The USTA put yesterday's Evgeniva Rodina-Eugenie Bouchard match at Arthur Ashe Stadium despite the fact Bouchard is "suing the organization for negligence," according to Steve Keating of REUTERS. Bouchard after losing to Rodina said she was "surprised" by the move. The USTA and Bouchard have "settled into an uneasy relationship with the Canadian’s lawsuit hanging over the U.S. Open." Bouchard’s attorneys in May "accused the USTA of erasing security camera footage of her fall in the locker-room" at the '15 U.S. Open that resulted in a concussion. USTA Managing Dir of Communications Chris Widmaier said, "Certainly we don’t hold any grudges. What happens outside this tournament is irrelevant to us as we build the schedule." Keating noted the day's marquee matchups typically are "reserved for Arthur Ashe Stadium and a contest between two players barely ranked inside the top 100 seemed an unconventional choice -- even more so given the lawsuit now before the courts." Bouchard was ranked 76th, while Rodina was 89th (REUTERS, 8/30). ESPNW's D'Arcy Maine noted Bouchard has "failed to advance past the third round at any Grand Slam" since '15. However, while Bouchard has "failed to replicate her success" in '14, when she made the semifinals in three of the four majors, it seems she is "more famous than ever." From high-profile endorsements with companies like Nike, Colgate and Coca-Cola, to "more than 4 million combined followers on her social media accounts, Bouchard is easily one of the biggest names on tour." The WTA has been "seeking its next generation of superstars in preparation for the eventual retirement of Serena and Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova," and at one point it "seemed that Bouchard was a worthy heir." However, she has "failed to live up to the hype" and it might be "time we press pause on her, at least for now" (ESPNW.com, 8/30).
NOISE POLLUTION: ESPN's Patrick McEnroe noted a "big issue at night, and certainly with the roof closed, has been the sound emanating onto (Arthur Ashe Stadium) from the crowd." Several players, including Rafael Nadal, have been vocal about the issue this week. McEnroe said, "People aren't talking loud by the court. It's coming from the higher parts of the stadium where people don't even realize it." ESPN's Chris Evert said the noise "comes from the sponsor suites," where things are a "little more social this time of the night." Evert: "They're eating, they're drinking and having lots of conversations" ("U.S. Open," ESPN, 8/30). Tennis Channel's Lindsay Davenport said the noise at the stadium "is outrageous." Davenport: "Just sitting in the crowd, you can’t even hear the sound of the ball hitting the players’ racquets. ... But it’s just what the players are going to have to deal with. We learned at this tournament last year when we first had the roof up there that it keeps more noise in and they have those suites, the entertainment level. It is very loud and players are going to have to get used to that if they want to win here” ("U.S. Open Daily," Tennis Channel, 8/30).
CATERING TO THE STARS? ESPN's Pam Shriver noted the presence of a roof on Ashe lets top players "get the advantage" during rainy days. Most play was postponed on Tuesday due to weather issues, but top seeds like Roger Federer and Nadal played as scheduled. Shriver said, "The men who didn’t play yesterday have to play back-to-back three-out-of-five sets.” ESPN’s Jason Goodall: “Federer said as much yesterday evening. He said that he was really lucky he was able to play and that he was able to recover. That was not necessarily the case for other players in his half of the draw” (“U.S. Open,” ESPN, 8/30).
