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...
Friday, 27 January 2012
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...
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Aussie Open 2012, Day 2
Sam Stosur fell to 59th seed Sorana Cirstea on a blistering second day of the Australian Open. Stosur, the US Open Champion and home favourite, looked nervous from the start and lost the first set on a crucial tie-break and never quite recovered, playing out a poor second set to limp loosely to a 7-6 (6-2) 6-3 defeat. Stosur has never played well at her home Slam and will have to spend the next two weeks wondering where her game goes every time she has the roar of support solely on her side.
Williams, making her first appearance at the Aussie Open for two years, made a stodgy start to this years campaign against Austria's Tamira Paszek, winning 6-3 6-2. It was a patchy performance from the former world number one and she'll have to improve if she's going to prove as dangerous as in former years.
In the men's draw Djokovic and Murray made their starts and the world number one carried his imperious form of last year into this as he demolished Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 6-2 6-0 6-0. He is looking pretty darn good, I have to say.
Murray fought to win a decidedly tougher match in defeating dangerous American Ryan Harrison 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2. He made a sluggish start and lost the first set tamely to a firing Harrison who had said before the match that he was excited to play Murray. The Scot, however, began to find his range mid-way through the second set and his experience showed as the game wore on and Harrison tired. Murray will meet Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin on Thursday for a place in the third round.
Roddick, Ferrer, Simon, Monfils and Hewitt are also through to the next round, with Kvitova, Wozniacki, Zvonareva and Sharapova joining them.
Day three will bring Federer and Nadal, Clijsters and Azarenka back to the forefront. But my second round pick? Roddick v Hewitt. It's going to be a humdinger, no doubt about it.
I'll keep you blogged...
Williams, making her first appearance at the Aussie Open for two years, made a stodgy start to this years campaign against Austria's Tamira Paszek, winning 6-3 6-2. It was a patchy performance from the former world number one and she'll have to improve if she's going to prove as dangerous as in former years.
In the men's draw Djokovic and Murray made their starts and the world number one carried his imperious form of last year into this as he demolished Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 6-2 6-0 6-0. He is looking pretty darn good, I have to say.
Murray fought to win a decidedly tougher match in defeating dangerous American Ryan Harrison 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2. He made a sluggish start and lost the first set tamely to a firing Harrison who had said before the match that he was excited to play Murray. The Scot, however, began to find his range mid-way through the second set and his experience showed as the game wore on and Harrison tired. Murray will meet Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin on Thursday for a place in the third round.
Roddick, Ferrer, Simon, Monfils and Hewitt are also through to the next round, with Kvitova, Wozniacki, Zvonareva and Sharapova joining them.
Day three will bring Federer and Nadal, Clijsters and Azarenka back to the forefront. But my second round pick? Roddick v Hewitt. It's going to be a humdinger, no doubt about it.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 16 January 2012
Aussie Open 2012, Day 1
The first day of this year's Australian Open was bathed in glorious sunshine and steaming heat. It saw many of the favourites go through - Federer, Nadal, Ferrer, Clijsters, Azarenka, Wozniacki - and many a Brit fall short - all five British players lost and lost convincingly.
Watson was the first victim. She started well against Victoria Azarenka, with a service hold and break points against the 3rd seed but once Azarenka held her first game she didn't look back. The heat seemed to be getting to an increasingly frustrated Watson who surrendered the first set in 36 minutes. She started the second brightly with some penetrating shots but Azarenka was in her stride and hitting winners at will. A bagel looked inevitable and thus it proved when Watson made her 27th unforced error and handed Azarenka the game.
Next came Baltacha who was playing a player ranked 53 places lower than the world number 54. She would have been confident of a win over Frenchwoman Foretz Gacon but suffered a terrible start and never really recovered, losing the first set 6-2 and faltering at 4-4 in the second to hand Gacon the break and then the match - 6-2 6-4. She said afterwards that she hadn't felt comfortable on court.
Laura Robson was outclassed by former number one Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-0. The left-hander looked ill-at-ease from the beginning dropping her serve straight away and losing the second set to another bagel - the second of the day for the British players.
