Paire Outlasts Nishikori

2014 U.S. Open finalist and world # 4 Kei Nishikori is out a bundle of defender points after being bounced in Round 1 of the '15 Open by Benoit Paire of France, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.  Unexpected?  Absolutely, as Nishikori is entering the prime of a career which should be loaded with deep runs at the majors, and was looking good this Summer while winning D.C. and reaching the semis in Montreal.  Nishikori did suffer some hip discomfort in Canada, and eventually pulled out of Cincinnati for some rest, but he claimed all was well heading into NYC.  Nishikori held two match points in the 4th set breaker, today, but he was unable to finish it off and looked tentative during some big moments.  It's been a hectic 365 days for Nishikori, who has become a full-fledged phenomenon in Japan.  He's earning a boatload of cash off the court, but a disappointing end to the 2015 slam season should leave him hungry for the ATP World Tour Finals and beyond.

This result is not a complete shocker from out of nowhere, though, because Benoit Paire can play.  When he's on, really play, and his ceiling could legitimately be within the world top 20.  Right off the bat, Paire's current spot at #41 lets you know it was a tough draw for Kei, but lets not forget that Paire has already enjoyed some rare air at his career high rank of #24 during the 2013-14 seasons.  It's been a steady fall since - the Frenchman bottomed out at #149 this February - but Paire got off the floor to win a Challenger event, and then secured his first ATP title by grinding through the likes of Goffin, Istomin, Cuevas, and Robredo in Sweeden...without the loss of a set.  The 6'5" Paire is the rare big man with good mobility, he has good speed and variety on serve, and he can absolutely rake from the backhand wing.  Today, he also displayed a nice command of the net, and that could spell real trouble for future opponents.  Paire's chief liabilities have always been focus and attitude, and both can be downright awful.  Perhaps the recent rise of countryman Pierre-Hughes Hebert has helped spark the competitive fire in Paire.  Maybe the time spent on the Challenger Tour was a wake-up call.  Either way,  let's hope it's better late than never for Benoit Paire.

Sunset Upon a Golden Age

Have we as tennis fans taken the time to pinch ourselves once or twice over the last decade, plus?  Honestly, have we really taken a good, hard look around and said to ourselves, "Wow, this is really happening.  And we get to see it all."  The dreamlike qualities enveloping professional tennis find their origins within so many perfect storms, that it would seem utterly frivolous to even suppose that the sport could ever, again, enjoy a similar period of such sustained consistency, relentless drama, and - above all - sheer quality.  So, we move on to ask ourselves how much longer can this last?  How much longer can we all stay in this tennis dream?  Hah!  Yet another pointless exercise!  We will be given those answers when - and, only when - Mother Nature and Father Time have settled affairs with a group of exceptionally talented, prideful, and stubborn tennis champions.  What we do know is that this particular dream is much closer to its end than to its beginning.  Stings a bit...partly because we know we are getting older, and partly because nobody wants to relinquish such a wonderful indulgence.  We often hear the word "sunset" being used as a term to describe the final years of a career, era, or even a life, and while it's near impossible to deem "sunset" as having any negative connotation, the term seems to insinuate that the best has past.  Makes no sense.  Sunset is the most beautiful time of day, period!  Always has been, always will be.  Sunset often provides the peace, quiet, and clarity to take stock of our blessings and realize that we should savor and appreciate them to the fullest and to the last.  Free of expectations.  Sunset also showcases the premier canvas in nature, which can help us dream new dreams.  We will be given ample time to do all of these things, because a sunset takes its own, sweet time.  Make no mistake, there is a sunset upon a golden age in professional tennis, but the choice of what we make of this beautiful time, as fans, is entirely ours.  Let's enjoy the dream, enjoy the sunset, and enjoy the 2015 U.S. Open...the world's greatest sporting event.  Always has been, always will be.