Weekly Roundup

This is where I'll jot down my thoughts on the tournaments, any Random Rainer news I find, comment about other-things-tennis, and maybe some other sporting activities or opinions... am trying to come up with a clever name for this section, bear with me.

Ranking Update
After the US Open point totals are done, Rainer remains 6th in the ATP Champions Race with 477 total and 8th in the Entry System rankings with 2415. He earned thirty points in reaching the 4th round/Final 16, and took home $65,000 for his singles accomplishments. The doubles team of Schuettler and Yves Allegro (SUI) made it to the second round, losing to eventual champions Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge 36 46. This is also a career best doubles result at the US Open for Rainer, he and Yves collected $25,000 for their efforts. Rainer's double ranking improved 10 spots to #123 and he has 455 points in 19 double tourneys.

Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) (pronounced fair-rare-oh, not fur-rare-oh) now sits atop the rankings after his win over Andre Agassi (USA) in the US Open Semifinals, he had been 3rd going into the tourney. JCF has 4250 points while Andy Roddick (USA) also jumped up two spots to #2 with his 4165 points as of date. The two also clinched spots in the race for Houston's year-end event. Rainer will get a spot too, it's just not official yet.

Of the ATP Entry Top 10, only Schuettler and 5th ranked Guillermo Coria (ARG) remained unchanged after the Open. Rainer is also the highest ranked player in the Top 10 without a 2003 title (yet), a true representation of not only his usual consistency throughout the year, but also the progress he's made in tournaments compared to last year. He has already set a record for steadily improving his ranking over the years, but this sets up a "tough" 2004 for Schuettler. To keep these points, he must go farther in the Slams or at least win a couple titles throughout the calendar year. I believe he can do this, I know he must be frustrated some despite the successes of this year, but he's gained incredibly valuable match experience and this helps solidify a confidence base that he can beat anyone on tour and can carry him into a great 2004

Also within the Top 10, Schuettler has played in the most events with 28. Carlos Moya (ESP) and Roger Federer (SUI) are next with 25 showings each for 2003. Eleventh-ranked Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) has played in 29 so far, while 29th ranked Feliciano Lopez (ESP) has played in a Top-50 high of 33 tourneys.


Confessions of an apparent tennis addict...

Well, it's over and "normal life" can somewhat resume for me. After six out of 12 days (the final Sat and Sun were never an option due to $ and that little thing called 'work', but if Rainer had made it, I would have become extra-creative) at the US Open, I am back to a normal wakeup time and a commute-free drive, though still poor.
I sheepishly confess that in the second week of the tournament, I was actually counting all my change that I could turn into some bills on my way to NYC to pay tolls, parking, purchase one food item and still have a few dollars "for an emergency." Not only was I doing that, but I did it at 5:45am since I needed to be on the road by 7 so I could get there and park and hike to the Box Office and then stand in line until 9:30. But yes, $58 in change is apparently just enough for two days at the US Open if you already have tickets. (Per day expenses, not including ticket: $6 for gas, $8 tolls, $10 parking, $5.75 food, $2 draw sheet, getting up by 6am, 90 minutes driving each way, tons of walking, and 6 band-aids for blisters)

