Archives for January 2013
All Keyed Up
Aussie Open 2013: Drawn & Quartered
Tomic the Steam Engine races down the track
FROM THE APIA SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL – Bernard Tomic is saying all the right things, doing the right things and playing the right way. On Friday he reached his first ATP final with a 7-6 (10), 6-4 win over the very competent Andreas Seppi. He had eaten a salad right before the match and his stomach began to cramp midway through the first set. But he hung on, slice and diced, slapped big forehands, flat service winners, and two-handed backhands crosscourt that backed Seppi up.
The Italian was right there with him all day in every aspect of the game except on the big points and the 20 year old, who has ben nicknamed Tomic the Tank engine last fall after his desultory performances on court, has been transformed into Tomic the Steam Engine. He hasn’t lost a match in the last 12 days. In form or in mediocre form he
WTA Big 3 is a crowd for other contenders
FROM THE APIA SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL – A little more than 440 miles down the Australian coast, the WTA
Daily Picks: Apia International Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 10
Ryan Harrison hasn’t won five matches in a row in quite some time and while John Isner was hobbled, Harrison looked quick and played with the proper amount of aggression is his win over the Big Guy. Expect him to power last Julien Benneteau too, also in 2 sets, Aga Radwanska and Li Na could be a classic. I love how Li is striking the ball, but Madison Keys hit her with numerous body blows in the Wednesday night match and I think Radwanska will have a little more energy than she will. However, Li doesn’t easily get caught in the Pole
Bury Isner’s AO chances on his wounded knee?
FROM THE APIA SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL – John Isner was hoping to turn his fortunes around at the Grand Slams in 2013, but now it looks like he
Wozzy Wozzy, Wozzy, Oh no, Oh no, Oh no
FROM THE APIA SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL – Deep in the first set of her 7-6, 1-6, 6-2 loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round, Caroline Wozniacki engaged in a sharp, hard-hitting rally where she had her money shot, her two-handed backhand lined up to end the rally, and she plunked it into the net. She then threw her racket angrily on the ground, knowing that yet another opportunity had been lost.
The likeable Dane is once again in a tough spot in her now not-so-young career. She
Sam I am not yet (at home)
FROM THE APIA SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL – Samantha Stosur dropped another match in Australia, this one on Monday to Jie Zheng. It was a long, hard-fought match in which she gave her all, but she was gripping hard on the big points and consequently suffered a 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-4 loss. Zheng is very good player when healthy and isn