Day 14 September 10, 2006
OPEN REACHES A CRESCENDO WITH FEDERER AGAIN THE TOP BANANA

When Andy Roddick lost the first five games, to the groans of the multitude, you wondered if his new tutor, Jimmy Connors, would throw him a banana. Potassium Power was a big item around the U.S. Open after Maria Sharapova seized the women's title Saturday night.

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Day 13 September 9, 2006
RODDICK IS THE GREAT BRIGHT HOPE AGAIN - BUT HOW TO STOP ROGER?

What are we going to do about Roger Federer? This is the American jingoists' plight as they talk about the nice young man from Switzerland who has taken over ownership of their tennis tournament, the United States Open.

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Day 12 September 8, 2006
SIBERIAN SIREN SHARAPOVA SHRIEKS AND PEAKS IN NIFTY WINNING FORM

Whether Maria Sharapova is auditioning for the Metropolitan Opera or the tennis championship of the United States was somewhat unclear to the audience of 23,612 spread across Arthur's Gulch Friday afternoon.

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Day 11 September 7, 2006
DR. INSPIRATION, JIMMY CONNORS, IS PAYING HOUSE CALLS ON RODDICK

The doctor is in.

The doctor is on the case -- and "nervous. Never felt like this when I was playing," says Andy Roddick's doctor, who used to be known as the Brash Basher of Belleville.

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Day 10 September 6, 2006
MOMO IS A GO-GO GAL, LOOKIN' GOOD AT NO. 1, SEEKING TRIPLE

It doesn't hurt any more.

The "What-are-you-doing-at-No. 1?" lady knows she belongs now, and is "very comfortable" on the tennis summit.

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Day 9 September 5, 2006
BELLS ARE RINGING FOR BELLE OF BELGRADE, UPSET WINNER JANKOVIC

The Belle of Belgrade is wearing a smile as wide as her hometown's river, the Danube, and a black baseball cap inscribed JANKOVIC.

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Day 8 September 4, 2006
BELGIUM'S TOM THUMB THUMBED OUT BY THE RUSSIAN BEAR, SAFIN

What did Olli Rochus want to be when he grew up?

"Taller."

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Day 7 September 3, 2006
WITH TEARS FLOWING LIKE FAUCETS ANDRE ELOQUENTLY SAYS GOODBYE

How does daddy tell his kids why he's crying?

"Well, my first goal is to explain it to them," Andre Agassi is saying after the fall that landed him among the unemployed.

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Day 6 September 2, 2006
MARTINA, THE GOODBYE GIRL, CASTIGATES CURRENT RACKETS

Life begins at 50?

Why not, if you're Martina Navratilova, and you hit the half-century mark running on Oct. 18.

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Day 5 September 1, 2006
A WOWSER, A ROUSER - ANDRE STAYS ALIVE, MAYBE WITH HELP FROM GODS

Phantasmagorical. In a word, that's what it was.

Homer, the old Greek scribbler, would have relished this 3 3/4 hours re-write of his "Odyssey."

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Day 4 August 31, 2006
A PAIR OF BAGELS COURTESY LINDSAY, TOO BAD SHE DIDN'T SEND A TOASTER

If Lindsay had known of the joyous occasion, would she have given the rookie bride a wedding present?

Steak knives? An espresso machine? Crystal?

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Day 3 August 30, 2006
ROYALTY CAN GO THROUGH THE WRINGER - ASK SERENA AND MARAT

Queens can have it rough. Consider Anne Boleyn, Mary Queen of Scots and Marie Antoinette - removed by slices. Kings, too. Same treatment for Charles I and Louis XVI.

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Day 2 August 29, 2006
LATE NIGHT OR EARLY MORNING - AN AGASSI DRAMA, BUT NOT THE LAST

Stars in the early morning skies. Tears in his eyes, the fading yet luminous star of so many dramas on the asphalt stage abruptly realized that - even though past his geezerly bedtime - it was not yet time to take his final bow.

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Day 1 August 28, 2006
NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER, AGE 28, HAS NEW IDENTITY, BECOMES "THE BILLIE"

"See you at 'The Billie!' " That's what I tell folks on their way to the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadow.

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Introduction August, 2006
HERE WE GO - ANOTHER US OPEN

Rushing to Flushing. That's the play for two weeks as the fourth major of the year unfolds, and the meaningful stretch of the season ends.

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