2014 Australian Open

[icsept]

Ha ha, loved to see Serena lose and blame it on a back injury. This is the 3rd straight year she lost in the Australian Open and blamed it on injury. Last year, she supposedly hurt her back in her loss to Stephens. In the 2012 Aussie, it was an ankle injury. The media gives her a pass because we are supposed to believe a healthy Serena is invincible.

 

[PamelaOC]

I read that Serena has a wrist measurement of seven and a half inches - bigger than a lot of men's. Mine is six and a half inches and that's considered big for a woman. It's pretty damn obvious that Serena's on the roids. Glad to see her out.

I'm not a fan of masculine looking white "female" players like Mauresmo or Stosur either.

 

[Don Wassall]

Sharapova was upset in the round of 16 today by Dominika Cibulkova, who I never heard of before.

Victoria Azarenka is playing Sloane Stephens right now on ESPN 2, with Azarenka currently up 4-1 in the first set.

 

[Awake in America]

Sharapova was upset in the round of 16 today by Dominika Cibulkova, who I never heard of before.

Victoria Azarenka is playing Sloane Stephens right now on ESPN 2, with Azarenka currently up 4-1 in the first set.

Cibulkova used to date Monfils (upchuck) a few years back, which got both of them more attention than they deserved. Sharapova looked a little bit shaky in her previous match, but it's still surprising to see her bounced out by a 20th seed. Ivanovic is beating one PED user after another! Stephens out in straight sets. I wonder if her back hurts, too.

 

[Rebajlo]

Here's a shocker....

"Williams later admitted she'd been bothered by a back problem in practice in recent days and considered pulling out of the tournament."

Her excuse making is pathetic. She's never lost without complaining about some injury afterwards. It has to be a running joke with the reporters covering tennis.

Williams looked like she was about to burst into tears during the post-match press conference. It is always abundantly obvious that she regards herself as the greatest player of all time and believes she is somehow entitled to win everything. So much so that every time she loses, she is clearly in shocked disbelief that her undeniably steroid-fuelled "power" has inexplicably failed to prevail against girls who look (and are), well...normal. That's the "confidence" bred by unbridled juicing coupled with the smug knowledge that she shall always be allowed to get away with it...

Williams' fanatical ambition to overhaul the Grand Slam record of Steffi Graf and even that of our girl Margaret Court shall drive her to compete for as long as she is capable of stumbling onto a court. She will turn 33 this year and if she stays free of serious injury I think her Grand Slam obsession will ensure she'll still be around until the end of 2016. This would potentially give her 11 more chances to add to her current 17 titles. But here's the thing: Williams is a bulky Negress moving deeper into her thirties so she'll find it increasingly difficult to keep the blubber off and retain some sort of on-court speed. Consequently the ball-striking power generated by her shaved gorilla physique shall be less and less decisive.

Nevertheless, she's (muscle)bound to at the very least win a couple more Grand Slam titles, which will see her surpass Chris Evert and that horse-visaged lezzer Martina "The Prague Frankenstein" Navratilova. Hell, I just felt my face instantly contort into what must be a constipated mask of gasping revulsion at the mere memory of Navratilova stalking the court. What a nightmare. Her frighteningly mannish, ultra-lean PED-ed frame packed full of sharply ridged muscles crawling with garden-hose-thick veins actually made the likes of current steroid empress Williams seem somewhat feminine...

Thankfully, the much-hyped Sloane Stephens has also been knocked out. Now we just need to be rid of the Li Na and the ladies' competition will be in order.

Roger Federer is currently up 5-3 in the first set against the apparently "charismatic" Tsonga. Hopefully, the Swiss can dispose of this final African pest and we can finally sit back and enjoy a Negro-free final eight...

Edit: one word deleted for posting guidelines violation - DW

 

[Quiet Speed]

All and all yesterday was a good day even with the loss of Sharapova. Cibulkova is the type of player who is not handcuffed by Sharapova’s power and can sustain a rally which leads to unforced errors by Sharapova. They are now 3-3 head-to-head. Roger Federer beat the Joe Louis look alike (or is it More-hammered Ali, I forget), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Federer’s switch to a larger frame racket is paying dividends so far.

Day 8 highlights

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/video/..._w.html#ooid=Z1Mmw3azomMsSuugTglRR5Ky43OlHO_w

Tsonga- Federer

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/video/...iT.html#ooid=wxZHA3azqkWR4BVMktRalfGbhbZ4kaiT

 

[foobar75]

Glad to see all the vibrant players have now been eliminated in a span of 2-3 days by non-vibrant ones. I guess we'll have to endure a "boring" tourney from here on out and sympathize with Chris Fowler, Patrick McEnroe, Pam
Shriver and co., as they lick their wounds.

I'm also happy that Federer is playing well and made it to the quarters, though I'm afraid his run will most likely come to an end against Murray. If he somehow gets past that, then his kryptonite will be waiting in the semis.

 

[Don Wassall]

Djokovic loses an epic 5 set match to 8th seeded Stan Wawrinka, ending a 28 match winning streak. The two played an even more epic 5 setter last year at the Australian, with Djokovic prevailing.

