Well, the porcupine haircuts of Taylor Dent and Ivan Navarro aren’t what we love. Really guys, the 2001 called, it wants the spikey hair back.
Honestly though… that match, won by Dent 7-6 in the fifth set, is why we love tennis. It’s especially why we love the US Open:
*A day match that stretched into night on old Louis Armstrong stadium.
*Five sets, both men exhausted but somehow indefatigable.
*The fifth set tiebreak, mercifully ending the match with maximum drama.
*Both men holding match points in that final tiebreak.
*The New York fans, whipped into a frenzy, favoring Dent but admiring both players.
*The New York fans, cheering in admiration for Navarro even though they hadn’t heard of him.
*Taylor Dent, grabbing the chair umpire’s mic to thank them and then taking the Todd Martin Victory Lap of High Fives around the court.
*Taylor Dent, throwback serve and volleyer, son of Aussie Phil Dent (Australian Open finalist) and American Betty Ann Grubb (US Open doubles finalist).
*Taylor Dent, with rods in his back, playing tennis with abandon after two years of forced retirement. As Pam Shriver said, this is for people with bad backs everywhere.
Passing Shots 
Posted on September 5, 2009
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