MEN'S FINAL
The BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite ways to spend six straight hours. Sleep after a late night and before an early start is another. Now I've found a third.
Djokovic's defeat over Nadal in a record breaking (nearly) six hours in the muggy heat of a Melbourne summer evening is something I'll never forget. I wasn't there, of course, I was on my sofa in my pyjamas on a Sunday morning trying to memorise the five main sources of the constitution... But I felt like I was. I could feel that enveloping humidity, I could feel the vibrations as the players smacked the ball back and forth, I could feel thousands of people around me cheering and gasping and screaming and sighing with delight. It is in matches like this that tennis transcends sport and becomes an event, a spectacle, an unforgettable life moment.
Djokovic may have beaten Nadal 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5 to win his third Australian Open and fifth Slam title but there were no losers here today.
On reflection this was not the best tennis match I've ever seen - the 2007/8 Wimbledon finals between Rafa and Roger are still better - but it was amazingly close. The first set was scrappy and not particularly pretty tennis, the second and third were dominated by an unstoppable Serb, but the fourth and fifth sets took this match from the sublime to the ridiculously sublime with both men playing at the very top of their games.
Nadal's hold when 3-4 and 0-40 down was something to tell the grandchildren about. Then the rain came and we had the drama of a forced break just when things were getting sticky. Resuming, a cool-headed Djokovic held serve and then an even cooler-headed Nadal did likewise. When Djokovic hit long to go 5-5, Nadal beat his chest as if he'd just won the set. The precision and depth of both players to take this set to a breaker was breath-taking and the fact that Nadal somehow snuck that set and took the match to a decider is unfathomable to me, even after watching the match again. Twice.
The way the Spaniard sank to his knees and roared when he won the fourth is something I've never seen before in tennis. His celebration for winning a set was the same as it is when he wins a match. A big match. If you compare that to when he won his first Wimbledon it could be the same moment.
I confess, when Djokovic lost the fourth set I feared for him. With Nadal's five-set record and the momentum clearly in his corner I didn't think there was any way the Serb could win it. When Djoko went a break down I was convinced he'd lost. But he broke back. When he collapsed to the floor after losing the first point of the ninth game in 31 gruelling strokes, I knew he would lose. I was wrong.
I was wrong so many times in the fifth set that I almost couldn't watch it until the end. My stomach was churned up and I felt sick at the thought of Rafa winning and faint at the thought of Novak prevailing. I'm not usually a massive Nadal fan but I couldn't fathom a loser in this magnificent match.
At 5-5 in the fifth with both men practically on their knees I thought the game would never end. Stop now and call it a draw. I couldn't handle it anymore.
Djokovic, with super-human strength, some fantastic serving and almost unbelievable retrieving, broke the Spaniard and then held firm for an incredible victory. He ripped the shirt from his body in celebration and threw the remains to the euphoric crowd.
When I think back on this final I will remember most the two players waiting to be given their trophies, listening to the speeches, and being almost unable to stand. Nadal used the net as a chair and Djokovic folded his body in half, both trying to alleviate the lactic acid that must have been coursing through their spent bodies. Eventually the ball people grabbed a couple of chairs and the two broken sportsmen, sitting side by side, smiled ruefully at each other.
It wasn't better than those Wimbledon matches only because the quality of tennis was consistently better throughout the whole games in SW19, but it mirrored them in so many ways.
Djokovic has well and truly established himsef as world number one. He becomes only the fourth man - along with Agassi, Wilander and Federer - to win three successive majors in the Open era. Can he go to the French and complete his Grand Slam?
It now becomes all about match-ups - Djokovic beats Nadal, Nadal out-classes Federer, Federer wins against Djokovic. Andy Murray can play all three but seems to bring out his best against Nadal, although with his semi-final performance here, maybe that will change.
One thing is for sure - Djokovic is the man to beat in tennis and is on top of the world right now.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 30 January 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Aussie Open 2012, Day 12
LADIES FINAL
It's time to see where women's tennis is these days. We have an old hand - Maria Sharapova, three-time Slam champion who has come back from a career-threatening shoulder injury to the very top of the women's game once more; and then we have the young pretender - Victoria Azarenka, 22-years-old, whose best run in an Open before now was her semi-final appearance at Wimbledon last year. The women are not only playing for the Aussie Open title but also for the number one spot, the first time since the Australian Open 2009 that the top spot has been contested at a Grand Slam event.
No pressure then.
Azarenka started her first Slam final tentatively and quickly found herself 2-0 down against the big-hitting Russian. She held her serve in game three with a monstrous forehand down the line and never really looked back. She broke the faltering Russian's serve to love in game four then played a delicious lob to hold serve and go 5-3 up. The first set was wrapped up by the Belarusian in 46 minutes to 15 and a delighted Azarenka practically skipped back to her chair.
Sharapova, with all her years of experience, knew she had to come out fighting in the second set. Serving first gave her an advantage but she couldn't hold Azarenka in check as a superb passing shot saw the 22-year-old break. Sharapova had a chance to break back immediately but didn't capitalise and from there Azarenka took total control of the match. She broke two more times and saved a break point of her own in the final game to wrap up a 6-3 6-0 drubbing of the Russian third seed. She dropped to her knees in celebration when she won and couldn't stop laughing as she rushed to her camp for hugs from trainers, coaches and friends (no family there to see her win her maiden Slam).
