MELBOURNE – It could have been delicious, wonderful rematch between two of the most colorful and competent players of the past seven years. But Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal will not meet up again at the Aussie Open as No. 1 Nadal didn
Archives for February 2011
5 Burning Aussie Open Questions for Women
February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Can Sharapova Make Strong Aussie Run?
February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Make or Break Years for some top Players
February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Business As Usual on Men’s Side, Until Dolgopolov
February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
MELBOURNE – The men
Wawrinka Smokes Roddick, Petra-fied by Kvitova
February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
MELBOURNE – The expectations for Sam Stosur here in Australia were pretty high coming into the tournament and for those of you who read me regularly know I didn’t share them. I certainly thought she had a shot at the semis when the draw was released, but I also thought that what occurred to last night — a decisive 7-6 (5) 6-3 loss to Petrova Kvitova — was a real possibility.
The lefty Czech has tremendous talent, significant power off her forehand side, a tough to read backhand, a fine hooking first serve when she gets it in and decent hands at the net. Due to her struggle with English (and my obvious ignorance of Czech) it
Roddick Survives, to Face Stan
February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
MELBOURNE – Andy Roddick is pure scrapper these, days, holding is serve at ATP record levels (91 % of the time in 2010) and maneuvering the ball around until he coaxes an error out of his foe, or happens to get a ball he can charge in on, or occasionally, that he can put away with his forehand. He was in substantial trouble for most of two sets of his 2-6 7-6(2) 6-2 6-2 win over the talented yet still green Robin Haase of the Netherlands in the third round, but Haase played an atrocious tiebreaker, began to have ankle problems and Roddick simply stayed the course. He
Throw the Tactics Out the Window
February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
MELBOURNE – Perhaps the primary reason whyRoger Federer hasn
Out of the Chair for a Date With Date-Krumm
February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
MELBOURNE – There wasn’t a more intriguing backcourt match on Tuesday morning than Aga Radwanska vs. Kimiko Date Krumm, matching a cagey 40-year-old former top 10 player against a wily 21-year-old former top player. It was Radwanska’s first match since October as she underwent foot surgery and somehow, made it back on tour nearly two months before she though she’d be able to.
The contest could have been prettier, but it was so intense and super competitive that ever though neither woman was at her best. It was worth taking in and the court was packed solid with Japanese fans with a small group of Poles sprinkled in. As the Japanese pulled Date in and out of trouble the Poles alternatively cheered and that send silent when Radwanska would either pull off a smooth winner or crack her racket in disgust after making an uncharacteristic error.
Although Radwanska is nowhere near her top form and will unlikely go deep in the tournament, she showed just how much she missed the sport over the past few months and served notice that she will be heard from again this year.
Photocredit Malt
After she underwent foot surgery in October, she was told that it was likely that she wouldn
Rallying for Relief & Relevance
February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Before getting into the bouncing balls and those who strike them, I want to say that one of the great things about the tennis community is when it comes together and authentically raises money for charity, in this instance, the Rally for Relief, which raised a substantial funs to help the victims of the Queensland floods. Tennis is of the few sports with truly global appeal and where people of rival nations come together and develop friendships, and on tour, and also in the pressroom, there is a real love for the various nations that host tournaments and Australia is without question the tops of many folks’ list, including mine.
As Sam Stosur, who was just one of a ton of stars to participate including Federer, Nadal, Murray, Roddick, Ivanovic, Clijsters and Azarenka said: