2011 Australian Open

[j41181]

Schiavone-Kuznetsova match one of the longest marathon match ever in women's tennis! Congrats to both players!

Schiavone wins 6-4, 1-6, 16-14

Longest women's match I've seen since the Rubin-Vicario Aussie Open QF match in 1996. Rubin (black) won that match 6-4, 2-6, 16-14. Edited by: j41181

 

[j41181]

Petkovic beats Sharapova 6-3, 6-2

Terrible game from Maria, too many UE's and too erratic, goota love that PETKO dance. Her next match (vs. Li Na) is a tough one.

I'm quite a Federer fan, but it'll be tough once he faces Nadal, so Rafa is the clear favorite for the men's Aussie Open. Clijsters has been simply awesome, since coming back from retirement. With a stable marriage

and bad off-court issues behind her, she's a force to reckon with. Edited by: j41181

 

[Matra1]

Stan Wawrinka's straight set takedown of Andy Roddick was pretty impressive.

Petkovic had a meltdown in the 4th round of the US Open last September against Zvonareva (speaking of meltdowns!) but she seems to have stepped it up a notch.

 

[foobar75]

The Aussie Open has been great so far, especially with the few blacks on both men/women's sides all eliminated before the Round of 16. It must be a terrible time now for Chris Fowler and Co., with no blacks to root for.

Nadal is playing like a machine and appears to be in top form. He can be beaten, but you have to play a near perfect match to do it. He's clearly the favorite at this point and has hardly been challenged.

Federer has looked vulnerable at times, but the opponents in the earlier rounds have not been able to capitalize on it. Wawrinka looks impresive, as do Djokovic and Berdych on Federer's side of the draw. He has a tough road to the finals and although a match-up with Nadal would make for great tennis, I'm personally rooting for Andy Murray to win his first GS.

On the women's side, life is so much better without the disgraceful Williams sisters. A Clijsters-Wozniacki final (re-match from 2009 US Open final?) is my prediction there.

Another thing, I looked at the draws for the Round of 16 for both men/women, and noticed that of the 32 players left, only 4 are non-European: The two Chinese ladies on the women's side and Roddick plus a Canadian named Milos Raonic on the men's side. I'm not sure if this is a testament to a new resurgence and dominance of European tennis or the sorry state of the affairs for the US/Australia and the rest of the world, but I thought it was an interesting factoid.

 

[Rebajlo]

Li Na beats Azarenka 6-3, 6-3

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing her win it all. It be nice to see some Asians, regardless of nationality (like Michael Chang) win.

Well, I believe it would be a lot "nicer" to see a WHITE ladywin.

I'm not having a go at You or anything, mate, but I find the sympathy that Asians receive from some pro-Whites thoroughly mystifying. Not only is the White race subjected to the myth of black sporting superiority, we are also subjected to the two great Asian myths, viz:

(a) that of superior Asian intelligence, and

(b) the Asian "martial arts" myth, perpetuated by both Western and Eastern cinema, comic books, et cetera. You know, all of that samurai and kung fu bullsh*t where some pint-sized gnat like Bruce Lee is lauded asthe paragon of combat.

Little White kids all around the world don their pyjamas and coloured belts to learn the "unbeatable" fighting styles of the mysterious Orient for, after all, White combat consisted solely of clumsy bearhugs, haymakers and headbutts or using Maxim guns to mow down brave and honourable non-Whites in a cowardly manner - just ask the Jews or the Asians themselves. The "martial arts"lie is just as damaging (or even more damaging) than the lie of black sportingprowess.

The Chinese are a loathesomepeople who- make no mistake - despise and look down upon Whites (and everybody else). Australia is full of the noisome runts and, believe me, when they are present in great numbers they definitely don't hide their distaste for Whites.

Back to the tennis - I'm glad that Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska has knocked out one of the two remaining Chinese creatures in the women's draw. The last thing we need are Asians winning Grand Slam tournamentsor any other sporting events for that matter. Two Asian myths are more than enough...

 

[Don Wassall]

Schiavone-Kuznetsova match one of the longest marathon match ever in women's tennis! Congrats to both players!

Schiavone wins 6-4, 1-6, 16-14

Longest women's match I've seen since the Rubin-Vicario Aussie Open QF match in 1996. Rubin (black) won that match 6-4, 2-6, 16-14.