Berdich beat Ferrer and makes the semis for the first time in this event.

Ivanovic lost in 3 sets to French Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, an up and coming attractive 19 year old. Ana played with a hip injury that took away the power game she used to beat Stosur and Brutus, and as a result looked very pedestrian against Bouchard, like a completely different player unfortunately. Bouchard plays Li Na in the semis.

 

[Matra2]

Glad to see all the vibrant players have now been eliminated in a span of 2-3 days by non-vibrant ones.

Not quite. The incredibly grating Li Na of China is a semi-finalist on the women's side. She's favourite to beat the Canadian upstart Eugenie Bouchard.

 

[Quiet Speed]

Agnieszka Radwanska just played an extraordinary tennis match in beating Victoria Azarenka in three sets.

 

[Don Wassall]

Agnieszka Radwanska just played an extraordinary tennis match in beating Victoria Azarenka in three sets.

That was a great match to watch! Radwanska is a cute, feminine looking Polish girl who played fantastic defense and made very few unforced errors. She won one amazing point after another over the power hitting Azarenka by always seeming to be in the right place to hit returns.

The women's field is now wide open, with 5th seeded Radwanska and 4th seeded Li Na the two highest seeds left.

On a caste related note, the Australian DWFs continued to be very cold toward two-time defending champion Azarenka again this year, going back to last year's tournament when Azarenka was hated on big-time for taking an injury timeout against media and crowd darling Sloane Stephens that was seen as bad sportsmanship because of the timing of it. I was hoping Azarenka would win again just to spite Australia's DWF Nation, but Radwanska is easy to root for now.

 

[foobar75]

Wawrinka was an up-and-coming player for a few years, completely living under Federer's shadow as the other legit Swiss player on tour. I believe he broke into the top 10 last year and is now firmly established there. But, the top 4 being pretty much impregnable, it's nearly impossible for any of the second tier players such as Ferrer, Berdych, Del Potro, and now Wawrinka to break thru. He's done it and has a great opportunity to win his first major.

As for Djokovic, I thought his decision to bring in Becker as a coach was a curious move. I've never really been a Becker fan, especially once I found out about his preference for dark meat.

On the women's side, I hope Radwanska can finish the job and win her first major. But if Li Na makes it to the final, the DWFs will undoubtedly be her side.

 

[PamelaOC]

Wawrinka was an up-and-coming player for a few years, completely living under Federer's shadow as the other legit Swiss player on tour. I believe he broke into the top 10 last year and is now firmly established there. But, the top 4 being pretty much impregnable, it's nearly impossible for any of the second tier players such as Ferrer, Berdych, Del Potro, and now Wawrinka to break thru. He's done it and has a great opportunity to win his first major.

As for Djokovic, I thought his decision to bring in Becker as a coach was a curious move. I've never really been a Becker fan, especially once I found out about his preference for dark meat.

On the women's side, I hope Radwanska can finish the job and win her first major. But if Li Na makes it to the final, the DWFs will undoubtedly be her side.

DWFs are so predictable. Blacks all eliminated? Cheer for "the next best thing" - Asians. We like to say how much they "love" their black pets but DWFs don't truly love blacks or Asians or anyone else. In fact, I'm not sure they're capable of love at all. They are motivated by hate - hate of everything white and beautiful, because they are white and ugly. They just want The Other, whatever it is, to destroy The White and Pretty.

Sometimes I think it's every white liberal's fantasy to become just like the hero in Avatar or Dances with Wolves (which were pretty much the same movie) - ZOMG TEH ONLY GOOD WHITE!!!11eleventyone, surrounded by noble blacks/Indians/Asians, with every other white on the planet killed or enslaved.

 

[Don Wassall]

Nadal survives Dimitrov, and Federer knocks off Murray. Roger has been playing great all tournament and has a very good chance to win it now. Would be nice to see as he may not have many opportunities left for Grand Slam titles.

 

[Matra2]

With the courts playing faster than in previous years Federer has more of a chance against Nadal than he's had for a few years despite his backhand - which was Dimitrov's main problem, though he also missed a set up forehand shot on set point at the end of the third. Nadal is still favourite but he's been less than impressive so far. His serve was particularly poor against Dimitrov.

Tonight it'll be Eugenie Bouchard against Li Na. Hopefully the occasion doesn't get to the Canadian because if she plays like she did against Ivanovic - without fear of losing - I think she can do it. After that dismal Wimbledon final performance against Serena I'm afraid I don't trust Radwanska in a major final against Li Na so hopefully Bouchard can come through.

 

[icsept]

Disappointing loss for Federer. Nadal uses brute force to overwhelm his opponent. It's a bad matchup for anybody, and particularly Roger's backhand. Wawrinka can match Nadal's power, but he doesn't have Nadal's speed or mental intensity. I'll be shocked if Nadal loses. This would be grand slam 14, 3 behind Roger. I think Roger can pick up one more if he doesn't have to face Nadal. Nadal could win 4-5 more before his age overtakes his style of play.

