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US OPEN: Rackets take brunt of frustrated stars’ anger at US Open

Miffed at a miss, America’s Mardy Fish held the racket right in front of his face and spat through the strings. Still stewing, he took a swing at his equipment bag and wound up for another whack. “I was just so frustrated,” he said on Thursday after his quarter-final loss to Rafael Nadal. He’s hardly the only one making such a racket at this US Open. Andy Roddick was among a dozen players fined US$500 apiece for such abuse. Novak Djokovic and even sweet Lindsay Davenport launched ’em. Nikolay Davydenko broke four in one match and almost ran out. Then there was American junior Chris Harrison. He slung so many rackets during a first-round loss that a tennis official was dispatched to Harrison’s court with a message: Stop! You’re damaging the signs of the corporate sponsors! “People say they want more personality in tennis, and that throwing the racket shows personality,” said Wayne Bryan, whose twin sons will play for the men’s doubles title. “I think it shows a lack of self-control.” “Obviously, you don’t want rackets flying,’’ US Open tournament referee Brian Earley said. “You don’t want anything dangerous, where they come near someone and a player is pushing the envelope,” he said. “But you have a little leeway and you want the chair umpire to use his or her discretion,’’ Earley said. Players can be warned, docked a point or penalized a game for wrecking their rackets. Roddick doesn’t like that code of conduct rule — he wouldn’t, because he’s earned a reputation for cracking, crumpling and crushing them. “If a guy wants to break a bat in the dugout, he doesn’t get warned. It’s not hurting anyone,” Roddick said. There is no limit on how many rackets a player can take onto the court. Andre Agassi once brought 24 for a match at the French Open, racket expert Roman Prokes recalled. Djokovic drew whistles and boos after he threw his racket this week. He slammed one last year during a loss to Federer in the final, and a small piece broke off — it was quarter-sized string dampener, designed to reduce vibration, and was decorated with a yellow smiley face. Djokovic seems to have a firm grasp on the art of throwing rackets. Tossed down their handles or edges, they usually stay intact; pounded at an angle or given a full, frontal smash, they often snap. Glen Flint understands rackets, whether they cost US$50 or US$200, be they made of graphite, carbon, titanium or Kevlar. He’s a racket stringer at the US Open, working in a room near the entrance to center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He also travels the tour with Roddick. Yet Flint insists he never winces when tennis’ A-Rod goes wild. “If crushing that racket clears your mind,” Flint said, “go for it.”
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