That was a great match, very compelling. Both girls were exhausted, especially Kuznetsova, and showed great will and tenacity. Both made a lot of fantastic clutch shots during the third set.

It was the longestwomen's matchin a grand slam in the Open era, close to five hours.

 

[Matra1]

I'm not having a go at You or anything, mate, but I find the sympathy that Asians receive from some pro-Whites thoroughly mystifying.

I think it is because there are so many blacks in America that all other minorities look good relative to blacks and the social pathologies that come with them. Also other minorities are not fawned over in the US media the way blacks are. Australians have always had more experience with East Asians than have Americans and most Europeans and with experience comes realism not romanticism.

I believe Na Li's match against Petkovic is first up tonight.

Wawrinka has been excellent over the past year. He made it to the QF of the US Open toppling Andy Roddick on the way and he's looked great in Australia. He also knows Federer's game better than anyone as they both play together in Davis Cup and they practice together. Also tonight (and tomorrow morning) Djokovic, who has also been in great form, against Wimbledon finalist Berdych of the Czech Republic. Who needs Monday Night Football?

 

[j41181]

Very disappointing, Petkovic lost 2-6, 4-6 to Li Na.

Gotta hand it to Li Na though, she played excellent today. I might sound naive when I say this... it's the 1st time I've seen someone squander 2-0 leads in consecutive sets.

Dologopolov is quite intriguing, must be the best from Ukraine. I'm looking forward to the All-Swiss Federer-Wawrinka match. IMO, Federer is a German name, while Wawrinka sounds Polish. May the best man win!

 

[Matra1]

Wawrinka is from the French part of Switzerland. From what I heard his mother is French-Swiss and his father's family were either ethnic Germans from the east (Poland or Bohemia) or Slavic or maybe a mixture. Federer is indeed from the German part of Switzerland but I recall McEnroe saying a few years ago that Fed's mother is South African.

Sounds like Petkovic had didn't show up for the big match, again.

 

[Matra1]

I hate to agree with Patrick McEnroe and Chris Fowler but this is a pretty poor show by Wawrinka.

 

[j41181]

Matra1, very interesting points you've made about Federer, and Wawrinka, thanks!

Not to take anything away from Stan the Man (Wawrinka), I think he played some of the best tennis of his career, his wins over Monfiels and Roddick are nothing short of brilliant. Federer simply plays the game on another level.

There was an interesting discussion last night between Vijay Amritraj and what's his name about the state of INDIAN TENNIS. Indian players tend to dominate the youth and junior tournaments but fail to excel at the professional level. According to Mr. Vijay, Indian players physically mature much later than their White European counterparts, usually around the ages 25-33, while White Europeans (according again to Vijay) physically mature quicker (ages 18-23), but MENTALLY quite later. Not sure I agree with the Mental factor, since many White Europeans (and White Americans) in Tennis history have won Grand Slams as TEENAGERS.

 

[foobar75]

That was a very disappointing performance by Wawrinka. It seems that from a mental standpoint, he was already half-beaten before even stepping on the court, and by the time Federer won the first set 6-1, the match was over. Still, I did not know much about him before this tourney, but he played some great tennis in this Aussie Open, and I will be rooting for him going forward.

The second QF between Berdych and Djokovic should be a good one. That will set up a semifinal against Federer, and both of those players knocked him out of the two previous GSs, respectively.

 

[Don Wassall]

Nadal injured his hamstring and/or lower back in the second game of the first set and wasn't close to 100 percent after that. He gutted it out out of respect for the game and his opponent but it was a sad and unfortunate end to his grand slam run. Ferrer also played well enough that Nadal had no chance to somehow gut out a win.

The semis should still be great viewing, as Djokovic and Murray battle each other, with the winner playing the survivor of Ferrer-Federer.

 

[guest301]

Don, I think the actual matchup is Ferrer vs Murray and Federer vs Djokovic. I am rooting for Murray.

 

[Matra1]

Scotland's Andy Murray is playing the best tennis of his career in my opinion. I think he'll be too strong for Ferrer. Djokovic is also playing his best tennis. He made it to the final of the US Open defeating Federer on the way then led his country to a Davis Cup championship against France last month. However, I don't think he'll have enough to beat Federer who is starving for a major after going without one last year.

Bad news on the women's side. Justine Henin has announced her retirement citing a constant wrist injury.

