NEW YORK — Forget about who was missing from the men’s field at the U.S. Open this year.
Wish Roger Federer luck as he recovers from knee problems and aims for a return next month. Wish the same for Alexander Zverev, who suffered a gruesome ankle injury at the French Open. Wish whatever you think appropriate for Novak Djokovic, whose refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19 meant he couldn’t enter the United States to attempt to match Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam singles titles.
Instead of mourning who wasn’t here, celebrate those who came to compete at Flushing Meadows, where the rattle of the No. 7 train and the roars of planes taking off and landing at nearby LaGuardia Airport harmonize in a unique urban lullaby.
