Australian Open Tennis

[prydey]

due to me being on night shift at the moment, i haven't seen as much tennis as i would've liked. some of the big names in good form coming in have fallen early. from last nights game, federer looks like he is on his way to another Grand Slam Final. Nadal is looking ok too. del potro was in good form coming in but he's out. haven't kept up with verdasco, i think he's still around. watched tsonga the other night and he looked ok too.

the australian open hasn't really unearthed any new talent this year. bagdahtis, gonzales, tsonga, etc all seemed to jump into the limelight in the aussie open.

i'm sure there are other tennis fans on here.

[Windsor220]

Watched last night 3rd set. Hewitt has no answer for Federer. It didnt even look like Fed was even tiring. Just too good

[Dave_Obsession]

Originally Posted by prydey

the australian open hasn't really unearthed any new talent this year. bagdahtis, gonzales, tsonga, etc all seemed to jump into the limelight in the aussie open.

I disagree - it's made people sit up and take real notice of Bernard Tomic as the next big thing in Australian mens tennis - it's just a shame he's a sook and a spoilt brat (Lleyton anyone?)

Also Maran Cilic has stepped forward and shown everyone that he's going to be around for a while as well....

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

It didnt even look like Fed was even tiring. Just too good

its an illusion he creates. never looks like he's raising a sweat, rarely gets flustered on court.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by dave93761

I disagree - it's made people sit up and take real notice of Bernard Tomic as the next big thing in Australian mens tennis - it's just a shame he's a sook and a spoilt brat (Lleyton anyone?)

Also Maran Cilic has stepped forward and shown everyone that he's going to be around for a while as well....

to a point yes, but the players i mentioned came from nowhere. Cilic is having a good tournament though.

[GUTLES]

I normally get into it in the second week, last nights came started off like it was going to be a ripper, hopefully it gets better.

I reckon the ladies games are better this year - not just for the perve either ;)

[Archilino]

I went last night and saw Hewitt v Federer and also Azarenko v Zvonereva on centre court. Arrived at about 6pm and it was jam packed, luckily they have anounced a major renovation because i think the event has outrown the facilities.

Two issues that were really dissapointing were firstly not waiting until everyone had entered centre court for the Hewitt/Federer match, surely waiting even 10 more minutes to allow people inside cente court wouldnt hurt. Instead the match started with the stands barely half full.

Second issue was spectator related, during the womens match 2 women in their 30's and their mother in her 50's id guess were calling the players "pigs" at the top of their voice every minute or 2, security was alerted but they refused to act. Shocking way to act in public at a major sporting event.

We were sitting next to two swiss tourists on holidays to watch federer and they were not suprisd in the slightest, saying our reputation overseas is a very tarnished one, racism and feral behaviour is what we are becoming known for. Sad that always the minority make the most noise.

[prydey]

was good to see roddick fight it out to the end even though he was injured. almost pulled it off but not to be. cilic's tournament is going well.

nadal seems destined to never be able to challenge federers records. at one stage in his career (only a couple of years ago) he was being touted as the one to go better again. unfortunately his knees just aren't up to it. i was surprised he didn't have any strapping on.

murray looks like he's improved since i last saw him. either that or he's just having a good run. djokavic (sp) is sneaking through on the quiet.

i have my money on federer but those left are capable of giving him a decent fight.

[terra australis]

Murray looked really good last night. Played a very smart and tactical game against Nadal. My pic would be Murray to reach the final as Cilic has had some really hard matches so far.

My pic for the mens winner is Murray and for the womens Serena.

[prydey]

was good to see someone serve and volley. probably not as much as pistol pete or rafter, but good nonetheless.

[FTE217]

yer Murray and Nadal were having great slog fests last night, Murray was generating heaps of pace not giving Raffa the time to prepare, was looking forward to see if the bull Raffa could have got the 3rd set but alas never to be........
Fed is still the class imo, Murray and whoever is left will have to play above themselves to get him flustered the whole match.

Serena looks the one to gain the trophy but little Henin is still there,be a great David and Golith final if it happens.

[prydey]

serena getting spanked by azerenka (sp) at the moment. big sister venus already outed.

[prydey]

whoops, when i wrote the above comments, azarenka had the 1st 6-4 and was 4-0 up in the 2nd. serena then woke up and won the next 5 games. set went to tiebreak and serena won the 2nd 7-6. awesome game.

