US Open Week 1 Rewind

US Open

Week 1 Rewind

Most Impressed By: Naomi Osaka

I’m 100% sure Naomi Osaka has a dozen people ready to pay big $$$ for her Billie Jean Bling and Arthur Flash Labubu’s — not just because they’re rare, but because they seem to be giving her superpowers on court.

The two-time champ looks dangerous right now — she’s dropped only one set on her way to the quarterfinals and bulldozed Coco Gauff yesterday, 6-3, 6-2.

Osaka hasn’t won a Slam since 2021, and in that time she’s navigated a slew of challenges — openly battling mental health issues, becoming a mother, rehabbing injuries, and probably more than we even know. Because of all that, she just hasn’t had the fitness, form, or clarity to make a deep title run.

But now she looks as good as anyone. The four-time Slam champion is dictating from the center of the court, taking the ball early, and lazering groundstrokes into both corners with ease. She’s seeing it like a cantaloupe.

If she can get by Muchová tomorrow, she’s got the firepower to give Iga a real run for her money in the semis. C’mon Naomi!

The Walkover Open

Best-of-five set matches are brutal. Week one alone saw seven walkovers, all due to injury or fatigue. Even Ben Shelton—who makes The Hulk feel insecure—had his body fail him this week.

So, should we shorten the format?

Emphatically, AH HELL NAH.

I don’t want to scrap best-of-five—it’s what makes the Slams sacred. But what if we saved it for when it really matters? Start with best-of-three in the opening rounds, then flip to best-of-five in the fourth round or quarterfinals onward.

Why? There’s a few reasons. First, slams have become far too predictable. It was either Roger, Rafa or Novak for twenty years. Twenty years! And now, it’s either Jannik or Carlos—and I think it makes “predicting” who’s going to win actually pretty boring.

Making the first few rounds best of three would create more upsets. Imagine a world where Dimitrov beat Sinner at Wimbledon this year. Or if De Minaur had a shot at a slam trophy. Wouldn’t that be exciting? The tennis world needs new stories.

And the 5-set epics? They’d still be there. Federer–Nadal 2008, Djokovic–Wawrinka 2013, Alcaraz–Sinner this year in Paris—those blockbusters would still happen deep in the tournaments. And who knows, maybe they’d have more energy for them, and we’d get even better tennis.

Players would also benefit. The early rounds would be less punishing on the body, reducing the rash of retirements we saw this year, without touching the gladiator standards that make Slam titles so coveted.

Because when someone lifts that trophy, you still want to know they’ve got nothing left to give.

Trivia

Only one parent and child from the same family have both reached the Top 20 in the world. Which pair it is?

A. Petr and Sebastian Korda

B. Bryan and Ben Shelton

C. Alexander Sr. and Alexander Zverev

D. Toni and Rafael Nadal

Find out at the bottom!

Meet the Player

Gabriel Diallo

From: Canada 🇨🇦

Best Slam Result: 3rd round

Career High Ranking: 33 (current)

Fun Fact: Felix Auger-Aliassime’s dad is a former coach of Diallo’s

Game Analysis: Whatever they’re putting in the maple syrup these days, I want it. Why? Because Diallo is a staggering 6’ 8” and moves like a gazelle. As expected, the Canadian gets above 140mph on his serve, can hang from the baseline, and loves to finish points at the net.

Career Prediction: At the tennis-infant age of 23, Diallo’s got a very high ceiling. I think he’ll break the Top 20, rack up a number of indoor hard court titles, and hopefully get a brand deal with whatever maple syrup company he wants.

Memes

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Around the Net

Some of the best tennis content I found on the internet this week…

🤔 Bryan Shelton on one of the biggest challenges being Ben’s coach

🍈 How 2.3 million melon balls get scooped before the US Open for their iconic Honey Duece cocktail

🎧 The differences playing against Roger, Rafa and Novak. And why playing Novak was actually the “easiest.”

Answer

A. Petr and Sebastian Korda

Petr Korda was as high as No. 2 in the world in 1998, and won the Australian Open that same year. Not only has his son become a Top 20 player, but both of his daughters (Nelly and Jessica) are professional golfers. Nelly has two LPGA major titles to her name. Talk about good genes.

Also, Toni isn’t Rafa’s dad 😉