Chili Bites: It’s a rich man’s world

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Cincinnati: Draws | Schedule | Scores

• Previously on The Bagel: Nick Kyrgios.

Quick Hits

• Do I think it was funny that Carlos’ Alcaraz’s announcement that he is headed to New York (The Guardian) came after the US Open announced its prize money increase? I do. (The Athletic)
• The US Open will pay out over $100 million in prize money, the first time Grand Slam purses exceed $100 million. In very welcome news, they are also contriobut9ing to the player pension programs. They also announced the formation of a Grand Slam Player Council, but notably, it won’t really be part of the compensation discussion.

The council will focus mostly on “sporting matters” that affect the Grand Slam tournaments collectively. Players can raise compensation issues through the council but those will be handled separately by each Grand Slam. The U.S. Open has also put $2 million — $1 million per tour — into a new Player Support Program. Add on $5 million in player stipends and the total commitment is $108 million.

• WTA CEO and Chairman Jessica Pegula was asked about that council this week in Cincinnati and she said pretty much what I was thinking: Yeah, a council is great and all, but let’s see if it actually has the power to do anything. She sounded like a player rep who has seen many a “task force” be nothing more than useless conference calls. Appeasement, not action.
• That increase has diffused any thoughts from the players about boycotting media. So it’s a truce. For now.

• Daniil Medvedev has take a wildcard into Winston-Salem. That should open up a spot in the mixed doubles, as I’m pretty sure that means he can’t play with Diana Shnaider as planned. Nothing official on that yet though.

• Novak Djokovic’s new documentary “The Wolf in Winter” drops today on Amazon Prime. Here are a couple of advance reviews:

‘Why would you want to retire me?’: Novak Djokovic is still driven by doubt

A revealing Prime Video documentary out Thursday explores the stubbornness, childhood scars and siege mentality still driving Novak Djokovic at 39

The GuardianRichard Deitsch

“I didn’t have specific interest in Novak as a tennis player but I knew that he had a reputation as an outspoken, often polarizing figure, and the more research I did the it felt like a great opportunity to profile a complex and compelling character,” Hehir said. “What put it over the top was the opportunity to follow a GOAT in real time.”

Hehir said he was interested in telling a story that examined Djokovic at this specific point of his career and the challenges he faced navigating a young family with the selfishness it takes to remain a champion tennis player. (Much of this story will be familiar to hardcore tennis fans; Hehir said the film was made with a global audience in mind and what is revealing is the exploration into Djokovic’s mindset rather than his biography.)

Review: “Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter” - The Second Serve

Review: “Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter” documentary.

The Second ServeDavid Shaftel

Hehir told me that his goal was to explore this precise moment in Djokovic’s career—no longer at his peak, but too good to retire—not to tell the story of the career as a whole. He didn’t reach out to Federer, and planned to include the 2012 AO final in a previous version of the doc. (“This doc went through so many iterations,” he told me. “Every time we thought we were done, he was threatening to win another major.”) So know these omissions were not made lightly, or out of ignorance. That doesn’t mean they were all necessarily the right move. The doc does dwell on Djokovic’s iconic match-point-saving return at the 2011 US Open, the one that reduced Federer to salty bafflement in press. Bringing back Roger—who, in Nadal’s doc, retains plenty of his faux-humble arrogance in retirement—and asking him about that moment, and Novak’s tennis, 15 years later, would have been fascinating. A Last Dance-esque format, extrapolating the story out over multiple episodes instead of a movie-length monolith, might have let Hehir explore both Novak’s career and his retirement predicament.

Cincinnati roundup

• It will be Jessica Pegula vs. Iga Swiatek in the bottom-half semifinal for the women. Jess came through a great three-set tussle with Amanda Anisimova, overcoming an injury concern in the second set to edge the US Open finalist 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4).

• Swiatek advanced after Elena Rybakina retired down 4-1 in the first set. In the much-anticipated Toronto final rematch, Rybakina looked to have her ankle or achilles strapped and pulled up with pain before throwing in the towel.

• Rybakina said she felt fine going into the match, but one small movement spelled her end. She’ll get an MRI asap. (AP)
• Will we look back on this result as a big sliding doors moment on the WTA season? Rybakina came into the day two wins away from the No.1 ranking. She’ll remain No.2 going into New York. Sure, the odds are heavily in Elena’s favor to get the No.1 ranking after the US Open, but…you never know! Meanwhile, the win boosted Iga into a top eight seed for New York, which is a big boost for her and, given the way she’s playing, for the other top seeds. No one wanted to have to face her in the Round of 16.

• The men’s semifinal will see Flavio Cobolli against Arthur Fils. Cobolli rebounded to beat Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Fils rolled past Thiago Tirante 6-3, 6-2. It was a short night session for ticketholders.

• Friday will see the last round of quarterfinals, where a load of Americans will be in play. Madison Keys will face Aryna Sabalenka’s vanquisher, Sara Bejlek, and Coco Gauff takes on Marta Kostyuk. For the men, Frances Tiafoe plays Lorenzo Musetti, and Taylor Frtiz takes on Brandon Nakashima.
• I’ll have more on Aryna tomorrow. I’m still noodling.

Bits and Bobs

• Andy Murray does not miss tennis and he’s happy about that and so are we. (Twitter)
• Ok wait, the video of Alexander Zverev’s footfault – he strenuously denies the allegations – is here. (Reddit)

• If you are in or around American youth sports, you might want to pre-order Jay Caspian Kang’s new book., “The Endless Tryout: Reclaiming Childhood from Relentless Competition.” You can also put in a request to your local library to ask them to order it. (Penguin Random House)
• H/t Discord Harlan: It is very important for people to understand that the internet is absolute trash right now. (PEW)

• I watched FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER and it was very Jarmuschian (complimentary) but also….huh.
• Bop of the Day: Bring back jangly indie rock anthems.