Former Champions Djokovic, Sharapova, Kerber, Federer, Wawrinka On Court Tuesday At Australian Open

Verdasco 2-0 on Agut, but Agut a break up in early third set. Seems upsets from day one will continue.

January 15th, 2018 at 8:42 pm

Raonic out. Sharapova through to the final in the absence of Serena.

January 15th, 2018 at 11:02 pm

Is it my eyes?Or i see Nole is not as thin as he used to be like last year?His upper arm a little bit full compared to last year i think..which is really great!

January 15th, 2018 at 11:18 pm

D.Young will be eaten alive by the great champ if he keep on playing like this…

January 15th, 2018 at 11:26 pm

AM,

Agree with you on that. Perhaps he put 1-2 pounds on weight.

Looks also a bit rusty, but that’s normal

January 15th, 2018 at 11:29 pm

Agree with both, I am sitting close to the court, and Nole looks fitter, lean muscles.

January 15th, 2018 at 11:39 pm

I like Nole’s serve, he’s also pretty good in defense for a first round, but Young also helps a lot with the many UEs.

January 15th, 2018 at 11:54 pm

Commentators mentioned that he had intentionally put on some weight.

His attitude looks good. None of the disinterestedness that seemed to weigh on him before the layoff.

January 15th, 2018 at 11:55 pm

DJOKOVIC is playing awesome and Young isn’t a bad player! Djokovic came out proving a point….so glad he isn’t on Rafa’s side of bracket :) Like the Lacoste never liked his other clothes….BUT NIKE takes the cake on U-G-L-Y with the pink panther look.
BTW – Wawrinka is struggling!

January 16th, 2018 at 12:11 am

NOLE put on weight? I don’t see that….he as lean as ever! Do you think he has?

January 16th, 2018 at 12:15 am

He lost a focus towards the end of the second set.

January 16th, 2018 at 12:17 am

VP & WB…So,it is not just me to notice this changes??Haha…Yes!I love his new look..hair style too!..He looks much healthier than last year right?

What do u guys think of his game in general?His serve?Satisfied with everything?Tho like VP said..it’s normal to be pretty rusty at this stage…

January 16th, 2018 at 12:58 am

Ok, Djoko was struggling a bit to close this match, but have to say: I was pleased to see him playing and winning today.

Nole idemoo!

January 16th, 2018 at 1:06 am

Nole isn’t the clear favourite to win the grand slam this year . He beat young easily…

January 16th, 2018 at 1:11 am

He is though the clear favourite for me to advance without hick ups till the second week . Then we lk see

January 16th, 2018 at 1:12 am

It’s a long road back to where he was but nevertheless good first step.

January 16th, 2018 at 1:18 am

I loved the group from Taiwan with a big banner “Novak Djokovic Taiwan Fans Club”, they were few seats on my left in the same row, they didn’t stop cheering Nole.
I spoke to them and took photo together, they came all the way from Taiwan to watch Nole.

January 16th, 2018 at 1:22 am

Yes VP & WB…It is a long road back but he’ll do it…insyaallah!I would love to see he handle his supposed opponent in 4th round later whether sascha or Medvedev & if Monfils win,he’s also can be a good test for Nole to sharpen his tennis & like J.S said…really really glad he’s not on Rafa’s side!hahaha…

January 16th, 2018 at 1:28 am

Glad you got to see Nole playing so well Wog Boy, enjoy!
Meanwhile out goes Milos, another one touted as a potential GS winner.
C’mon Chung, De Minaur and 4xK. You can do it!

January 16th, 2018 at 1:58 am

Today’s Nole should win against this Monfils. Hope Nole has no problems with the elbow, and..with Monfiche, you never know..

January 16th, 2018 at 2:05 am

But Monf should win first, Nole could play against Munar

January 16th, 2018 at 2:06 am

Honestly VP…If Nole meet with Monfils..i don’t think Monfils can win if Nole can play like today…and his elbow also okay…from what i saw from Nole today was very encouraging…Monfils has no chance…

January 16th, 2018 at 2:12 am

VP,

Thursday is predicted 38 degrees and something tells me Nole will play day session.

