Bill Simons
San Francisco
After we ambled about Chase Center, passing Big Al’s BBQ, a vintage Bruce Springsteen poster and a fan wearing a t-shirt that read, “Sorry. Can’t. Tennis. Bye,” we at last made our way to the press seats to watch some tennis.
Finally the amps were silent. The lights went out, there was the sound of drumbeats and thunder, and the arena was bathed in a dance of spotlights.
Now tennis’ spotlight was on the city by the Bay, and we knew one thing: the drought was over.
Let us explain. Pro baseball was founded in 1869. In 1958, it finally arrived in San Francisco. In 1962, the Philadelphia Warriors came west to become the Bay Area’s first NBA team.
Today there was an array of Warriors banners hanging in the rafters and an Aussie named Rafter was on court as Team World’s Vice Captain.
At 1:21 PM, after days of dazzling pre-tournament hoopla, Casper Ruud leaned back and unleashed a 126-mph service winner. It was the first ball struck in elite-level tennis competition in San Francisco in 32 years. Just 11,912 days ago, in 1993, Andre Agassi beat Brad Gilbert at the Volvo Open at the Civic Center.
It was hard not to flash on great moments in San Francisco men’s tennis: Arthur Ashe holding court at the Cow Palace, Stanford junior Tim Mayotte beating Jimmy Connors in 1980, volatile John McEnroe roaring to four titles, Brad Gilbert, the best player out of Oakland since Don Budge, winning in 1989, and Michael Chang, at 16, winning his first title before he got his driver’s license.
Of course, this is San Francisco, so there’s always a quirky twist. Casper Ruud is the best Norwegian tennis player ever, and also has been the best Viking on the tour since the Swedes ravished the ATP world. But if anyone looks the part of a Viking, despite his pink hat, it’s Reilly Opelka, with his explosive hair and full-court beard.
Not surprisingly, it was the Norseman, who earlier this year had come within one US Open match of becoming No. 1, who drew first blood. Blasting a wicked crosscourt backhand winner, he “Ruud-ly” wrong-footed Opelka to take the opening set 6-4.
Team World had gotten off on the wrong foot. Soon after, Opelka lost the match 6-4, 7-6(4), in 87 entertaining minutes. The American said the Laver Cup’s iconic black courts had a “sandpaper surface and is slower than any other court in tennis.” He then reflected on Ruud, who served an incredible 80% first serves in, saying, “I have never seen serving like this in my life.”
Soon a quiet dread descended on the packed Chase Center crowd. After all, for decades, Europe has dominated tennis. Since 2004, only one non-European man has won a Slam and Team World has won only two of the previous seven Laver Cups. Worse yet, three key A-list Americans were absent. Ben Shelton injured his shoulder, Tommy Paul just had sports hernia surgery and the slumping Frances Tiafoe withdrew in order to focus on trying to rise in the ATP rankings.
The new Team World coach Andre Agassi is said to be a coaching whiz. But instructional wizardry goes just so far. The Las Vegan knows a thing or two about magic. But could he pull a Laver Cup rabbit out of a hat?
The early gloom continued when the young Czech tennis savant Jakub Mensik crushed Alex Michelsen 6-1 in the first set. But, much to the Californian’s credit, he bravely blasted a great backhand return of serve to come from a break down, and pushed the match to a second-set tiebreak. Then, in the match tiebreak, Michelsen, No. 32, fell behind. He did have some narrow windows to even the decisive tiebreak. But the 6’ 5” Mensik, who beat Novak Djokovic to win the Miami Open, imposed his huge power game and prevailed 6-1, 6-7(3), 10-8. He became the youngest man to ever win a singles Laver Cup match as Team Europe went up 2-0.
Now, 19-year-old Joao Foncesca wanted to replace Mensik as the youngest Laver Cup winner ever. Why not?
The Brazilian flash, who was born 12 days before Agassi retired, already has risen to No. 42 and has drawn rave reviews everywhere: good looks, good family, good ’tude, powerful howitzer forehand, insightful and mature beyond his years. Mark Petchey gushed, “You don’t want to limit this man’s potential in his mind, because his tennis, at times, seems to be limitless.”
A fearless sniper who doesn’t hesitate to go for winners, Brazil’s No. 1 player was facing only the third best player in Italy. But, oops, we forgot that these days Italy rules, and Flavio Cobolli, No. 25, had already beaten Joao. Flavio broke early in the first set. Plus Fonseca is still so raw. His backhand can be picked on. His serve and returns could be better.
One wondered: Would there be any good news for Team World? After all, it’s said that Fonseca can’t really go to a Plan B – he’s not that good a problem solver. But he sure solved a lot of problems tonight. A blazing forehand can resolve a lot of issues. The Brazilian broke Cobolli as if he were a twig. Soon Todd Woodbridge told the Brazilian, who prevailed 6-4, 6-3, “You won the first point of this match and the first point for Team World.”