My two other primary "can't believe what happened" incidents...
1. This rambles, but it's all true... on the first Sunday when Rainer played Alberto Martin, I only saw the second half of the match... I was a victim of scalping. All tickets had sold out by 10 (that was the record-setting weekend), and so I made the repeated rounds from gate to gate to gate to see what was available through scalpers. I had $120 on me, enough to last at least two days... and as I walked and walked from 9:30 to 10:45 there were either nothing available or way too high, and I only wanted a grounds pass - not a stadium seat for $150+. Then I saw a guy selling tickets to people waiting in line for weekday tickets, he had four at $100 apiece in Ashe. It was the only thing I could afford, and I was getting a little anxious I wasn't going to make it inside. So me, my normally quiet self, said I'll pay $80 for one, and he said it was a deal. I got my ticket (it was a big one with a picture, not the usual wimpy TicketMaster stub) and went through security (which I am surprised to say was pretty lax) and then the barcode zapper guy, and the ticket beeped and stated that it had already been used for entry, and since I didn't have a hand stamp, I could not enter. I said that the lady didn't stamp my hand, I just was at the other gate, and he said to go back there and talk to them. Yes, a quick lie, but it gets better/worse. Well, I was annoyed and mad and totally wondering what to do next! Of course the ticket guy was long gone from that other gate, I had no way to even purchase another ticket, and I was determined to get in there - especially after already paying.
So, I decided to stick to my story, and at the main gate I asked a security person what to do if you left and didn't get a hand stamp because the lady never said anything when I was passing through. He was very helpful and said "that was too bad" and mumbled how people are apparently buying tickets that have been used and are then out the money and still can't get in. I pretended that was awful and said "oh man, that would suck." Then I asked another guy what I should do if I had left to meet someone off the subway, no one stamped my hand, and I had family members still on the ground that don't know I can't get back into the complex... he said to call them on the cell phone and have them come to the gate, that I needed to prove I had been in there already. (Okay, I thought I was making a little progress, I was getting a complete sentence as an answer from this guy.) I pretended to look stunned and said "but I have the cell phone on me, they have the car keys." A security lady heard me and said "oh sweetheart, that's not good." The guy said for me to figure out a way to contact my group inside, he wasn't becoming any more helpful.
I decided to say my mother, sister and her friend were in there and they had the car keys; that I had already been in there and left to meet a friend coming off the subway - and then got stuck at the gate because the hand stamp lady never got me on the way out at 10:30. I had hung around that gate enough already that day to fully observe that the person handstamping really was not talking to every person that left the grounds, and maybe to only every few groups of people she mentioned it, and most people never heard her - I thought I had a legit case.
I then saw a family that was either as a group trying the same story, or they really did get overlooked by the stamper - so I decided to bond with them and say that I had the same problem - there has to be progress in numbers. Well, over an hour had passed, so I just stayed sitting on the ground by that gate, pretending to scan the crowd as if looking for "my family" and to try to make my story appear truthful. One other security guy said I could sit there all day, he wasn't going to stamp my hand - I pretended again to look stunned and said, "how am I going to get home if I can't find my family? What are the chances they'll even leave this through this gate?" Also, my thinking was that if they thought I was trying to pull a scam and bought a bogus ticket, I'd be off trying to find another way in... I was going to get in with my story, I was beyond determined... I'm stubborn too.
Then I crossed paths with a very nice couple trying to upgrade their night passes to day ones since they were already at the complex. The USTA has this deal where members can purchase tickets that have been dropped in a box by people who left the grounds, I had enough money left to join the USTA to get one of those tickets, and when they heard my story they felt badly for me and said if there were tickets, they would let me go in ahead of them. This is where I felt bad about my scam, but I felt bad for myself too - up since 6am and it was now approaching 3pm, out at least $100 just for that day alone already, and no way to get in - I techinically did have a real ticket that 'someone' paid for... I just wanted in, I just wanted on the grounds, not even a stadium seat, I just wanted to see the Schuettler match!
Well, no tickets through that route... another security guy told me the names of the two guys more in charge of security. I now had a cheering section of at least 7 people trying to help me get in, one saying that I should complain to the goodwill people who handle complaints - that was a hopeful idea until we realized you can only talk to them if you are already inside. I waited to talk to one of the head guys, who also wasn't very helpful at all, I can understand that maybe his job isn't that great... but why aren't people even trying to be polite? I hate that. I sat by that gate for about 20 minutes more, trying to look as dejected as possible - by this time, it wasn't much of an act. Then I caught glimpse of the other head guy and went over to him and started telling him my story as concisely as I could... he brought me inside the gates a bit more to hear me. I thought that this was my chance, and as I got to the part about my family having the car keys, my having the cell phone, and I've been out here - he can ask any of these people - for hours trying to get back in... I pulled out the truly chick thing to do (and believe me, it wasn't easy for me to do... A) I've never resorted to this in my entire life, and B) I hate the girls that do)... I started to cry. I ended with "I just don't know what I am supposed to do now, I can't reach them and I don't know how I am even going to get home," wiping my eyes and all. The guy said that if I'm ever at an event again, I need to pay attention to the signs and know the rules, to which I quickly said "oh no, I am never leaving any event again for any reason, don't worry." He then walked me up to the barcode guy and gave him the magic nod... I was in!! I turned around and said "Oh, thank you so much!" and pretended to hurry off to try to find my family, still wiping my eyes the entire time so the crying looked official.
I got to the court and Rainer had already won the first set and they were halfway through the second, I think after all that I saw 90 minutes, but I didn't care, I had made it inside.

2. This one is just as true, but thankfully a shorter story... the second Wednesday, the day that the "mist" first created true havoc, I was waiting to get across the Whitestone Bridge when I was rearended in the tollbooth line! I couldn't believe it, and luckily my sister's Civic is made of plastic because it didn't even leave a mark. (She's in Iraq and I didn't want to put the miles on my car!) But sitting at the Heineken Bar for the next three days (and no, I don't even drink) it just added to the greatness of being there in the rain for days, the ticket episode and then the capper of getting hit... aahh, US Open memories. If I were in my car, it would have certainly caused damage and I don't know how I would've expressed my displeasure at the driver!