January 16th, 2018 at 2:13 am

I Dont think Monflis will lose now being two sets up, however this is Monflis we are talking about, so who knows lol ….

January 16th, 2018 at 2:13 am

Thanks Margot, I always enjoy Melbourne and AO, but even better with Nole playing well, and more importantly in relax mode, but yet hungry, as BBB noticed.

January 16th, 2018 at 2:14 am

WB,

Nole vs Monfils should be a night match, unless AO organizers are really, really stupid.

January 16th, 2018 at 2:19 am

Nice interview with Nole, loved the haircut, very handsome ….

January 16th, 2018 at 2:19 am

real news??
“Novak Djokovic shocks the tennis world with new pay demands”
http://234vibesnews.com/2018/01/16/novak-djokovic-shocks-the-tennis-world-with-new-pay-demands.html

January 16th, 2018 at 2:20 am

^^ But Nole pissed that idiot Craig last week (glad he did it), so perhaps he will play in the day session.

January 16th, 2018 at 2:20 am

The only way Nole will play night session is on MCA or Hisense since RLA is reserved.

January 16th, 2018 at 2:29 am

Then WB, multiple day sessions for 12 GS champion, he should ask for much more money!

January 16th, 2018 at 2:35 am

Gonza,

The only schocked tennis players were: Roger, who was against it, and Rafa (who was not schcked, but thought this should be discussed later in the season.) Did not read from any other tennis player to be “shocked”. AAs far as I understood, the majority is with Djoko, but nothing from the above is official.

January 16th, 2018 at 2:57 am

Glad to see Nole back. Pleased how he performed although I don’t expect much from this tournament.

As far as shoking the tennis world, if Roger is “tennis world” then be it. Then again, sure Roger will not support this as he has all the money in the world. However, this is not about him, it’s about lower ranked players who can’t make decent living even playing Grand Slams.

January 16th, 2018 at 3:48 am

Neo backhand nowhere to be seen atm

But what a FH to break in the 3rd.

Vamos Federer.

January 16th, 2018 at 4:34 am

As I told you VP, Nole is playing day match again on Thursday, 38 degrees.

January 16th, 2018 at 6:46 am

WogBoy: Yep – why are we not surprised? PS: Nole looking good – the little I saw – but he did make me “tut, tut” with his breast/heart sharing gesture….

January 16th, 2018 at 7:10 am

JK,
Yes, I know, I thought he would have stopped with that heart giving, but I sow him doing it after Kooyong match with Thiem:(

January 16th, 2018 at 7:53 am

Just read up on the pay issue. Good for Nole. It takes someone who doesn’t himself need the money to stand up for those who do. It’s easier to make a living as a journeyman golfer than as a tennis player.

Re Nole’s weight – he did seem healthier to me. His arms were thicker, and when he pulled up his shirt at one point, he looked lean but not emaciated.

January 16th, 2018 at 8:13 am

How was his serving speed, first serve? He change his motion and no longer have the follow thorugh so long and his shorten the begginign also, the palcement looked good in Kooyong, but did not get speed stas. Want to knwo if the change impacted his speed. Accuracy seems fine.

January 16th, 2018 at 9:47 am

I am rotting for Nole and Masha this Australian open

January 16th, 2018 at 11:00 am

Nole didn’t ask for “more money” because of himself but because of the players ranking 100 and below who can not afford many things a tennis player needs — according to Troicki. And I do believe this is true.
Novak’s comeback was great and I hope Monfils won’t be a big problem as he never won from Nole so far. But Nole doesn’t believe he is a favourite this time. He thinks it is for Federer (this might materialize if Fed has all evening matches). Humble or realistic?

January 16th, 2018 at 12:25 pm

Emilia i think its a nice thing that Nole did ;-)

January 16th, 2018 at 1:03 pm

Wog Boy: I envy you for being so close to Nole while watching him during his first AO match. But to me he looks as thin as before, at least on the TV screen although he is rested.

January 16th, 2018 at 3:31 pm

Emilia i didnt see any see any difference in his physic either, although watching on TV could be alot different to watching him live i suppose ? ….

