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Quarter-final day 1 review
Eugenie Bouchard celebrates making her first Major semi-final (thanks to Latimes.com) The first day of the quarter finals is wrapped up and there were some lovely gifts from the tennis Gods.The tennis review unwraps the pressies.
Tomas Berdych beats David Ferrer
It was quite the day for Tomas. In beating Ferrer he made his first Australian Open semi-final, became a member of an elite group who have made the semis of each slam and won his first match on the Rod Laver arena. He did it in some style, too. Ferrer is a tough match up for him, he has lost 8 of the 12 matches they have played, but Tomas played an uninhibited aggressive game to storm through the first set 6-1. Once Ferrer got used to Berdych’s pace, he played himself into the match but Tomas’ depth of shot and powerful ground-strokes were still too much for him and Berdych won the second set 6-4. In the third set, Ferrer caused Berdych the problems he has done so often, namely using those impressive legs of his to track down Berdych’s flat groundies and return them with angles away from the Czech, forcing him into error or coming in on the short balls to hit winners. Berdych dropped the third set but Ferrer’s bettering of him was short-lived as Berdych regrouped in the fourth set, breaking Ferrer and getting better and better as the set went on, hitting winners seemingly at will in the final games to take the match in four entertaining sets.Li Na beats Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6–2
Since saving match point in her third round match with Safarova, Li Na has been on a roll, crushing Makarova to the loss of 2 games and then mauling Pennetta. Li Na raced into a 5-0 lead, was stalled a little as Pennetta began to go for broke, but it was not enough to prevent Li Na from building on her impressive Australian Open record. The Chinese took the first set 6-2 and then repeated the scoreline in the second to make her third semi-final in Melbourne in the last four years. Li Na’s clarity and positive attitude was evident in each and every game and playing like this one has to seriously wonder if her third final appearance is on the cards and whether it will be her luckiest.E. Bouchard beats A. Ivanovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
This is Bouchard’s fourth Grand Slam appearance yet from watching her in this match you could be forgiven for thinking it was her fourteenth. Bouchard took on a formidable Ivanovic, a one set deficit and the distraction of an Ivanovic injury all in her stride. Hitting the ball with confidence and the heaviness of a title contender, Bouchard moved Ana around and stepped into the court on every short ball she got and whacked them away for winners. Ana’s defence was broken down as much as it seemed her body and her spirit were and Bouchard took the second and third sets to set up a semi-final with Li Na. Few women have made the semis of a slam so quickly, among them Venus Williams, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf. Sanchez-Vicario and Hingis, an elite group to be part of if ever there was one and a possible sign of things to come.Stanislas Wawrinka beats Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7.
Stan got off to a slow start but once he found his range he led 2 sets to 1. Djokovic fought back in customary fashion to take the fourth but Stan played with the confidence and aggression needed to edge Djokovic out 9-7. It was a patchy thriller, both men hit 60 errors each, and a match characterised by the fact that Djokovic may have won more points, 161-153, but Stan won the points that mattered. Stan came back time and time again from 0-30 down on his serve, saved 5 break points and got the elusive break in the fifth. Interestingly, Djokovic came to the net more than Wawrinka and won more points with a 26/35 ration to Stan’s 20/30 but what made the difference was Wawrinka’s consistent striking the ball from inside the court and the pace of his flat strokes biting into the court. The Swiss was just all around more aggressive and the faster courts rewarded him with a win. The win ends Djokovic’s three year reign as Australian Champ and may start up Wawrinka’s career as Grand Slam winner. -
Stan mans up and takes Djokovic out in five
Wawrinka celebrates knocking Djokovic out of the Australian Open (thanks to bbc.co.uk) Stanislas Wawrinka has sent Novak Djokovic crashing out of the Australian Open 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7.
