Dances, crashes and midmatch interviews in the first week of 2015 US Open

Held in the most effervescent land of all, the US Open has the intrepid and vibrant characteristics of the American culture imprinted all over it. Witness to several adrenalineinducing matches and equally amusing player antics in the past, the Flushing Meadows is not short of action this year too as the first week at the Big Apple has seen plenty of broken records (and racquets), fresh playing techniques, mid-match interviews and more.Here's the lowdown:
FORM IS TEMPORARY, ROGER IS FOREVER
While the world number one is making the headlines for shaking a leg on court, the world number two and five-time US Open champ Roger Federer is breathing down his neck with a new trick shot up his sleeve, which of late has become the talk of the town. The 'serve and half-volley' shot sees the 17-time Grand Slam winner charge down his opponent's serve, forcing a weak return out of the latter as the Swiss dominates the point. Federer unveiled this surprise shot recently in Cincinnati during wins over high-profile players including Novak Djokovic. Beware everyone!
HOTHEAD KRYGIOS DOES IT AGAIN
Watching Nick Krygios play is tennis' equivalent of some remarkable Hollywood antagonist. Following the recent incident when on-court microphones caught him mouthing a lewd remark at Swiss player Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend during their Rogers Cup match, the latest bad boy of tennis made indirect remarks at the crowds during his US Open exit against Andy Murray as he howled at the umpire, "Can you tell them to sit down straight away! What the hell are they doing letting people in the middle of the game.15-0 and they let 30 people in." The 20-year-old then muttered to himself, "Such bulls**t. Middle of the game. Unreal." It did not end there as the Australian then took naps between sets as a part of another bewildering show on the court, which to no surprise also saw him smash a racquet.
DJOKOVIC DANCES, PLAYS CUPID
Displaying his humorous and goofy side during post-match interviews once again, world number one and 2011 US Open champ Novak Djokovic showed off his dancing skills after his second round win over Andreas Haider-Maurer. Accompanied by a fan who jumped from the stands onto the court, he grooved to PSY's Gangnam Style and waved a 'I Love New York' t-shirt over his head in front of a jubilant NY crowd. Along with entertaining the American crowd, the Serb also helped his longtime pal Kirk Spahn propose to his ladylove Jenny Alden while practising earlier this week. He shared an image on his Facebook account and said, "Look what happened a few days ago on my practice session," and added "I am very excited for you guys and glad I had a role in this wonderful surprise! Congratulations Kirk and Jenny."
IN THE MIDDLE OF A MATCH? INTERVIEW PLEASE?
In a first, the American CoCo Vandweghe appeared for an interview with commentator Pam Shriver during her first round match against Sloane Stephens and has sparked a debate whether this will be the future of tennis reporting. Later, CoCo, who had an agreement with the broadcasting network before the match, said,"It would be in between sets. If I didn't want her out there, I could just wave her away at any point in time. I could say it two seconds before I walked out on the court. I gave her the nod to go ahead, and then it happened," and also mentioned that it did not prove to be a distraction for her at all.
TOO HOT TO HANDLE: RECORD NUMBER OF PLAYERS COLLAPSE
As the highly rated American Jack Sock fainted in the 33-degree heat -while leading Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 1-2 -and had to be carried off court, the number of men quitting hit a Grand Slam record of 12 later in the day. Sock was the 11th to succumb to the New York heat and was soon followed by Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan who became the 12th in line within hours. Two women also retired in the first round, taking the total for this year's US Open to 14 till the end of Thursday's matches.
BALL BOYS, GIRLS GROW UP
Traditionally, other tournaments rely mostly on ball boys and girls, but the US Open has included more-mature ball people who are doing it all; from throwers who stand at the back walls to runners who kneel on towels near the net, ready to pounce when points end. Around 400 people tried out to be ball persons this summer as the tournament usually needs about 260 and takes around 80 rookies. This year, 39 ball persons are of the age 30 or more.In fact, a few of them are in their 40s and 50s too!
DRONE WANTS TO PLAY
As the 26th seed Flavia Pennetta battled Monica Niculescu in their second round match on Thursday, they were visited by an uninvited guest as an unidentified flying objected crashed into the stands at the Armstrong Stadium. "I was a little bit scared, I have to say," Pennetta said. "I mean, with all the things that happen now in the world, I'm imagining, 'OK, it's a bomb.' That was my first reaction. I think it's normal to think something like that." After play resumed, police officers entered the stadium and stood over the drone, which appeared to be the size of one consumers can buy for personal use, about the width of a pizza box.