It’s great to finally be settling into our new digs in LA! The cross-country road trip to get here was spectacular. If you ever get the chance to do it, I highly recommend taking the trip. There are some really mind-numbing spots along the way (I MEAN ALL THAT CORN THOUGH), but overall it's an unforgettable experience.
The varied landscapes that make up America are truly breathtaking. From lush forests and the Great Plains, to high deserts and bustling metropolises, you really get a new appreciation for the US after a trip like this one. The sunrises and sunsets in the Midwest and Southwest truly left us speechless at times.
While on the road I followed along with the scores as best I could (we didn’t always have great reception) and watched some bits of matches, but not much, when we were able to sit still in front of a TV. I did catch the entirety of both finals, which were, if we’re all being completely honest, DUDS. What stood out to me was how the matches were similar in many ways but with one big difference – Serena Williams was going for her 18th major while Marin Cilic was looking for his first. They even played out the same; both ballers started off nervously, making errors and coming under pressure immediately in their first service games. But the one shot that never left them was the serve. As their serve went, so did their games. Once they found their footing and relaxed, they powered past their stunned opponents and straight to the titles.
ReRe, playing against good friend, Caroline Wozniacki, had all the pressure in the world on her shoulders. It had been a terrible season by her standards, not getting past the quarterfinals at any Slam. Plus, she was trying to tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova with her 18th major championship. ReRe came in with confidence having lost only once since Wimbledon, and she proceeded to plow her way through the draw. She never lost more than three games in any set and that trend continued in the final where she overwhelmed Woz from the start to reach another milestone in her career. With this type of form, it's hard not to see her reaching number 19 and then some.
Even though ReRe never gave her a chance in the final, Woz will leave New York knowing her game is better now than when she first made the finals and moved into the WTA Penthouse. Her serve is bigger and she has a more aggressive mindset on her returns. I’m still not convinced she’ll win a major in her career, but at least her game is continuing to evolve. It wouldn’t bother me at all if she proved me wrong.
Marin looked every bit the part of a multi-Slam champ. He was self-possessed and in complete control of his mind and game. After pushing aside Roger Federer in the semifinals, he came out for single-minded and extremely focused for the final. Not a hint of frustration betrayed his steely look. This match, tournament, and history were his for the taking – and he took it out on Kei Nishikori with ruthless abandon.
Whether it was the fatigue from his previous battles, the weight of the occasion, or both, the Japanese was a shadow of the baller who knocked out three top 10 seeds, including world number one Novak Djokovic. Even thought he didn’t walk away with the men’s title, Kei at least proved his body could sustain a few epic matches in succession without falling apart. He will need to figure out how to save some energy by shortening early round matches if he wants to compete for major titles.
[Photo(s) credit: Getty Images]