January 16th, 2018 at 3:46 pm

Emilia, let’s make one thing clear, he is still too thin for my liking either, but this Nole looks fitter than Nole from six months ago.
It could be two reasons, he is well rested, physically and mentally and change his fitness regime and food intake too.
I watched Rafa two night ago, as I said he is as fit as a fiddle but nowhere near Rafa from few years ago, he is leaner.
Both nights I had good seats, tenth row roughly, behind the players close to service line (I could be line judge calling out;).

It was that close that I really enjoyed Sharapova match before Nole and best part of her game…receiving the serve, that’s how good I was positioned;)

Nole looks different body wise, his legs are strong and upper body too, his muscles appeared like hard work has been done on them plus arond 1kg.
He had new fitness coach with him all the time everywhere, I have seen pictures from Belgrade working hard on the banks of river Danube, but most importantly I believe Agassi and particulary Stepanek laid some rules too, and they are hopefully not going to put up with some shit that was going on in Nole’s box and around Nole in the past two years or so.
I hope you are happy with my answer?

January 16th, 2018 at 6:20 pm

WB….Yeah..i agree with u that Agassi & Stepanek laid some rules in this..i mean it’s no coincidence that as soon as those guys joined him[especially Agassi]..all of a sudden,we can see this healthy change in him…

I felt very relief when i saw him yesterday…the different is very obvious…just take a look at his upper arm today and 6 months ago…his face also filled out a little bit..I’m so happy to see this positive changes in him…

Oh btw…u wanna see Rafa again today WB?

January 16th, 2018 at 6:49 pm

AM,
I don’t think I can make it on time for Rafa, he plays day match and I had some things to do in Melbourne, but if worse comes to worse and I can’t find a ticket on the spot I’ll buy ground pass and join the others on the big square inside and watch on the big screen with Canadian Club Dry in one hand and bratwurst in another, it’s a great fun watching like that because fans are going crazy and can cheer the way they can’t inside Arena, football way.
I noticed there is fair bit of Spanish speaking people around, not that Rafa needs them, he has got lot of Aussie fans:)

January 16th, 2018 at 7:03 pm

Oh really WB??Urgh!!i’m soooo jealous of u!!…Yeah..it must be fun to be able to watch matches like that!…Enjoy your fun day to the fullest WB!!…I try to look out for u in the crowd!I mean,it’s not hard to find a man who holds 2 drinks at once!..Only u!!Hahahaha…

January 16th, 2018 at 7:11 pm

Bratwurst is a sausage, not drink.

January 16th, 2018 at 8:00 pm

I am pleased that Djokovic is trying to form a union. Although I don’t agree with his demand of doing away with equal pay for women, I think it is time a union representing the players is set up as ATP really represents the establishment and has been favoring a certain player. For instance Night slots should be rotated among the Top ranked players and one player should not have a stranglehold on them.This not only makes a difference to the results in the heat of AO, it impacts attraction of sponsorship deals.

January 16th, 2018 at 8:11 pm

Aussie gal..Bratwurst is a sausage??Oh really??Hehehehe…i thought it’s some kind of beer or something!hehehe…stupid me!..Sorry WB!!

January 16th, 2018 at 8:22 pm

AM,
Don’t be silly, no need to be sorry.

BTW, I just passed by big Asics shop in heart of Melbourne and Nole is plastered all over shop windows in his gel-resolution NOVAK shoes with logo “I MOVE ME” and Lacoste outfit including video beam, looks smart …I couldn’t resist, I bought pair of shoes. Very smart looking and light to wear, highly recommended, they come with excatly $200AUS price tag (€130, $150US), little bit dear but hey:))
My shopping is finished, but unfortunately not my wife’s one:(((

Now, that makes me think about Nole pulling out of Abu Dhabi and Doha, in last couple of months he has been seen wearing shoes with hidden brand name, it could be that he was still contracted to Adidas and didn’t want to play in their shoes his first tournament back but couldn’t play in Asics either due to legal reasons?

January 16th, 2018 at 8:56 pm

WB!…Urgh!!It sounds like u reallyyyyy enjoy your day!!hahaha….Thank God Asics shoes not come in pink as well…if not!…Urghh!Don’t dare to think WB!!Hehehe…

Btw…yeah!agree with u WB!..very smart looking shoes indeed!

