152 replies to this topic

[Goanjock]

Laura Robson and James Ward have both qualified for the main draw........Andy Murray is in the same half of the draw as Djokovic and plays wrold number 84 Ryan Harrison in the first round.

[Bundy]

Used to watch the Oz Open but I'm not going to bother this year. Might just record a few matches and watch them if they are good ones.

[Goanjock]

Bundy, on 14 January 2012 - 11:33 AM, said:

Used to watch the Oz Open but I'm not going to bother this year. Might just record a few matches and watch them if they are good ones.

I enjoy the Ausie Open and often manage to catch some games before I head to work.

[Goanjock]

There is a bit of tension rising between Federer and Nadal

Rafael Nadal has criticized Roger Federer for letting other players "burn themselves" by complaining about tour conditions while enhancing his own reputation by rarely making negative comments about tennis.
The pair have always been respectful rivals, but the ongoing debate about the overcrowded tennis calendar has exposed a difference of opinion on the eve of the Australian Open.
After telling a pre-tournament news conference Sunday he had no intention of being the frontman for the players' grievances because it has reflected badly on him in the past, Nadal was then critical of Federer in a Spanish-language interview.
Responding to the suggestion that Federer disliked players complaining openly about problems on the tour because it tarnished the image of tennis, Nadal said he took another view.
"No, I totally disagree," he said in comments translated from Spanish. "For him it's good to say nothing. Everything positive. 'It's all well and good for me, I look like a gentleman,' and the rest can burn themselves.
"Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions."
Nadal and No. 4-ranked Andy Murray are among the players who have been outspoken in recent months on issues including an overcrowded calendar and the scheduling of Davis Cup matches. Some players have talked of strike action as recently as Saturday's player meeting in Melbourne; Nadal has said players may have to resort to "strong action" if there isn't an "evolution" in the calendar.
Federer and Nadal, who has 10 Grand Slam titles, dominated men's tennis for the seven years before Novak Djokovic won three of the four majors in 2011 and passed them both for the No. 1 ranking.
They're both key ambassadors for the tour, helping with promotional work and appearances at tournaments around the globe.
Nadal thinks that when the majority highlight problems on the tour, the intention is to make it better, not run it down.
"He likes the circuit. I like the circuit," Nadal said. "It's much better than many other sports but that doesn't mean that it couldn't be better. It doesn't mean there are some things about the tour that could change. The tour is fine, but there are some things that are bad. That's all we're saying.
"And the vast majority of players have this same opinion. He's got a different opinion ... if the vast majority have one opinion, and a small minority think differently, maybe it's them who are wrong."
For the first time since the 2005 French Open, Federer and Nadal are on the same side of the draw at a major, which means only one of them can reach the final on Jan. 29.
They both start Monday. Third-seeded Federer, a four-time Australian Open winner, is on Rod Laver Arena in a night match against Russian qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev.
No. 2-ranked Nadal has the last match on Hisense Arena -- the second show court at Melbourne Park -- against Russian Alex Kuznetsov.
Defending champion Djokovic doesn't start until Tuesday. Women's champion Kim Clijsters is third match on Rod Laver Arena on Monday against Maria Joao Koehler of Portugal.
Li Na, who lost the Australian final last year but rebounded to win the French Open to become China's first Grand Slam singles champion, has a first-round match against Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan and No. 1-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, still searching for her first major title despite finishing the last two seasons with the top ranking, faces Australia's Anastasia Rodionova.

[JHR]

If Nadal can stay fit my guess is he will win the men's title

Murray will lose in the semi's...again

[johnarob]

Djokovic for me....and would think someone like Tsonga must be a reasonable outside bet

[jaybee1978]

I'm pretty sure Murray has got to last two finals of this tournament. Maybe if he gets there this time it will be third time lucky.

He had a good end to last season and who knows maybe he could do a Djokovic and surprise everyone by taking his game to the next level.

[black dog]

Goanjock, on 14 January 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

Laura Robson and James Ward have both qualified for the main draw........Andy Murray is in the same half of the draw as Djokovic and plays wrold number 84 Ryan Harrison in the first round.

Robson's oot.

and John said:

Quote

Djokovic for me....and would think someone like Tsonga must be a reasonable outside bet

A good shout mate.

[Bundy]

Murray is the only Brit left now, and that's only because he hasn't played yet

[Psychoheart]

British tennis going as well as usual then. Half of them were out before I even started work this morning!

[andrewkerr]

I hope Murray wins he's too good not to win a grand slam but he's also un-lucky to be playing at a time when there are three other top world class players. But his new coach might make the difference. Good luck to the boy anyway.

[Psychoheart]

There was a time he was unlucky to be playing in a period where there were two world class players. Djokovic upped his game - over to Murray to do the same.

[Goanjock]

He plays Ryan Harrison who is a decent young player and one of the US's future hopes........hopefully he gets through comfortably and then can settle in to the tournament.......fingers-crossed this is his year to go that one step further and win a slam.......he is still the best tennis player to come out of the UK since something like 1936.

[jaybee1978]

Goanjock, on 16 January 2012 - 08:03 PM, said:

He plays Ryan Harrison who is a decent young player and one of the US's future hopes........hopefully he gets through comfortably and then can settle in to the tournament.......fingers-crossed this is his year to go that one step further and win a slam.......he is still the best tennis player to come out of the UK since something like 1936.

If he wins then maybe he will get his own clothing range.

[Goanjock]

Murray through to round two in 4 sets....lost the first 4-6 but took the next three 6-3 6-4 6-2

[johnarob]

was on way to early to watch it...hopefully his next match is a little bit later

[sheeptastic]

Goanjock, on 17 January 2012 - 07:45 AM, said:

Murray through to round two in 4 sets....lost the first 4-6 but took the next three 6-3 6-4 6-2

Nadal quoted as carrying an injury.................nothing new there then, he will still be in the mix near the end

[Bundy]

Unsurprisingly Murray the only top seed to drop a set. Murray lost 16 games while Djokovic lost 2 in his opening match. These games take their toll over the fortnight so Andy will have to get his act together

[johnarob]

murray currently 2 sets up in his second round match against Edouard Roger-Vasselin of france

1-1 game all in 3rd

[johnarob]

murray serving for match, 5-4 up