The Swiss got off to a slow start against a focused Djokovic. The Serbian’s defense and offense were at full throttle as he raced through the first set, breaking at 3-2 his depth and variety of spins keeping Stan behind the baseline where he wanted him. Djokovic also found time to inject some flair into what was looking like a routine businesslike performance, a sublime drop volley on set point giving him a 1-0 set lead.
Stan did not stay pinned behind the baseline for long though. At the start of the second set, he put his aggression to work, holding three break points at 1-1. But Djokovic fought him off with the confidence of a man who has lifted 4 Australian Open trophies on the Rod Laver Arena. The Serbian had break points of his own at 2-2 but Wawrinka, struggling with a low first serve percentage in the low 50s, pounded down big serves when it mattered to keep himself in the match.
At 3-3, Wawrinka got another look at a break point. The two players became embroiled in a long rally, the type Djokovic has made a habit of winning, but it was Wawrinka who struck the winner, a forehand down the line. The Swiss had found his timing. His ground-stokes were now biting into the court and had Djokovic scrambling until the court opened up and Stan whacked a winner or Djokovic could hustle no more and errored. The Swiss kept his form, his nerve and his serve, taking the second set on a service winner.
Wawrinka kept his momentum going, earning an early break in the third to lead 3-1. On the backfoot and looking a little clueless, Djokovic began shouting at himself and his box with the alarming regularity which characterised his coach Becker’s career when matches seemed to be slipping from his grip. The anger did not get him out of the mess he was in. Wawrinka did not relent and took the set 6-2, another service winner sealing the deal.
But a 2-1 lead against Djokovic just means you are one set closer to the win but he is still just two sets away. Two sets he is prepared to fight for and win. The Serbian, who has competed in 12 Major finals and knows a thing or two about match play, waited for the inevitable drop in Wawrinka’s magical form and then pounced. At 4-3 Wawrinka serving, Djokovic fought back from a 40-15 deficit. His wheels spinning, a fired up finger-wagging Djokovic got one more ball back over and over and went about turning defense into attack, coming to the net and finishing off points. At deuce his return and touch also came into their own as he got his racket on a fiercely struck serve and the return sailed into the far corner of the court. Break point down, and perhaps flummoxed at how Djokovic can just turn a match around like that, Wawrinka hit a forehand sitter out and was a break down in the fourth. The Serbian roared and the Swiss whacked a ball out into the stands, getting a code violation in the process. The show of frustration did the Swiss some good. He recovered from the service break to earn two break points as Djokovic served for the set. But the Serbian was in his element now, in the throes of another comeback, and his serve was working as well as it can, his first serve percentage in the 70s. On set point an ace made the Serbian’s comeback complete.
Two sets all and here we were again. Few will forget the battle these two engaged in last year, finally won by Djokovic 13-11. Stan had led 2 sets to 1 that time, too. That match was the highest quality battle of ’13, a distinction this match was not going to take. The fifth set saw errors all over the place as both men struggled with the pressure. It was Djokovic who held it together the most, breaking Wawrinka early, but Wawrinka broke straight back. Both men settled down though and by 3-3 both men were into their serving grooves, coming to terms with the situation and what might lie ahead. At 5-5, rain interrupted play for a few minutes, giving everyone a breather and time to think about who would come out of this on top.
With Djokovic holding serve the easier of the two, it looked likely the game’s best returner, despite having something of an off night, would prevail. The fact he was the three time defending champion and had a 15-2 head to head lead over his opponent who had not beaten him since Vienna 2006 added to justifying his position as favourite.
But Wawrinka is a player who learns from his defeats. Throughout 2013 he just got better and better after his crushing Melbourne loss. In fact, it only made him tougher. Once the brief rain delay had passed, Wawrinka came out and served an ace, the breather perhaps clearing his mind, giving him a moment to remember last year and where he had gone wrong and Djokovic had gone right. And with the pressure slightly lessened with the advantage of serving first, Wawrinka hit with the freedom and ferocity he had done in sets 2 and 3. His conviction reaped winners and he met them with roaring, fist pumps and heart thumping. He was beating Novak at his own game, using the crowd and the moment to assert himself. But more than that, Wawrinka’s own game was beating Novak’s. Helped by the faster surface, Wawrinka was able to hit through the court and returning at 7-8 his aggression paid off as he got deep into the Novak service game.