January 16th, 2018 at 9:36 pm

Omg WB,
You mush be having a blast! How long will you be there? I am jealous too!!

BTW looks like Rafa plays 3rd day game or after
Wozniacki Match that hasn’t started yet!
So you have plenty of time to shop or find a ticket.

Are Rafa’s matches sold out? Or, plenty of tickets on the street?

Any gossip or what’s the vibe?

Have a blast!

January 16th, 2018 at 9:45 pm

JS,
By the time match starts Rafa, Nole…matches are sold out, though first week there are always few seats here and there left so you can purchase the tickets even on the day of the match, empty seats that you see are usually on the sunny side and trust me, it’s is impossible to sit on Aussie sun for to long, that’s why the people have to go out occasionally.
First night Rafa match was sellout and yestrday Nole match was sellout too.
I am flying tomorrow night, I’ll watch Nole and rush to airport, but I am coming back next week for two days for QF, if I am lucky that Nole is still in, which I doubt he will be, he needs time.
Melbourne is great city with great vibes, layback atmosphere, in that sense better than Sydney (business and money oriented city), never boring, great restaurants and coffee culture, pobably because of the largest Italian and Greek communities who are based in Melbourne. You can’t go wrong visiting Melbourne, I love it.

January 16th, 2018 at 10:29 pm

Wog Boy:

Yes, I’m HAPPY with your answer as it is a first hand one. Today I hoped to see the whole match (as I don’t get up so early to watch it alive) but they gave only some excerpts — still enough to see what Novak did in the heat. Lucky Fed playing in the evenings -perhaps pink shoes bring him luck!?

January 18th, 2018 at 8:44 am

Wog Boy:

Thanks for Melbourne description! My husband loved it but I have never been in Aussie land.

January 18th, 2018 at 8:50 am

Emilia,
My pleasure, lucky I was on TX now or I wouldn’t see your post since this thread is gone from my screen.
I am glad you are happy with my answer, one day you’ll come to Melbourne and Aussie land, you have just to wish hard enough, be persistent and wish will come through sooner or later…my life experience, cheers:)

January 18th, 2018 at 9:03 am

To Wog Boy and all the others:

I’ve just listened to the Dutch news on the radio and when it came to AO, they have announced ONLY that Federer goes to the 3rd round and that Wawrinka was out. They never mentioned any other country not to say other players that are in the third round. Is it true that ALL ANIMALS ATE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL?

January 18th, 2018 at 10:38 am

Wog Boy,

Thanks for stimulating words – you are right..Do you know a Serbian proverb: From your mouth into God’s ears!!

January 18th, 2018 at 10:41 am

Hey Wogboy!

Emilia!

Stop complaining.

Roger Federer’s ability to fill a tennis stadium and keep it packed is one of tennis’ more notable phenomenons.

He is loved, by plenty. Hated by people such as you. We understand. We really do. Seek some therapy. It might help.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:06 am

https://ausopen.com/articles/match-report/federer-snuffs-out-struff

Just so you are aware, reporters will do their job (some of the time). Others, it is left to rumour, carry on rumouring!

January 18th, 2018 at 11:07 am

Good luck to Novak, warrior is back!

Well done to Federer, keep on rocking Roger.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:08 am

Madmax, my only grievance with your argument about filling stadia is that Rod Laver won’t be empty if there’s a Djokovic/Monfils evening match. That justification doesn’t hold water.

I think it’s a tactical mistake for Federer to be openly asking for evening matches while others perpetrate the myth that his main opponents are asking for day matches. It makes it look as though he knows he’s getting preferential treatment but prefers to make it look as though he isn’t.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:31 am

BBB,

Actually waht you said about filling stadiums is not true, one thing is sold tickes, the other thing is keeping people on it, just look at tonight Federer match and you couldn’t see an empty space. Even tough Monfils is a great draw and so is Djokovic, no one atracts more than Federer and Nadal. They are guarantee filled stadiums.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:35 am

MADMAX:

You seem mad o write such remarks because I like Federer, I appreciate him and I respect him. He is the great – greater – greatest but this is not the reason for the serious media to be so impartial regarding the players who deserve respect and who are worth mentioning. I think you need therapy if you can react in this way for unfairness…

January 18th, 2018 at 11:39 am

Daniel, are you really saying the stadium wouldn’t be full if there were a Djokovic/Monfils match in the evening?

