U.S. OPEN NOTES : Loss Leaves Wilander in a Questionable Mood

Mats Wilander was uncharacteristically testy Friday after losing to Todd Martin, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. He was asked a relatively innocuous question about assessing the men’s field, something like, “Did you ever think that you could have beaten some of these players in your prime?”

That caused Wilander to fly into a rage.

“Do you ever think about that you are going to die?” Wilander said. “You can’t ask me a question like that. Did you ever think about the girls that you get when you are 18 compared to 45? It is not going to happen, OK? It is never going to happen again, I am telling you. Why think about those kinds of things? It doesn’t make any difference anymore.”

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Martin, on the other hand, was a happy winner. The player many describe as the tour’s nicest guy is also one of the few who claim to enjoy the hubbub associated with the Open. Some players stay in luxury homes on Long Island to temper the heat and noise of the tournament. Martin takes Manhattan.

“It is the most exciting 2 1/2 weeks for me every year,” the 15th-seeded Martin said. “A lot of it has to do with this site and coming out and getting the wind blown around and swinging them [shots] in and hearing people get on your case or support your cause.

“Then to tough it out in the players’ lounge and getting the bus home and then experiencing what New York is all about when I get back to the city. Walk around, go to dinner. Look at the people and get a slice of pizza. As boring as I can be, this city still keeps me on my toes.”

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Byron Black of Zimbabwe upset ninth-seeded Thomas Enqvist of Sweden, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. It was a big day for the young player, but not as big, according to one journalist, as the day both he and countryman Nick Price, the golfer, won tournaments.

Black was unaware that his nation had been placed on the sporting map in that manner.

“Is that right? You could be right. I am not sure. It feels good when Zimbabwe athletes do well because there are not so many of us.”