Photo Of The Day: Rain Out

Optimistic that “passing showers,” meant there would still be tennis to watch, we made our way to the National Tennis Center to watch the US Open Men’s Final. Well, we did see a final, but not the one we thought we would.

We watched young American Jack Sock defeat fellow American Denis Kudla 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, to win the Junior Boy’s title. We also watched the amazing Esther Vergeer defeat Daniela Di Toro 6-0, 6-0, to win the Women’s Wheelchair tennis title.

It was after those two matches that we made our way to the practice courts where Novak Djokovic was warming up and working on his serve. Then we went into Arthur Ashe stadium where the Women’s Doubles final had been suspended due to rain. Rain? What rain?

Then the rain began – a drizzle at first, and then a steady downpour. What was originally supposed to be intermittent, passing showers, turned out to be an all-out rain out of the Men’s final.

We sought refuge in the Grandstand (pictured above) with other fans, some napping, most playing on their smart phones. Other fans corralled in the hallways under Louis Armstrong stadium, or in Ashe stadium by the food sections. Some fans braved the rain in their ponchos and under umbrellas.

Then, around 6:30, two security guards came onto the Grandstand’s court and yelled: It’s over. No tennis. Come back tomorrow.

Our hearts sank. Another year, another Men’s final moved to Monday. We’ll just have to wait another day to see Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal go at it, with one of them to win their first-ever US Open title.

And all the while, all we could think was, someone up there heard Nole’s prayers last night.

(Photo: The Slice)