[FTE217]

hehe under an hr she recovers wins the game, must be the jugs !

[FTE217]

Wellwell comeback by Tsonga !

Fed wethered the storm then rattled off taking 47 points out of 52 odd to turn the game his way, then the Russian wakes up again all too late !

Hows Serena,down a set and half gone through the second to recover for the win, she's got a never say die game !
Venus blows it !

So the Chinese have 2 in the womens semis ! good luck to them.

How's Leconte's commentry LOL.......

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Bluedriver

Wellwell comeback by Tsonga !

i'm a bit annoyed cos i'm on nightshift at the moment. i was watcing it via live scorecard on the aus open website but its hardly the same. looked like a pretty good contest and i didn't care who djokavic was playing, i didn't want hime to win. he's not a bad tennis player but i just don't like him.

federer took a set and a half to wake up too. bit like serena. then he put on a tennis lesson. he's going to be hard to beat if he plays like that. 23 consecutive semi's in a row. (grand slams). the guy is no.1. even when nadal jumped him in the rankings, it never felt like you could call him no.2.

[prydey]

good form by ch7!! we're into the final 6 and we have to sit through home and away, rather than watch cilic and murray live!!

i realise not everyone likes the tennis but this is why tv stations should broadcast on multiple channels. ch7 have about 4 to choose from.

[Archilino]

Originally Posted by prydey

good form by ch7!! we're into the final 6 and we have to sit through home and away, rather than watch cilic and murray live!!

i realise not everyone likes the tennis but this is why tv stations should broadcast on multiple channels. ch7 have about 4 to choose from.

First time in a long time it hasnt been on foxsports as well, apparently ch 7 asked for big $$$ this year. Foxsports said thanks but no thanks.

[RG]

MY GOD.

What an absolutely amazing point by Andy Murray.

[chrisfpv]

Justine Henin showdown with Serena Williams
Neil Wilson From: Herald Sun January 28, 2010 8:07PM

FORMER No. 1 Justine Henin will seek to recapture the Australian Open crown from regining tennis queen Serena Williams after a crushing semi-final win today.

Henin breezed into the final of her comeback grand slam with a 6-1 6-0 crushing of top Chinese player Zheng Jie in less than an hour this afternoon.

She completely outplayed the Chinese star with a classical serve-volley game, deceiving her opponent with pace, height and spin in hitting 23 winners to three.

The Belgian, unseeded and unranked as she returns from a brief retirement, showed all her old skill with Zheng unable to attack her faster service and being caught out of position by Henin passing shots.

Coming after Serena Williams had beaten Zheng's compatriot Li Na, it was a bad afternoon for China's rising tennis stars but gave the Australian tennis public the final most want to see - Henin versus Williams.

Henin was thrilled to have come so far in her comeback appearance.

"I was serious about what I wanted to do on the court and how I was going to do it," Henin said, adding she was trying to be more relaxed now about her tennis..

"I can't wait for the final night, it's just an amazing feeling to have the chance to play another final here in Melbourne. It's fantastic for me.

"I'm going to play the number one player in the world and a defending champion - she's a real fighter, she';s showed it again in this tournament."

Earlier today , a tiring Serena Williams outlasted a valiant Li Na to win her way to another Australian Open final in two sets which both went to tie-breaks.

Williams was tested by the Chinese star, who saved four match points on service in the latter games of the second set as she struggled to stay in her first semi-final in a grand slam.

But Williams, despite puffing heavily late and at times moving a little sluggishly, had the power game which Li Na could not counter in the final tie-breaker despite her patient accuracy and deep hitting for much of the match.

Serena went to a 6-1 lead in the tie-break and afterwards revealed that she had taken advice from her sister Venus, who was defeated yesterday by Li.

"She (Venus) told me how to play her and what to do - she had chances yesterday," Serena said.

"She told me what to do. It always helps if you can have someone to help you out."

Serena Williams will play go for her 12th Grand Slam victory, which would equal the record of Billie Jean-King. She will play either comeback queen Justine Henin or the other Chinese contender Zheng Jie, who are about to take to the centre court.

In the second set, Serena's serve was strong enough to get her out of any trouble when pushed by Li Na, whio had the chance of a break at in the seventh game. In response, Williams served an ace.

