For a relatively minor tournament wedged between the Canadian, Cincinnati and U.S. Opens – three of the oldest and most prestigious events in North America – the Pilot Pen, in New Haven, Conn., has somehow managed to establish a tradition of its own: Bringing top talent to the summer’s penultimate event. While many of the world’s best players are using this week to rest up for the Open, New Haven still offers deep draws for players seeking matches instead of practice.
One such pro is Nikolay Davydenko, a regular at lower-level events and the top men’s seed in New Haven. The world No. 8, who missed most of the season’s start because of a foot injury, appears to be making up for lost court time. Davydenko has played in six tournaments since Wimbledon; no one else above him in the ATP rankings has played in more than three.
On Tuesday, Davydenko squared off against the big-hitting Robert Kendrick in a contest of polar opposites. The American journeyman puts everything he can into his serve (it looks like he’s going to foot-fault half the time), and his forehand is similarly violent. But for all the juice behind his go-to groundstroke, the shot is rarely a point-ender, which is problematic against the indefatigable Davydenko. The Russian eventually prevailed 7-6 (10), 6-3, and afterwards, summed up the match to the Stadium crowd: “He’s a good server, I’m a good returner.”
A huge serve and forehand can win matches, of course, if the consistency is there. Some clever touch helps, too. Enter Sam Stosur, one of the most versatile players on the women’s tour. Still title-less in singles competition (she has 22 in doubles), the 25-year-old Aussie has experienced her finest year in 2009, reaching the semis of the French Open and the Los Angeles final.
Stosur’s stellar play continued Tuesday, when she defeated Alize Cornet 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-4 at the Pilot Pen. After dropping a marathon opening set – one hour, 24 minutes in duration – Stosur regained her footing with powerful, unerring forehands and timely, effective drop shots. An hour after the first set ended, Cornet, prone to meltdowns – emotionally, and physically, on this hot day – looked spent and resigned to her fate, audibly scolding herself in French. Stosur kept her lips sealed until the post-match presser.
“It’s a good tournament and it’s so close to New York,” she said, having played in New Haven five times in her career. “So it’s pretty easy to play here and then get down [there] the same day you finish.” Wonder if she made that ride Wednesday, after a surprising loss to Elena Vesnina.
While Davydenko and Stosur plied their trade on the Stadium court, Fabrice Santoro was sent to play Potito Starace on the outer Court 3. It was an odd placement for the popular Frenchman, who is retiring at the end of the season. But it meant an even better view of The Magician’s tricks for the lucky attendants, who didn’t mind the intimate setting.