Australian Open- Page 3

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 4:48pm

Updated On: 2/21/09 at 04:48 PM

[gettinhep]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 5:21pm

Actually Petite, at each match that I saw last week, the players examined at least two or three. It made no difference whether they be male or female players. The guys just took a little longer over the examination, that's all.

[DG]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 9:34pm

Hantuchova made short work of her match - she'll be well rested and ready.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 11:03pm

And Venus falls to Ivanovic.

[DG]

Posted: 1/23/08 at 2:55am

The semis on both sides are shaping up to provide the possibility for some excellent tennis. All the Eastern-Euro women are playing excellently - although, I don't know how much longer Jelena can play through her pain.

And both Nadal and Djokovic are stomping people into the ground. If Roger hopes for a third in a row, he's going to have to step it up.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/23/08 at 7:26am

so close...so close...

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 1/23/08 at 8:29am

I LOVE to watch tennis, especially the majors.

Sharapova has proven herself... I like Henin, though.

BIG Roger Federer fan Go FedX

I must say I'm shocked both Williams' are gone.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/23/08 at 8:45am

smarty, i missed that comment, but never one to disappoint, i merely point out that the girls have clearly seen enough balls to know that there's really not much difference in the end.

[DG]

Posted: 1/23/08 at 9:27am

Well, as it stands on the men's side, Rafa has the better deal. Tsonga has had an amazing run, and is quite talented - but the other three left are in a different league. Rafa will only have to play one of the top three in the world, whereas Roger or Djokovic will have to get through two of them.

As for the women, I wouldn't mind seeing papa's dream final. I worry about Jelena pushing her injuries so much right off the bat at the beginning of the season. And Hantuchova bores me. I think Justine was right - it's Maria's to lose.

[javero]

Posted: 1/23/08 at 3:35pm

My picks are Nadal and Ivanovic. Ana played Venus brilliantly and exposed the weaknesses in her game. I loved her self confidence throughout the match except a minor hiccup when she threw in a nervous double fault.

This will be a breakthrough Oz Open for Nadal and Ivanovic. Novak D. is going to send Federer packing in their semi before bowing out to Nadal in the men's final. Nadal smells blood in the other half. Ivanovic is going outlast Sharapova in a battle of attrition. She'll race away with the first set, choke away the second and regain her composure in the 3rd before a wilting Sharapova.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/23/08 at 3:54pm

Does anyone know if the finals might be on network tv this weekend? If I am not mistaken, it is being broadcast on ESPN, which I no longer have. ugh!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 12:41am

Ivanovic was looking awful, but now she has really turned it on and this is a nice match.
Sharapova moved through easily, I think she is going to be hard to beat.

The women's match is scheduled for ESPN2, I don't know of any plans to play anything on a network.

[DG]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 1:54am

Wow - Ana pulled it out! I actually stopped watching for a bit after the first set - just didn't seem to be any reason to continue. But then I checked back in, and there she was still fighting. She sure doesn't give up. Maria isn't known for keeping it together over a long haul - she better be on her toes.

And if this isn't Roger's tourny, I think Djokovic will take it all.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 6:42am

giggity giggity.

[DG]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 7:57am

Ok, where did this Tsongas guy come from?!?!? Holy cow - he stomped all over Rafa! There's just not much history to read up on him, but he was playing some SERIOUS tennis - and playing it confidently to boot! That match was bizarre to watch - like a pro against a medium-grade college schmuck. Unbelievable.

[javero]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 1:20pm

DG--please give up the intel on this Tsongas kid!

A colleague just described his game as bombastic like Becker's yet agile like Edberg's. He also believes that Tsongas has the game to take out Federer on grass which is a tall order. I still haven't been able to catch any coverage of Tsongas in action. Perhaps it's time to finally invest in TiVo.

[DG]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 1:39pm

Javero - he had a great junior run - beating Bagdatis in the 2003 US Open Juniors (and reaching the SF round of the other three.) He turned pro in 2004, but hasn't played much (missing ALL of 2006) because of injuries.