 

[Liverlips]

I'm just glad the era of the Williams sistahs (along with their buffoon of a father) appears to be over. Both were overrated simply because of their skin tone.

Go Clijsters. What a change from Serena Williams. A true lady (as is Wozniaki).

 

[JReb1]

Scotland's Andy Murray is playing the best tennis of his career in my opinion. I think he'll be too strong for Ferrer. Djokovic is also playing his best tennis. He made it to the final of the US Open defeating Federer on the way then led his country to a Davis Cup championship against France last month. However, I don't think he'll have enough to beat Federer who is starving for a major after going without one last year.



Bad news on the women's side. Justine Henin has announced her retirement citing a constant wrist injury.

Federer won the Australian Open last year.

 

[j41181]

Li Na beats Wozniacki 3-6, 7-5, 6-3

Wozniacki played well, it's just that Li Na stepped up the strength of her ground-strokes and net game, which proved too much for Wozniacki. She looks formidable at this point, and the only player (IMO) who can beat her is Clijsters. Unfortunately, she will face Zvonareva, who has a winning record against her.Edited by: j41181

 

[Don Wassall]

Clijsters rolls over Zvonareva in straight sets. She looks primed to win the Australian Open for the first time.

Federer-Djokovic starts at 3:30 am EST for any early birds/night owls who want to watch it live.

 

[darthvader]

Roger federer unfortunately will not repeat as champion as he went down 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 against djokovic. I had a feeling to from the beginning from this tournament that it would be murray or djokovic. Of course there will be the discussion that federer's dominance is over and that is career is slowly fading. I will say here right now that federer has at least 2 grand slams in him. Although I can't remember the last time federer went up 5-2 on somebody and lost that set. Maybe that's a sign of things to come I don't know. But djokovic and murray both look fitter than ever and that to me is the biggest difference in their games. Federer's game is still there. Mentally I'm sure he still is hungry. But physically I think time will tell this year.

 

[Deadlift]

Great job, Novak!

 

[darthvader]

Actually I want to clarify a statement on my previous post about federer's dominance being over. In my opinion it ended when nadal beat him at wimbledon in 08. That was the changing of the guard right there and then. Like I said Federer has at least 2 grand slams in him. I still would not be surprised if he won 20 grand slams although I would bet against it unless nadal's injuries becomes continuous to the point of threatening his career. But I don't see a decline in federer's game as much as murray and djokovic are playing great and maybe can only get better. Let's not forget about soderling as well.

 

[Matra1]

Djokovic was superb. He has raised his game to a whole new level. The quality of the tennis was out of this world.

 

[j41181]

The amazing thing about Federer is that he never suffered a serious injury in his entire tennis career, only some slight ankle injuries. In fact, he played solid against Djokovic, who in turn simply raised him on a whole new level. Other than the fact age is finally getting to him, there is a lot of fight left in Federer, and it depends on the quality of his match draws.

Nadal's constant injuries lie in his style of play, which takes a toll on his body. His game is way more strenuous than Federer's, but as his 9 Grand Slams show, he's got the ability to bounce back from injuries. Still, he'll need to make some changes to his style of play to lengthen his tennis career (like Federer).

It's also safe to say we're all witnessing the changing of the guard. Even though Federer can still remain in the top 5 from a few more years, the level of competition he's facing in the last 3 years (2008-2011) is much tougher than those he faced between 2004-2007 (his best years). The rise of Nadal, and that of Djokovic, Murray, Soderling, Berdych, etc.. proves this. He could still win this year's Wimbledon and US Open, the chances are just slim.

 

[j41181]

Andy Murray beats David Ferrer 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6

Great Match, tremendous efforts from both players. The stage is now set, can Murray become the 1st Brit (Virgina Wade won 1977 Wimbledon) to win a Grand Slam in 34 years? Only time win tell, and his chances against Djokovic look good. This will be a great match, (I'll root for Murray), best of luck to both men.

As expected, there's a lot of expectation on Li Na to become the 1st Chinese, and Asian woman to win a Grand Slam. CNN, BBC, and Chinese news channels are practically drooling over this one. Her chances seem good, considering she beat Clijsters 7-6, 6-3 (5-0 comeback in 1st set) at the Medibank International Sydney tourney. I hope Clijsters proves my doubts wrong. Again, best of luck to both.