ROCKIN' ON THE RIVER

BY JANET STEINBERG

Cincinnati, Ohio is really rockin' this summer.

Events like Balloon Glow at Coney Island, Macy's Music Festival, Paddlefest, Midwest Black Family Reunion, Luminosity at Music Hall, and the Cincinnati Reds, made this Ohio River town the place to be this summer.  But the Emirates Airline US Open Series  in Cincinnati at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament at the Lindner Family Tennis Center was the jewel in the crown of the beautiful "Queen City".

A highlight of the tournament was the Friday night rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer which I was privileged to attend.  Two of the greatest players in the tennis world, Rafa and Roger, gave the sold-out crowd in Center Court one of the most exciting tennis evenings they had ever witnessed.  

RAFAEL NADAL AND I (front row, second from the left, next to the blue rail…looking so serious)

The 27-year old Nadal gave the 32-year old Federer quite a run for the money before defeating him with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory in the quarterfinals.  

Federer's quote to the Cincinnati Enquirer after the match was as follows: "I'm happy with my progress along the way.   Could have won tonight; should have won tonight.  Who knows?  But at the end, I think Rafa's confidence and the way he's playing at the moment got him through."

ROGER FEDERER AND I (front row on the left side of the blue rail…smiling this time)

JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer and a Travel Consultant affiliated with The Travel Authority, Mariemont/Cincinnati, Ohio office.