Luck came his way, too. At 30-30, The Swiss mishit a return, the ball landing short, and Djokovic could do nothing with the ball, his attempt at a drop volley landing out to hand Wawrinka a match point. Djokovic did what he had to do, serving and volleying, his history of fighting off match points by being bold spurring him on. But this time his boldness did not pay off. Djokovic could not keep the volley off the high return in play. Wawrinka’s bold and inspired game had forced Novak to force the issue and he had overdone it, losing the point. But he had not lost the match. Wawrinka had won it.
A match that made Stan very much the man, and should he build on it, could very well make his career. A career which just gets better and better. Better would be, after having reached the US Open semis last season, a Grand slam final. Better than that and you have Stanislas Wawrinka, Grand Slam champion. He can certainly play like one. The next question is can he be one?
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Australian Open last sixteen review
Roger Federer goes for a backhand volley in Melbourne(thanks to the guardian.com)
The fourth round was a real treat for tennis fans. It was more of a treat in fact. It was a big box of them freely thrown around like it was the tennis God’s birthday.The tennis review looks at what were the most delicious and some of the less savoury points.OMG-hide-behind-the-sofa-is-this-really-happening result of the round: A. Ivanovic beats S. Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
No one predicted this. Not even the most ardent Ivanovic fans would have really believed that Ana was going to win this. The Serb though came out with the intent to do damage to Serena, pushing her to the limits from the very first game, and after a nervy first set which Ana somewhat predictably lost, she buckled down, hit that forehand like it was Roland Garros 2008 and took advantage of her fine form, the crowd and Serena’s out-of-sorts play to beat Williams for the first time and make it through to her first Melbourne last eight since 2008. It was the kind of match which was shocking, thrilling and inspiring and made all those hours spent watching whatever-type-affairs worth it.Performance of the round: R. Federer beats J. Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
It was a little like we had gone back in time to ’05 as Federer won 34 of his 41 advances to the net in his immaculate defeat of Tsonga. This is the kind of play which won Federer all those slams and the decision to team with Edberg is easily the wisest one he could have made at this stage of his career. The performance of the tournament.It’s-about-time-for-all-these-time-violations award: The umpires
Nadal, Jankovic, Cibulkova, and Sharapova were some of the players given time violations. Nadal in particular got upset as his third one meant he lost his first serve. But all the tutting and glares in the world are not going to get you your way, even if you are Nadal, against a clampdown on what had become one of the uglier parts of the game.Errant ball tossing award: Sharapova
Cibulkova pointed out in her post match interview after her defeat of the Russian that Sharapova’s errant ball tossing MAY have been on purpose. Much like her grunting louder than ever set point down? Much like her medical time out at the end of the second set?Fluffed shot of the day: K. Nishikori
That missed forehand at 30-30 5-4 in the third set against Nadal will haunt Nishikori. The Japanese certainly deserved the third set after pushing an in form Nadal all the way in the first two sets. But when his opportunity came and a mid court forehand begged him to put it away, he, to put it bluntly, and politely, messed it up.Hot-mess-should-have-stayed-at-home award of the round: Maria Sharapova
Watching Maria hit error after error and look clueless on the Rod Laver arena was both distressing and fascinating. The game’s most marketable star, one of its most prolific spokespeople and, when on, arguably its most exciting player was made to look one dimensional and desperate by not only her clued up opponent Cibulkova but by her own too too early return to the game.Temper temper award: Jankovic
Jankovic got shouty at the start of third set about Halep’s taking her time to return. Even took to barking at her box as she and Halep were inches from each other at the change over. But throwing her toys out the pram did not help her as she failed to win another game.Take-that-bitches performance of the round: Li Na beats E. Makarova 6-2, 6-0
The backhand volley that won Ni La match point was the high point of a high quality exhibition of power tennis from last year’s finalist against the two time quarter-finalist Makarova.Clown of the round award: Fognini
The challenging of clearly correct calls, throwing his racket at his opponent in mock anger when losing rather than trying to compete even harder with it, and shaking hands with Djokovic and umpire before the match was over meant that all that was missing from Fognini was a red nose and oversized shoes. Shame that the crowd thought they had bought tickets for a tennis match, the last 16 of a Major in fact, and not the circus.Set point saver of the round: Anderson.