Frankly, your argument cuts against giving Federer evening matches. If he’s such a draw, then presumably fans would be willing to sit in sweltering conditions just for the privilege of watching him.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:40 am

Evening matches attract more people as it is cooler.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:41 am

Evening matches attract more people as it is cooler.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:41 am

Yes, and the Djokovic/Monfils match was the best match-up of this round. To have them play under subpar conditions, and to compromise the quality of the match, seems inconsistent with marketing principles.

If it were Federer/Monfils and Djokovic/Struff, then fine, have Djoker play during the day.

And if Federer were such an obvious choice for a night match, he wouldn’t have had to ask for it.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:46 am

This kind of scheduling is discriminatory…you have Djokovic with a record there, it is a disgusting to keep on seeing lack of respect to let him play each time during day and hot temperature, because Federer has the majority of fans. Only because it would be more worthy to have Fed in the final? Ok, tennis it’s a business, but it has to have some limits. We are not talking about sponsorship deals, we are talking about matches!
Ok, 60 guys are requesting night matches, Djokovic is not just one guy from the 60! It would be =impossible now bring all 128 players on RLA during a tournament, but at least the due respect for the guys from top 10, who have earned their places there.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:53 am

Really hope DelPo kicks his Fed’s a*s again, really wish they meet

January 18th, 2018 at 11:58 am

I am only surprised to see the same guys who are complaining about Trump’s behavior but defending this kind of discrimination in official competiotions. Build a fu8king wall around Federer or take him home!

January 18th, 2018 at 12:06 pm

Fed has built his own wall.
It’s called 19.

January 18th, 2018 at 12:08 pm

Madmax Says: “Hey Wogboy!… Stop complaining. Roger Federer’s ability to fill a tennis stadium and keep it packed is one of tennis’ more notable phenomenons.”

The few whiny Djokovic fans should be grateful that No. 14 Djokovic vs an UNFIT No. 39 was allowed on Rod Laver Arena. Higher seeds like Zverev, Wawrinka, Thiem and Del Potro are relegated to Margaret Court or Hisense Arena, where the lower-ranked Djokovic should be. If and when Djokovic has actually regained a top ranking, then and only then would his fans have a legitimate beef.

In any case, No. 2 Federer vs No. 55 (or anybody) on centre court will always draw far more paying spectators and TV networks — than Djokovic and Nadal combined. Furthermore, Federer is the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year 2018 nominated, Eurosport World Sports Star of the Year 2017 awardee as well as BBC’s Overseas Sports Personality across all world sports 2017 awardee — Federer has a legendary status in the sports world that’s beyond Djokovic at the moment.

Federer has paid his dues playing in smaller courts even when he was number one… without whining by his fans.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/frank-deford-we-are-a-country-of-usalso-rans/article/55435

Let’s take a poll to see how many paying spectators and TV networks prefer to see Federer over Djokovic or Nadal in the primetime slot.

January 18th, 2018 at 12:11 pm

I kinda wish he win’s 20, than a dude like you can count til 20.

Bye for now, pumpkin! ;)

January 18th, 2018 at 12:12 pm

Tony, what do you think the target TV audience is, given the time differences? Local Australian audience? European audience? American audience?

January 18th, 2018 at 12:14 pm

For Tony N,

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/Roger_Federer/45629/wimbledon-final-federercilic-tv-ratings-were-worse-than-expected

Just could not resist :)

January 18th, 2018 at 12:33 pm

We can all complain about these evening matches and it does seem unfair that some players appear to gain favour. But hang on. Is it the Nadal fans complaining? It all equals out in the end. It so does.

Biased comments about favouritism – Nadal only plays late/night matches, Novak chose to play during the day and TV audiences are important for the health of the game – Hence the biggest stars usually play the later matches. Happens at the USO as well, not sure who said this, but I repeat it here.