She said, "I have had an amazing month in Australia and it is a dream come true."
Can she now take women's tennis on and be the nest big champion - a Williams or Clijsters or Henin? Only time will tell but I think she looks a worthy lady to be at the top of the game.
I'll keep you blogged...
It's time to see where women's tennis is these days. We have an old hand - Maria Sharapova, three-time Slam champion who has come back from a career-threatening shoulder injury to the very top of the women's game once more; and then we have the young pretender - Victoria Azarenka, 22-years-old, whose best run in an Open before now was her semi-final appearance at Wimbledon last year. The women are not only playing for the Aussie Open title but also for the number one spot, the first time since the Australian Open 2009 that the top spot has been contested at a Grand Slam event.
No pressure then.
Azarenka started her first Slam final tentatively and quickly found herself 2-0 down against the big-hitting Russian. She held her serve in game three with a monstrous forehand down the line and never really looked back. She broke the faltering Russian's serve to love in game four then played a delicious lob to hold serve and go 5-3 up. The first set was wrapped up by the Belarusian in 46 minutes to 15 and a delighted Azarenka practically skipped back to her chair.
Sharapova, with all her years of experience, knew she had to come out fighting in the second set. Serving first gave her an advantage but she couldn't hold Azarenka in check as a superb passing shot saw the 22-year-old break. Sharapova had a chance to break back immediately but didn't capitalise and from there Azarenka took total control of the match. She broke two more times and saved a break point of her own in the final game to wrap up a 6-3 6-0 drubbing of the Russian third seed. She dropped to her knees in celebration when she won and couldn't stop laughing as she rushed to her camp for hugs from trainers, coaches and friends (no family there to see her win her maiden Slam).
She said, "I have had an amazing month in Australia and it is a dream come true."
Can she now take women's tennis on and be the nest big champion - a Williams or Clijsters or Henin? Only time will tell but I think she looks a worthy lady to be at the top of the game.
I'll keep you blogged...
Aussie Open 2012, Day 11/12
MEN'S SEMI-FINAL
Another spectacular day in Melbourne saw Federer take on old foe Nadal and Djokovic play Britain's Andy Murray, bidding to make his third Aussie Open final in a row.
The night match of day 11 was a must-watch for tennis fans. Federer and Nadal had not met in anything but a final for some years and the prospect of some weight off their shoulders with no trophy at the end of this match had us salivating with expectation. We were not disappointed. Federer went into the match as slight favourite - his route to the semis had been swift and magnificent, playing some of the best tennis of his career. In contrast Nadal has had a tumultuous time, with injury niggles, tight sets, scares against a couple of players (Berdych especially) - all in all, not looking at his very best.
Federer immediately broke in the first set and was 3-0 up and apparently cruising when a resilient Nadal started playing good tennis. He broke back and the set made its way to a tie-break, which Federer won. The 16-time Grand Slam champion was looking good but Nadal was having none of it and broke early in the second set to take an unassailable lead. With Nadal leading 5-2, the players had to take a ten minute break for the fireworks of Australia Day. This seemed to affect Federer most as he dropped serve on resuming the match, losing the second set to two and, crucially, relinquishing his serving first in the third set.
Federer's game became more and more wayward as he tried to break Nadal's defences. An all too similar pattern was beginning to emerge. In the match, Federer made 63 unforced errors to Nadal's 34, and these errors cost the Swiss dearly.
A scrappy third set went to another tie-break after both players lost successive service games. Federer fought back to save five set points from 6-2 down in the breaker but eventually succumbed to the force of Nadal. The Swiss was now two sets to one down and I feared for him. Nadal's record in five-setters is too good, not to mention his 18 victories in 27 meetings against Federer alone.
A single break in the fourth set was enough to see Nadal serve out an impressive win. He said afterwards that if you'd told him two weeks ago, 24 hours before his first match in Melbourne, that he'd be in the final, he wouldn't have believed you. The Spaniard twisted his knee in his hotel room just hours before the start of his campaign and had thought about pulling out. Thank goodness he didn't.
Federer said of his first loss in 25 matches: "I haven't lost in five months... Don't feel too sorry for me."
Djokovic versus Murray is a repeat of last year's final where the Serb overpowered and outplayed the Briton. This year, could Murray get his revenge?
He lost the first set to three and immediately went a break down in the second - it looked for all the world like another top-three pasting for the world number four. He saved a double-break chance for the Serb in the third game of the second set and this proved the first turning point in the match. Murray began to be more aggressive, to take the points on instead of his usual style of waiting for his opponent to make the mistakes. He was moving well and hitting hard and the Serb had no answers as Murray broke back then broke again and served out the second set to three to level at one set all.
The third started with an 18-minute service game for Djokovic, in which he saved five break points. He then broke Murray in the second game and was broken back immediately in the third. Murray saved three three set points in game ten and the broke to serve for the set at 6-5. The Scot played a scrappy game and let Djoko back in to give him momentum going into the tie-break. However, Murray took the early mini-break and made sure he was never behind. He let out a roar when Djokovic hit wide and strode back to his chair full of intensity at two sets to one up.