Kevin Anderson saved eight of them in the second set against Berdych.Choke survivor of the day: Cibulkova
Cibulkova led 5-0 in the second before Sharapova won 20 of 25 points to make it 5-4. Dominika found her game again, took the set and then the match.Living up to the hype award: Dimitrov beats R. Bautista-Agut
Dimitrov has done more than expected in reaching the last eight. His presence in the quarter-finals at the same time as a revived Federer will do wonders for the ATP as the legend and his future heir are showcased in the later stages of a Major. -
Ivanovic stuns Serena in Australian Open last sixteen
Ana Ivanovic celebrates to the supportive crowd in Melbourne after defeating Serena (thanks to independent.co.uk)
Ana Ivanovic has stunned Serena Williams and the tennis world by beating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.In what is by far the biggest upset of this year’s Open, Ivanovic played the high risk brand of tennis which earned her the number one ranking and the Roland Garros title back in 2008.
The signs an upset was on the cards were clear from the first game. Ivanovic struck returns with a modified compact swing that gleaned backhand winners and stepped inside the baseline on the second serve to force Serena into double faults earn herself three break points. Serena saved them but the warning had been sent by Ana: anything less than your best and I am going to be all over you.
Ana’s best comes from her forehand side and that shot was as good as it has ever been. The winners started in the first game and never let up as she moved into the court and unleashed what is, when on, the strongest, most effective forehand on the WTA. It fired off winners and forced errors from Serena and was the shot that got Ana out of a few holes and helped her fig them for Serena, getting the first break of the first set to lead 3-2.
Ana could not hold though against the game’s best out-of-hole-digger. The inconsistency which has marked Ana’ career ever since that sudden burst into the elite in ’08 looked set to take hold of her once more as Serena held steady and got herself worked up. Serving at 4-5 to stay in, set point down, Ana went 0-1 down as she misfired a forehand into the net.
Going down like that was typical of Ana, a player who has always lived and died by her forehand. 32 forehand winners won her her third match against Stosur and she would need close enough numbers against Serena. She had won 13 in the first set but she needed to hit them on the big points, such as set point down.
And she began to do just that. Perhaps it was memories of her run to the ’08 final when she beat then reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the last eight. That muscle memory clicked in, both in technique and mentally. Ana did not get nervous or emotional and just freely unleashed her forehand, setting it up perfectly with attacks to the Serena backhand, hitting away from it, and then tearing into the short returns.
This match was all about execution. So often over the years, Ana has gone for her shots too early but she made sure to be consistent, employing rally shots with spin and slice, until she had the right ball. At 2-2 she broke and held serve all the way to 5-3. She would not need to serve out for the set, her return and all round aggression proving too much for a rattled Serena as she broke to take the set 6-3.
High on confidence and the support of the crowd, Ana broke at the start of the third to lead 2-0. The forehand was not breaking down and the rest of her game, especially her return, was supporting it. Her serve too was as solid as it has been, holding up at 4-2 to love. Not once did doubt appear to creep into her mind. Even when she missed a match point opportunity as her forehand on the run hit the net. Even with the presence of Serena on the other side of the court, a Serena given a time warning when serving at 2-5. Such things have sent Serena into fits in previous big matches but this one she handled with humour, serving as quickly as she possibly could, so quickly Ana had to ask her to slow down.
