“I’m more mature,” Ivanovic told reporters. “Comparing my game to last year, it’s improved. There are some areas that I’ve added to and I feel really confident on the court. I have a very good opportunity to do well again here, and I love playing here on clay.”

“I think yesterday’s match really helped me to push myself to play my best,” Safina said, referencing her win over Venus Williams. “Really, really I think I played one of my best matches yesterday. Against Kuzy, I had in my head that I had lost three finals this year. I didn’t want to have a reputation that I’m losing finals.”

“We both played aggressive,” Venus told the media. “She’s just going for every shot, for the lines. I was OK with the match being a little longer. I just I want to hit balls. In a way it’s not too bad to go three sets.”

Indeed, the high-powered Serb team would be a favorite in virtually any situation, and would be favorites to humble even last weekend’s World Group semifinalists, the underpowered U.S. and Czech Republic teams, and the scrappy Italians and the injury-ravaged Russian squad. Last weekend the U.S., without the Williams sisters, and Italy advanced to the Fed Cup final.

Stosur, better known for her doubles play, also has career Top 10 wins over Lindsay Davenport and Amelie Mauresmo.

The loss was another jolt to the confidence of Ivanovic, who achieved the No. 1 ranking last year but then fell down the rankings with a combination of injuries and failing confidence.

Ljubicic is more fit after his rededication to tennis, but this should be a walk-through for Murray.

“I’ve been playing better throughout the weeks,” Serena told reporters regarding her form in Melbourne. “I think doubles was really able to help me out. And also I went out and hit a few balls this morning. I had a really good practice. Watching some of the men’s tennis, they were playing really well. I was really inspired like that. Especially last night’s [Nadal-Verdasco semifinal] match. It was just crazy.”

Serving at 4-5 in the fifth and past the five-hour mark, Verdasco was undone by nerves. Verdasco double faulted to give Nadal a 40-0 lead, then two points later double faulted on match point.

Roger Federer says Novak Djokovic is a quitter and a whuss — to paraphrase: “He’s not a guy who’s never given up before; it’s disappointing,” Federer said of Djokovic throwing in the towel in the fourth set against Andy Roddick. “I’ve only done it once in my career. Andy Roddick totally deserved to win that match…I’m almost in favor of saying, ‘You know what, if you’re not fit enough, just get out of here.’ If Novak were up two sets to love, I don’t think he would have retired 4-0 down in the fourth.” Ouch!…