SPORTS

PICS: Passing shots from the US Open

By Rediff Sports Desk
September 03, 2019 11:26 IST

Over the last week the US Open was in the news for its off-court incidents.
A look at some of them.

Naomi's class act

IMAGE: Cori Gauff, left, and Naomi Osaka hug after their third round match. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Defending champion Naomi Osaka was upset 7-5, 6-4 by Belinda Bencic in the fourth round at the US Open on Monday, September 2, but she will be remembered for her class act'

Cori 'Coco' Gauff's US Open campaign came to an abrupt end on Saturday, but, in a break from tradition, the 15 year old was invited to address the fans.

World number one Osaka invited Gauff for the interview when they shook hands at the net after Naomi demolished Coco in straight sets.

'The thing that people don't see is that we go into the locker room and just cry and do press after,' Naomi she said.

'I thought it would be nice if she addressed the people who came and obviously cheered so hard for her. She's had an incredible week so I thought I'd just make a positive statement out of it.'

 

While she was full of compassion after the match, Osaka was all business on court, avoiding Gauff's dangerous backhand and taking advantage of her shaky serving on a warm night at Flushing Meadows.

Fans hailed Osaka as a 'class act' for the way she had comforted Gauff after her defeat.

 

Kyrgios goes quietly into the New York night

IMAGE: Nick Kyrgios reacts during his second round match against Antoine Hoang on Thursday, August 29. Photograph: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Nick Kyrgios was a lightning rod for controversy at the US Open, but the fiery Australian was subdued after a third round loss on Saturday and walked away quietly from the year's final Grand Slam.

Kyrgios did deliver a one-word jab at a line judge ('whistle-blower') early in his straight-sets loss to Russian Andrey Rublev, but otherwise steered clear of the drama that he made headlines for earlier in the week.

He had then found himself in the crosshairs of another umpire, this time over a phrase emblazoned on his popped up collar.

Kyrgios, already in hot water for calling the ATP 'corrupt', was going through his warm-up on court when he suddenly flipped up the collar on his shirt to reveal the words 'Just Do You', a play on Nike's 'Just Do It' slogan.

The umpire noticed and told Kyrgios the lettering had to be concealed.

Kyrgios repeatedly asked why and then called for a supervisor, threatening not to start the match until he had been shown the rule book.

Then he relented, and took the court.

Venus orders mid-match coffee

 

During the women's singles clash between Venus Williams and Elina Svitolina, which the American lost, the former Grand Slam champion ordered a cuppa from her entourage in the stands.

During the first set of the second-round match which Venus lost 6-4, 6-4, the coffee delivery from the stands remained unsuccessful at first, as the ball boy tasked with handing over the cup briefly stole the show.

As Venus's entourage handed the ball-boy the cup, the 39 year old was already making her way off the court. By the time he caught up, the former US Open winner had already made her way towards the locker room.

The boy, who could not catch Venus, then paused in front of the restricted area, embarrassed.

However, the crowd came to the aid of the bespectacled helper as the spectators signalled for him to leave the cup on the player's bench on the court.

Rafa picks up crying kid from crowd

IMAGE: Rafael Nadal comforts a young fan. Photograph: US Open/Twitter

Rafael Nadal won hearts with his off-court moment with a child at the US Open.

The Spaniard rescued a trapped child squished between eager fans waiting for autographs.

After seeing a crying child in the chaos, he reached out to him and lifted him out of the crowd. He comforted his young fan and wiped off his tears before signing his hat.

Medvedev fined for antics

IMAGE: Daniil Medvedev, right, and Prajnesh Gunneswaran meet at the net after their first round match on Day 1. Photograph: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev was fined $9,000 for a slew of offenses during his third round win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez on Friday night.

The fine brings the temperamental Medvedev's tally up to $19,000 through his first three matches at Flushing Meadows.

Medvedev, who was heartily booed by the crowd at the Louis Armstrong Stadium at every opportunity after giving them the middle finger, relied on his powerful serve to put away Lopez and keep alive his hopes for a maiden Grand Slam title.

Playing for the second consecutive day after rain wiped out a slew of Wednesday matches, Medvedev later told the crowd that its negative energy is what carried him to victory.

The crowd turned on Medvedev in the first set when he angrily snatched a towel from a ball person's hands.

Medvedev got an unsportsman-like conduct code violation for the incident and when it was announced, the 23 year old tossed his racquet toward the centre of court before telling the umpire he does not belong in the chair.

The crowd resumed their booing as Medvedev walked back to his chair. He then held up his middle finger close to the side of his head.

When Medvedev's gesture was shown on the replay screen, the crowd showered him with boos and the umpire also gave him a talking to.

From there, the crowd were firmly behind Lopez and used every opportunity they could to boo Medvedev, including every time he double faulted or missed a routine shot.

Video: Kind courtesy US Open/Twitter

Rediff Sports Desk

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