As long as I’m in non-sports mode for a minute, here are some pictures that I took in and around Normandale Lake Park.
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Well…. today is our first installment of “Views From The Car”. Since I have begun taking photos, I have been noticing landscapes and scenery more and more, I’ve decided to take some pictures of scenery, etc. These pictures were all taken on a recent road trip from the front seat of the car. Enjoy!
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Truth Seeker gets a bath before going 7 Furlongs in the 5th Race.
Tenth Street Don in the Paddock prior to the 5th Race.
Kelce Harr and Sir Sterling approaching the wire in the 5th.
Gfr Im Dun Gone (Left) mugs for the camera in the paddock before Race 7. A nice spread photo (Right) of the Q’s coming home in Race 7, Gfr Im Dun Gone all the way outside.
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You Go High, I Go Low – Warrior Lady w/Victor Santiago up [#5] goes to her knees while
Suzzie’s Darlin w/Leslie Mawing up [#6] hops at the start. Both jockeys kept their charges on course in this first race at 1 Mile on the dirt but neither won the race.
Baby Doll Peach mugs for the camera before the second race. 
Dual Monarchy [#3] and Groom walk the ring prior to the 3rd Race. A wise man once told me,
“you don’t spend the time to braid their mane like that if you don’t think they are going to get
their picture taken.”
Mariarosadelaserda and jockey E.M. Murray walk the ring before a one mile Maiden Special Weight affair on the Turf in the 4th race. 
Five Bar Fantasy [#4] and jockey Kelsi Harr on the way to the gate for Race 8, otherwise known as the Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge (Grade 3) Stakes for fillies 3 years old and up at 400 yards. -
Our final match in our four day adventure was Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) world rank #1 versus Emma Raducanu (GBR) world rank #39. Raducanu made it a match but ultimately Sabalenka prevailed in three sets.
The Sabalenka service…. and obligatory tattoo shot.
Raducanu gets airborne on her serve.
That’s some good stuff right there….
Raducanu with the slice backhand.
This is what a winning smile looks like…
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Frances Tiafoe (USA) world rank #14 racks a win against Ugo Humbert (FRA) world rank #25 in straight sets on the Grandstand court.
Tiafoe’s service game is spot on.
Humbert takes on the serving challenge.
Some random shots….
Tiafoe doing the electric slide….
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It was hot today at the Cincinatti Open. Well, it was hot every day but still…. On this day there was another shortened match due to the heat. Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) world rank #70 took on Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) world rank #28. Auger-Aliassime would go on to win in straight sets after a scary incident where Rinderknech was lying on the ground for what seemed like forever because of the heat. Rinderknech played a few more games but ultimately could not continue and retired.
Rinderknech saluting the sky… or serving.
Felix and his hard hitting serve.
A couple of close-up shots of Rinderknech.
Felix on the return!
In a show sportsmanship, Auger-Aliassime crosses mid-court after Rinderknech retires.
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On our last day in Cincinatti, we went to the Grandstand and got to see Alex Michelson (USA) world rank #33 and Holger Rune (DEN) world rank #9. Rune takes the match in straight sets 7-6 6-3.
Michelson serves.
Alex, look out!
Rune with a serve.
Rune. Holger Rune.
A look from above….
Rune displaying some amazing shot-making skills.
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Monday, August 11th, was a busy day in Cincinatti. We had tickets for the daytime session and then were on a flight back home that evening. I tried to take in as many matches as I could while we were onsite. The first one was Alexandrova v Joint. I’m a big fan of Maya Joint, I think great things could be store for her in the future.
Why don’t we start out with a serve? Joint (AUS) is currently the 37th ranked player in the world. I came to Cincinatti with a couple of goals but one of them was to try and attend one of her matches. As you’ll see from some of the pictures, not everyone had that same goal.
I’m not exactly sure what’s going on here but she kind of looks like she’s about to Vogue.
Ekaterina Alexandrova has the rank of 18 in the WTA singles rankings. I’d say that she gets pretty good air on that serve.
Joint returns a ball while 8 people look on.
Alexandrova is kind of to hit a return for those same people.
Maya Joint doing her best Marilyn Monroe impression, with the skirt I mean.
A shot well done, indeed.
Joint on the run, chasing down a shot.
The steely-eyed Alexandrova waiting for a serve.
One more photo, because, why not?
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Here we are on Center Court for a match that I wish had lasted longer. Ben Shelton (USA) world rank #6 won 6-3 3-1 over Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG) world rank #47 retired in the second set.
Ugo Carabelli with a serve…
Shelton returns serve.
Ugo Carabelli shot out of a cannon.
Dr. Ben Shelton – Contortion Specialist
Shelton getting some coaching from his dad, who is his coach.
Shelton checking in on Ugo Carabelli who then retires.
The Matlock Report 