Monday’s men’s final capped a great U.S. Open. Here are a few things that made it interesting.
SEAT YOURSELF. Arthur Ashe Stadium was fairly full, but if one looked closely there were empty seats here and there. The reschedule to Monday likely kept some fans from attending. Lucky for me, as I found four empty seats in the ninth row, center court. Face value for one? Gulp—$650.
TOUGH CROWD. When the camera showed and identified Sean Connery on the giant Arthur Ashe Stadium screen, the place went bonkers. Seconds later it showed and identified some generic actor from a current TV show. Total silence.
PAIN IN THE NECK. There’s a price to pay for having the best seat in the house. On every point your head turns hard to the left and hard to the right. It got old fast, until the hedge fund guy sitting close by clued me in: Let your eyes go side to side more than your head. Yes!
THE RICH ARE DIFFERENT. After the third set it began. Two people here, one there, two more over there. Leaving. Hugs and handshakes, then up the stairs they went, not to return. They paid the most and stayed the least. By set five I had no one to either side of me and no one in the seat in front. I could definitely get used to this.
WHAT WAS THAT? In the fourth set, out of nowhere, the umpire called a time warning on Novak Djokovic just as he was about to serve. The Serb was obviously furious and stomped around a bit, but composed himself and continued. The ump’s idiocy was obvious to everyone.
PLAN BETTER, IVAN. Andy Murray’s coach, Ivan Lendl, arrived at the match in shorts and shirt. As it progressed and it got much cooler he donned a red sweater, but had nothing for his exposed knees. So he took out another shirt and covered them with it.
ANDY’S SOCKS. Did you see the socks Andy Murray wore? Pete Maravich would have rejected them. Old-looking, off color, and droopy. Get that man a sock sponsor.
SHE GETS PAID FOR THAT? There was a security guard fronting the door of the women’s locker room during the men’s final. Ummm, who exactly is in there? Serena won the title last night and tennis players almost always hit the road within hours after they lose. I’ll never know.
CLAP, DONALD, CLAP! Before I moved downstairs I sat in the press section, halfway up in Ashe in the corner. Not a bad view. I saw the luxury boxes clearly, and there in one sat Donald Trump. Observer of life that I am, I found myself looking at him more often than not, because no matter how dramatic a point, he never applauded. Not once.
TOO LATE, PAL. Media members were gifted free U.S. Open windbreaker vests. One writer approached the desk on Monday requested his, but was told they weren’t available after Sunday. He practically broke down.
NICE LITTLE SOUVENIR. After match point, Murray dropped his racquet, and someone else retrieved it for him. Back in his chair he tossed it into the crowd. What would it fetch on eBay?
HARD CHOICES. After the final was over I had a decision to make. Leave immediately and catch the next subway train, or go back to the media center cafeteria, where I still had $9 credit left on my credential? I decided on the former, and here’s how great it turned out…
ONLY IN NEW YORK. Like most folks, I took the subway to and from the Open. After Monday’s final, I was ‘lucky’ enough to approach the turnstile just when they announced a ‘Super Express’ train from Flushing Meadows would make only three stops before arriving in Grand Central Station, where people including myself would catch commuter trains. I dashed on and sat down, delighted. Soon every seat was taken, but the train did not leave. Then all the standing room was taken. Still no go. Fully 15 more minutes went by, during which dozens more riders jammed their way on. Some guy was being forced to lean over so close to me I thought we’d merge. The joy of watching epic tennis was replaced by prayer to arrive home safely. Finally the doors closed and the train moved out. It did only make three stops, but guess what? At each one even more people crushed their way on. I think next year I’ll drive.
—Michael Catarevas
For more U.S. Open observations from Michael Catarevas, click here.