2012 US Open

[hirdy_is_champ]

If Janko Tipsarevic didn't have such a soft draw, he would have been knocked out in the first round (really should have considering he was two sets down).

Tipsarevic is a bit of an idiot. Against Duckworth at AO here, he had an issue and just randomly smacked the ball into the crowd instead of serving.Anyway, I'm hoping that Bernie can do a bit of a Robson. Its also good Sam is playing first up so I can follow then go to bed as I have to work.

Also, I'd be happy for Kerber to make the final from the other side of the draw. She's been in great form of late, even beating Serena at Cincy (I think). She's come a long way, I remember seeing her in a night match a few years ago against Kuznetsova and the match was just crap so everyone left. Svetlana was more interested in playing soccer as well.

 

[juzzo]

Stosur through, was challenged but still yet to drop a set. Meanwhile Robson seems to be announcing herself.

 

[matt_897]

Nobody watch Hewitt's epic 5 set win over Muller. Can't say enough about the guy. What a performance

 

[Ktrain]

Exactly. Twilight of career, post surgeries and he is still relevant. Much respect to him.

 

[JolyV]

Djokovic, Del Potro and Ferrer go ahead

 

[Chris_2593]

Robeon takes out Clijstes then Li. Great win for Hewitt in 4 and a half hours. I would say he is half a chance against Ferrer given his form. So pmoedm for Roddick and Tomic. Finish his carrer Bernie!

 

[Ktrain]

Roddick 4-1 first set.

From watching Tomic again, it occurred to me he has something I've seen before.

As a Freo member there's that potential there you see, but you worry it will never come out. He's still a teenager of course, so don't want to crucify the guy - but the constant off speed stuff and general lack of intensity will need to be drilled out of his game to develop as hoped.

 

[Sir Vlado]

Straight sets win in the end for Duck. Tomic gets bagelled in the third, hah.

 

[matt_897]

I was pumped for the Roddick/Tomic match especially since yesterday's annoucement, have to say it was just a bit of a letdown... (Please don't ever retire Lleyton)

 

[walshy93]

Hey guys, just a wrap up I did of Hewitt, Stosur and Laura Robson for "From The Sideline", check out the article if you want!

As always, feedback appreciated, or like our Facebook page, haha!

 

[Flameboy]

Tomic was pants. He'd want to play better than that come January.

 

[bombermick]

Hats off to Hewitt who always shows fight, too bad it hasn't rubbed off on Bernie.

Pitiful.

Huge opportunity for Stosur now, please take it this time!

 

[Kaan]

Tomic was pants. He'd want to play better than that come January.

He will show up for the Aus Open just like he always does.

The problem is the other 11 months.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Bernard has a laconic style but **** me, if he had some ticker like Lleyton does he'd be in the top 10 already. Sadly it's not something which can be 'taught'. The fighting spirit is either there nor isn't. For example, when Bernard is down 40-0 he'll basically just give up the game. Some people call it smart, as he's 'saving energy' but for me, you have to fight and scrap for every single point to keep the pressure on your opponent. He got away with this in juniors, look disinterested for basically the whole set, then pounce on a lack of concentration from his opponent, steal a break and win the set. Against the big boys- no chance of this happening. He got crushed by Andy, taught a lesson from a veteran. He's still got a lot of growing up to do.

 

[Warsaw]

Great result for Lleyton.

 

[ozgamer]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis...k-at-the-us-open/story-fndkzym4-1226462959031

I know he is still only 19yo but this guy makes me never want to barrack for him ever again. Ever! His attitude is shit and his application on match day is that of a millionaire. F*** him.

Hewitt, on the otherhand. How can you not appreciate him? He may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I am so glad and so proud that he's one of ours. Bless him

 

[pepsi]

Huge opportunity for Stosur now, please take it this time!

No there is not a huge opportunity for Sam here. Will face Azarenka in the next match if both win in the 4th round.

Possibly Sam's worst possible opponent to face. Some stats: In their last 4 meetings Sam has won a total of 13 games. She has never won a set off her in 6 matches (she did get her to a tie-break once in 2008).

For Stosur to progress further than the 1/4 final you have to hope that Anna Tatishvili (who??) will beat Azarenka in the 4th round.

I sound extremely negative here, but just facing facts. Stosur is a match up player, if there ever was one in tennis.

 

[matt_897]

No there is not a huge opportunity for Sam here.