Li Na had no such luxury and her calm temperment was tested as she had to continually withstand pressure on her serve to stay in the match. In the tenth game, she saved three match points to finally level at 5-5.

Williams served the next match to love, then Li again saved a match point on her service to finally force a tie-break at 6-6.

But Serena powered her way through the tie-break to a 6-1 lead before taking the match.

In the first set, it was Williams' powerful serving both helped and hindered her in the tie-break, which she won eventually won seven points to four.

After a bad start in the match, Li had fought back strongly towards the end of the first set, including breaking back in the 10th game where Serena had served to take a one-set lead. She forced Williams to deuce then having three advantages before finally breaking the American number one seed's serve to save the set.

Her effort in getting back in the 10th game was typical of how Li Na got better and better as the first set progressed, after a shaky start.

She showed an impoved forehand game, hitting with power and court depth, to go with her strong backhand.

Li's accuracy and patience gave Serena problems in playing an aggressive game, just as it did yesterday for her sister Venus. Serena had problems with Li's serves, which tended to kick up high about her shoulders as she tried to attack them.

Initially, the reigning Australian Open champ dominated but the Chinese champion did herself proud by pushing the world number one all the way.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/te...-1225824352150

So everyone, who are we liking in this match?

I'm hoping that Justine can take this down myself as I loved to watch her play years back.

According to the Australian Open schedule, the match is to take place on Saturday the 30th of Jan at 7:30pm.

[prydey]

i'll be cheering for henin as well, but thats more to do with the fact i don't want serena to win.

henin has the best (looking) backhand in womens tennis. the 'one handed' backhand looks so much better. federer is one of the only men to have a one handed backhand as well.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by prydey

i'll be cheering for henin as well, but thats more to do with the fact i don't want serena to win.

henin has the best (looking) backhand in womens tennis. the 'one handed' backhand looks so much better. federer is one of the only men to have a one handed backhand as well.

yep agree re the backhands from both of the above mentioned players, the angles they get (crosscourt) is far more than the double handed players but those down the line by the double handers are rockets !

Go Henin ! I really don't mind Serena but her after match interviews are never very humble far prefer to hear Henin's mix of Belg/French.

I wasn't overly impressed by Murrays game v's Cilic compared to how he went to Nadal. If Cilic wasn't so buggered from his past games Murray would have had a far harder time and could have gone either way,nonetheless the Scot is through.

If Tsonga can do the impossible v's Fed I'll be amazed !!

Having Fox I'm amazed couldn't watch from 6pm once I got home,bugga commercial stations grrrrrrr.

[prydey]

anyone else watching the charity match 'hit for haiti'?

great spirit out on the court.

roddick got called for footfault on his serve. asked the person responsible for calling if he realised that serena was out on the court. comedy stuff.

[FTE217]

hehe re Roddick but nah not watching.

Tsonga given a lesson on how far he is from taken on the Top Deck of the tennis pile.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Bluedriver

Tsonga given a lesson on how far he is from taken on the Top Deck of the tennis pile.

in fairness to tsonga, he did just come off a couple of tough 5 setters and also federer is in pretty good touch. i don't think its as big a gap as that looked.

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by prydey

anyone else watching the charity match 'hit for haiti'?

great spirit out on the court.

roddick got called for footfault on his serve. asked the person responsible for calling if he realised that serena was out on the court. comedy stuff.

Watching it now, looks like they're having a bit of fun out there.

"Where you going Kim?"

lol

[GUTLES]

Originally Posted by prydey

anyone else watching the charity match 'hit for haiti'?

great spirit out on the court.

roddick got called for footfault on his serve. asked the person responsible for calling if he realised that serena was out on the court. comedy stuff.

I had a lazy afternoon for once, watched Home Improvment then this come on, got hooked on it, was really good to see how well they get on & having some fun. I beleive it was played just before the Aus Open kicked off.

[chrisfpv]

Serena Williams Def. Justine Henin

6 - 4, 3 - 6, 6 - 2.

Shame, it looked like Justine was on fire coming out of the second set and at the start of the third, thought she was going to excel.

[US kills Falcon]

Roger you %$#%ing beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kenz]

Originally Posted by US kills Falcon

Roger you %$#%ing beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he'd be alright if he didnt have so many tickets on himself sometimes. Its not all the time I know and he is good at what he does but every now and then he just cant help himself lol