Bit of Banter for Wozniacki and Isner
Caroline Wozniacki crashed John Isner's post-match conference but both were in good spirits owing to wins in their respective US Open 2015 matches.
- Naila Jean Meyers, The New York Times
- Updated: September 02, 2015 08:58 AM IST
John Isner and Caroline Wozniacki won first-round matches easily on Tuesday and were in good enough spirits to joke around when Wozniacki crashed Isner's news conference.
Some edited highlights of their exchange:
Wozniacki: Just because you have been playing really well leading up to the U.S. Open, you're close to the top 10 again, doesn't mean that you should push my press conference out. I would appreciate you being on time.
Isner: Now that I'm close to the top 10, Caroline is actually talking to me again. When I was ranked, like, 90, she would walk right by me. If I could get in single digits, I think I can get some of Caroline's attention. That's my goal.
Wozniacki: I was standing in the hallway and you walked straight past me.
Isner: I didn't see you.
Wozniacki: He says, "I didn't see you." It happens twice in a row and I said, "Well, then look down."
Isner: I thought you really wanted to watch my press conference.
Question: Talk about the rumor that you and Wozniacki will be playing mixed doubles in Australia.
Isner: Ewww, she wouldn't want to play with me.
Wozniacki: I actually asked him. He turned me down.
Isner: I'm old, Caroline. I can't do that. I have to just focus.
Wozniacki: I know you have a lot of favorite female players, but who is your favorite?
Isner: (Laughter.) What is this? You know I love you, Caroline. You're one of - Caroline, Serena....
Wozniacki: I asked for one.
Isner: No, I don't have - I'm probably closest with you, so I would say I do like all the Americans, but I'm closest - we have great rapport, as you guys can see. Caroline is a good friend of mine.
Wozniacki: Right answer.
The United Nations Open
The order of play at the U.S. Open lists the players' names followed by a three-letter abbreviation for the country they are representing.
USA. RUS. FRA. GER. ITA. CZE. MNE.
MNE stands for Montenegro, one of many countries that provide a United Nations flavor at the Open.
Danka Kovinic, ranked 81st, is the top player from Montenegro. She opened against Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia, who upset Petra Kvitova at last year's Open. Kovinic won on Tuesday, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
The former Yugoslavia, of which Montenegro was part, has produced quite a few champions. Monica Seles won eight Grand Slam titles representing Yugoslavia. After Yugoslavia's breakup, Serbia gave the world Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic; Croatia gave Iva Majoli, Goran Ivanisevic and the defending U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic, who was born in Herzegovina.
When Kovinic, 20, was starting to play tennis at age 7, Montenegro was still in union with Serbia, and her idol growing up was Jelena Jankovic, a former No. 1 player from Serbia.
Hewitt Reflects
Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 Open champion, is playing this tournament for the last time. He advanced to the second round when his opponent, Aleksandr Nedovyesov, retired in the third set.
In his postmatch news conference, Hewitt was asked to pick the most special moments of his career.
"That's hard," he said. "Davis Cup means a lot. Winning, especially in 2003, when I played so well in the semis and the final. You know, doing it in a team atmosphere in Australia was pretty special.
"Getting to world No. 1 in Australia, in Sydney. Yeah, my good mate and idol growing up, Pat Rafter, with me on the court.
"Yeah, it's hard to separate obviously the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. U.S. Open was my first Slam. But for me there was always something really special about Wimbledon."
© 2015 New York Times News Service