James Ward was beaten solidly by his 103rd ranked opponent Kavcic of Slovakia, 6-4 6-3 6-4. He couldn't find the magical form that saw him reach the semi-final of Queen's last year despite having come through qualifying to reach the main draw of the Australian Open by rights for the first time. Kavcic goes on to play Del Potro in the second round.
Keothavong, Britain's fifth player of the day, faired worst of all against Germany's Barthel, retiring after losing the first set 6-0 with suspected food poisoning - a third bagel set of the day for the Brits.
So our hopes, once again, rest squarely on Andy Murray's shoulders. Not a bad shout, according to many experts predicting a maiden Slam for the number four seed here. Having reached the final for the last two years, off the back of his victory in Brisbane, and with new coach Llendl breathing life into his game, Murray could produce an Open to remember.
Men's match of the day: Tomic v Verdasco, 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-2 7-5 - Tomic, the young Australian hopeful, came back from two sets down to beat 22nd seed Fernando Verdasco. It was a real hum-dinger of a match with momentum swinging this way and that. Ultimately Tomic handled the pressure better and seemed to relish in the crowd's attention.
Women's match of the day: Radwanska v Mattek-Sands, 6-7 6-4 6-2 - Radwanska found it tough going against the spirited American. The first set could have been either ladies as they traded blows and each had chances to tie it up. It was Mattek-Sands who found the way through eventually taking it 12-10 in the tie break. Radwanska, the 8th seed, broke back in the second set to take it to a decider where she played her best tennis of the match against a wilting opponent. Great match.
On a day that saw eight seeds fall (three women and five men - Panetta, at 19th, the highest ranked) and nine five-setters contested, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees and the wind causing havoc, the Aussie Open has started with a bang.
And what we've all been waiting for, my predictions.
Men's Champion: Andy Murray
Women's Champion: Petra Kvitova
We shall see.
I'll keep you blogged...
Watson was the first victim. She started well against Victoria Azarenka, with a service hold and break points against the 3rd seed but once Azarenka held her first game she didn't look back. The heat seemed to be getting to an increasingly frustrated Watson who surrendered the first set in 36 minutes. She started the second brightly with some penetrating shots but Azarenka was in her stride and hitting winners at will. A bagel looked inevitable and thus it proved when Watson made her 27th unforced error and handed Azarenka the game.
Next came Baltacha who was playing a player ranked 53 places lower than the world number 54. She would have been confident of a win over Frenchwoman Foretz Gacon but suffered a terrible start and never really recovered, losing the first set 6-2 and faltering at 4-4 in the second to hand Gacon the break and then the match - 6-2 6-4. She said afterwards that she hadn't felt comfortable on court.
Laura Robson was outclassed by former number one Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-0. The left-hander looked ill-at-ease from the beginning dropping her serve straight away and losing the second set to another bagel - the second of the day for the British players.
James Ward was beaten solidly by his 103rd ranked opponent Kavcic of Slovakia, 6-4 6-3 6-4. He couldn't find the magical form that saw him reach the semi-final of Queen's last year despite having come through qualifying to reach the main draw of the Australian Open by rights for the first time. Kavcic goes on to play Del Potro in the second round.
Keothavong, Britain's fifth player of the day, faired worst of all against Germany's Barthel, retiring after losing the first set 6-0 with suspected food poisoning - a third bagel set of the day for the Brits.
So our hopes, once again, rest squarely on Andy Murray's shoulders. Not a bad shout, according to many experts predicting a maiden Slam for the number four seed here. Having reached the final for the last two years, off the back of his victory in Brisbane, and with new coach Llendl breathing life into his game, Murray could produce an Open to remember.
Men's match of the day: Tomic v Verdasco, 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-2 7-5 - Tomic, the young Australian hopeful, came back from two sets down to beat 22nd seed Fernando Verdasco. It was a real hum-dinger of a match with momentum swinging this way and that. Ultimately Tomic handled the pressure better and seemed to relish in the crowd's attention.
