US Open Week 1 in review

HOW MUCH? Yes, it’s New York, the Big Apple for the US Open 2023. And Big prices.

Van Leeuwen ice cream, a bespoke organic New York speciality, doesn’t come cheap.

$9.50 US for one scoop!

The ice cream vendor was overheard saying he was selling about 50,000 scoops a day!

That’s a chilling $475,000 per day!!

Ben Van Leeuwen stared the business in 2008 with brother Peter and friend Laura O’Neill.

They claim their success is down to only the best natural ingredients.

At almost ten bucks a scoop it needs to be.

But it’s not just ice cream where the cash registers are merrily clicking away.

A Grey Goose vodka cocktail will set you back $22.00.

A glass of sparkling wine $19.00 and food?

Chicken Caesar wrap: $14.00. The same for as tuna sandwich.

Popcorn doesn’t come cheap either – $8.50 for a small tub. Add a coke, that’ll be another $7.50.

And the obsession with bottled water never ends – $6.50 for a 500ml bottle that would cost about $2.00 in a local supermarket.

But, it’s New York, where everything, including prices, is BIG.

THE USTA continues with its bizarre middle of the night match schedule that has seen many arenas half empty.

Novak Djokovic’s late night win last week ended at almost 2am, as did other matches.

With so many empty seats and no public transport at that late hour, is there another reason for witching hour tennis?

Late night TV viewing in Los Angeles perhaps. Certainly not in London or Paris -m or early morning in Australia where fans have already jumped on the commuter train for work.

To date, no one at the US Open has given a logical reason and it would appear, no one seems to care about player health welfare and recovery.

DANIIL Medvedev delivered some hilarious remarks when a doctor came on court to check his medical timeout in New York.

After losing the third set to Christopher O’Connell, Medvedev requested the medical timeout.

The doctor asked Medvedev if he had any symptoms. Medvedev responded: “Yeah. I lost the set. Give me whatever you gave him”.

Medvedev was also in hot water continuing his long-running feud with the New York crowd.

With crowd behind Aussie Chris O’Connell, Medvedev yelled: “Can you shut up guys?”.

Red rag to a bull… the crowd intensified their support for O’Connell.

ITALIAN Matteo Berrettini sent fans into shock after a horror fall during his match against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on Friday, badly twisting his ankle and screaming in agony on the court.

Berrettini was trailing in the second set at the time of incident and took no further part in the match, retiring injured.

He was surrounded by ball kids forming a protective shield with umbrellas as medics tried to comfort him, but he was is agony and could be heard mumbling, “oh no”.

Later, vision emerged of him in a wheelchair with his head in his hands.

DID you know… The last time Novak Djokovic won a match at the US Open after being down 0-2 sets was 2011.

SHOT of the week:

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz again showcased his talent defeating Britain’s Daniel Evans in the round of 32 clash 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday.

AUSSIE wildcard Rinky Hijikata had an amazing run through the US Open draw, resisting a fightback from China’s Zhizhen Zhang to win 6-3, 6-3, 4-6 6-3.

The win secured the 22-year-old a fourth-round date with Frances Tiafoe tomorrow and a payday of $US284,000.

THE 2023 US Open was hit with a mystery illness that has affected more than one player, but Ons Jabeur is not among them.

The Tunisian was thought to be part of a mass infection, but only has flu, according to reports.

Emil Ruusuvuori pulled out of the tournament because of “sickness”, and Dominic Thiem and Christopher Eubanks are also affected during their matches.

Thiem retired midway through his second-round clash against Ben Shelton and Eubanks was visibly struggling during his match against Benjamin Bonzi.

Jabeur cleared up her issues after her win over Linda Noskova.

“Actually my stomach is fine. It’s not the stomach. I think I got a flu or something,” she said.

“I know some other players got stomach issues. Not me, thankfully.”

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Britain’s Andy Murray still has his wedding ring neatly looped into the laces of his shoe.