Australian Open 2013

TheBest

SPNTBP
Joined
Jul 10, 2011
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Ivanovic playing right now.

Tip of the day
Mens: Someone outside top 3
Womens: Azarenka
 
Yep Azarenka again in the women's for me unless Serena turns up inspired.

In the men's, no way will anyone other than Djokovic, Murray or Federer win this title. They are the best 3 players by an enormous margin from the rest.

We better get used to hard court Slam finals consisting of Djokovic v Murray, and that's my prediction again, Murray finally taking out Fed in a Slam, then Djoko just edging another 5 setter over Murray again in this tournament.

Others, fancy Del Potro for a little run, but even he is lined up for Murray in the QF. On his day he can smash anyone off the court, and I mean anyone, and that applies to Berdych too. I suspect Ferrer will reach the SF, had a phenomenal season last year, SF of the US and a career best season at the age of 30. Such a gritty competitor.
 
Rafa pulling out 3 weeks before with a "stomach bug" seems mighty suspicious. Wouldn't be surprised if its his knee again.

I reckon we've seen the best of him. :(
 
Aye, he needed that Dubai exhibition tourno to stand any chance of making this, he's meant to be targeting the Mexico Open in the 500 series for his comeback, but to be honest I can't even see him making that as I think it's in less than a month.

I'm not entirely sure about this protected ranking business and whether he's applied for one for this tournament, but if not he's going to drop down to at least 5th in the world after this, Ferrer will be up into 4th. By my calculations depending on how JMDP and Berdych do, he could be as low as 7th.
 
Murray coasting through very nicely at the moment, in second gear and reducing his court time, which is important. World number 110 next then the real stuff starts next week.
 
Astonishing victory for Laura Robson, she has proved that she can go head to head with the very best now.
 
When was the last time 3 Brits were in the third round of a Grand Slam? Im a casual viewer of the Tennis but I can't remember the last time three Brits were. The last time two female Brits were in was in 1991!
 
Sixpence said:
Astonishing victory for Laura Robson, she has proved that she can go head to head with the very best now.
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Both players were struggling too much on their serve. It actually became annoying. Atleast Robson wasn't almost crying.
 
DelPo struggling just now against Chardy. 2 sets down.
 
Sixpence said:
Astonishing victory for Laura Robson, she has proved that she can go head to head with the very best now.
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She lost today in the third round. Steady on.
 
With an injury problem throughout the match. And she's still 18, she will be a top 10 player for many years.

Meanwhile JMDP out in 5 sets to Chardy, that's a shock, it looked like he was going to complete a great comeback. Murray's route means he will play an outsider now, but he needs to get past probably Monfils first. Can't be as sloppy as he was today.
 
Sixpence said:
With an injury problem throughout the match. And she's still 18, she will be a top 10 player for many years.

Meanwhile JMDP out in 5 sets to Chardy, that's a shock, it looked like he was going to complete a great comeback. Murray's route means he will play an outsider now, but he needs to get past probably Monfils first. Can't be as sloppy as he was today.
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Not a certainty by any means. She is young though. Really wanted JMDP to do well this time. I guess its going to be same players again in the semis and finals.
 
To be fair, I haven't seen her play that much so I'd bow down to your opinion. But just because she defeated the world no. 8 doesn't mean she could head to head with the very best now.

Sharapova and Serena Williams are still class apart from the rest in Women's tennis IMO.
 
Her performance in the last 2 Slams has shown a massive improvement, knocking out 3 former Slams winners. The same players were always going to appear in the latter stages but the route has now changed for Murray, on paper at least, it is now easier for him. Failure to close out sets like today will be punished next week.
 
KM said:
To be fair, I haven't seen her play that much so I'd bow down to your opinion. But just because she defeated the world no. 8 doesn't mean she could head to head with the very best now.

Sharapova and Serena Williams are still class apart from the rest in Women's tennis IMO.
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She didn't show much in that match to be honest. Both players were struggling. Sharapova and others are a level above as off now. Sharapova yesterday was just class :drool:. I thing she will win this(Azarenka :nervous:).
 
Excellent match going right now. Wawrinka has just broken Djoko twice to lead 4-1 in the first set.
 
Woah Wawrinka has just outclassed Djoko and takes the first set 6-1.
 
If Wawrinka takes the next set - put your money on a Djokovic win - easy money. ;)
 
What a scare he's had here, Djokovic was hanging on by a thread, 3-5 down and needed to break, he's now come through it like the champion he is. He'll be ok from here on in.
 
Shame, was a game away from making some money. Easy win from here now.
 
Incredible defense by Djokovic there.
 
Unreal defence from Djokovic these last two points to get the break in the 3rd set.
 
God Wawrinka you piece of shit. You had the 2nd set. You were one game away from it and now because of not winning that set, you are going to lose.
 
huge credit to Wawrinka here. Most would have rolled over in that 4th set and we'd have talked about a 'tricky' opening round for Djokovic. It's now been an almighty struggle for the serb. He hasn't been at his best but Wawrinka has hit some glorious shots.
 
Incredible shot by Stan. This goes into the final set.
 
You get the feeling when playing Djokovic its almost better to be 'close' in a set than ahead. When your ahead the guy will just reel you in if you so much drop even an inch of your level. When its close you've got nothing to lose and the adrenaline keeps you at the top of your game.
 
Sensational from Djokovic.
 
What a match. Djokovic - nothing encapsulates the man more than that last game. Match point up, he hits a fizzing return that Wawrinka somehow gets back, before then raking a forehand up the line where Wawrinka then hits a sensational backhand pass to save it. Then in the next point, he flicks another gorgeous backhand cross-court winner. Every other player would have thought 'feck that,' got pissed off and dumped the next shot in the net and moved on to the next game. Djokovic actually LAUGHS, applauds his opponent and casually plays the next few points as if his life depended on it to win the match. The guy just embraces those situations, he just loves it. Machine.
 
Wawrinka was incredible, you can't fault him for 'bottling' it like the likes of Tsonga have done in the past against Djok. He couldn't give any more than that. You'd have put your mortgage after that third set was sealed Djokovic winning it comfortably in 4, amazing effort.
 
Murray a set up against a knackered Simon. Coasting through. And with Chardy next, I don't think he's ever had such an easy route through to a Slam Semi, he's in great shape.
 
So the QF lineup is complete and as follows (not sure on order just yet).

Top Half

1 Djokovic v Berdych 5
4 Ferrer v Almagro 10

Bottom Half

Chardy v Murray 3
2 Federer v Tsonga 7

Murray has coasted through to this stage, with minimal court time and minimal opposition and should have way too much for Chardy, although he's taken out some notable seeds, but who is now in unchartered territory in a Grand Slam.

Federer v Tsonga is always a classic watchable match, 2 players with great style and flair and the 2 players I enjoy watching the most. Fed is in imperious form, the player of the tournament so far and I expect him to take Tsonga out in 3.

Berdych, although he's not dropped a set so far will struggle with his footwork and movement against the genius shotmaking of Djokovic, I see that one as Djokovic winning, probably in 4 very close sets.

Ferrer is under the radar as usual, so consistent in his performance now and getting better with age, and Nicolas Almagro is his bitch basically so expect him to beat him easily.

All this would result in the completely shocking semi final lineup consisting of seeds 1,2,3 & 4.
 
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