That intensity disappeared in the blink of an eye in the 25-minute fourth set. This was the time for Murray to up his levels yet higher. To take it to Djokovic, to let the Serb know that he can win, that he is a champion. That he truly believes in himself. To push home his advantage and make his third final in a row. This was Murray's most disappointing half an hour of the match. He was 4-0 down faster than you can say 1936 and lost the set 6-1.
With the momentum now well and truly in Djoko's court, the Serb was quickly 5-2 up in the fifth set and Murray's hopes looked to be dashed once and for all. Here is where the Scott truly impressed though as he held, then broke, then held to make it 5-5 in scintillating fashion. Game 11 of the fifth set was long and excrutiatingly tense as Murray garnered three break points but just couldn't get through Djokovic's defences to take that game and serve for the match. Now at 6-5 down, Murray's hold was crucial but he couldn't stem a pulsating Djokovic who took the game and the match then fell to the floor in celebration and, I should imagine, relief.
It was a great match. A brilliant display by Murray who finally showed that he could play with the big boys in the big games. He's lost the match but he's won something far more important - the knowledge and the belief that he can win against the top three in the Slams. The belief that he can be a Grand Slam winner and that he can reach world number one.
Finally.
So it's a Rafa/Novak replay in the final. Who is going to win? God only knows. I'm going with Djoko but I think I could be wrong.
Ill keep you blogged...
Another spectacular day in Melbourne saw Federer take on old foe Nadal and Djokovic play Britain's Andy Murray, bidding to make his third Aussie Open final in a row.
The night match of day 11 was a must-watch for tennis fans. Federer and Nadal had not met in anything but a final for some years and the prospect of some weight off their shoulders with no trophy at the end of this match had us salivating with expectation. We were not disappointed. Federer went into the match as slight favourite - his route to the semis had been swift and magnificent, playing some of the best tennis of his career. In contrast Nadal has had a tumultuous time, with injury niggles, tight sets, scares against a couple of players (Berdych especially) - all in all, not looking at his very best.
Federer immediately broke in the first set and was 3-0 up and apparently cruising when a resilient Nadal started playing good tennis. He broke back and the set made its way to a tie-break, which Federer won. The 16-time Grand Slam champion was looking good but Nadal was having none of it and broke early in the second set to take an unassailable lead. With Nadal leading 5-2, the players had to take a ten minute break for the fireworks of Australia Day. This seemed to affect Federer most as he dropped serve on resuming the match, losing the second set to two and, crucially, relinquishing his serving first in the third set.
Federer's game became more and more wayward as he tried to break Nadal's defences. An all too similar pattern was beginning to emerge. In the match, Federer made 63 unforced errors to Nadal's 34, and these errors cost the Swiss dearly.
A scrappy third set went to another tie-break after both players lost successive service games. Federer fought back to save five set points from 6-2 down in the breaker but eventually succumbed to the force of Nadal. The Swiss was now two sets to one down and I feared for him. Nadal's record in five-setters is too good, not to mention his 18 victories in 27 meetings against Federer alone.
A single break in the fourth set was enough to see Nadal serve out an impressive win. He said afterwards that if you'd told him two weeks ago, 24 hours before his first match in Melbourne, that he'd be in the final, he wouldn't have believed you. The Spaniard twisted his knee in his hotel room just hours before the start of his campaign and had thought about pulling out. Thank goodness he didn't.
Federer said of his first loss in 25 matches: "I haven't lost in five months... Don't feel too sorry for me."
Djokovic versus Murray is a repeat of last year's final where the Serb overpowered and outplayed the Briton. This year, could Murray get his revenge?
He lost the first set to three and immediately went a break down in the second - it looked for all the world like another top-three pasting for the world number four. He saved a double-break chance for the Serb in the third game of the second set and this proved the first turning point in the match. Murray began to be more aggressive, to take the points on instead of his usual style of waiting for his opponent to make the mistakes. He was moving well and hitting hard and the Serb had no answers as Murray broke back then broke again and served out the second set to three to level at one set all.
The third started with an 18-minute service game for Djokovic, in which he saved five break points. He then broke Murray in the second game and was broken back immediately in the third. Murray saved three three set points in game ten and the broke to serve for the set at 6-5. The Scot played a scrappy game and let Djoko back in to give him momentum going into the tie-break. However, Murray took the early mini-break and made sure he was never behind. He let out a roar when Djokovic hit wide and strode back to his chair full of intensity at two sets to one up.
That intensity disappeared in the blink of an eye in the 25-minute fourth set. This was the time for Murray to up his levels yet higher. To take it to Djokovic, to let the Serb know that he can win, that he is a champion. That he truly believes in himself. To push home his advantage and make his third final in a row. This was Murray's most disappointing half an hour of the match. He was 4-0 down faster than you can say 1936 and lost the set 6-1.
With the momentum now well and truly in Djoko's court, the Serb was quickly 5-2 up in the fifth set and Murray's hopes looked to be dashed once and for all. Here is where the Scott truly impressed though as he held, then broke, then held to make it 5-5 in scintillating fashion. Game 11 of the fifth set was long and excrutiatingly tense as Murray garnered three break points but just couldn't get through Djokovic's defences to take that game and serve for the match. Now at 6-5 down, Murray's hold was crucial but he couldn't stem a pulsating Djokovic who took the game and the match then fell to the floor in celebration and, I should imagine, relief.
