Fish, Serena Beat Seeds at Aussie Open; Roddick Testy

Posted on January 15, 2007

Fish Leads Upset-Minded Americans at Aussie Open

Unseeded Americans were responsible for all three upsets on opening day Monday at the Australian Open, with Mardy Fish claiming the biggest scalp in No. 4-seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4.

"It was a great opportunity to play someone like him, to show everyone I can play, that I'm back," said Fish, talking to reporters and commenting on his improved forehand. "I had no confidence whatsoever in it but now it feels like I can hit winners off it. If everything clicked I knew anything could happen today."

Ljubicic admitted the loss was a continuation of his big-match choking tendencies at the Grand Slam events.

"Fortunately I am used to disappointments in Grand Slams," Ljubicic told reporters. "Maybe I was putting too much pressure on myself. When I play ATP tournaments I feel like the world No. 4, but maybe in Grand Slams I put myself under too much pressure."

Other upset-minded American winners were Sam Querry, who likewise came from a set down to beat No. 27 Jose Acasuso, and journeyman Zack Fleishman who ousted No. 30 Agustin Calleri.

World No. 1 Roger Federer overcame a slow start, trailing 3-5 in the first before storming back to dismantle Bjorn Phau 7-5, 6-0, 6-4.

Andy Roddick received a scare from 21-year-old Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, advancing 6-7(18), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-3 when the Frenchman faded in the hot Melbourne conditions.

Tsonga out-served the American to survive the opening-set marathon tiebreak 20-18, but entering the second-set tiebreak it became evident the Frenchman was not in condition, with sloppy footwork contributing to a quick tiebreak loss and early breaks in the next two sets.

Roddick displayed an argumentative attitude throughout the match, yelling expletives at his opponent and engaging in multiple arguments with the chair umpire.

"I think I got a little first-round jitters," Roddick said. "These first matches are a little bit uncomfortable sometimes. But it got better as I went along."

Other seeded winners Monday were (7) Tommy Robredo (d. Ramirez Hidalgo, bagel in the third), (9) Mario Ancic (d. Go "Get Me a" Soeda), (11) Marcos Baghdatis (d. Schuettler in four), (14) Novak Djokovic (d. Massu, dropping two games), (16) David Ferrer (d. Pless), (18) Richard "Baby Fed" Gasquet (d. Volandri), (20) Radek Stepanek (d. Llodra, bagel in the third), (22) Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty (d. Vanek in four), (24) Juan Carlos Ferrero (d. Hajek who retired in the first with a stomach virus), and (25) Mikhail Youzhny (d. Hernych, bagel in the third).

Swede Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson retired against Guillermo "G-Lo" Garcia-Lopez in the first set with a blister, while other unseeded American winners were Vince Spadea (d. Andreev) and former NCAA champ Amer Delic (d. Simon).

Struggling Frenchman Gael "Force" Monfils was a four-set winner over Daniele "Choppin'" Bracciali, while the even-more-struggling Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan saw his campaign ended by Israel's Dudi "Where's My Car?" Sela in straight sets, suffering with a wrist injury.

As of 8 a.m. EST, Marat Safin was entering into the fifth set against Benjamin Becker.

Seeded players and other matches of interest scheduled for Tuesday are (2) Nadal vs. Kendrick, (19) Hewitt vs. Russell, (5) Blake vs. Moya, (8) Nalbandian vs. Tipsarevic, (15) Murray vs. A.Martin, (13) Berdych vs. H.-T.Lee, (12) Haas vs. Montanes, (3) Davydenko vs. Roitman, (29) Xavier "X-Man" Malisse vs. Clement, (28) Grosjean vs. Christophe "The Roach" Rochus, (10) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez vs. Korolev, (21) Tursunov vs. Waske, (17) Nieminen vs. Goldstein, (23) Soderling vs. Mayer, (32) Almagro vs. Ginepri, and (31) Wawrinka vs. K.Kim.

Serena Williams Upsets Seeded Santangelo at Aussie Open

Serena Williams, unseeded at the Australian Open after injuries sidelined her for most of 2006, moved into the second round Monday at the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-1 dismantling of No. 27 seed Mara Santangelo.

"I'm feeling pretty good and I'm excited," Williams told reporters. "I came out to finally do what I'm supposed to do. Last year was a tough year but I have nothing to lose and there's only one way I can move, and that's up."

"Serena looked like she was moving pretty well," said ESPN commentator Pam Shriver on the American who had 10 aces. "Although, let's face it, she still is not in the best shape."

Williams suffered from knee and ankle injuries in 2006, while sister Venus pulled out of the Australian Open citing a chronic wrist injury that some speculate could be career-ending.

In the only other seeded upset of the day, Russian Elena Vesnina came from a set down to beat No. 25 Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-1.

Seeded winners on the day were (2) Amelie Mauresmo (d. Perry), (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (d. Moore, bagel in the second set), (5) Nadia Petrova (d. Tanasugarn), (7) Elena Dementieva (d. Foretz), (10) Nicole Vaidisova (d. Craybas 6-1 in the third), (11) Jelena Jankovic (d. Wozniak), (14) Francesca Schiavone (d. Kloesel), (16) Shahar Peer (d. Oprandi), (18) Marion Bartoli (d. Dushevina, bagel in the first), (20) Tatiana Golovin (d. Smashnova), (21) Katarina Srebotnik (d. Dellacqua in three), (23) Ai Sugiyama (d. Arvidsson), and (26) Maria Kirilenko (d. Sprem from a set down).

