It is told that during a golf tournament a dog sauntered onto the green while Arnold Palmer was lining up a putt. When asked what his reaction was to the wandering dog, he is said to have replied, "What dog?".
Why then,is it, that play in the tennis stadium must wait until some couple, finding their seats in the upper deck, be seated? Is their attention to the task at hand that tentative? I would imagine that the only person in the stadium, to them,would be that person across the net from them, the opponent.

Puzzled in Massapequa.

In the match between Federer and Lopez, there was a couple finding seats right behind Lopez (they were facing Federer) and Federer didn't stop. Later, when the crowd was doing the "Wave", Federer didn't wait for them to stop, he just started serving. In both cases the commentators mentioned Federer's focus. I do think it speaks to how as a player, his focus is on the court and on the play at hand.

Thats refreshing, and of course we are talking about Roger, the rarest of breeds. Steve

This post is a bit off topic, so please indulge me:

I think this is another situation where the US Open is unique. One thing we all know is that they allow people to talk and move about in the upper level at Ashe. This creates an audible "buzz" that never relents unless the match is not well attended. While that alone would probably be enough to upset the Wimbledon or Roland Garros purists (by the way, I adore both of those tournaments, as well), I find it refreshing that the grand slam events tend to display the tennis attitude of their host countries.

Sure, the United States is a bit brash and aggressive. Our most famous players have played that way, as well (Connors, McEnroe, Roddick, Martina, Serena, and Venus (maybe not so much for Pete and Chris)). I love the fact that the US Open is a little edgier and obnoxious at times.

So, I say embrace the waves and "YMCA" sing alongs during changeovers, the overhang at the Grandstand court, the 35,000+ people crammed into the BJK Tennis Center at any given time, the fashion of the players, the tunnel and on-court interviews, the planes flying over into and out of La Guardia, and the over priced beer. If you've never been, do it next year. This is one of the biggest annual events in a worldwide sport that adds a unique American twist and I enjoy the hell out of it.

SOLD!