It was a great match. A brilliant display by Murray who finally showed that he could play with the big boys in the big games. He's lost the match but he's won something far more important - the knowledge and the belief that he can win against the top three in the Slams. The belief that he can be a Grand Slam winner and that he can reach world number one.
Finally.
So it's a Rafa/Novak replay in the final. Who is going to win? God only knows. I'm going with Djoko but I think I could be wrong.
Ill keep you blogged...
Friday, 27 January 2012
Australian Open, Day 11
LADIES SEMI-FINAL
Boy oh boy. My oh my. Dear oh dear. WHAT a day of tennis.
If you'd have asked me yesterday who would come through - who would be playing in the finals - I would have said Clijsters and Kvitova. Boy my dear, was I wrong.
Clijsters and Azarenka duked out the first semi of the day and what a match it was. Clijsters has now been involved in the two best women's matches of the tournament - against Li Na and now with Azarenka. This was a battle against the Belarusian who has been playing beautifully this championships. Azarenka won the first set after several breaks of serve to both players, eventually taking it 6-4. Clijsters rallied in the second set and blew Azarenka off the court wining it to 1. Into the third set they went and some stunning tennis was produced. It was a real tussle back and forth with some outstanding play from both women. Azarenka was the first to blink as Clijsters broke and looked good for the match. The defending champion stamping out the young pretender. Surely with all her experience she would now take the momentum and run away from Azarenka?
No. Azarenka fought back then broke Clijsters and served out to reach her first grand slam final. The third seed wept with delight when Clijsters pushed her shot long on match point.
The Belaruisan will meet Sharapova on Saturday who defeated Wimbledon champion and my tip for the title, Kvitova. It was another amazing match and a real pleasure to watch. Sharapova came charging out of the gates and wrapped up the first set against a nervous-looking Kvitova six games to two. Kvitova hit straight back in the second set releasing a series of powerful winners and some cute drop shots, and no matter how much Sharapova screamed she couldn't find a way through. It was another third set for the women's semis this year and both women were feeling the strain. It was Kvitova who took the early initiative and broke Sharapova with a shriek. (I understand she's saying 'come on' in Czech.)
Sharapova was having none of it however and she broke back to draw level in the final set. A brilliant game against the Kvitova serve gave her a break point of her own and she didn't let it go, beating the Czech 6-2 3-6 6-4.
There's no denying it, the final is going to be loud. Both women are well known for their screams - personally I dislike Sharapova's more, I feel like Azarenka's is less put on, but I know many who can't stand the Belarusian's wail. I wonder if they'll annoy each other? We shall see.
I'll keep you blogged...
Boy oh boy. My oh my. Dear oh dear. WHAT a day of tennis.
If you'd have asked me yesterday who would come through - who would be playing in the finals - I would have said Clijsters and Kvitova. Boy my dear, was I wrong.
Clijsters and Azarenka duked out the first semi of the day and what a match it was. Clijsters has now been involved in the two best women's matches of the tournament - against Li Na and now with Azarenka. This was a battle against the Belarusian who has been playing beautifully this championships. Azarenka won the first set after several breaks of serve to both players, eventually taking it 6-4. Clijsters rallied in the second set and blew Azarenka off the court wining it to 1. Into the third set they went and some stunning tennis was produced. It was a real tussle back and forth with some outstanding play from both women. Azarenka was the first to blink as Clijsters broke and looked good for the match. The defending champion stamping out the young pretender. Surely with all her experience she would now take the momentum and run away from Azarenka?
No. Azarenka fought back then broke Clijsters and served out to reach her first grand slam final. The third seed wept with delight when Clijsters pushed her shot long on match point.
The Belaruisan will meet Sharapova on Saturday who defeated Wimbledon champion and my tip for the title, Kvitova. It was another amazing match and a real pleasure to watch. Sharapova came charging out of the gates and wrapped up the first set against a nervous-looking Kvitova six games to two. Kvitova hit straight back in the second set releasing a series of powerful winners and some cute drop shots, and no matter how much Sharapova screamed she couldn't find a way through. It was another third set for the women's semis this year and both women were feeling the strain. It was Kvitova who took the early initiative and broke Sharapova with a shriek. (I understand she's saying 'come on' in Czech.)
Sharapova was having none of it however and she broke back to draw level in the final set. A brilliant game against the Kvitova serve gave her a break point of her own and she didn't let it go, beating the Czech 6-2 3-6 6-4.
There's no denying it, the final is going to be loud. Both women are well known for their screams - personally I dislike Sharapova's more, I feel like Azarenka's is less put on, but I know many who can't stand the Belarusian's wail. I wonder if they'll annoy each other? We shall see.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Aussie Open 2012, Day 10
The first four quarters have been decided and the remaining four were played today on another blisteringly hot day down under.
In the first match of the day Kvitova took on surprise quarter-finalist Errani. Kvitova seemed flustered from the start and Errani wasn't about to let that pass as she sliced and diced her way through an intriguing first set. Kvitova was not firing at her best and clearly felt like she should be winning much easier than she was. She was muttering to herself and screaming at every missed shot. She was letting the old demons get to her and Errani was not helping at all.
They had some great rallies and Errani pushed Kvitova all the way but eventually lost the set 6-4. You would have thought this would boost Kvitova but instead she fell deeper into herself and Errani quickly established a 4-1 lead. With the Wimbledon champion's game deteriorating ever further and the feisty Italian playing some great tennis, it looked as if a third set was inevitable.