Now a doubles showdown between No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and Mensik against Americans Taylor Fritz and Michelsen would determine who would have momentum going into Day Two. One thought that the Spanish-Czech combo, featuring the world No. 1, would clearly have the upper hand. But actually, Spanish icons have struggled mightily in recent high-profile doubles showdowns. Nadal and his partner Roger Federer lost in their Laver Cup doubles match to Jack Sock and Tiafoe, in the last match the Swiss maestro would play. Then the dream team of Nadal and Alcaraz were said to be a shoo-in to win the Olympic gold. But they faltered in the quarterfinal round. And Carlos and his pal Emma Raducanu exited early in the US Open mixed doubles championships.
Yet tonight, in the first-set tiebreak, Carlos’ brilliant athleticism and Mensik’s power came to the forefront. Southern California’s 6’ 5” and 6’ 4” power hitters gained a critical set point, but Fritz was handcuffed on a makable volley, and then the 21-year-old Michelsen blinked. He was broken twice and let a Mensik forehand fly by him.
When it dropped, Team World had dropped the tight tiebreak 7-6(7), and, in the second set, a brilliant Mensik forehand flick gave Team Europe a shock match point on Fritz’s serve. When Taylor’s forehand flew long, the No. 5 player in the world howled in frustration. At 10:58 PM the night ended in defeat for Team World 7-6(7), 6-4.
But it’s not the end of the world for Team World. They’re only down 3-1 with 20 points on the line. But who’s kidding who? It will be a tough hill for Team World to climb.
FAN-O-METER: Taylor Fritz got a loud reception from the crowd, but Agassi’s was the loudest. Rod Laver got a standing ovation.
GREAT GALAS IN TENNIS HISTORY: Just hours after the Wimbledon men’s final, Britain’s oh-so-proper elite gather for the Wimbledon ball. Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe famously danced together there in 1975.
Every year, there’s a gala for glitterati in Monte Carlo. Novak Djokovic famously once stole the show there. There’s an annual high echelon International Ball at Roland Garros in Paris. Opening night at the US Open features the USTA foundation’s upscale fundraiser – Agassi was there this year. And, during the Open, there’s also the extraordinary International Tennis Hall of Fame Legends Ball.
Then there’s the annual Opening Night Laver Cup black tie gala. It’s glitzy and fun – chic flowing gowns and snappy tuxedos. This year, it was held at the Bill Graham Civic Center. Incredibly, this is the same site as the second WTA tournament in 1971 as well as the final ATP tournament ever played in San Francisco.
The gala was filled with upbeat reflections on how the San Francisco market has embraced the Laver Cup: tickets are sold out, road-weary players are elated, a tennis elder has been honored, pricey sponsorships have soared. Laver life is good.
At the gala, there was plenty of snarky humor. Carlos Alcaraz was told, “What’s wrong with you? You’ve had more haircuts this year than Slam wins!” Similarly, he was informed, “There’ve been more rumors about your dating adventures than the titles you’ve won.” Agassi, who lost to Federer eleven times, looked out at Roger and joked, “You were f–king lucky each time.” Then the emcee asked Taylor Fritz, “Are you once again going to put on your BOSS headband backwards?”
FEDERER TO RETURN? Roger Federer said he was open to coming back as a senior player and competing with Rafa on a senior tour.
WHEN YOU’RE GOOD, YOU’RE GOOD: Yes, Roger Federer and Casper Ruud teamed up to beat Carlos Alcaraz and Sacha Zverev on the Olympic Club’s golf course. But the shot of the game was when Carlos sank a 50-yard chip shot. Federer and Ruud just looked at each other and sighed, “When you’re good, you’re good.”
THE CROWN IS HEAVY FOR THE KING: The perpetually funny Yannick Noah revealed how hard it is to be a Laver Cup captain. With a straight face he said, “I sit there all day. I give them some water. Sometimes I clap. Sometimes, after four or five games, I drink some water.”
$145 PER GAME: Reportedly, court-side seats for opening day went for about $6,400 apiece, or $145 per game. Then again, what other tournament invests so much on so many details?
GENIUS QUESTION OF THE DAY: A reporter asked Casper Ruud, “How did today’s fog affect your game?”
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TENNIS ICON: One of my favorite memories is the 75th anniversary dinner of the fabled Los Angeles Tennis Club, when the iconic Jack Kramer helped the aging Grand Slam winner Don Budge up to the podium. Today, John McEnroe, 66, helped the legendary Rod Laver, 87, to his seat.
Also reporting: Vinay Venkatesh