Both Federer and Sharapova Are Outta the Doctored US Open

The best-laid plans haven't produced the best results at Arthur Ashe Stadium this fortnight.

Hall of Famer Jim Courier was doing analysis for Amazon TV -- which was screwing up in breathtaking proportions itself -- when he put it out there that US Open officials intentionally hobbled the USTA complex's playing surfaces to slow them down.

They believed this would favor the American players. For the record, the women's semi-finals last year was an all-American event.

 

Who knew that last year's men's champion Rafael Nadal was a Yank?

What some people do to make America great again ...

 

Maria Sharapova lives in Florida and at one point admitted she momentarily forgot how to speak Russian.

Still, the added sand on the surface didn't help her last year or this year. Carla Suárez Navarro beat her in the fourth round, 6-4, 6-3:

 

So it went for Roger Federer.

The Swiss master lost in the quarters last year and didn't even get that far this time around. Funky Aussie John Millman dropped him, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 7-6(3):

 

Gotta say, that's some patriotic sand, bouncing out the non-American big brands like that.

ESPN and its ratings can't be very thrilled.