Withdrawal Symptoms: US Open Preview

The year's final Grand Slam is upon us, and for the first time since the 90s, we won't see a Williams sister, Nadal, or Federer at the US Open. In two weeks, we'll know if Djokovic has completed the historic Calendar Year Grand Slam against a group of young challengers (Novak and the Seven Trees?). We also discuss the recent publication of part two of the Olya Sharypova story and why the ATP and tennis broadcasters will have a harder time ignoring it this time around. Plus: Barty surging in time for NY, Stef's laughably bad vaccine stance, and some lucky loser drama in Winston-Salem.    1:15 Reflections on Cincinnati FOMO 7:00 Wrapping up the Canada results: Giorgi stuns the field and Medvedev beats Opelka 10:50 Cincinnati: Barty allows no doubt about who’s #1 21:30 Also happening last week: *that* Naomi presser, Yastremska gets called something mean, Lepchenko popped for a doping violation 33:00 Cincinnati men’s draw: the less said the better 38:20 The Tsitsipas Family’s wild and reckless vaccine takes 44:35 A lucky loser fracas at Winston-Salem  47:15 Draw analysis: starting with the women. So … how about that third quarter? 70:55 Men’s draw: is there anyone here who will beat Novak in best-of-five? 85:10 Part two of Ben Rothenberg’s story on the Zverev allegations -- why he said/she said is a dog whistle and why tennis might finally be forced to reckon with this 98:30 Another historic week in women’s sprinting! From your faithful tennis / Jamaican track correspondents