This year’s U.S. Open featured breakthroughs for promising Americans such as Donald Young, John Isner and Sloane Stephens; instant classic matches (including the 2nd rounder between Gael Monfils and Juan Carlos Ferrero); the longest tie-breaker in women’s Grand Slam history (between eventual champion Samantha Stosur and Maria Kirilenko); the longest women’s U.S. Open match (between Stosur and Nadia Petrova); lots of rain; lots of scheduling mishaps; and, what could be, the seeds of a possible union for tennis players. Still, the three biggest storylines of the 2011 U.S. Open unfolded during its final weekend. READ MORE

For years, conversations about the women’s game have revolved around players missing from the tour—past Grand Slam champions Justine Henin, Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters and Amelie Mauresmo all retired young. Henin, Hingis and Clijsters unretired. Henin and Hingis have since re-retired. Clijsters, who has stuck around and won three Grand Slams during her comeback, is not in New York this week, having withdrawn with a stomach muscle injury. That leaves the returning Serena Williams as the favorite during this fortnight. But what about world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki? Is she the latest in a long line of pretenders—Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Dinara Safina—that have held the top spot in Williams’ absence? Or will she win her first Grand Slam at the Open? READ MORE

This is sad. I feel bad inside. TRUST NO ONE.