Stan Wawrinka yesterday defeated Novak Djokovic in the men's final of the U.S. Open, and the tournament "put to good use" the new roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium, according to Marc Berman of the N.Y. POST. The roof was "used for parts of nine matches." But the "genuine star" of the tournament was the "brand-new, 8,000-seat Grandstand that was greeted with glowing reviews." The Grandstand is the "perfect size, the best place to watch a match in the first week ... with many sunny spots and shade in the last few rows." Fans can even "walk up a stairway to a standing-room only spot during play." The tournament "set daytime session attendance records, twice topping 40,000." Roger Federer's absence -- the first time since '99 -- "definitely hurt the Open's buzz," especially because Rafael Nadal lost in the third round and Andy Murray in the fourth. There were "more Open fans walking around in the 'RF' hats than any other symbol." A "reevaluation of moniker 'Big 4' is needed," as the phrase "no longer applies." Berman: "That is not good for the sport" (N.Y. POST, 9/12). SI.com's Jon Wertheim writes it "was hard not to feel" Roger Federer's absence, but the event was "hardly Christmas without Santa." New attendance records "were set" and TV ratings "didn't fall off a cliff." Wertheim credits the USTA with "completing the roof project, which was a savvy image enhancement even if it can't be justified on a P/L statement." The Grandstand also "is a terrific court" with "perfect size" and sightlines. However, even if it "comes at the expense of taking a few dollars off the table," the USTA "needs to make it open seating." As it is now, the lower bowl seats "require a ticket so, mimicking a larger issue in the sport, the real fans bunch together up top while the courtside seats lie vacant" (SI.com, 9/12).
SHE GOT GAME: In N.Y., Christopher Clarey noted Angelique Kerber, who defeated Karolina Pliskova in the women's final, has now "won two major titles and reached this year's Wimbledon final." Kerber in '11 arrived in N.Y. "with a world ranking of 92." It all "adds up to a phenomenal and unexpected season and further proof that it is possible to make a breakthrough at an advanced tennis age." The 28-year-old Kerber "will be the oldest player in the history of the WTA rankings to become No. 1 for the first time" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/11). USA TODAY's Nick McCarvel noted Kerber "becomes the first German player to win the U.S. Open" since Steffi Graf did in '96 (USATODAY.com, 9/10). On Long Island, Barbara Barker wrote the "biggest takeaway" from Kerber's title is that fans can "stop fretting about the future of women's tennis in the post-Serena Williams world" (NEWSDAY, 9/11). ESPNW.com's Johnette Howard wrote under the header, "Suddenly, A Fascinating Future For Women's Tennis" (ESPNW.com, 9/10).
THE BOTTOM LINE: In N.Y., Harvey Araton wrote the issue of whether the U.S. Open "could withstand a dearth of Americans at the finish" of the tournament has "already been settled." Araton: "Check the bottom line." For its signature event, the USTA "keeps building new and bigger venues and widening the pathways on the grounds to accommodate record crowds." The Laver Cup also will debut next year, an event that "will pit Europe against the world." Core fans -- at least the majority of those in N.Y. who "trudge across the boardwalk and through the gates in the late-summer heat -- intuitively understand why the days of American dominance are long gone, unlikely to return." Araton: "It is not that difficult to market Europeans in America, or anywhere, when they are as beautiful to watch as Federer, as charismatically compelling as Rafael Nadal, as athletically brilliant as Djokovic, Slam after grueling Slam" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/11).
SBJ's Daniel Kaplan and Ross Nethery discuss where the '16 U.S. Open succeeded and came up short.
