Classic Tennis is Alive and Well at the 2013 US Open!! by Dr. Don Brosseau

Written by: Staff on 4th September 2013

Classic Tennis is Alive and Well at the 2013 US Open!! by Dr. Don Brosseau

epa03850858 Flavia Pennetta of Italy hits a return to Roberta Vinci of Italy during their quarterfinals round match on the tenth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Saw part of a very watchable match from the US Open today.

Occasional serve-and-volley strategy, lots of trips to the net (48 out of 108 points concluded at the net),

Only 3 double faults by each player,

Great use of the slice backhand and the slice backhand approach shot,

Great point construction with each player striving for the advantage to take control of the point – not merely waiting for an error,

The winner actually held serve in 6 of 8 service games and didn’t even allow her opponent a break point in the second set.

Yes, this was the women’s quarterfinal between the two 30+ Italian women, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci. Two very classy ladies who displayed more elegance than you will ever find on the cover of the SI Swimsuit edition; they were a great pleasure to watch in this match. And there was barely a grunt to be heard. Oh there was a little air expulsion as the ball was struck but nothing distracting. Such a joy. You could actually hear the quality of the ball strike.

Vinci was the more aggressive as far as going to the net, but both players demonstrated complete mastery of all aspects of the game from passing shots to the ability to get the second serve in under pressure to approach shots and lobs and overheads. They played like the true professionals they are.

And Penetta really played beautifully. She took some balls down the line for winners that would have been just as good against Serena or anybody else. She was just too good today for her higher ranked good friend. Coming back from an injury, she is taking this opportunity to reassert herself as the top woman in Italy.

Little Italy with Errani, Pennetta, Vinci, Schiavone, Knapp and now Giorgi is doing something right. I hope Giorgi spends some time hanging out with the Italian veterans. They can show her a lot and with her talent and firepower and a little of their wisdom, she could be a top 5 player within two years.

More than likely, Azarenka will pound Hantuchova into submission tonight (already up 6-2, 0-1) and unless Pennetta has a tremendous serving day, Vika will feast on her second serve. But for once, it was nice to see players, especially women players, trying to work their way to the net to finish the point off. And both women volleying beautifully.

Not quite like watching Goolagong float across the court, but definitely one of the best displays of women’s tennis and the art of tennis in general that I have seen in a long time.

Topics: 10sballs, Don Brosseau, Sports, Tennis, US Open