Kvitova, however, began to hit out and find her shots again and Errani had little answer as the Czech drew level at 4-4. With Errani fighting until the end Kvitova had to find some of her best form of the Championships so far to eventually overcome Italy's number two 6-4 6-4.
Sharapova took on giant-killer Makarova in the last women's quarter. It was a much easier ride for the world number three as she saw off the Russian 6-2 6-3 quite comfortably. She will take on Kvitova in the second semi-final tomorrow. What a match that will be.
In the men's draw Murray took on Japan's Nishikori and Djokovic met a determined Ferrer. Both men won in straight sets but they had a very different feel about them.
Murray set an imperious standard with a completely dominant display from start to finish. He was too strong, too penetrating, too clever and too brilliant for Japan's soon to be first ever top 20 player. He was very attacking on the break points which is something he's going to try and implement this year. Watching Murray attack is like opening up that Christmas present that you've been waiting for your whole life. And doesn't he do it well? Please, Murray, do it more often.
The Briton will meet Djokovic in the semi-final as the world number one scrapped a tough win against David Ferrer - the almost-man. The Spanish number two pushed Djokovic all the way and a lot of the Serb's performance was strangely flat. He even started talking to himself and looking helplessly up at his box - the Djokovic of old. Not a good sign. He pulled himself together for the final set and played more like the Djokovic who won this competition last year. He was looking very scary by the time he wrapped up the 6-4 7-6 6-1 and the match up with Murray should be a real hum dinger.
I'll keep you blogged...
In the first match of the day Kvitova took on surprise quarter-finalist Errani. Kvitova seemed flustered from the start and Errani wasn't about to let that pass as she sliced and diced her way through an intriguing first set. Kvitova was not firing at her best and clearly felt like she should be winning much easier than she was. She was muttering to herself and screaming at every missed shot. She was letting the old demons get to her and Errani was not helping at all.
They had some great rallies and Errani pushed Kvitova all the way but eventually lost the set 6-4. You would have thought this would boost Kvitova but instead she fell deeper into herself and Errani quickly established a 4-1 lead. With the Wimbledon champion's game deteriorating ever further and the feisty Italian playing some great tennis, it looked as if a third set was inevitable.
Kvitova, however, began to hit out and find her shots again and Errani had little answer as the Czech drew level at 4-4. With Errani fighting until the end Kvitova had to find some of her best form of the Championships so far to eventually overcome Italy's number two 6-4 6-4.
Sharapova took on giant-killer Makarova in the last women's quarter. It was a much easier ride for the world number three as she saw off the Russian 6-2 6-3 quite comfortably. She will take on Kvitova in the second semi-final tomorrow. What a match that will be.
In the men's draw Murray took on Japan's Nishikori and Djokovic met a determined Ferrer. Both men won in straight sets but they had a very different feel about them.
Murray set an imperious standard with a completely dominant display from start to finish. He was too strong, too penetrating, too clever and too brilliant for Japan's soon to be first ever top 20 player. He was very attacking on the break points which is something he's going to try and implement this year. Watching Murray attack is like opening up that Christmas present that you've been waiting for your whole life. And doesn't he do it well? Please, Murray, do it more often.
The Briton will meet Djokovic in the semi-final as the world number one scrapped a tough win against David Ferrer - the almost-man. The Spanish number two pushed Djokovic all the way and a lot of the Serb's performance was strangely flat. He even started talking to himself and looking helplessly up at his box - the Djokovic of old. Not a good sign. He pulled himself together for the final set and played more like the Djokovic who won this competition last year. He was looking very scary by the time he wrapped up the 6-4 7-6 6-1 and the match up with Murray should be a real hum dinger.
I'll keep you blogged...
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Aussie Open 2012, Days 6, 7, 8 and 9
We're into the first weekend of the Open where the men are separated from the boys (and women from the girls, of course). With the temperatures soaring nobody will want to be out there for very long. Some, however, do not have the luxury.
Berdych and Almagra had a gruelling and controversy-filled match in the heat of the day, with Berdych eventually coming through 4-6 7-6 7-6 7-6. It was a hard-fought win for the Czech but he will not remember the match for his victory, rather the unsporting behaviour of his opponent and his own refusal to shake hands at the end of the game.
Almagra, who I have heard is not one of the most popular guys on tour, appeared to hit a volley straight at Berdych. The Spaniard apologised immediately but Berdych was having none of it and showed his displeasure by refusing his opponents handshake. This was met by a series of boos from the crowd and Berdych later admitted he'd made a mistake.
Tsonga played Japan's dark horse Nishikori in the fourth round and was sensationally beaten in five gripping sets - 2-6 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3. Nishikori has become only the second Japanese player to make the last eight in the Open-era.
He will be play Murray in the quarter-final after the Scot enjoyed an easy progress into the next round after his fourth round opponent Mikhail Kukushkin retired when 6-1 6-1 1-0 down.
The most entertaining fourth round match was between Djokovic and Hewitt (has anyone ever noticed just how squeaky his shoes are? It's deafening!), perhaps playing in his last home Slam. The Aussie stalwart, whose crazy fans were as loud and brilliant as ever throughout the four-set night-match thriller, played some of his best tennis in years to take a set off the formidable world number one. Djokovic eventually proved too much for the Adelaide legend but if that is going to be his last match at the Australian Open, he can leave a happy man.
