Federer v Murray Tonight At The Australian Open, Who’s The Pick? Djokovic Redux
Posted by Sean Randall on January 21st, 2014 @ 6:58 pm
The upsets we’ve seen on the women’s tour are now bleeding over into the men’s side. In one of the biggest shockers this decade, last night Stan Wawrinka finally got over on longtime nemesis Novak Djokovic stunning the Serb 9-7 in the fifth in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
Djokovic had twice administered soul-crushing 5-set losses to Stan last year, at the Australian Open and against at the US Open, …
Stanislas Wawrinka: I Didn’t Want To Let Novak Win That One!
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 21st, 2014 @ 9:42 am
Stanislas Wawrinka authored one of the great wins of his career toppling 3-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in a 5-set thriller 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 Tuesday at the Australian Open. The 28-year-old Wawrinka had lost his last 14 matches to Djokovic including two 5-setters last year at the Australian Open (12-10 in fifth) and at the US Open semifinals.
But after getting down a set Wawrinka turned his game up …
Novak Djokovic: I Gave It My All, I Gave It My Best But Stan Deserved This Win
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 21st, 2014 @ 8:23 am
For the first time in four years Novak Djokovic will leave the Australian Open in Melbourne without a title. The 3-time defending champion was stunned earlier today by Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 9-7 in the quarterfinals.
The rematch went the way of their two Grand Slam clashes from last year, both won by Djokovic in five sets. But after trading early breaks of serve in the second it Djokovic …
Wawrinka, Bouchard Offer Up Stunners at Australian Open
Posted by Staff on January 21st, 2014 @ 8:22 am
He chipped away last year with two five-set losses at Grand Slams, but this time Stan Wawrinka would only settle for a breakthrough.
The No. 8-seeded Swiss on a late Tuesday night in Melbourne defeated No. 2 Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 to advance into the Australian Open semifinals and a meeting with No. 7 Tomas Berdych.
“Last year I didn’t finish and it was really tough, but this year …
Tomas Berdych: I Made It, I Won My First Career Match On Rod Laver!
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 21st, 2014 @ 8:08 am
After three misses, Tomas Berdych final reached his first Australian Open semifinal. The Czech outlasted David Ferrer in four sets 61, 64, 26, 64 to shockingly, according to him, win his first career match on Rod Laver Arena.
By defeating Ferrer, Berdych has now reached the semifinals at all four Majors, a feat only matched currently by Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.
A former Wimbledon finalist, Berdych …
Eugenie Bouchard: This Is Not Exactly A Surprise, I Always Expected Myself To Do Well
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 21st, 2014 @ 8:06 am
Last year it was Sloane Stephens, this year the new girl is Eugenie Bouchard. The 19-year-old became the first Canadian to ever reach the semifinals at the Australian Open following a tough 57, 75, 62 win over 2008 finalist Ana Ivanovic.
Bouchard, ranked No. 31, couldn’t even make it through qualifying last year at the event. But this season she’s the breakout star of the WTA.
Bouchard’s run takes her to another …
Djokovic Faces Wawrinka Rematch Today; Australian Open QF Picks And Pans
Posted by Sean Randall on January 20th, 2014 @ 5:53 pm
After eight days of heat and hard work, it’s really the same guys we see at all the events who are still standing. Arriving in our men’s quarterfinals are 7 of the Top 8 players in the world with only Grigor Dimitrov competently replacing Juan Martin Del Potro.
It’s status quo.
Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic is still the man to beat, though tonight he’ll be in for his toughest test thus …
Tuesday Previews: Australian Open Quarterfinals
Posted by Staff on January 20th, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
Tuesday at the 2014 Australian Open features two men’s quarterfinals and two women’s quarterfinals:
(4) Na Li (CHN) vs. (28) Flavia Pennetta (ITA)
The plucky Pennetta will look to be a scampering thorn in Li’s side during the quarterfinal, but she will respectively need a little help, utilizing her off-speed game to hopefully frustrate the powerful Chinese. While Li has the power advantage, it was the Italian who won their last meeting …
Roger Federer: I’m Looking Forward To Playing Murray, I Wonder How It Will Play Out
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2014 @ 7:53 am
In one of his best performances in a very long time, Roger Federer turned back the clock to turn away Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 64, 75, 64 earlier today in the fourth round at the Australian Open.
Federer, who beat Tsonga a year ago in five sets, was crushed by the Frenchman at Roland Garros. But under new coach Stefan Edberg and using a larger 98sq-inch racquet, Federer, playing like it was 2006, …
Rafael Nadal Fights Off Nishikori, Blisters, Broken Shoelaces And Time Violations
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2014 @ 7:36 am
Rafael Nadal had a lot working against him today but the World No. 1 stayed perfect on the year with a tough 76, 75, 76 win over Kei Nishikori.
The 24-year-old Nishikori broke Nadal four times and led up a break in the final set before succumbing to Nadal’s relentless pressure.
Nadal, though, wasn’t just fighting Kei. He was also hit with multiple time violations for going over 20 seconds to serve, …
Grigor Dimitrov: I Like My Chances Against Rafael Nadal
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2014 @ 7:25 am
The one breakout star of the 2014 Australian Open in the men’s draw has been Grigor Dimitrov. Earlier Monday the 22-year-old defeated Roberto Bautista Agut to advance to his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Dimitrov, who bested Milos Raonic a round earlier, became the first man from Bulgaria to ever make it to a Slam quarter. Up next, however, is a showdown with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
Dimitrov three times has …
Serena Slumps to Ivanovic; Monday Australian Open Preview
Posted by Staff on January 19th, 2014 @ 8:04 am
The queen is dead — long live the queen?
Former No. 1 and current No. 14 seed Ana Ivanovic took what she felt was rightfully hers on Sunday at the Australian Open, coming from a set down to stun world No. 1 Serena Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a round of 16 match.
The Serb, who had never previously won a set off Williams, took the match to the younger Williams sister. …
Novak Djokovic Imitates Coach Boris Becker At The Australian Open [Video]
Posted by Staff on January 19th, 2014 @ 2:33 am
Following a quick 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 win over Italian Fognini, Novak Djokovic made an exception to his rule of no more imitations by breaking one out of coach Boris Becker on Rod Laver Arena earlier today.
Channel 7 on-court interviewer Jim Courier made the request and Djokovic reluctantly obliged. The end result: lots of laughs.
“I’ve seen his face reactions,” Djokovic said of Becker. “The first impression, when I’ve done all the …
Serena Williams: I Almost Pulled Out Because Of My Back But I’m Such A Competitor
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 19th, 2014 @ 12:30 am
In the surprise of the tournament, top seed and 5-time tournament champion Serena Williams was upset today by Ana Ivanovic 46, 63, 63 in the fourth round at the Australian Open.
The win was Ivanovic’s first over Serena Williams in five tries and it also snapped the world No. 1’s 25-match win streak.
Afterward, Serena admitted that a back injury had flared up in her previous win over Daniela Hantuchova on Friday. …
Favorites Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray Steamroll Into Sweet 16; What’s In Store Week 2?
Posted by Sean Randall on January 18th, 2014 @ 5:02 pm
We are down to just 16 in the men’s draw at the Australian Open. Finally, the tournament begins.
After some toasty temps, a sprinkle memorable matches and even a couple of surprises, the fourth round beckons Sunday and we get down to some business.
Leading the way are the familiar names – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, all off whom have yet to drop a set or really …