TRY: Game, Set, Match!!

To the untrained eye this photo might look like two ants on blue rectangular cardboard. Don't think sooo. It's James Blake versus Rafael Nadal at the US Open baby. That's right. Uh-huh. Leighbel..in Arthur Ashe.. upclose and personal (doing the 'churn the butter' move as I write).

This match was the highlight of last Saturday's matches. NY-born Jimmy Blake, unassuming and a real cutie, was clearly the crowd's favourite. After surviving a painful series of mishaps over the last 2 years - broken neck, dad's death from cancer, and paralysis to his face, Jimmy was back in the game this year and the crowd was grateful. And let's not downplay Nadal - fashion forward (note 'capris'), arms of steel (my pals Norman, Alex and I just could not stop staring I swear), and well..also world no.2 as it happens - he was totally amazing to watch.

There were lots of back-over-the-shoulder moves and split-second returns from one end of the court to the other. All in all a fast-paced, edge of your seat experience (couldn't even go to the bathroom until it was over in case I might miss something). When Blake won, understandably, everyone went nuts. Gone were your typically subdued tennis watching types. People were standing in their seats yelling and jumping up and down. It was all the better because both players were so gracious - no silly tantrums, racket throwing or yelling at the ump, just good solid competition. Both are now out, but hey, they'll be back next year.

TIP - the US Open really is one of the highlights of living in New York. It's not difficult to get tix, it isn't only for the snobby, and it's in early September which is a beautiful time of year. If you are in NY at the time and want to check it out, go to www.usopen.org. Get tickets for the earlier matches, because then you get to see some of the best players battle it out on the open courts, which are small and will get you an upclose view. There are 2 stadiums in the complex - Arthur Ashe is the big one, and Louis Armstrong the smaller one - there are tickets that will get you access to the general courts as well as a reserved seat in one of the stadiums. The seeded players do tend to play in the stadiums, but as I said, often they also play on the smaller courts. If you like live sporting events as I do, you don't want to miss this.

ps - check out the sun-worshipper ball boy on the right of the photo...