Women's match of the day: Radwanska v Mattek-Sands, 6-7 6-4 6-2 - Radwanska found it tough going against the spirited American. The first set could have been either ladies as they traded blows and each had chances to tie it up. It was Mattek-Sands who found the way through eventually taking it 12-10 in the tie break. Radwanska, the 8th seed, broke back in the second set to take it to a decider where she played her best tennis of the match against a wilting opponent. Great match.
On a day that saw eight seeds fall (three women and five men - Panetta, at 19th, the highest ranked) and nine five-setters contested, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees and the wind causing havoc, the Aussie Open has started with a bang.
And what we've all been waiting for, my predictions.
Men's Champion: Andy Murray
Women's Champion: Petra Kvitova
We shall see.
I'll keep you blogged...
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Tennis 2012
I have blinked and it's 2012 and the tennis season is starting all over again. Boy oh boy. Suddenly we have the Australian Open to gorge on in just 13 days. The French will be here before we know it, then Wimbledon, and at last the US. I can't believe it's about to happen all over again.
Already there are results to talk about. Djoko has made a very promising start to the year after crushing The Fed and Ferrer to win the Abu Dhabi exhibition. Ferrer, in his turn, defeated Nadal. Will Djokovic be able to live up to the exceptional standard he set last year? Will Nadal bounce back from a whole host of defeats against the unflappable Serb to win more than just the French this year? Will Federer pick up his first slam since 2010 on the back of his brilliant triumph against Tsonga at the World Tour Finals in November? Will Murray win his first major? Will one of the others do the impossible and take a slam from the top four?
And on the women's tour will Serena bounce back from a tough couple of years? Will this be the year that the Williams sisters retire (possibly after the Olympics)? Will we see a more dominant player emerge or will there be four different women winning the slams again? Will any British women make roads into the bigger tournaments?
We shall see.
Murray has finally appointed a full-time coach and it is to be one Ivan Lendl. He hopes Lendl can help him 'mentally' with certain things. Although Lendl has never coached before and has kept a low profile since his retirement in 1994, he is certainly qualified to help Murray. He lost his first four grand slam finals before going on to win eight major singles titles and hold the number one spot for 270 weeks. Lets hope whatever clicked for Lendl can click for Murray and 2012 can be the start of something great for the young Scot.
Murray is through a tough opener at his first tournament of the year, the Brisbane International, coming through against Mikhail Kukushkin, 5-7 6-3 6-2.
Bring on the next few weeks and the first major of the year.
I'll keep you blogged...
Already there are results to talk about. Djoko has made a very promising start to the year after crushing The Fed and Ferrer to win the Abu Dhabi exhibition. Ferrer, in his turn, defeated Nadal. Will Djokovic be able to live up to the exceptional standard he set last year? Will Nadal bounce back from a whole host of defeats against the unflappable Serb to win more than just the French this year? Will Federer pick up his first slam since 2010 on the back of his brilliant triumph against Tsonga at the World Tour Finals in November? Will Murray win his first major? Will one of the others do the impossible and take a slam from the top four?
And on the women's tour will Serena bounce back from a tough couple of years? Will this be the year that the Williams sisters retire (possibly after the Olympics)? Will we see a more dominant player emerge or will there be four different women winning the slams again? Will any British women make roads into the bigger tournaments?
We shall see.
Murray has finally appointed a full-time coach and it is to be one Ivan Lendl. He hopes Lendl can help him 'mentally' with certain things. Although Lendl has never coached before and has kept a low profile since his retirement in 1994, he is certainly qualified to help Murray. He lost his first four grand slam finals before going on to win eight major singles titles and hold the number one spot for 270 weeks. Lets hope whatever clicked for Lendl can click for Murray and 2012 can be the start of something great for the young Scot.
Murray is through a tough opener at his first tournament of the year, the Brisbane International, coming through against Mikhail Kukushkin, 5-7 6-3 6-2.
Bring on the next few weeks and the first major of the year.
I'll keep you blogged...
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