TICK-TOCK, WATCH THE COURT CLOCK THIS SUMMER

Gael Monfils has had previous run-ins with the clock at the US Open

Players will be on the clock this summer during some of the US Open Series events as the USTA, ATP World Tour and WTA tour have teamed-up to pilot innovations to speed up the game.

A Warm-Up Clock will give a player one minute to set their gear down and get to the net upon entering the court, otherwise they will be subject to a post-match fine. Following the coin toss a five-minute clock will start for the warm-up, with the same penalty for not meeting that time frame. A Serve Clock will limit the server to 25 seconds for the serve motion to begin, otherwise the player will receive a time violation. The chair umpire will have the discretion to start and stop the clock.

The clock will be visible to players and fans. It will be tick-tock for the men and women this summer beginning at the Washington, D.C. event and continuing through San Jose, Montreal, Toronto, Cincinnati, New Haven, Winston-Salem, and culminating at the US Open.

 
MCDONALD JOINS TOP 100 AFTER WIMBLEDON RUN

Orlando resident Mackenzie McDonald is showing that college tennis remains a viable training ground for the pro ranks, in his debut at Wimbledon streaking to the fourth round before losing to No. 13 seed Milos Raonic in three sets.

The 23-year-old California transplant moved to Orlando last year to train full-time at the USTA National Campus, and after his Wimbledon result will crack the Top 80 on the ATP rankings. McDonald played three seasons at UCLA before taking to the tour, becoming the first man since 2001 to win the NCAA singles and doubles (with Martin Redlicki) titles in the same year.

“I’ve learned to love other players like [David] Goffin and Kei [Nishikori]…There are a lot of great guys who are more my height,” the 5-foot-10 McDonald told USA Today. Remember this face, as you’ll be seeing more of it, with his new near-Top 75 ranking getting him into ATP main draws for the remainder of the year. To read more on Mackie click here.

MISCELLANEOUS

President Donald Trump was reportedly to possibly attend the Wimbledon men’s semifinals today to cheer on American John Isner while visiting Great Britain. “Oh, yeah? Nice,” Isner said when told of the visit. “I’d love to have Trump come watch me. That would be awesome.” This week the big-serving Isner reached his first Wimbledon quarterfinal (then semifinal) in his 10 career Wimbledon appearances……A mis-read e-mail saw American Tim Smyczek, who thought he’d be at Wimbledon, playing in Illinois instead…British papers didn’t fancy Boris Becker’s cursing or John McEnroe’s clothing choices during the BBC’s opening coverage of Wimbledon…Andy Murray missed Wimbledon this year recovering from injury but this week he’s trying his hand in the commentary booth…What are the chances one of the ITF drug testers lives in the same Swiss village as Roger Federer? Or that you could watch him eat a fish’s eyeball?…Wimbledon semifinalist Julia Goerges had lost in the first round four years straight entering this year’s event…Have a guided look inside the ESPN broadcast booth at Wimbledon…Roger Federer’s Uniglo contract is now reportedly nowhere near the originally-reported $30 million a year.

Serena Williams, John Isner Keep Title Hopes Alive at Wimbledon

Serena Williams is into the women’s final, and John Isner is in today’s semifinals as the remaining American hopes at Wimbledon.

Serena will face Angelique Kerber in a repeat of the Wimbledon final two years ago. With the title she would equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles.

Isner is two matches from ending a 15-year American men’s Grand Slam drought. Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a slam, at the US Open in 2003. Isner will face South African Kevin Anderson today, while the other men’s semifinal will pit Novak Djokovic against Rafael Nadal in a battle of former Wimbledon winners.

They Said It

“If I am in the final, I prefer to face an easier opponent. I am not stupid (smiling).”
— Rafael Nadal, asked if he would like to face Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final

“I was young and I was a little bit stupid. So that’s why I didn’t like.”
— Frenchman Benoit Paire on his aversion to grass courts early in his career

“He showed a lot of — what can you say? — gumption, I guess.”
— John Isner on Kevin Anderson defeating Roger Federer from 0-2 sets down at Wimbledon

Tennis on TV This Weekend

(EST, times subject to change)

Friday
7am — Wimbledon (live), ESPN
2pm — Wimbledon (live), Tennis Channel

Saturday
9am — Wimbledon Women’s Final (live), ESPN
3pm — Wimbledon Women’s Final (replay), ABC
6pm — Wimbledon Men’s/Women’s Doubles Finals (replay), Tennis Channel

Sunday
9am — Wimbledon Men’s Final (live), ESPN
3pm — Wimbledon Men’s Final (replay), ABC