 

[newguy]

Disappointing loss for Federer. Nadal uses brute force to overwhelm his opponent. It's a bad matchup for anybody, and particularly Roger's backhand. Wawrinka can match Nadal's power, but he doesn't have Nadal's speed or mental intensity. I'll be shocked if Nadal loses. This would be grand slam 14, 3 behind Roger. I think Roger can pick up one more if he doesn't have to face Nadal. Nadal could win 4-5 more before his age overtakes his style of play.

Unfortunately for Roger, Nadal completely owns him. Nadalhas a set game plan that beats Roger every time. He spins his forehand high to Roger's backhand and it drives Roger nuts. It's like a movie that gets played over and over again with the same ending every time. That is why the Nadal - Djokovic matches are so much more fun to watch, because they usually play great matches and you don't know who will win. Other than Nadal's only loss at the French Open. Djokovic is the only player that gives Nadal any competition on clay at the French Open.

 

[Westside]

Just saw the highlights of Li Na's win in the woman's final. Great back hand and body. Good for her. I next saw her interviewed by the BSPN. She seems like a great sportsman and humble person. I will take her over brutus and her affeletic sister any moment of the year.

 

[Quiet Speed]

Good for Stanislas Wawrinka in capturing the AO title. He has been a tough out for a while now in the majors. His style of play is enjoyable to watch. A lot of tennis to be played before the French Open, but looking at Wawrinka’s past performances there he can make a run. Since 2010 he has made it to the 4th round and last year reached the QF’s and has an overall record at the French of 20-9. Of course if Nadal is healthy, he is the man to beat.

 

[white lightning]

I"m so happy for Stan. He had lost to the big three guys 39 out of 40 times before his championship win today! What a great champion.

 

[PamelaOC]

Just saw the highlights of Li Na's win in the woman's final. Great back hand and body. Good for her. I next saw her interviewed by the BSPN. She seems like a great sportsman and humble person. I will take her over brutus and her affeletic sister any moment of the year.

I'll happily take an Asian over a black, but I'd rather see a white win over an Asian.

I can respect Li Na so long as she doesn't bring race into it.

 

[Don Wassall]

Nadal truly gutted out the final with a lower back injury, but Wawrinka was so strong beating Djokovic and Berdych that Rafa at his best would have had a very tough time winning. Wawrinka was definitely Stan The Man for this tournament and was very deserving of the victory.

I was curious about his name given that Wawrinka is from Switzerland. His father is Czech and his mother is Swiss. His name sounds more Polish than anything.

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

With tennis, I'm glad whoever wins so long as they are a good sportsman and, all else being equal, aren't Black.

When I read that Nadal was defeated and I read the name of the winner, I thought, "Oh please, don't let him be one of those Black 'Swedish' people," but then I remembered that Black tennis players, outside of the Williams brothers, suck.

 

[foobar75]

I was curious about his name given that Wawrinka is from Switzerland. His father is Czech and his mother is Swiss. His name sounds more Polish than anything.

Yes, same here, so I did a little research, and turns out that on his father's side, he's actually of German, Polish, and Czech ancestry. He apparently holds both Swiss and German citizenship.

In any event, I'm glad to see someone other than the big four come thru with a GS win. Wawrinka is playing at his peak right now, and he may now have the confidence to perhaps win another major or two in the next couple of years. His backhand particularly is very impressive. He was beating Nadal even prior to the injury in the first set, so I don't think this takes anything away from him.

 

[Matra2]

Nadal's loss could have a big impact from an historical perspective. He's on 13 major championships trying to catch Federer's 17. Fed is unlikely to win any more but with his improved form of late I'd give him an outside chance of another Wimbledon victory this year. The Swiss has only won one major since turning 30 (I think) and other than his back injury his body is in better condition than Nadal's is likely to be in when he hits 30. Nadal is 27 so I'd say he's got two or three years to catch Federer before his body breaks down.

Every one talks about him winning Roland Garros for several more years. Yet the last two years Djokovic was on the verge of beating him at the French and has beaten him on clay numerous other times. In the 2012 final the Serb would've won if play had not been stopped due to rain (and pressure from Rafa's camp on the tournament officials). In 2013 if Djokovic does not bang into the net when slamming a winner he'd have had a two break lead late in the fifth set semi final. I think Djokovic will beat him at least one of these next couple of years at RG and then there is a newly confident Wawrinka who believes clay is his best surface.

I think Nadal will struggle to win another Wimbledon, unless Murray and Djokovic have injury issues. I also expect Del Potro to step it up at the All England Club - perhaps Dimitrov too. Grass with it's low bounce and faster courts doesn't suit Nadal even though he's won it twice already. Australia is now playing faster than at anytime in the last ten years so assuming that continues his window there is closing. (I think that 6 hr slugfest between Nadal and Djokovic led to a conscious effort in Australia to speed things up. Apparently the balls they now use have done the trick). The slightly slower playing US Open is still good for Nadal.

All in all I predict he won't pass Federer but will finish his career with either 16 or equal to Federer with 17 major championships.