My observations from the Open...

• The food is beyond expensive, I refused to pay nearly $10 for a burger there, so I spent $5.75 on a Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate shake each day I was there... that was it, that was all I consumed whenever I was there. I know, not the healthiest choice but the only milkshakes I have all year and it sure beats overpriced mystery meat. I did buy the small fries after my ticket incident because I was so hungry and so happy to be in there, I splurged. I refilled my water bottle at the fountains throughout my days, but that was it for "food." Here's an amusing column about the Open from SI's tennis guy, Jon Wertheim. Be sure to check out Wertheim's list of "Must Do" while at the US Open. I absolutely agree with all he says, the ones about following fans with drums is classic! Also, as a person that burns in 15 minutes, you must bring sunscreen to this event!


• For NY, the $10 for all day and evening parking is a steal


• The best bathroom on the grounds for us normal people is by practice court 7, no one knows it exists and people think it's part of the food setup area. Never a line, never messy, good water fountains and a pay phone, and it even has a little area with benches.
• Can someone explain to me why USA Network and CBS showed constant clips of Aaron Krickstein and Jimmy Connors? I have seen that match more than Jimmy and Aaron combined at this point! They have cameras at practically every single match, they have clips of interviews from earlier in the year and during this event, and they can get some info from fans... are you telling me that either network can't put together some type of video montage of what's happened at the tournament so far? It doesn't have to be one match from years ago, or a match that was already aired and now they just seem to put it on repeat (ie the Younes tiebreak, Agassi-Dent, etc). Put a highlight reel together, mix in some great shots with interviews and maybe a few complete games here and there, but showcase why people would watch - the tennis that's happening this year!
  This is one reason as to why I started this site... in two weeks of coverage, there was maybe 5 minutes of Rainer coverage, and I think that's even generous. John McEnroe and Dick Enberg made reference to him during I think a Roddick match, saying that Rainer's like a terrier and majorly into fitness. Then there was the 25 second clip of Rainer and Sjeng sitting in towels in the rain at Armstrong Wednesday night looking dejected and the flash to the pow-wow at the net where they decided to call it a night and Rainer turned to his group and said "No more." The only other bit I saw was an overhead shot of all the action on the grounds when play resumed Thursday afternoon and I could make out their court, and drumroll please... the largest amount of footage showed a couple serves by Sjeng. That was it. No highlights or anything, only just updates on the screen's ticker. I think that's practically an outrage for a Top Ten player. Of course, the same thing happened to JCF and all the other non-Americans, which is just as unfortunate. I know that the finals would have had better ratings if people had seen more players during the tournament - insert my video highlights idea here. And here in the US, the TV bosses have to realize that the game needs as much PR and face-time as the players they want to constantly put in our face. A great shot or game is great, regardless of who makes it... get a bunch of those together, do more in-depth and non-fluff stories on the players, and present that to the audience. An amazing thing will happen, they will watch, and then they'll want to see more. "If you build it, they will come."


• Be sure to swing by the practice courts somewhat regularly, you really never know who you'll get to see. This year I saw Agassi, Capriati, Clijsters, Mauresmo, Myskina, John McEnroe, Jonas Bjorkman, Coria, Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Davenport just by walking around in between matches.


• Things to have in your backpack... 1) always pack a deck of cards in your backpack... they take up no room, can come in handy, and even may help break the ice during three days of rain delays. Mine were extra special since they were the official Iraq's Most Wanted playing cards from the United States Kuwait Embassy, courtesy of my sister who is in Iraq right now. 2) A mini umbrella doesn't hurt. 3) have a jacket with a hood, I can't tell you how many times I've been saved by my North Face shell... it's 6 years old and one of my best investments... from rain delays here to baseball rainouts in muggy weather to the Olympics to skiing in it, it's the best article of clothing to have. I never wear the hood skiing, but it's a godsend in the rain! 4) Anything plastic - a garbage bag is great, a few ziplocs are good too. I had some baggies for my camera and used the plastic bag you got for purchases on the grounds as a seat cover for wet bleachers. I was good to go.


• Buy a grounds pass every chance you get, especially the first week. For the money you can't beat it since you can stay until they close the gates. If you're wanting to see the top seeds, and at this place any American, you may have to get a ticket that lets you into the stadium. You can get some 15 feet from the court, and experience tennis in a much better fashion than on TV. In person (as with most sports) the game is so much faster and TV really doesn't do it justice. We all imagine a 149mph serve is a rocket, but when you even see a 120mph in person, it's a little scary.