At 5-3, serving for the match, slowing down was something Ana was not about to do. Defending as well as she attacked to win the longer rallies, Ana’s backhand proved as steady as her forehand was ferocious. Her serve was the shot though that needed to stay firm and it did not let her down. A service winner on match point sealed her first win over Serena and sent her into her first Australian Open quarter final since 2008.
It was the kind of performance that makes you wonder just where she has been the last few years and just how far she can go. In her post match interview she talked of the doubts of the past, of how success came too soon and how she was still young, only 26, and there was still a lot to play for. Playing like this against the elite, the kind of play that has you both covering your face but keeping your fingers wide apart, one has to imagine she could play for the title again come Saturday night.
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Australian Open 3rd round review
Dimitrov celebrates making the fourth round of a Slam for the first time (thanks to brunchnews.com) The third round of the Australian Open is done, the elite last sixteen assembled. The tennis review looks at what went down down under.
Making good on your promise award of the round: Dimitrov beats Raonic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10)
After last year’s French Open 3rd round showing, the fourth round of a Major was the next place of a Major for Dimitrov to go. And he did it here in Melbourne. And in some style. Playing against Milos Raonic, against whom it is most likely he will compete for Majors in a few years time, Dimitrov put together an impressive 36+ winner/error difference, won 80% of his attempts at the net and converted 2 of 4 break points against one of the tour’s best servers. His upset of the higher seeded opponent left no doubts he can deal with the pressure of being the next big thing.Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it match of the round: F. Mayer beats J. Janowicz 7-5, 6-2, 6-2
Mayer hit 17 aces to Jerzy’s 3, won 91% of his first serves, and had a 38-7 winner ratio to the Pole’s 34-44 in a match Mayer wrapped up in 98 minutes. It was a focused aggressive display which overwhelmed the Pole as much as the boiling on court temperatures did.Digging deep award of the round: Li Na beats L.Safarova 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Li Na was match point down in the second set against her experienced opponent but the Chinese number 4 seed dug deep, fought her way back into the second and never looked back. It was a close shave for Li. Broken 6 times and hitting 50 errors, these are the kind of matches she is prone to losing early in Majors and so it was a pleasure to see her find her best game when it really mattered as a last four encounter with Serena could be the women’s match of the event.Sending-out-warnings performance: Nadal beats Monfils 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
Nadal wiped the floor with his uber-skilled French rival to the loss of 6 games. Winning 72% of first serves, 77% of his second, and converting 50% of his break points, he kept the pressure on and sent out the warning that faster courts or not, his mental strength is as strong as ever and he is here to play ball with whatever you want to throw at him.Outfit of the round: Alize Cornet
Alize styles up the Rod Laver arena (thanks to es-us.deportes.yahoo.com) The photo says it all but the tiny sleeved sailor girl dress and red pants was worthy of Cornet and Lacoste and the great second set Sharapova and Cornet put on.
Survivors of the round: All the players.