Yep, Azarenka is just a woeful matchup for Sam, and there is really no situation where I think Sam wins it, Azarenka would have to play off ehr game and Can't see that happening. Robson is actually looking like a bad matchup as well, man she is hitting the ball well, she always had talent but now it's just come up as a package all of a sudden. Hope the fact that it's a 4th round might get her a bit nervous. Maybe night match on Ashe?

Having said that I've been very happy with Sam's play so far, best tennis since the clay season.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Yep, Azarenka is just a woeful matchup for Sam, and there is really no situation where I think Sam wins it, Azarenka would have to play off ehr game and Can't see that happening. Robson is actually looking like a bad matchup as well, man she is hitting the ball well, she always had talent but now it's just come up as a package all of a sudden. Hope the fact that it's a 4th round might get her a bit nervous. Maybe night match on Ashe?

Having said that I've been very happy with Sam's play so far, best tennis since the clay season.

Yep, I pretty much agree. I was kind of hoping Li would win because Robson is basically an unkown quantity to her. Li to Sam is almost like Sam to Azarenka. Anyway I did watch the match last night and Lepchenko is a bloody good player. Its good to have a match like that though, because I think part of the sstuff up at RG was due to not being challenged at all up until the SF, so when she finally got challenged she wasn't used to it. Sam was absolutely serving out of a tree too, so she needs that to continue.

Anyway, Bernie is a bloody goon. I didn't watch the match, but I can just imagine how it panned out, makes you love Lleyton even more, heck the people who bag him. Its so frustrating when you see people like Hewitt and even Stosur with just unbelievable work ethic, then you see a very naturally talented guy like Bernie just not get the best out of himself. I wasn't able to follow his match this morning, but I'm not gonna go out of my way to watch him to be honest. Its not worth it. At the moment we've got two players in him and Gajdosova who are losing because they play tennis like idiots, for varying reasons.

 

[matt_897]

Hewitt first up on Louis armstrong so that means 1am tomorrow, Sam is 3rd on the same court.

Not much exciting things happening today, all the usuals getting through, Murray and Lopez had a tough battle, Murray lucky to get through in 4 though.

 

[Caesar]

Serena was a crap match-up for Stosur prior to the final last year. Just sayin'.

Azarenka will be a tough ask but at least her head seems to be in the right space. That's always been her biggest issue.

 

[matt_897]

Serena was a crap match-up for Stosur prior to the final last year. Just sayin'.

But at least Sam had a couple of wins against Serena, one at a slam. Sam's record against Azarenka is pretty embrassing.

 

[hans moleman]

Anyway, Bernie is a bloody goon. I didn't watch the match, but I can just imagine how it panned out, makes you love Lleyton even more, heck the people who bag him. Its so frustrating when you see people like Hewitt and even Stosur with just unbelievable work ethic, then you see a very naturally talented guy like Bernie just not get the best out of himself.

What a contrast, Lleyton giving a typically gutsy effort while Bernie - Australia's next big hope - does his best impression of the Tin Man.

Didn't exactly come off well in the Post Match presser either...interesting to see where Tomic goes from here, but this pretty much sums it up:

He's still got a lot of growing up to do.

Oh, and good to see Stosur playing well too.

 

[pepsi]

Serena was a crap match-up for Stosur prior to the final last year. Just sayin'.
Azarenka will be a tough ask but at least her head seems to be in the right space. That's always been her biggest issue.

Serena is not a crap match up for Stosur. Sam had beaten her twice before last year's final and they had some close matches also. If Serena is serving out of her mind then she beats anyone basically.

It has nothing to do with headspace in the Azarenka/Sharapova match ups with Sam. Go back and watch some youtube videos of those matches.

The reason why she does so poorly against them is that her serve becomes ineffective. The high kick sits up perfectly for these 2 girls backhands, who basically cream the returns back into court, giving Sam no time to set up her next shot. If you watch Stosur's matches close enough you notice that the serve sets up her point. She gets a return mid court with not much pace and is able to hit a offensive forehand that wins her the point or sets it up for her. When she is rushed from the return, she is never as effective. Like Matt said, if they do meet in the 1/4s, we need Azarenka to be well off her game.

 

[Caesar]

Serena is not a crap match up for Stosur. Sam had beaten her twice before last year's final and they had some close matches also.

Serena is the best returner on the WTA. Stosur is useless without her serve getting her lots of free points. Bad match-up.

Most players' H2Hs against Serena are flattering because she doesn't give a shit outside of Grand Slams. That Stosur barely got over her at the FO says a lot, given that its her best surface and Serena's worst by a long way.