Last weekend was a sports fanatic’s delight. Four AFL finals, four NRL finals, the Springbok Test, the first women’s NRL game, and the US Open tennis.
At the start of the weekend, I rated those events in that order of importance.
But then the US Open events screamed for our attention.
This event had more drama, excitement and Australian interest than any event for the last five years.
The case of the crooked shirt
Alize Cornet was docked a penalty point for taking off her shirt in between games when she realised it was on backwards – apparently unaware of the rule insisting women change in a more modest fashion.
But the umpire knew of the rule and, in the true tradition of anti-feminists, took a point off her score.
We are so used to men taking off their shirts in full view that no one looked or cared. She was, after all, quite properly dressed under the offending shirt.
Everyone rushed to say that it wasn’t their fault, the rule was old, we will change it. But the damage was done. The wowsers won.
Kyrgios care
As Nick Kyrgios was doing his usual ‘why am I playing this stupid game’ in the middle of a Roger Federer exhibition, the umpire – instead of throwing the book at him – decided to try make Nick feel better.
Unlike the Cornet umpire, he threw the rulebook away, came off his chair and suggested to Nick that – as all these nice people are watching – he try a little harder.
The whole tennis world were flummoxed and for a game or two, Nick put in a better effort before losing – not gracefully, but passably.
This time the purist said “not fair” but Roger needed no help and Nick did.
Nick Kyrgios (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
The Millman cometh
Two days later, a 29-year-old journeyman beat Roger Federer in five tough sets. You can say all you like about Roger getting old, but John Millman upped his game and caused an upset the likes of which we have not seen for years.
Even better, he made Aussies who have been waiting for a winner feel like we were relevant in the tennis world again.
Welcome to the Barty party
Ashleigh Barty progressed through three rounds with her trademark solid game and serve on song, before Karolina Pliskover was more solid, and our little Aussie battler bowed out in straight sets.
But, as she has never gone so far in a grand slam, well done and bring on the Australian Open in January.
The happy ending was that, after four unsuccessful attempts to win a grand slam doubles title with Casey Dellacqua, she partnered with the US firebrand Coco Vandewegh to beat all of the top seeds and win the crown. What an achievement!
The great Serena disaster
Naomi Osaka of Japan had calmly wiped everybody out on the way to the final, before stepping onto centre court against Serena Williams, who was trying to equal our own Margaret Court with 24 grand slam titles.
But Naomi continued her great form, won the first set and was leading in the second when yet another umpiring controversy exploded.
Carlos Ramos, a highly credentialed umpire known for his strict adherence to the rules, spied Serena’s coach making signals to his player and docked Williams a penalty point.
Then it all went off the rails and Serena lost it, accusing Ramos of almost every dirty trick other than letting the Swans win the grand final in 2012.
Serena then destroyed her racquet in a tantrum fit for a four-year-old, so Carlos penalised her a game. She then yelled more nasties at him and carried on with the referee. She should have been defaulted at that time. She wasn’t. She calmed down and lost.
The trouble was Naomi’s greatest moment was all about Serena. Never mind! She will win more grand slams and get her deserved moment in the sun.
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