Federer, Nadal, Ferrer and Del Potro all progressed in straight sets to the last eight.
The women's side has seen some fabulous matches over the last few days and one such garnered the biggest shock of the tournament so far - unseeded Makarova beat six-time champion Serena Williams 6-2 6-3. It was an imperious display from the little-known Russian and put paid to Williams' hopes of ending her dry spell.
Sharapova beat Lisicki in a tight 3-6 6-2 6-3 encounter. Germany's Lisicki has been on another impressive run in a Grand Slam but couldn't fight the Screamer's onslaught. Sharapova hit a whole host of winners in the second and third sets and will move into the quarter-finals on a high.
Azarenka, Radwanska and Errani had easy routes into the quarter finals, only losing nine games between them.
The match of the round was defending champion Kim Clijsters against China's Li Na. Kim rolled her ankle at the very start of the match and looked to be in some trouble as she called the trainer straight away and took a medical time out. She lost the first set to a gleeful Li and quickly fell 5-2 down in the second. It was looking ominous for last years winner but as so often happens in tennis when the pressure is off, the shoulders open up and the winners start flying. Kim broke back and took Li to a tie-break, saving no less than six match points in the process, then winning an incredibly tense breaker 8-6. So into a third set they went and suddenly Clijsters was in the ascendency. She duly broke and weathered a barrage of fine hitting from the Chinese number one to win the set and the match 4-6 7-6 6-4.
She said afterwards that she could not believe she'd won, that she'd thought about quitting when she'd lost the first set. Thank goodness she didn't. I say again, for those who do not like ladies tennis, watch that match.
World numbers one and two beat two former number ones to reach the quarters. Wozniacki overcame a defiant Jankovic 6-0 7-6 and Kvitova defeated Ivanovic 6-2 7-6.
Next up it's the quarter finals and I'm pleased to say the first four have already been played - two men's, two women's.
In the ladies there were two very juicy line ups as Azarenka took on in-form Radwanska and Clijsters played Wozniacki.
Azarenka has looked nothing but impressive so far but Radwanska has been creeping through the rounds with barely a game gone against her. The first set was a tight affair with some amazing play that went, almost inevitably, to a tie-break. Radwanska then turned on the craftiness as Azarenka fell apart and lost it to love. Radwanska was to feel that pain in the second set as Azarenka adjusted her game and won six straight games to hand Radwanska her first bagel of the year. The third set was pretty much one-way traffic as Azarenka ratcheted it up a few more gears and a shaken Radwanska fell further and further away. A very entertaining 6-7 6-0 6-2 match.
Azarenka goes on to play Kim Clijsters in the semi-final who played a beauty of a match against no-longer-world-number-one Caroline Wozniacki. That's right, her defeat means she will lose her crown with Kvitova, Sharapova or Azarenka all poised to take it.
Clijsters won 6-3 7-6 with an imperious display over the young pretender. She used her scary flexibility to get some crazy shots back and then turned defence into attack with some breath-taking strokes, especially her backhand. Wozniacki rallied in the second set and pushed Clijsters all the way but the Belgian was just too good for her and moves one-step closer to defending her title.
The men's mouth-watering match ups saw Federer take on Del Potro and Nadal meet Berdych.
The Federer/Del Potro game was one I thought could be a real ding-dong affair, thinking back on their US Open tussle all those years ago before the Argentinians injury troubles began. Federer, however, proved me and many a tennis fan wrong by completely dominating him from start to finish. The Swiss master was at his tantalising best, skipping around the court and hitting some delicious backhands (yes, backhands). He sailed through 6-4 6-3 6-2, barely breaking a sweat in his 1000th tour match. A masterclass from the master.
Nadal was greatly troubled by Thomas Berdych and took more than four hours to beat the big Czech. He lost the first set on a tie break where an awful line call (one f far too many at the Aussie Open this year) flustered him and ultimately handed Berdych the set. Nadal, never one to sulk, came out firing in the second set and was quickly 5-2 up, only to find himself pegged back to 5-5 and then another tie-break as Berdych's shots once again caused havoc.
The Czech squandered a set point and Nadal jumped on that error to level the match at one set all. I'm sure he could sniff a whiff of weakness in his opponent and he rampaged on to take the next two sets to four and three. Berdych played a great game and was hitting his shots until the very end but Nadal stepped up to that gear that Berdych just doesn't have.
So we have our first semi-final line up and it's the one everybody wanted. Finally they meet in a match that isn't a final, that doesn't have a trophy at stake. A match where they can just play tennis. Federer is playing better than he ever has and Nadal is looking more and more like his old self. We could have a serious match on our hands folks.
Today the remaining quarters will be played with Kvitova taking on surprise quarter-finalist Errani; Sharapova meeting Serena-killer Makarova; Murray playing on-form Nishikori; and Djokovic coming up against dangerous Ferrer - their head-to-head just 6-5 in Djoko's favour. Close close close.
I'll keep you blogged...
Berdych and Almagra had a gruelling and controversy-filled match in the heat of the day, with Berdych eventually coming through 4-6 7-6 7-6 7-6. It was a hard-fought win for the Czech but he will not remember the match for his victory, rather the unsporting behaviour of his opponent and his own refusal to shake hands at the end of the game.