The defending champ Mauresmo dropped her serve in the first set against the American Perry, then again when serving for the match.

"It was some good moments and some moments especially at the end to finish off the match where my mind went out a little bit," Mauresmo said. "I thought I lost some intensity in the end. I probably should have closed it out a little bit quicker, but that's the way it is."

Highlights of winners in unseeded play were Anne Kremer (d. Krajicek) and Gisela Dulko (d. Sun).

Seeded players and other matches of interest scheduled for Tuesday are (1) Sharapova vs. Pin, (4) Clijsters vs. Bardina, (13) Ivanovic vs. King, (6) Hingis vs. Dechy, (24) Stosur vs. Zakopalova, (8) Schnyder vs. Brengle, (9) Safina vs. Bychkova, (32) Daniilidou vs. Nakamura, (15) Hantuchova vs. Cornet, (22) Zvonareva vs. Obziler, (12) Chakvetadze vs. Bammer, (17) Groenefeld vs. Zahlavova, and all-French in Loit vs. Rezai, (30) Garbin vs. Gagliardi, (28) Pennetta vs. Kanepi, (29) A.Bondarenko vs. Cohen-Aloro, and (19) Li vs. Bovina.

Clijsters, a heavy favorite entering the event, is playing her final Australian Open and plans to retire at the end of the year.

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Pat Cash writing for The Times on Serena Williams: "If anybody is qualified to make deluded statements about tennis, it is a former world No. 1 and winner of seven Grand Slam titles. But when Serena Williams arrives in Australia on her first foreign playing trip in a year and announces that it is only a matter of time before she is again dominating the sport, it's time to tell her to get real...Everybody knows she and Venus had no real choice when their father, Richard, decided that much of their childhood would be spent hitting tennis balls. Who can be surprised that this promotes a desire to do something different? But to make such a crass statement on her arrival in Australia was an insult to Amelie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova, who have risen to the top of the game in her absence. They are the new winning breed. They are tall and hit the ball just as hard as the Williams sisters, if not harder. Coming through are Jelena Jankovic, Nicole Vaidisova and Ana Ivanovic, who possess similar firepower and just need a little more experience."...World Team Tennis' Hartford Foxfire has folded...Rafael Nadal says he is fully healed after suffering a leg injury last week...Serena Williams hasn't reached a tournament final in two years...Nice ESPN close-up of Andy Roddick calling opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a "f***king prick" after winning a tight point at the net. Good to see that coach Jimmy Connors is in Melbourne at least in spirit...ATP President Etienne de Villiers on the ATP round robin experiment in Adelaide: "I will be very, very surprised if that 32 hybrid survives. It was very creative, but it was very confusing as well. Qualifiers, eliminations, and then wait to see who gets into the first round, then you get delays, and you get some guys playing the first round before the qualifiers are finished." And E.T. speaking to the AP on all the ATP tournament pull-outs in 2006 by players: "I'm saying, 'Let's make it a commitment guys.' It's not a reservation or an option. Let's not defraud the fans. You are no different to rock stars. I tell the players, 'that's what we are doing to our tour.'" And E.T. on fining Nikolay Davydenko for saying the Sydney event was not important: "He was disrespectful to the game. I said to him, 'If you think there is a real issue, and you want it sorted, you come to us.' It's hard enough to get fans to come and enjoy this, and it's a lot worse when your own professionals are trashing tournaments. We put a lot of money and spend a lot of time and effort to get the best tournaments we can possibly have, and someone casually trashes it."...Roger Federer says rival Rafael Nadal needs to tone it down: "I think in the next few years, we'll see him adjusting his game because of maybe the physical strain to his body and everything. You know, he's young. He's still got time to really work on his game, try to come in more, try to improve his slice, try to improve his backhand. He's got plenty of things to work with. The only question is, is that going to make him a greater success? It's going to be interesting to see."...Carlos Moya after reaching the Sydney final: "Sometimes I have felt like quitting. I achieved everything that was in my dreams and there's been times when I have felt there is no reason to keep going. I could stay home more often and be with my family. But these kind of matches are the ones that make me keep going, to motivate me to keep walking out there in the sun. As long as I can play these kind of matches, I'll be around for a few more years."...American Donald Young won his first minor-league level pro singles title at the Grand Slam Futures event in Tampa, beating Michael Lammer of Switzerland in the final...What the hell happened to ESPN's Mary Carillo's hair?...Serena Williams on her and tennis: "I would be kind of pontificating if I said I think tennis needs me. But I think we work together. Tennis needs me, I need tennis. I'm happiest playing tennis. I love to be on the court. I love walking out in the crowd. I love the competition. It works both ways." So does Venus need tennis, after playing an off-season full of exhibitions on an injured wrist rather than letting it heal, then pulling from the Aussie Open?...The ATP's Benito Perez-Barbadillo is leaving the tour to form his own PR company and represent Rafael Nadal as his PR manager...Approximately 150 fans were ejected from the Australian Open on Monday after Croatian and Serbian fans became rowdy, Melbourne police said...Marat Safin on if he intimidates younger players on tour: "I don't think right now I do because it's a completely different new generation. They don't respect the older player. I was looking to [older players] more as heroes and I was a little bit scared to play against them. Now, the new generation, they're not scared, they are pretty far from being scared, which makes it more complicated to play them. I guess if I have to do something on the court to (intimidate) them, I will have to think of something."...Paradorn Srichaphan has joined the cast of the multitutde of sideline injured, saying he will take an extended break after losing at the Aussie Open with a wrist injury.