For Jennifer Capriati, last night’s U.S. Open quarterfinal win was like Christmas in September. For Serena Williams, it was like getting her wallet lifted – or a berth in the U.S. Open semifinals stolen.
Capriati seized her opportunities in a gutsy 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, come-from-behind win over her nemesis, with much help from four blown calls in the pivotal final set, the first three egregious ones by Portuguese chair umpire Mariana Alves.
“I guess she went temporary insane,” Williams said, then laughed and added, “I’m extremely angry, bitter, upset. I feel cheated. Shall I keep going? I feel robbed. I guess the lady didn’t want me to be in the tournament.”
Capriati’s adjectives were far different, like great and thrilled after reaching her fourth U.S. Open semi. She was fit, quick, and played great defense, but even if she beats Elena Dementieva Friday to reach her first Flushing final, last night will be remembered for bad calls that moved Williams to anger, then seething helplessness and finally gallows humor.
“I didn’t really look at it. I thought it was close, and I was going by what the umpire said. I’ve had things go against me way too many times. I deserve to get a call now and then,” Capriati said, later adding “That’s the way it goes.”
This is the way it went: At deuce to open the final set, Alves handed Capriati a point after Williams hit a perfectly placed backhand down the line that clearly landed in, and was ruled good by the line judge.
Williams was already preparing for her next serve when Alves said, “Advantage Capriati.’ Williams looked up and said “Williams.” Then Williams put her hands on her hips and strode over to Alves and demanded “What’s going on? Excuse me?”
“That ball was soooo in.” When Alves insisted it was out, Williams yelled, “No, it was not. What the heck is this?” She placed the ball on the spot it landed, and said, “It was not out. Do I need to speak another language?”
Williams never asked for tourney ref Brian Earley, and played the point. Capriati sailed a backhand long that should’ve ended the game, but it returned to deuce and Capriati won it with forehand that trickled over the net.
“Regrettably, the replay on television showed that an incorrect overrule was made by the chair umpire,” Earley said in a statement. “A mistake was made and I have discussed the call with the chair umpire, Ms. Alves. Ms. Alves is not scheduled to officiate another match during the Open.”
Capriati returned well, and chased down everything, forcing Williams to overhit. After making just 93 unforced errors through four matches, she made 57 last night. And to make matters worse, Williams was victimized by three more bad calls.
Williams – who’d beaten Capriati 6-1, 6-1 in the Wimbledon semis – got another bad call with Capriati serving 0-15, when her backhand return was mistakenly called long. Alves’ third gaffe came on a Capriati second serve. A fourth call came on the third break-point of the final point, although that was a linesman.