🌯 Day 9 wrap-up

Yesterday marked one of the hottest days at the Open. Temperature’s were high on court, with some players handling it better than others. Let’s take a look at who survived the heat in our 2 min wrap-up.

🙋‍♀️ Women first…

Coco Gauff secured her first-ever US Open semifinal spot and her second Grand Slam semifinal by overpowering Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2 in a quick and dominant victory.

Despite her win, she admitted to feeling uneasy during the match, especially on match points, due to Ostapenko's tricky playing style.

Gauff's win also made history, as she became the first teenager to reach the US Open semifinals since Serena Williams in 2001.

In the next round, Gauff will face Karolina Muchova, setting up a rematch of their Cincinnati title match. Muchova advanced with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Sorana Cirstea.

The last two women's semifinal slots will be decided, with Aryna Sabalenka facing Qinwen Zheng, and Marketa Vondrousova taking on Madison Keys in the night session.

🙋‍♂️ And on the men’s side...

Novak Djokovic clinched another historic victory at the US Open, defeating Taylor Fritz 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. This win marked Djokovic's 47th Grand Slam semifinal, surpassing Roger Federer.

Despite scorching conditions, Djokovic controlled the match. He acknowledged the challenging weather but emphasised the importance of preparation.

Djokovic will face surprising semifinalist Ben Shelton, who showed remarkable resilience in his quarterfinal match against Frances Tiafoe.

In today’s last Quarterfinals, Carlos Alcaraz continues his title defense against Alexander Zverev. Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, close friends off the court, face off in an all-Russian battle.

🏆️ Coco’s Slam

19-year-old Coco Gauff, has indisputably stolen the spotlight at this year's U.S. Open. Her performances on the court consistently attract large, enthusiastic crowds, with A-list celebrities like Jimmy Butler, Justin Bieber, and Hailey Bieber among those attending her matches, adding to the atmosphere.

Gauff's meteoric rise commenced at a young age when she caught the discerning eye of tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou. He was awed by her unwavering determination and uncanny ability to compete against more advanced players, often emerging victorious. At the tender age of 13, she reached the final of the U.S. Open junior tournament, and by 15, she had already achieved the remarkable feat of defeating tennis legend Venus Williams on Wimbledon's hallowed Centre Court.

Despite her rapid ascent in the tennis hierarchy, Gauff's mother provided sagacious counsel, emphasising the importance of patience and reminding her that she had not yet fully harnessed her "grown woman strength." It was a perspective that resonated with Gauff as she embarked on her fifth season of top-level tennis, still learning and evolving at a relatively young age.

In the summer of 2023, Gauff was prominently featured at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. Despite some recent disappointing results, she handled her role as a headliner with remarkable poise, engaging with VIPs and ultimately triumphing in the tournament. Mark Ein, the owner of the Citi Open, observed that Gauff exuded a sense of control both on and off the court, a trait often seen in tennis legends.

Since her breakthrough, Gauff's face has become ubiquitous on billboards at tournaments worldwide. Nevertheless, her management team at Team8, co-founded by Roger Federer and Tony Godsick, has opted for a deliberate approach to her career. While she could effortlessly secure deals with numerous companies, Gauff's sponsor portfolio remains relatively modest, including brands like Rolex, Bose, Barilla, Baker Tilly, and U.P.S.

Despite her undeniable talent and meteoric ascent, Gauff remains refreshingly youthful. Her journey has only just begun, and her remarkable combination of skill, determination, and maturity suggests that she is destined for greatness in the world of tennis, with time firmly on her side.

Win or lose this is Coco’s Slam.

 ⏰ Shot Clock

🤷‍♀️ Martina Navratilova rips those who accused her of transphobia. Navratilova recently spoke out against athletes born male who compete in women's sport, criticising them sharply. Five years “of” education later, she has had a change of opinion.

👋 Wozniacki comes and goes as she announces no more tennis for the rest of the season. She told Danish media that she would not enter any more events in 2023. However, we will definitely see more from her in Australia, when the new season starts, as the Grand Slam in Melbourne is her big goal.

💻️ Medvedev speaks about an interesting difficulty he is experiencing at the US Open. The Russian reveals he will probably have to turn to illegal streaming services to watch US Open action on Tuesday as he apparently doesn't have US Open tennis on his TV in the hotel.

🫶 Frances Tiafoe's shares his intimate love letter to tennis. First introduced to the sport by his father, who served as the head of maintenance at a tennis facility in College Park, Maryland - Tiafoe, who is now competing on the grandest global stages, speaks to ATPtour.com about his long love for the game.

🙊 Brad Gilbert creates headlines with a social media gaff that needed a quick apology. Gilbert, made a comment on X about Djokovic’s post match interview crooning moment, but unfortunately, he tagged in the wrong account when he wanted to link to the Beastie Boys and instead, he directed his 165k following elsewhere.

💦 How to prevent tennis cramps

Jannik Sinner struggled with cramps halfway through his marathon match with Alexander Zverev. The Italian managed to overcome it to take the 4th set but eventually lost the match.

Watching players get cramps is just about as bad as getting them yourself. We all know the pain they must be going through, and for it to happen when they have so much on the line.

But why are some players more prone to others? Why do you get them at all? And most importantly how can you prevent the dreaded cramps from happening?

Let’s break it down…

Muscular cramps, known as exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC), can occur in various conditions, not just hot environments, and are common in tennis players.

Two prevailing theories explain EAMC:

💦 Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance: Excessive sweating during intense exercise can lead to imbalances in electrolytes and minerals. However, recent research challenges this theory.

💪 Altered Neuromuscular Control: EAMC may result from neuromuscular fatigue, with muscle spindles becoming more active while Golgi Tendon Organs (GTOs) become less active, causing localised cramps.

Factors contributing to EAMC include individual cramp thresholds, gender, body size, exercise intensity, and injury history.

Recommendations:

• Stretching is effective for relieving acute cramps.

• Hyperventilation and pickle juice may offer relief during cramping.

• Stay hydrated and maintain electrolyte balance.

• Improve physical preparedness and recovery practices.

• Consider electrical stimulation and massage therapy as potential preventive measures.

Preparation for tournaments should consider factors like match load, conditions, and surface to reduce the risk of EAMC.

Cramps often result from a combination of factors, emphasising the importance of comprehensive preparation and education for athletes.

For a more in depth summary check out this post

Cramps, no one is safe, not even the Nadal…