These are his won/lost numbers (note the LOW numbers since joining the tour in '04 - but he was busy before that):
Career Singles (Tour Level Only): won-24 lost-15
Career Doubles (Tour Level Only): won-12 lost-7
Career Singles (Incl. Futures, Challengers and Satellites): won-172 lost-74
Career Doubles (Incl. Futures, Challengers and Satellites): won-36 lost-25

It's nice to see another player committed to doubles, as well (he partnered with Gasquait in this Aussie - apparently, they're friends.)

He's a superior athlete with a serious court sense (almost unnaturally so considering his limited pro experience - the amateur and junior experience REALLY must have paid off!) While capable of matching hit-for-hit in strength, he also showed a deft touch at the net (and in drops,) which is something even Djokovic is still trying to get a handle on.

Honestly, he was in COMPLETE control of the Nadal match from the first serve. I wonder if Rafa was just too intimidated by not knowing anything about him - God knows he couldn't have been tired with the easy run he's had.

Truly, he showed ENORMOUS composure, confidence and extreme capability - and he's only 22. This little run itself has already vaulted him from nowhere into the top 40 (maybe higher when all is said and done.) Definitely the big surprise of the new year - and a VERY welcome addition to the line-up.

I think we're seeing in the men's side what happened to the women's because of the Sisters. Everyone is having to raise their game because of Roger, and the effect is all the better players and tennis in general.

[javero]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 2:10pm

Thanks DG for sharing your insights into Tsongas' career. Now, I'm the world's 2nd biggest Federer fan after you of course but wish that he would hone his forehand volley a bit. I still think of it as his achilles heel. He still drops the racquet head just before contact and doesn't punch through it. Am I the only one who spots fear in Federer's eyes when he's at net?

His exhibition matches with Sampras this past year were very revealing.

The pack is catching up; Fed has to become more of a force in the forecourt because Nadal, Gonzo, and Nalbandian can go toe-to-toe with him from the baseline and it's high time a legitimate serve-and-volleyer came along to dethrone him at the Big W.

[DG]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 2:17pm

You're not the only one who's noticed. I think it's because he chooses not to work with a coach, who could give him feedback he seriously needs. Maybe he'll change his mind when he really starts losing the majors.

[Icehouse Life]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 2:20pm

Roger must use ample time learning to be patient on clay in time for Roland Garros later this May and June. Yes, his forehand volley could use some tweaking.

In other news, congrats to Michael Chang in his induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. And I hear that Guga's going to retire.

Other than all that, MY BABY'S MOMMY GONNA FACE MARIA IN THE FINALS!!!!!!!!!! :)

[DG]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 2:35pm

Guga hasn't seemed to be in it for awhile now.

And I have nothing against Mr. Chang at all, but other than his one scrambling, racing, scooting win at the French, what's his induction based on?

And I know some straight men that are THRILLED with the women's final pairing - and imagine them 'pairing' in . . . oh, nevermind.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 4:47pm

Sweeties, I saw three of Jo-Wilfried's matches in the first week. He glides, he waits, he pounces. He can change pace so efficiently that you don't notice until he has blasted the ball past the unlucky guy still standing flat-footed behind the baseline. I had not noticed the guy before the Open. Now, I'm intrigued.

The weirdness of the week continued at Jelena Jankovic's press-conference yesterday afternoon. She actually blamed part of the loss on Heath Ledger's death. Okay.

[javero]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 5:07pm

Oh yeah...Jelena Jankovic is the Official WTA Drama Queen.

Move over Capriati, there's a new high priestess of drama in town.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 5:58pm

Even her opponent suggested she stop the whine and get on with the game.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/24/08 at 7:05pm

Thanks DG for that info on Tsongas. Very interesting stuff, and a much needed addition to the tour.
I love watching Roger, but the closer the others are the better. I would really love to see how he deals with it if (and at the moment it is still a huge if) he starts to lose some.