It is hot out there, the players are not giving up and the fans are getting some great performances.Close but no cigar award: Radwansaka beats Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Pavlyuchenkova led a set and a break and certainly has the big game to put out Radwanska but it is never over until it is over against Agnieszka and once more Pavvy’s inconsistency got the better of her. As did the consistency of Radwanska. 39 winners on Pavvy’s side is all well and good but 49 errors against someone of the steady caliber of Radwanska is not going to cut it.Home girl done good award: Casey Dellacqua beats Jie Zheng 6-2, 6-4
Back in 2008, Casey beat Schnyder and Mauresmo on her way to the fourth round and this year the 120th ranked Australian has done it again, taking out 2010 semi-finalist Zheng in straights.Home girl lost but done good anyway: A. Ivanovic beats S. Stosur 6-7 (8), 4-6, 2-6
Stosur had a tough opponent in Ivanovic, the recent Hobart winner, and had her chances but Ana’s 46 winners outdid her 40 errors, an impressive performance from the former French Open Champion. -
Australian Open day 4 review
Bautista Agut is fired up after his defeat of Del Potro in Melbourne
(thanks to guardian.com)
Can it possibly be day 4 done and dusted at the Australian Open? Yes! Here are the things worth mentioning about the fourth day of the season’s first Major.Match of the day: R.Bautista Agur beats Del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
Another early loss in a Major for Del Potro- he has only gone past the 3rd round once in his last five Majors. All credit to Bautista for coming back from 2 sets to 1 down and hitting 78 winners including 20 of them at the net.Missed chance of the day: Maria Sharapova beats K. 6-3, 4-6, 10-8
K. Knapp had a top player in her second tournament back from an injury lay off serving 4 times to stay in the match. A player who served 12 double faults and hit 67 unforced errors to 34 winners. Had Knapp not hit 9 doubles and 55 errors to 20 winners herself instead of just getting the ball back she might have scored a famous win.Survivor of the day: Maria Sharapova
To see what makes Maria Sharapova Maria Sharapova see this performance. Not even double faults and a ton of errors could get into her head and put doubts there. She fought and won and it remains to be seen if this match will have taken it out of her or boosted her spirits. If the last ten years have taught us anything, it is most likely going to be the latter.You-first-no-you award of the day D. Young beats A Seppi 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
After a see-saw battle, in the final set Young broke Seppi to serve for the match only to drop serve. Seppi, the more experienced and decorated player then dropped his serve. Young though did not waste his second chance and finally decided to be the one to take the match.Softly softly award: Jelena Jankovic
Jankovic is the number 8 seed and no one is talking about the tournaments 2009 number One seed. She, however, is certainly talking with both her mouth and her racket. Claiming before the tournament she could beat Serena if they happen to meet, her 6-0, 6-2 defeat of Morita in which she hit 9 aces and 25 winners to only 14 errors suggests she may have it in her to make good on her word should Serena be at all below par as she did in 2008 when Jankovic beat Williams in the last eight. -
Australian Open day 3 review
Stosur celebrates getting past a tough second round opponent in Pironkova(thanks to australianopen.com.au) Time flies when the balls are fast and day 3 of the Australian Open is already history. Thetennisreview takes a look at the high and low points.
Match of the day: D. Hantuchova beats K. Plischkova 6-3, 3-6, 12-10
An epic which saw some clean stats-Hantuchova had a +8 winner/error ratio, Plischkova had -3- and the tension you only get when matches go past 6-6 in the third.That-that-for-a-performance of the day: S. Stosur beats T. Pironkova 6-2, 6-0
Pironkova, the recent Sydney champion, looked to be the worst possible match up for Stosur. The good form of her opponent and the pressure of playing on Rod Laver at night had many people wondering how many games she would even win. But she hit 23 winners to 15 errors against an opponent who struggled, hitting 19 errors to 5 winners, against the occassion and her opponent.Upset of the day: M. Niculescu beats S. Lisicki 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
10 aces and 43 winners could not save Lisicki from her own inconsistency as she threw in 6 double faults and 56 unforced errors. Nor could she save herself from her opponent who broke her seven times and just got the ball back in court, which against players like Lisicki on days like this is often the simplest and smartest option.Most beautiful match of the day: T.Robredo beats J. Benneteau 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-6 (6)
Few players play with the court smarts of Robredo. Add the brilliance of his backcourt game, which produced 66 winners to only 25 errors to Benneteau’s flairsome aggression which won him 42 of 65 plays at the net and you have a sight to get excited about. -
Australian Open day 2 review
Seppi celebrates surviving a Hewitt comeback attempt
(thanks to seattlepi.com)
Day 2 of the Australian Open is done and dusted. Thetennisreview looks at some of the highlights and lowlights.Match of the day. Seppi beats Hewitt 7-6(4), 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 7-5
Hewitt looked like he might perform one of his celebrated comebacks when he came back from 2 sets to love down against Seppi. Level at two sets all, Hewitt fell down a break but broke back, getting everyone excited about another rousing fightback, only to go down 5-7 in the fifth.Non-match of the day. Nadal beats Tomic 6-4 ret.
