Semifinal day at the Atlanta Tennis Championships turned into a search for Judy Collins. Anyone under 50 may need to Google “Judy Collins lyrics “and listen to her rendition of “Both Sides Now,†a song written by Joni Mitchell. The first verse of the song explains exactly what happened in the third and deciding set between John Isner and Kevin Anderson.
It was a well played first set and a half for the second tallest match-up currently available on the ATP tour (Only Ivo Karlovic against Isner could have more combined height than this one).  Isner was playing well from the beginning and managed to get a break to take the first set.
The second set was all holds of serves but, by mid-set, the combined Hotlanta weather of over 90 degrees and 90% humidity was taking its toll on John. He was able to hold onto serve, including a great hold at 5-all when he begged for relief from the sun, but he could offer no resistance during Anderson’s service games.  When Kevin held off a match point in the tiebreaker and came back to win the second set, things did not look good for John.
But during the 10 minute break between sets, the relief John asked for appeared. A large, dark cloud covered the sun to drop temperatures to almost reasonable conditions. Even a slight mist fell, like an atomizer, to give relief to the crowd while they waited for the third.
Coming back out after the break, with a reprieve from the sun, John gained a second wind. Even when the sun reappeared during the all important seventh game, John was able to hold serve to go up 4-3. Kevin was broken the next game and then John served out the match.
It was an odd twist on the Judy Collins song. The second part of the first verse blames the clouds for blocking the sun. For John, the clouds’ blocking the sun was a match saver. The last line of the second verse is “so many things I would have done, but clouds got in my way.â€Â For Kevin, his rendition would be “another match I would have won, but clouds got in my way.â€
I never thought of “Both Sides Now†being a tennis song before but the more you listen to the lyrics (clouds, win and lose, up and down, give and take), it really does fit. I’m thinking the USTA should have Judy sing at the opening ceremonies for the Open, especially if these points in Atlanta help John win the US OPEN Series.
(David Foster is a native Atlantan who is ecstatic that tennis has returned to his hometown.)