is Donald Young not spinning the ball but actually hitting it so that Warwrinka is backing up on his balls.”

Down 4-3, the lefty Young once again opened up the court playing aggressive and going corner to corner. “Donald Young has found another gear,” Jensen said. “Clearly the momentum has changed.”

At this point, Court 17 was all a buzz and not one more spectator than the capacity crowd of 2,800 could fit with still another couple of thousands watching from the roof of the indoor facility nearby.

Just one round earlier, Young made USTA National Tennis Center history becoming the first American player to win on the new show court. The court is sunk seven feet below the ground, giving it an intimate feel for fans, and it has two video screens as well as the Chase Review instant replay challenge system.

In the tiebreaker it was all Young and Wawrinka was clearly gassed and waited for Young to wilt. But it wasn’t to be and Young opened up a 6-0 lead which proved insurmountable before he closed it out, 7-1.

TWEET OF THE DAY: After the match, Patrick McEnroe tweeted @PatrickMcEnroe: “In tennis terms Donald Young became a man today.”

ANOTHER MARATHON MATCH: The US Open is the only Grand Slam that ends matches with a tiebreaker. Igor Kunitsyn of Russia is thankful for that as he outlasted Jurgen Melzer, 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5).

AND STILL ANOTHER: The Andy Murray-Robin Haase match didn’t want to end in a timely fashion either, as the No. 4 seeded Murray dug deep from two sets down to come back and beat the Netherlands’ Haase, 6-7 (5), 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4.

HIS RUN CONTINUES: Two years ago, Alex Bogomolov Jr. was 27 years old and ranked No. 313 in the world, contemplating retirement and teaching tennis on Long Island. With his second-round straight-set win over Rogerio Dutra Da Silva of Brazil, Bogomolov now finds himself in the US Open third round and will move into the top 40 of the world rankings for the first time.

SHARAPOVA’S OPEN ENDS: Wimbledon finalist Maria Sharapova was hoping to end her Grand Slam year on a high note, but was unable to hold on in her third-round loss against Flavia Pennetta of Italy, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. It also ended the 12-match third-set streak by Sharapova this year.

It was amazing the Russian star and former US Open champion was actually in the match at the end as she finished with 60 unforced errors and 12 double faults.

“It’s disappointing to lose in the middle of nowhere, disappointing to lose in New York,” Sharapova said. “Losing isn’t fun for anyone because we work to win. We don’t work to lose.”

Pennetta called it “one of the best matches of my career,” adding, “the tennis was amazing.”

TOUGH DAY FOR TWO AMERICANS: It will go down as two straight-set losses for Americans Irina Falconi and James Blake as both were overmatched Friday. Following her emotional second-round win in Ashe, Falconi managed just one game against No. 22 Sabine Lisicki. Blake lost to David Ferrer, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

ISNER BEATS GINEPRI: American John Isner’s hot streak continued as he won for the seventh straight outing beating Georgian Robby Ginepri, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. After the match Isner said it was the hottest he’s ever experienced New York, but was able to use his big serve (20 aces) to move on.

DOUBLES UPDATE: Two American teenagers won again in doubles as 17-year-old Jessica Pegula and 15-year-old Taylor Townsend beat Liga Dekmeijere and Jelena Jankovic, 6-3, 6-3, in the second round.

Defending champions Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova advanced to the third round also with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Eleni Daniilidou and Polona Hercog. So who will they get in the Round of 16? You guessed it: Pegula-Townsend.

Farmers Classic (LA Open) champs Mark Knowles and Xavier Malisse won in straight sets again and then a few hours later found out they would not have to face giant killers Ivo Karlovic and Frank Moser in Round 3 as the pair was upset by Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini of Italy in straights.

SATURDAY’S ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM SCHEDULE:

1. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[1] v. Vania King (USA)

Not Before: 1 p.m.

2. Men’s Singles – 3rd Round

Roger Federer (SUI)[3] v. Marin Cilic (CRO)[27]

Not Before: 3 p.m.

3. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round

Victoria Azarenka (BLR)[4] v. Serena Williams (USA)[28]

Arthur Ashe Stadium 7:00 PM Start Time

1. Women’s Singles – 3rd Round

Sloane Stephens (USA) v. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)[16]