Players get injured, that’s how sports roll. Tomic and Nadal was the match to watch on day 2 but reality intervened and left the night crowd high and dry.She’s back. Sharapova beats Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-4
Sharapova negotiated a tough first round draw against Mattek-Sands like she had never been away. Matters may have gotten ugly with Maria’s 9 double faults but her winner-error ratio of 29-28 meant there were some prettier parts of her performance.Biggest loss of the day Klizan beats Isner 6-2, 7-6 (6) ret
Quite literally the biggest. The 6ft 9 inch Isner should have been one of the players to benefit from the faster courts but once again he was forced out of the early rounds of a Major with an ankle injury.Run that by me again result of the day. Simon beats Brands, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 16-14
Brands hit 111 winners to 81 errors to Simon’s 75-53, and edged Simon 231-230 in points won yet still lost illustrating the great tennis scoring system which rewards not how many winners or points you win but when you win them. Simon, you see, converted 4 of 10 break points while Brands made 2 out of 25. Yes you read right. 2 out of 25. -
Australian Open Day 1 review
Belinda Bencic celebrates her first round win over Date-Krumm (thanks to smh.com.au) The Australian Open got underway yesterday and thetennisreview looks at the best and worst of day 1.
Match of the day: Jerzy Janowicz beats Jordan Thompson 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1
The faster courts should suit Janowicz well but homeboy Thompson took advantage of the rusty Pole to take a 2 set to love lead. It was certainly a wake up call. After a struggle in the third, Janowicz wrestled control and took the match in five. Match of the day for the excitement Thompson’s lead caused and the improvement in Janowicz’s performance it ignited. The Pole’s big serve and aggressive game are a delight to watch on these courts.Match of the day (for all the wrong reasons): E. Makarova beats V.Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
For a set and a half it looked possible Venus might make good on her word to win more Majors. But her serve, she made only 55% of first serves in and double-faulted 8 times, was her undoing. After dropping the second set in a mess of faults, she led 3-0 in the third only to lose control of what was once a major weapon in her arsenal. At times it was a pleasure to see her on the run hitting angled groundstrokes for winners and approaching the net for sublime volleys, but at other times it was a case of cover your eyes as her game collapsed and the hard hitting and two time quarter finalist Makarova took her opportunities and survived what was by far the toughest first round draw of the women’s seeds.Performance of the day: S. Stosur beats K. Zakopalova 6-3, 6-4
Sam’s stage-fright in Melbourne is infamous and a first round defeat would have come as no surprise to anyone. But she held it together on Rod Laver against a dangerous opponent. 6 aces, a 65% first serve percentage, and 19 winners to 18 errors were the stats, and the kind of stats which could see her go far in the draw. The in-form Pironkova awaits in round 2 but if she can get past her and play herself into form, and her game is perfect for these courts, Stosur could find herself in a last 16 against Serena.Upset of the day. J. Georges beats S. Errani 6-3, 6-2
No one wants to see Georges in the first round of a Major, particularly Errani who went out in the first round last year and is at a disadvantage against big hitting players on these faster courts. Georges used all her experience and skills to knock Errani out of the tournament in some style, hitting 39 winners to 36 errors against Errani who went 6-11 in the same stats. The upset opens up the draw in Serena’s quarter and it would not be a shock were Georges to make her first Major last eight placing.Up and coming player of the day: B. Bencic beats K. Date-Krumm 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