Remember that Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, ALL benefit at some time from evening matches. At some point, players will also have day matches, it just comes in reverse order sometimes. You are so ready to jump at Federer. It is not favouritism. Who was it who said the draw pans out over time, and it isn’t rigged. Put some credibility please behind your comments and begin to enjoy the tournament instead of complaining all the time. At some point day matches will be played by Federer, Nadal and at some point, Evening matches will be played by Novak. Not only that, remember Nadal said he prefers to play in the sun (USO). So, let’s all be fair here.

We love our players, we are their fans. We want them to play their best, day or night.

What should happen is three – fold. Start the AO later, when the weather is cooler.
Move the tournament/
OR players go on strike. In unison, the tournament organisers will have to do something. The players health is at risk. For certain. They have the power at their finger tips.

TV Audiences rule, right? Any other ideas anyone?

January 18th, 2018 at 1:28 pm

Emilia Says:
Evening matches attract more people as it is cooler.

January 18th, 2018 at 11:41 am

True. Everyone benefits. Most of all the TV companies when everyone is home from work.

January 18th, 2018 at 1:29 pm

There’s a difference between playing in the sun and the searing heat. Eh? Madmax.
Do you know the day temperatures in Melbourne Madmax, eh?
Favouritism to the nth degree towards the ole man. He says he wants “ to keep his rhythm”
ROFL

January 18th, 2018 at 1:41 pm

I Believe Wogboy and Margot have also raised the issue Madmax, Wogboys a Novak fan, and Margots neutral, the issue well for me personally aint about Federer, its about fairness for all, like J.S on the other thread which i agreed with we would say the same about anyone, its not always about one fan group attacking a certain player, its not always that cut and dried, lots of fans have raised this issue, not just Nadal fans ….

January 18th, 2018 at 1:46 pm

Madmax, I don’t think the draw is rigged. But the draw happens once a tournament. These matches are scheduled each day, and each day is an opportunity to make an optimal, or suboptimal, decision. As I said, I thought the Wimbledon scheduling was fine – they had difficult decisions to make in order to keep each side of the draw on track. No problem with Federer getting a better schedule than Djokovic there. But yesterday’s schedule was terrible from a tennis marketing standpoint. Because of Djokovic’s ranking, they had a golden opportunity for a really great second round match, and they blew it by having two stars slugging it out like it was the 10th round of a boxing match, and putting a nothingburger of a match on during cooler weather.

Look at what some of the others are saying – they seem to accept that Federer gets preferential scheduling, that it doesn’t all pan out in the end, and that this is perfectly reasonable because he’s Federer. It can’t be both – it’s gotta be one or the other.

January 18th, 2018 at 1:59 pm

Van Persie and BBB: It’s the Australian Open so of course we should be more interested in what the Australian audience watches…
https://mumbrella.com.au/tennis-narrowly-beats-cricket-top-spot-demos-494600
http://www.mediaweek.com.au/tv-ratings-jan-26-2017/

Btw, Martina Navratilova said yesterday: “If you just get paid like that, then Roger Federer should get paid 10 times. He should get paid more than Novak because his ratings are better – so should Roger then get a better piece of the action? It would never occur to him to ask.” (from BBC)

Happy New Year :)

January 19th, 2018 at 2:32 am

KARMA for RF and TD….My only hope it bites them! Otherwise, if RF win tourney I will never give him credit!!!

January 19th, 2018 at 2:46 am

Same here J.S,

I am happy with everyone winning the AO, only hope it will not be that arrogant a*s aka Federer.
I see nothing changes for the moment regarding court scheduling. A shame

January 19th, 2018 at 3:15 am

Vamos Rafa!!! am cheering for everyone , who could be a possible rival, should FEd make it to the final (hope not though) lol

January 19th, 2018 at 3:17 am

Regarding Martina,

She should urge the women to build an union, it is not Novak’s responsibility to take care of WTA. They should build an union and fight for their rights!!!

January 19th, 2018 at 3:24 am

“” or Martina should propose Novak as president for the women….and pay him for that

January 19th, 2018 at 3:26 am

Jeesus, is this MArtina insane?

I am a women, but I would not invite a guy at work to speak for mi rights, when I can do it myself….

January 19th, 2018 at 3:28 am

^^ correction: woman

January 19th, 2018 at 3:28 am