Almagra, who I have heard is not one of the most popular guys on tour, appeared to hit a volley straight at Berdych. The Spaniard apologised immediately but Berdych was having none of it and showed his displeasure by refusing his opponents handshake. This was met by a series of boos from the crowd and Berdych later admitted he'd made a mistake.
Tsonga played Japan's dark horse Nishikori in the fourth round and was sensationally beaten in five gripping sets - 2-6 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3. Nishikori has become only the second Japanese player to make the last eight in the Open-era.
He will be play Murray in the quarter-final after the Scot enjoyed an easy progress into the next round after his fourth round opponent Mikhail Kukushkin retired when 6-1 6-1 1-0 down.
The most entertaining fourth round match was between Djokovic and Hewitt (has anyone ever noticed just how squeaky his shoes are? It's deafening!), perhaps playing in his last home Slam. The Aussie stalwart, whose crazy fans were as loud and brilliant as ever throughout the four-set night-match thriller, played some of his best tennis in years to take a set off the formidable world number one. Djokovic eventually proved too much for the Adelaide legend but if that is going to be his last match at the Australian Open, he can leave a happy man.
Federer, Nadal, Ferrer and Del Potro all progressed in straight sets to the last eight.
The women's side has seen some fabulous matches over the last few days and one such garnered the biggest shock of the tournament so far - unseeded Makarova beat six-time champion Serena Williams 6-2 6-3. It was an imperious display from the little-known Russian and put paid to Williams' hopes of ending her dry spell.
Sharapova beat Lisicki in a tight 3-6 6-2 6-3 encounter. Germany's Lisicki has been on another impressive run in a Grand Slam but couldn't fight the Screamer's onslaught. Sharapova hit a whole host of winners in the second and third sets and will move into the quarter-finals on a high.
Azarenka, Radwanska and Errani had easy routes into the quarter finals, only losing nine games between them.
The match of the round was defending champion Kim Clijsters against China's Li Na. Kim rolled her ankle at the very start of the match and looked to be in some trouble as she called the trainer straight away and took a medical time out. She lost the first set to a gleeful Li and quickly fell 5-2 down in the second. It was looking ominous for last years winner but as so often happens in tennis when the pressure is off, the shoulders open up and the winners start flying. Kim broke back and took Li to a tie-break, saving no less than six match points in the process, then winning an incredibly tense breaker 8-6. So into a third set they went and suddenly Clijsters was in the ascendency. She duly broke and weathered a barrage of fine hitting from the Chinese number one to win the set and the match 4-6 7-6 6-4.
She said afterwards that she could not believe she'd won, that she'd thought about quitting when she'd lost the first set. Thank goodness she didn't. I say again, for those who do not like ladies tennis, watch that match.
World numbers one and two beat two former number ones to reach the quarters. Wozniacki overcame a defiant Jankovic 6-0 7-6 and Kvitova defeated Ivanovic 6-2 7-6.
Next up it's the quarter finals and I'm pleased to say the first four have already been played - two men's, two women's.
In the ladies there were two very juicy line ups as Azarenka took on in-form Radwanska and Clijsters played Wozniacki.
Azarenka has looked nothing but impressive so far but Radwanska has been creeping through the rounds with barely a game gone against her. The first set was a tight affair with some amazing play that went, almost inevitably, to a tie-break. Radwanska then turned on the craftiness as Azarenka fell apart and lost it to love. Radwanska was to feel that pain in the second set as Azarenka adjusted her game and won six straight games to hand Radwanska her first bagel of the year. The third set was pretty much one-way traffic as Azarenka ratcheted it up a few more gears and a shaken Radwanska fell further and further away. A very entertaining 6-7 6-0 6-2 match.
Azarenka goes on to play Kim Clijsters in the semi-final who played a beauty of a match against no-longer-world-number-one Caroline Wozniacki. That's right, her defeat means she will lose her crown with Kvitova, Sharapova or Azarenka all poised to take it.
Clijsters won 6-3 7-6 with an imperious display over the young pretender. She used her scary flexibility to get some crazy shots back and then turned defence into attack with some breath-taking strokes, especially her backhand. Wozniacki rallied in the second set and pushed Clijsters all the way but the Belgian was just too good for her and moves one-step closer to defending her title.
The men's mouth-watering match ups saw Federer take on Del Potro and Nadal meet Berdych.
The Federer/Del Potro game was one I thought could be a real ding-dong affair, thinking back on their US Open tussle all those years ago before the Argentinians injury troubles began. Federer, however, proved me and many a tennis fan wrong by completely dominating him from start to finish. The Swiss master was at his tantalising best, skipping around the court and hitting some delicious backhands (yes, backhands). He sailed through 6-4 6-3 6-2, barely breaking a sweat in his 1000th tour match. A masterclass from the master.
Nadal was greatly troubled by Thomas Berdych and took more than four hours to beat the big Czech. He lost the first set on a tie break where an awful line call (one f far too many at the Aussie Open this year) flustered him and ultimately handed Berdych the set. Nadal, never one to sulk, came out firing in the second set and was quickly 5-2 up, only to find himself pegged back to 5-5 and then another tie-break as Berdych's shots once again caused havoc.
