NY Minutes: Clijsters' Last Stand, Day 6 Recap

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NY Minutes: Clijsters' Last Stand, Day 6 Recap

By Chris Oddo

Kim Clijsters plays her last matches at the 2012 U.S. Open

(Sep 1, 2012)--It was another fantastic day for tennis in the big apple. Kim Clijsters played her final match, bringing Court 17 to life with her inspired and emotional effort on the mixed doubles court with Bob Bryan, while the singles draw whittled down to 16 on the women's side after Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber showed off their stellar form.

Also see: NY Minutes Day 2 | NY Minutes Day 3 | NY Minutes Day 4 | NY Minutes Day 5

Here's 10 Random thoughts on Day 6:

1. Kim Clijsters and Bob Bryan still alive in mixed doubles

A huge, emotionally charged crowd gathered at Court 17 to witness Kim Clijsters in what ended up being the last match of her career. Sound sad? Well, it turned into a party -- by my account the feel good moment of the Open so far -- so don't feel bad at all. Clijsters and Bryan saved four match points against Bruno Soares and Ekaterina Makarova before eventually falling, and with each and every MP that they saved the crowd went berserk, roaring its appreciation for Clijsters as she played her heart out one last time. It was a surprisingly light-hearted and soul-quenching affair. Nobody wanted it to end, but when it did, there was the feeling that out on the intimate setting of court 17, with a late-night gallery of Clijsters fans and grounds-pass holders in attendance, was the perfect place to do it.

Tennis is a grassroots sport and Clijsters, at heart, is a grassroots girl.

“Life goes on,” said Clijsters on court after the match. “I'm getting older, but that doesn't mean I don't love the sport any more. Tennis is fun and it will always be a part of my life. I had a great night, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to finish here.”

2. Martina and Brett Haber on Ana's Toss

Ana Ivanovic still has the funkiest service toss in all of tennis. I guess the errant Ivanovic toss is just one of those things, like death and taxes, that will always exist. Here's a quick snippet from the commentator booth on Tennis Channel after one of said tosses, during Ana's 3rd-round victory vs. Sloane Stephens last night.

Martina: “It's amazing what she can do with bad tosses.”

Brett: “Well, she's had her practice.”

3. The glory of Grandstand

Every year I fall in love all over again with Grandstand court, and every year I make a point to make mention of how awesome the place is. Either in person or on television Granstand gives the impression of intimacy. Where Ashe is bright lights, big city, Grandstand is a Manhattan street full of picturesque brownstones with maple trees lining it. With it's catwalk high above the playing surface and the way the shadows work their way across the court from morning to evening, it has to the coolest court to view tennis on in all of America. It's a magical place, and if you've never been there to see it you really should.

4. The beauty of wrong-footing

One of my favorite things about watching the truly elite players on tour is to watch how aware they are of what their opponent's are doing on the court. That's why I love to see a player like Roger Federer or Andy Murray take advantage when their opponent's are scrambling to get back into position by hitting behind them. It takes a sixth-sense to not only execute the proper footwork to hit the shot, but to also make the realization about where the opponent is and which direction and/or how fast they are moving in that direction. Guys like Federer make it look easy. And when they do it gives me chills.

5. Oh Canada

Milos Raonic became only the second Canadian to reach the round of 16 at the US Open since the Open Era began as he stopped the upset-minded American James Blake in his tracks with a dominant, 29-ace 6-3, 6-0, 7-6(3) victory.

6. Courier likes it when Sam Querrey breaks racquets

“You know what,” said Courier, after Sam Querrey broke a racquet out of frustration during his four-set loss to Tomas Berdych on Saturday, “I like that. Sam can be too nice sometimes.”

Courier went on to say the Querrey would benefit from being a little more like Kim Clijsters was during her career, saying “While she is so nice, so friendly and so beloved, she also fights with a ferocity, and that's a tough tightrope to walk.” Courier went on to say that Querrey's opponent, Tomas Berdych, might benefit from being a little less laid back too.

7. Swashbuckling Feliciano Lopez: What's not to like?

At one point during the fourth set of his loss to Andy Murray on Saturday, just moments after Feliciano Lopez came up on the short side of a bedazzling 23-stroke rally on break point, and with the crowd on its feet cheering Lopez and Andy Murray with all their heart, a huge grin appeared on the Spaniard's face. It was at this point I understood that Lopez loves a spirited battle, win or lose. He was not content, but he couldn't help cracking a big, strong, toothy smile that said “This is where I want to be.”

To a fan, and in particular, fans of the delightfully entertaining Spaniard, that smile was worth the price of admission.

With all the amazing members of the Spanish Armada—Nadal, Ferrer, Almagro—part of me feels that it's Lopez that is the heart and soul of the whole group.

8. The Brothers Harrison are still alive in doubles

Jack Sock and Steve Johnson, the American tandem who upset top seeds Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi in round one, are gone, as are Donald Young and Nicholas Monroe and Brian Baker and Rajeev Ram. But Ryan and Christian Harrison are still alive in the doubles draw after taking out the Israeli pairing of Ram and Erlich 6-4, 6-4. Could American have the heir apparent to the Bryan Brother's dominance on the doubles court in the making?

9. Martina on Sloane Stephens

Martina Navratilova is among one of the many experts who is high on 19-year-old American Sloane Stephens. Here's what she had to say about the World No. 44 before tonight's match with Ana Ivanovic:

“A year ago I thought she was the best of the crop of the youngsters in American tennis and she's proven me right. I think she's improving on a daily basis. She loves it, she wants to be there. And what I like most of about her is her ability to run down so many balls. She's so fast, she makes you hit another shot. Her serve has been improving, her forehand is a big weapon for her, but most of all her legs. She's just so quick off the mark, she doesn't give up, and she loves to be on the [big] stage.”

All of that wasn't enough to propel Stephens past Ana Ivanovic on Saturday night. Ivanovic advanced to the fourth round where she'll take on Tsvetana Pironkova for a shot at the quarters.

10 Quote of the Day

"Yes, it's for sure special to be back here. Because last year everything starts here. I mean, nobody knows me one year ago." -- Angelique Kerber, on her rise to relevance last year at the US Open, where she reached her first career Grand Slam semifinal.

(Photo Credit: Andy Kentla)