• The security was a joke I felt. I understand the effort was there, and you can tell they tried, but for NY and for such a public event, it was quite lax. People weren't really checking inside bags aside from a glance, and when they did give a good look they were more concerned with videocameras getting onto the grounds. Hello?! Videocameras? They were even poor at stopping those because I saw some at every match I went to. The random metal detector wanding was a joke, I thought we'd all be going through metal detectors. I was at the 2002 Utah Olympics, and that was the best security I've ever seen. Of course it was only 5 months after 9/11, but they had everything down to a science and as a bonus they were fast and efficient. I can't believe that the US Open thought this security was adequate.


• I witnessed how in the absolute mad rush that happened in seconds as people went nuts to get Andre Agassi's autograph, his main concern was to protect a little kid getting smushed at the gate. He then kept signing for folks as best he could without causing as much chaos.


• The booths for the ATP and the WTA are beyond lame. No one inside was even trying to get the attention of the crowds or address the people who would slow or stop as they went by. Here is the best chance they have to get some casual fans into the game some more, and they don't even say hello. At times one of the ATP guys would ask how the day has been, but if you're in that booth, you have to be outgoing. Even just asking "who's your favorite player?" "What matches did you see today?" "Are you here on vacation?" gets people to stop and interact. Better handouts are needed too. The ATP had a dinky 2x2" schedule and a generic pamphlet on Houston, but is was better than nothing (note: WTA).


• I, personally, enjoy the general atmosphere at the Open. People are everywhere, sometimes there's music, TV guys running around all the time, players just walking through on their way to who knows what, and the international feel of the crowd. You just don't get that on TV, I love standing in line and trying to figure out what language is being spoken by the family behind me, and it's even better at the matches on the outside courts because a player's countrymen are in full force. It does get annoying when some baby is screaming behind the drapes at an outside court as a match is ongoing, but we all know it's not the theater anyways. My only real crowd complaint are the people that know nothing about tennis yet stand there and either act like they do, or just think it's fine to continue being dumb. My best examples from this Open are: the lady who walked up to the short bleacher side of Rainer's match against Wayne Arthurs and commented to her husband that she was happy to stop here because they get to see an American play. For a second I thought she must mean the neighboring court, but then realized that she assumed that Rainer's US Open specially-designed Fila outfit meant it was an American uniform. My other favorite was at the same match when a guy leaned over between points and asked me which one was the German. I swear, it was just seconds after Rainer had walked by talking to himself - in German. I just pointed about 10 feet in front of us and said, "um, that one."


• They need some sort of internet access for the crowds... especially if they constantly tell you to check USOpen.org for updates, but that's hard to do if you're already there! This goes hand in hand with the USTA needing to do a better job in communicating what's going on scheduling and weather-wise. I was furious when I got home around 10pm the 2nd Tuesday and saw on TV that Bjorkman and Coria were starting up with Rainer and Sjeng to follow... I only left the grounds because the USTA had stated that the day sessions were cancelled and they were going to do all they could to keep the night ones on schedule. I admit it, I hoped for rain because I didn't miss that match, sorry!


• By Thursday's rain delay, I was totally at the point of recognizing faces of people in the crowd that I passed. For the most part, people weren't rude about the wait, there's nothing anyone could do. I don't see why even on the grandstand court they can't have some sort of roof that can be set up. Now I know that court has it's own water issues in general, and if a covering/shelter was even possible there would be a crowd control issue, but at least you could get in some of those matches that had to be done. You could have action all day on just that one court, let the people who are there sit and watch, and then pipe the feed into Armstrong and Ashe - people were in there during rain delays anyways watching the screens, and Ashe even had sound. They could have a tarp or cover that came off of Armstrong and covered the Grandstand. They don't have to use it at the first sign of rain, but it would've been a good idea to put it into action say Wednesday afternoon in order to get some of those round of 16s in the books.


• The barcoding of tickets is a great idea for speed, but the USTA needs to do something to either prevent the reselling of used tickets or make more tickets available through the box office. That was happening everywhere and it's a shame - here are people, real normal people who are fans or potential fans - that folks who want to see tennis can't get in that easily. Even if they just hole-punched the ticket upon entry, then you'd know it's really been used and not to make the purchase. And for those folks who save all the tickets, one little hole isn't going to mar their souvenir.


• And finally, I think the USTA needs to do a better job in getting the schedule of play published and out there for fans. There were many nights where it was 1am and it still wasn't on the USOpen.org site... how are people supposed to know if they want to go? Some people go just for the sake of going, but there have to be more people that want to see certain players. You can take a chance and buy tickets ahead of time and try for a Mon-Wed-Fri attempt, but what if your player gets a Tuesday match, you're screwed. I refuse to believe that at midnight some players didn't know the schedule of play for the next day... get the info out to the people faster!