The Czech squandered a set point and Nadal jumped on that error to level the match at one set all. I'm sure he could sniff a whiff of weakness in his opponent and he rampaged on to take the next two sets to four and three. Berdych played a great game and was hitting his shots until the very end but Nadal stepped up to that gear that Berdych just doesn't have.
So we have our first semi-final line up and it's the one everybody wanted. Finally they meet in a match that isn't a final, that doesn't have a trophy at stake. A match where they can just play tennis. Federer is playing better than he ever has and Nadal is looking more and more like his old self. We could have a serious match on our hands folks.
Today the remaining quarters will be played with Kvitova taking on surprise quarter-finalist Errani; Sharapova meeting Serena-killer Makarova; Murray playing on-form Nishikori; and Djokovic coming up against dangerous Ferrer - their head-to-head just 6-5 in Djoko's favour. Close close close.
I'll keep you blogged...
Friday, 20 January 2012
Aussie Open 2012, Days 3, 4 and 5
A friend of mine expressed disenchantment with this years Aussie Open today. He said he felt it lacked a little something this year, a certain buzz or atmosphere. I can't say I agree with him.
He clearly didn't see the Baghdatis/Wawrinka match in which the crowd got so excited by the game and by Baghdatis smashing racket after racket that a few of them had to be removed. There's nothing like a late-night Aussie crowd filled with sunshine and booze to get the blood racing. Wawrinka came through that match eventually in five gruelling sets - yet another five-setter from the Open this year.
Yes, apart from Sam Stosur, there have been no massive shocks so far, but there have most definitely been minor shocks and fabulous matches. Tomic, everyone's 'dark horse' of the tournament, has been involved in some brilliant games - his five-setter against Dolgopolov, the 13th seed, which he won 4-6 7-6 7-6 2-6 6-3, was brilliant. I've never seen so many sliced shots in my life. Many people doubted Tomic's staying power in matches but he's proven his longevity with two going all the way and going his way.
Other seeds have dropped - Simon (13) beaten by compatriot Benneteau in five sets; Troicki (19) defeated by Kazakhstani's Kukushkin again in five sets; Roddick (15) retired against Hewitt after three sets (so much for my match of the tournament so far!); Kanepi (25) ousted by Russian Makarova; Cibulkova (17) beaten by little-known Hungarian Arn.
The big names are through. In the ladies Clijsters, the defending champion, is getting better and better and looking more comfortable as the competition goes on. Sharapova and Azarenka have barely lost a set between them on their paths to reach the final. Serena Williams and Kvitova look occasionally shaky but still very formidable and Agnieska Radwanska has been storming her way through the rounds like a woman possessed.
In the men's the big four are all safely through to the first weekend of the Open. Federer had a pretty tough encounter with Ivo Karlovic but squeezed out a 7-6 7-5 6-3 victory. Murray's progress has been smoother since his tough first round with a straight-forward win over Roger-Vasselin 6-1 6-4 6-4. Del Potro has been making steady progress and could cause an upset as we go further into the tournament. Ferrer and Tsonga have been quietly sliding through the rounds with little fuss or trouble.
I think there's a lot of drama to come. We're into the weekend now and round four. This is where the real business begins.
I'll keep you blogged...
He clearly didn't see the Baghdatis/Wawrinka match in which the crowd got so excited by the game and by Baghdatis smashing racket after racket that a few of them had to be removed. There's nothing like a late-night Aussie crowd filled with sunshine and booze to get the blood racing. Wawrinka came through that match eventually in five gruelling sets - yet another five-setter from the Open this year.
Yes, apart from Sam Stosur, there have been no massive shocks so far, but there have most definitely been minor shocks and fabulous matches. Tomic, everyone's 'dark horse' of the tournament, has been involved in some brilliant games - his five-setter against Dolgopolov, the 13th seed, which he won 4-6 7-6 7-6 2-6 6-3, was brilliant. I've never seen so many sliced shots in my life. Many people doubted Tomic's staying power in matches but he's proven his longevity with two going all the way and going his way.
Other seeds have dropped - Simon (13) beaten by compatriot Benneteau in five sets; Troicki (19) defeated by Kazakhstani's Kukushkin again in five sets; Roddick (15) retired against Hewitt after three sets (so much for my match of the tournament so far!); Kanepi (25) ousted by Russian Makarova; Cibulkova (17) beaten by little-known Hungarian Arn.
The big names are through. In the ladies Clijsters, the defending champion, is getting better and better and looking more comfortable as the competition goes on. Sharapova and Azarenka have barely lost a set between them on their paths to reach the final. Serena Williams and Kvitova look occasionally shaky but still very formidable and Agnieska Radwanska has been storming her way through the rounds like a woman possessed.
In the men's the big four are all safely through to the first weekend of the Open. Federer had a pretty tough encounter with Ivo Karlovic but squeezed out a 7-6 7-5 6-3 victory. Murray's progress has been smoother since his tough first round with a straight-forward win over Roger-Vasselin 6-1 6-4 6-4. Del Potro has been making steady progress and could cause an upset as we go further into the tournament. Ferrer and Tsonga have been quietly sliding through the rounds with little fuss or trouble.
I think there's a lot of drama to come. We're into the weekend now and round four. This is where the real business begins.
I'll keep you blogged...
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