16 year old Belinda Bencic, 2013’s Junior French Open and Wimbledon champion, put paid to veteran Date-Krumm’s Melbourne hopes. The Swiss ranked 186 is coached by none other than Martina Hingis’s mother Melanie Mollitor and the variety and spirit she displayed in her win certainly evoked the Swiss-Miss’ style. The former number 1 was there to cheer the 16 year old on in a match in which she admittedly did not play her best, she hit 44 unforced errors and was broken 8 times, but still found a way to win, the hallmark of a Champion and a quality that makes her a player to watch.OMG not again match of the day: L. Kumkhum beats P. Kvitova 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
Do we really need to sit through another awful Kvitova performance again? Seeded 6, the 2011 Wimbledon Champion failed to make her seeded position for the 6th time in her last 10 Majors. While the match was close, Kvitova served 8 double faults and had a -8 winner/errors ratio which hurt her. Kvitova needs to get her game together before 2011 gets further and further away.Never say die award of the day: T.Robredo beats L.Rosol 6-1, 6-7 (7), 3-6, 7-6 (5), 8-6
2013’s comeback player defeated 2012 Wimbledon’s upset master in a match that swung back and forth and finally went the way of the man with the superior winner-error ratio. Robredo had a +12 (50-38) while Rosol had a -14 (96-82). A match that saw 120 unforced errors is unlikely to get match of the day but the scoreline tells of the drama and sporting spectacle witnessed, the kind that gives Grand Slams a good name. -
Australian open preview
Del Potro, the Sydney winner, is in form for the Australian Open (thanks to sports.yahoo.com) The Australian Open starts today and thetennisreview looks at the top five contenders and the dark horses for the men’s and women’s titles
Men’s.
1. Novak Djokovic. The four time Champion ended 2013 looking unbeatable. Riding high on confidence at a venue he has been so successful at, he comes in as favorite. The faster courts should not be a problem for him. He has the potential to play the most aggressively of all the athletic baseliners and will come prepared.2. Rafael Nadal. The faster courts might hinder him but on guts and athleticism he is surely into the final at least and there he is dangerous.
3. Roger Federer. If the faster courts are going to help anyone, it is Federer. Expect a lot of serve and volleying, a lot of inspiration and a lot of crowd support. With an unmatchfit Murray in his quarter, Federer has a great chance to make it to the last four against Nadal where in a best of five sets and with all the crowd support and favorable conditions, you have to give him a chance.
4. Del Potro. Match fit after his Sydney win, Del Potro will come into the Australian Open in form and ready for the fast and hot conditions.
5. Andy Murray Murray has made the final three times and has to be a favorite if he can play himself into form and get past Federer in the last eight.
Dark horse:
Marin Cilic. Armed not only with a huge serve but with Ivanisevic in his camp, Cilic comes into Melbourne as a player with a strong chance of taking advantage of the faster conditions.Women.
1. Serena Williams. After her wins over Sharapova and Azarenka in Brisbane, it is hard to look beyond Serena. A five time winner and no doubt motivated by not having won here since ’10, if she can stay fit, she is winning it.2. Azarenka. The two time defending champion has beaten Serena numerous times on hard courts and if they both make the final it could go either way but Azarenka will need some luck.
3. Li Na. A two time finalist, Li Na likes Melbourne Park and with the clock ticking on her chances, if she can be efficient and inspired she could win the trophy.
4. Maria Sharapova. Her recent showing versus Serena in Brisbane showed us she was fit again and hungry. If she can avoid Serena, she has a great chance.
5. Sabine Lisicki. The fast courts will help this big server. Her experience at Wimbledon will have given her a taste for the big time and if she can get into the last sixteen she could beat any of the seeds and win the title.
Dark horse:
Pironkova. Beating Kerber, one of the tours most consistent performers, in Sydney indicates Pironkova, whose best results have come at Wimbledon, could do some damage in Melbourne.
Tennis from a fan's point of view
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