![\"\"](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_4304-scaled-e1790189648888.jpg\")
<\/a>Alexander Zverev’s achievements this year! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
I actually would have just passed on doing my review of the proceedings, especially because I tweeted so much about them as the weeks went along, if Alexander Zverev<\/strong> had not won, which I\u2019m very happy about. And I want to share my thoughts on that<\/em> achievement. He was one of the highlights for me.<\/p>\n In case you didn\u2019t watch every second of sports, as I<\/em> do, Sascha, (Zverev\u2019s nickname,) was the #1 seed at the US Open, (and the #2 in the general rankings.) But he almost lost in the first round, (in a match that was thrilling, gripping, and intriguing,) to Lorenzo Sonego<\/strong>, who is #89 in the world!!! It was hairy there for a while. And he almost lost in five sets in Round 2, as well. But he said that he was fine with those scares because it makes him stronger. And he said it with a smile, to boot!<\/p>\n I love this! After Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton for the US Open title, he went over to Ben’s father\/coach to hug him! Who else has ever done that?? That act of generosity made me cry. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And then he played American Ben Shelton<\/strong> in the Final, so the entire gigantic arena was against him. But he was masterful. I\u2019ve never cottoned to Ben, and that continued here, so I was especially thrilled that Sascha won. And he\u2019s always charming in his speeches.<\/p>\n The funny thing is that he\u2019s always an afterthought in the world of tennis, with people speaking of only Jannik Sinner <\/strong>and Carlos Alcaraz<\/strong>. But\u2026they each won only one<\/em> Major this year, while Zverev has won two<\/em>! That accomplishment is, well, major<\/em>.<\/p>\n And I love that they all get along and are good sports.<\/p>\n The saddest thing for me was Aryna Sabalenka<\/strong> losing the final. She was going for the three-peat, being the two-time defending Champion here. She had already lost her #1 ranking that week, (after holding it for 99 consecutive weeks!,) so I felt bad for her. But she had said she\u2019d rather win the US Open than still be #1, so I was brokenhearted that she lost both. And to the same person, Elena Rybakina<\/strong>, who always seems like a nice girl, but I really wanted Aryna to have her three-peat. On top of all that, this is the first year that she hasn\u2019t won any of the Majors in a very long time. Sad.<\/p>\n Beloved-by-all Gael Monfils acknowledging his very many fans at the US Open for the final time. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The most bittersweet part of all of it was seeing the incredible Gael Monfils<\/strong> play his final Major match! I could not stop crying. Gael is the best. He\u2019s the most entertaining tennis player ever and a lovely, adorable person. I hope that he does not take the finance job he\u2019s been offered, and goes into sportscasting instead. We need him! What a true gift to the world he is, making everyone so happy. Even his opponents adore him.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve had so much else going on in my life, (both good and not-so-good,) that I totally forgot to take notes on the Mixed Doubles that took place before the US Open began, but it was tons of fun. I especially loved seeing married couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina<\/strong> play together.<\/p>\n So here are the notes I did<\/em> take beginning with Day 2 of the main competitions, mainly both singles:<\/p>\n Why do the Williams sisters put themselves through this humiliation??? I can\u2019t figure it out at all. They don\u2019t need the money, they know they\u2019ll never win again, so what\u2019s the point? Can\u2019t they be happy with their private lives? Are they such big narcissists that they just can\u2019t quit? As my friend once said about something funny\u2014they\u2019re making fools of themselves!<\/p>\n It\u2019s disgusting how the American crowd rooted against American woman Sofia Kenin<\/strong> so loudly because, for some unknown reason, they wanted Venus Williams<\/strong> to win. But both women are Americans, for goodness sake! No one even applauded when Sofia won! Shameful of them.<\/p>\n Also shame on ESPN for going off the air that night without showing us Kenin\u2019s post-win interview. If Venus had won, you know they would have stayed there for those few extra minutes!<\/p>\n The Williams are the most ungracious losers ever! Even Novak Djokovic<\/strong> smiled and hugged Mariano Navone<\/strong>, the #49 player in the world who beat him in the first round, after perhaps his worst defeat ever, (which might also be his last.)<\/p>\n This is a pretty amazing stat! (L-R, and in order of their rankings) Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n This was pretty rude of ESPN commentator Jason Goodall<\/strong>, who\u2019s usually a good guy. Three-time Major Champion Stan Wawrinka<\/strong> was playing in his final Major, having announced that he would retire right after it, and he had lost the first two sets, and was down 0-2 games in the third. And Goodall said, \u201cWawrinka celebrated many of those [wins] throughout his illustrious career, but it\u2019s coming to an end here this afternoon.\u201d Yes, it did<\/em> look like that was correct, however a commentator can\u2019t say that when it\u2019s not over! He could have said, \u201c\u2026it looks like\u2026,\u201d but not declare<\/em> it to be over in the middle of the third. Doesn\u2019t he know it can go five sets??? So rude of him.<\/p>\n These commentators need to STFU!!! First Jason Goodall and then James Blake<\/strong> talked over the penultimate point of Stan\u2019s career, which they knew it was! How do they not know they\u2019re supposed to shut up when points are being played? Especially such an important one? And then ESPN cut away from Stan being about to receive a special framed memento of his entire career to hear desk pundits Malika Andrews<\/strong>, Mary Joe Fernandez<\/strong>, and Sam Querry<\/strong> bullshit some more! Disgusting.