• A gritty, 19 year-old American, Christina McHale (daughter of Celts legend, Kevin) outhustle French jumping-bean, Marion Bartoli (ranked #9 in the world);
• Prohibitive underdog,  #455 Madison Keys jump all over 26^th ranked Lucie Safarova in a first set filled with jaw dropping passing shots only to succumb to experience 6-3  5-7 4-6;
• An outstanding 1^st Round match-up between power-serving American, John Isner, and international fan-favorite Marcos Baghdatis of Cypress battle through four sets, two of which resulted in tiebreakers; and
• Super-giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic crush world-ranked #13 & single-handed back-hand expert, Richard Gasquet “like bug.”

I was also treated to the dominant play of Sharapova, Roddick, Federer and Williams, however the most entertaining match of the Open thus far has been  gravity-defying, Frenchman Gael Monfils (#7) versus injury-free, former World #1 (2003) Juan Carlos Ferrero.  Ferrero knocked out Monfils in a five set, five-plus hour epic: 76 57 67 64 64.

The only aspect of the Open that I do find troubling is the United States Tennis Association’s insistence on featuring Americans and only top-ranked players during prime time broadcasts throughout the first week of this two-week tennis bonanza that is the US Open.  A separate admission is required at the Arthur Ashe Stadium to view these matches and the cost of a seat below the nose-bleed tier in the stadium starts at $175.  The USTA must figure that fans will only pay to see the highest ranked players or mid-level Americans; however, there are two rather obvious defects in this rationale:

• All matches during the first week that feature top 3 seeds are typically quick and ruthless – especially in the men’s draw – so spectators are expected to pay up to $690 for a courtside seat to watch an hour and half of a one-sided tennis match.  That does not help the game, nor does it leave fans feeling warm and fuzzy about their experience.  Who wants to pay $175 to see Novak Djokovic mop the court with Carlos Berlorq 60 60 62, or Caroline Wozniacki school Arantxa Rus 62 60 (although a the match did feature two of the more attractive women in the field)?  Tennis fans – the folks who come to Flushing Meadows every year for this feast –  want to see a competitive match, not a one-sided pummeling.
• There are a load of international visitors who come to the Open and the draw at the Ashe court for a solid pairing – like the Monfils/Ferrero match on Thursday – would have equaled the Federer/Sela match which ran contemporaneously.  Moreover, both American fans and the International crowds who take the time to come to Flushing want to see exciting players.  Even before the Monfils/Ferrero battle, the buzz at the Open was all about that interstellar pairing.  The Armstrong Court which hosted the match was filled to capacity, while the Federer/Sela match yielded a stadium that was approximately 1/3 full and morgue-like quiet.  Granted, the Ashe Stadium is a little over twice as large as the Armstrong Stadium, but Monfils/Ferrero deserved to be recognized as the choice match of the day. “People will come [USTA], people will most definitely come.”

[Even tonight, we are being fed Djokovic versus Nicolay Davydenko – that is going to be a bloodbath.  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga from the growing French contingent, against Fernando Verdasco, one of Spain’s array of top 30 stars, would have been the right call today for the Ashe match, USTA.]

Which brings me to my next point.  If the USTA had any idea of how to market tennis, they would have showcased Gael Monfils on the Ashe Court and endeavor to make Monfils the sport’s poster child.  I know that Djokovic is the top ranked player and before him there was Nadal and Federer;  Monfils is #7.  If the USTA wants to develop more fans of tennis and establish a broader base, Gael Monfils must be featured in their branding.  He simply has more demographic allure and the potential to extend the market beyond the existing tennis fan-base.  And they need to jump on Gael’s back immediately because the speed, style and acrobatics of Gael Monfils cannot continue indefinitely.  He will never be a World #1 because of all of the energy he expends in getting a racket on every ball leaves him gassed, especially in the Grand Slam five-set marathons.  But Monfils is a human highlight reel.  I propose that the R&D team at the USTA compile a nice montage of clips of some of the remarkable shots that Monfils has executed and test it with new demographics.  Monfils will sell the sport, and the USTA can send the Bench Jockeys a tidy consultant fee for our recommendation.

• a) the Armada (1588);
• b) the Inquisition (1478- 1834);
• c) the Flu (1918); and
• d) an omelette.

About 3 folks on earth might be able to connect Spain with Miguel Indurain, who won the Tour de France for five straight years (1991-1996), but athletic dominance was not a Top Ten association with Spain.  That all changed in July 2010 when Spain defeated the Netherlands on Andrés Iniesta’s goal in the 116^th minute of the World Cup, and since that historic tally, Spain has been on a competitive tear.

• Yesterday, two soccer teams from Spain squared off in the prestigious UEFA Champions League Semifinal where Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-0.  Of the 16 European teams to reach the knockout phase of the UEFA, three of them were from Spain, and Spain will be represented in the Finals.
• In the last two weeks, World #1 Ranked tennis player Rafael Nadal has faced fellow countryman David Ferrer (World #6) in the Finals of the Monte Carlo and Barcelona Opens.  Spain currently boasts four of the top 15 slots in the ATP World Rankings and an astounding 13 of the top 75 – 17.3%!.  The US has 3 men in the top 75.
• There are also 4 Spanish women ranked in the WTA top 75; and American women… 3.
• Lance Armstrong last won a Tour de France in 2005.  Since that time, Spaniards Oscar Pereiro, Carlos Sastre and Alberto Contador have won five straight.

Spain is ranked 27^th in world population at 46.7M, just above the Ukraine and Sudan.  The US is estimated to be at 313.2M (3^rd).  Spain is the 52^nd largest country in the world with just under 506,000 sq. km and is 5% of the size of the US.

Soccer, Tennis, Cycling and an up and coming Golf contingent.  Pau Gasol on the LA Lakers and Marc Gasol on the Memphis Grizzlies – both in the NBA playoffs.  Pound for pound, looking at population size and geographic area, Spain has quietly become a player in the sporting world.

Fast Fact: – Rafa has played Ferrer 17 times in his career, leading the series 13-4.  Nadal’s last loss to Ferrer came in the Quarterfinals of the Aussie Open in January 2011 which destroyed Nadal’s chance at four consecutive Grand Slam victories (Wimbledon, French, US and Australian).