Category — Australian Open

The British press and fans seemed a bit offended Roger Federer would call out Andy Murray as the country’s great hope. It almost seemed Federer was offended that many were picking Murray to knock him off in the final of the Australian Open earlier this morning. But Federer, like he was for much of the tournament, played his A-game and Murray’s hope were vanquished in a straight-sets victory.
SI.com
Still the queen: Despite a game effort by Justine Henin, Serena Williams proved to be too much in her title-clinching victory Saturday. The win gave Williams her 12th Grand Slam, tying her with the great Billie Jean King.
The Independent

We’re so sorry to see the Australian Open end. For us late-night geeks, it’s been pure ecstasy watching quality tennis (and sometimes falling asleep on it) until the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately, it all ends early tomorrow morning, but it should go out with a bang.
Roger Federer joked about the drought of a British player not winning a men’s Slam after he wiped Jo- Wilfried Tsonga off the court in three sets in the semifinals of the Australian Open. But Federer knows Andy Murray, the pride of Britain, will be a much more serious test than Tsonga. Many believe Murray has an excellent shot of conquering Federer and writing a little history in the process.
The two meet for the Aussie title at 12:30 a.m. (PT) Sunday. We’re picking Federer, who will attempt to capture his fourth Australian title, in a five-set classic.
The Guardian

They’ve got some history between them, but both say its in the past. Right, right. We’ll see when they lock horns again in the wee hours (scheduled for 12:30 a.m. PT) Saturday.
Serena Williams and Justine Henin will clash for the title of the Australian Open. Williams is a heavy favorite and we believe she’ll come through. After her incredible rally against Victoria Azarenka, we believe that was the wake-up call that will propel her to the title. She’ll win it in two sets. We’re not the only ones who think so either.
Busted Racquet

Victoria Azarenka will agonize over this match for a while. For the first half of her quarterfinal clash at the Australian Open with Serena Williams, Azarenka dominated. She captured the first set, 6-4, then turned up the heat in the second one and coasted to 4-0 advantage. Williams was on the ropes and clearly frustrated. But somehow, she rallied.
Williams won five consecutive games before winning the set in a tiebreaker. From there, the match was all about her. The final tally: 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Meanwhile, Venus just crumbled in her quarterfinal match again Li Na. Venus led, 5-3, in the second set and appeared on her way to victory. But her game fell apart, much like Azarenka’s, as Li advanced to the semis, where she will meet Serena.

Andy Roddick wasn’t the only high seed at the Australian Open to suffer the injury bug. Rafael Nadal had to quit because of a knee injury in his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray earlier this morning. Nadal hasn’t been the same since a knee injury kept him on the shelf for much of last year. Meanwhile, Murray advanced to the semis, where he will meet Marin Cilic, who defeated Roddick.
SI.com

If you’re a late-night addict, the Australian Open probably has been your drug of choice. It’s been ours. The tennis has been off the charts, with classic matches almost every night.
Tonight was no different. Andy Roddick, despite a game effort and a bum shoulder, is the latest of the top seeds to fall, rallying from 2 sets down to force 5, but fading in the final one to Marin Cilic, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3.
ESPN.com

Venus Williams has been getting some heat in the media about her outfit at the Australian Open. One publication described her attire as going “commando style.” Please. Move along people, there’s nothing to see here. OK, maybe a little bit. But isn’t that the beauty of tennis, compared to hockey, where there’s plenty to please the eye in addition to the great tennis?
Big sister advanced tonight by sleeping through the first set (she lost 6-3), then ramping it up to smoke Francesca Schiavone, 6-2, , 6-1. It was all good theater for us.

I could have watched these two all night. Almost did until No. 14 Marin Cilic prevailed in a 5-set classic over No. 4 Juan Martin Del Potro, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Tough tourney for U.S. Open champs. First Kim Clijsters and now Del Potro.

Many folks were anticipating a Kim Clijsters-Justine Henin showdown, but that won’t be happening at the Aussie Open. The U.S. Open champ not only got bounced in the third round of the Australian Open, she got hammered, 6-0, 6-1, by Russian Nadia Petrova in less than an hour. We were watching out of the corner of our eye and the next thing we know the match was over almost as quick as Foreman-Frazier.
N.Y. Times

The Australian Open, the first of the Grand Slams and the first time we get serious tennis this year, tips off next week with several storylines on the men’s side. Federer and Nadal for obvious reasons. After that? Possible contenders: Nikolay Davydenko and Andy Murray are maybes.
Fox Sports