<\/p>\n I always laud Malika Andrews for her diction, so I\u2019m shocked that she kept mispronouncing two players\u2019 names all the time. She called NA<\/em>omi Osaka \u201cNI<\/em>omi,\u201d and my beloved Matteo Berret<\/em>tini<\/strong> \u201cBereN<\/em>tini.\u201d I can\u2019t stand it!!! (And yes<\/em>\u2014I have<\/em> tweeted both messages to her, to no avail.)<\/p>\n Just one of Naomi Osaka’s ridiculous getups, which required someone else to carry her bags onto the court for her! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Even though I just stuck up for her correct name pronunciation, Naomi Osaka<\/strong> is sooo rude. Every single tennis player, including the top ones, carries their own bags out to the court with them. But because she thinks she\u2019s so special to walk out looking like the Bride of Frankenstein, she had a worker bring hers<\/em> out to her. Disgraceful!<\/p>\n It was sort-of creepy that the new blonde girl daytime ESPN host, Katie George<\/strong>, had to keep swallowing while she\u2019s talking. It was so odd. That situation in life usually happens only when someone is nervous. But it\u2019s enough already. She should not be on a major channel if she\u2019s so scared.<\/p>\n Several times over the course of the tourney, Coco Vandeweghe<\/strong> referred to the late legendary UCLA basketball coach \u00a0John Wooden as \u201cJohnny<\/em> Wooden!\u201d That is so disrespectful that I\u2019m seeing red even writing this!<\/p>\n Couldn\u2019t the ESPN peeps have mixed the sound better so we wouldn\u2019t have had to deal with the massive and annoying crowd noise all the time??? They knew it was coming.<\/p>\n When \u201cFilipina sensation,\u201d as they refer to her, Alex Eala<\/strong>, was playing her first round match, ESPN never even mentioned<\/em> Mary Stoiana<\/strong>, the girl Eala was playing, nor shown her, and\u2026she\u2019s American!!! Again, I must declare it\u2019s shameful of them.<\/p>\n I love that someone referred to Iga Swatek<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cbakery\u201d because of her \u201cbagels,\u201d (the opponent winning zero games in a set,) and \u201cbreadsticks,\u201d (the opponent winning only one<\/em> game in the set.) Very cute.<\/p>\n This what happens to all the girls’ skirts and shorts because they stick their tennis balls up there to hold them, and then forget to pull the skirts down! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n What\u2019s up with none of the girls seeming to realize that their skirts are stuck up under their undies when they put the tennis balls in there???<\/p>\n The Williams sisters are the supreme examples of narcissists. There was no need for them to return to competition at this last date. They don\u2019t need the money, and they have enough fame. They just wanted the applause again. And idiots are willing to oblige. I\u2019m disgusted.<\/p>\n Canadian player Denis Shapovalov<\/strong> was absolutely correct about American Ben Shelton\u2019s horrible and inconsistent grunts being different each time. It\u2019s sooo distracting. In my Wimbledon wrap-up, I wrote about him doing that. It\u2019s very rude and unsportsmanlike of Ben to make those noises all the time.<\/p>\n Chris McKendry<\/strong>, the woman who used to host ESPN\u2019s tennis coverage, but was demoted to calling a few matches this year, (the idiot who adds an \u201cl\u201d to the end of \u201cdraw\u201d and \u201csaw,\u201d) literally said, \u201cLet\u2019s go, Madison Keys<\/strong>!,\u201d while she was calling the American\u2019s match! OMG! Commentators, and especially play-by-play peeps, are supposed to be neutral, not jingoistic! As I said\u2014idiot.<\/p>\n Then McKendry said, \u201cAnisimova<\/strong> walks off court without even a wave.\u201d That was so far from the truth! The woman doesn\u2019t even pay attention to what is happening in the matches she\u2019s calling!!!<\/p>\n This is how Taylor Townsend walked out! She must have thought she was going to a Sasquatch convention! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n What idiotic walk-onto-the-court attire from Naomi Osaka and Taylor Townsend<\/strong> this time. When Mr. X saw Naomi Osaka walk onto the court wearing this nonsense, he exclaimed, \u201cHow pretentious!\u201d But I just laughed because she looked like an idiot. She thinks that she\u2019s a fashionista, but this final getup looked like she had been lying on a blanket and dragged it with her by accident! Like toilet paper on one\u2019s shoe.<\/p>\n This was very interesting\u2014the top 6 seeds made it into the women\u2019s quarterfinals, as they always should, but rarely do. (All top 8 should, but I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen that happen.) That was pretty amazing.<\/p>\n The ladies all-American quarterfinal of Jess Pegula<\/strong> beating Emma Navarro<\/strong> was the absolute quietest match I\u2019ve ever seen! Neither of them made a sound the entire time. And the crowd barely did either.<\/p>\n In a dramatic moment, the possibility of which the commentators talked about for the entire two previous weeks, Elena Rybakina became the #1 tennis player in the World! But ESPN did not see fit to show us her post-quarterfinal on-court interview! Instead they cut to more chit-chat from their commentators. Shameful of them.<\/p>\n This was very interesting\u2014the top 6 seeds made it into the women\u2019s quarterfinals, as they always should, but rarely do. (All top 8 should, but I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen that happen.) That is pretty amazing.<\/p>\n Even more amazing is that all top 4 seeds advanced to the semifinals! That is such a rarity that this is the first time it\u2019s happened in 51 years!!! OMG! And then #1 and #2 met in the Final, making the brackets even more special.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>