2013 Australian Open

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

If he plays like that against Berdych I can definitely see him getting rolled.

Berdych winning would surprise me more than Wawrinka's performance tonight. Guy hasn't got remotely close to challenging Djokovic for years now. I'm thinking 4 sets at best on these slow courts, but I'd give him more chance if he turned up with the same game and attitude he saves exclusively for Federer.

 

[Caesar]

Berdych winning would surprise me more than Wawrinka's performance tonight. Guy hasn't got remotely close to challenging Djokovic for years now. I'm thinking 4 sets at best, but I'd give him more chance if he turned up with the same game and attitude he saves exclusively for Federer.

He is playing very well this tournament so far. IMO the Berdych who just spanked Anderson beats the passive, error-prone Djokovic who played tonight.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Novak will win the AO now. Can't see any of the other contenders getting to anywhere that quality of tennis this tournament.

I am very worried about Murray...

 

[Hodgepodge]

Nah Murray or federer have to play federer or murray and then beat djokovic too in successive matches. The odds are against that, so novak is in the box seat.

 

[Kaan]

Tonights match is going to suck so much compared to last night.

Federer eats ball bashers for breakfast. 6-2 6-4 6-3.

 

[matt_897]

Tonights match is going to suck so much compared to last night.

Federer eats ball bashers for breakfast. 6-2 6-4 6-3.

A couple of their matches were very close last year. Although fed was basically in god mode the other night so it might be a different story

 

[Kaan]

A couple of their matches were very close last year. Although fed was basically in god mode the other night so it might be a different story

Grand slam is a different story though, this is when Roger plays his best. Seriously not seeing anything other than 3 easy sets for Roger.

Tsonga vs Gasquet should've been the night session

 

[The_Big_Ship]

Wawrinka should've been serving for the match at 5-4 if the linesman were doing their jobs properly. Very unsportsman like from Djokovic pointing at the line after shanking his shot too, reacting like it was clearly out.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Just woke up and the adrenaline is still pumping from that match last night.

The more I think about it, the more unlucky Wawrinka was not to take it.

 

[Kaan]

Wawrinka should've been serving for the match at 5-4 if the linesman were doing their jobs properly.

Where was the overrule from the umpire??

 

[electricfeel]

Where was the overrule from the umpire??

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but Stan looked like he was going to challenge however he looked up at the umpire and the umpire perhaps suggested that it was out and not to challenge. Wawrinka very unlucky there.

 

[Mint Condition]

It'll be interesting to see how Djokovic pulls up for tomorrow's match.

Berdych has a really bad record against him but the one time he did beat him was at Wimbledon. And he's had a couple of big wins against Federer in slams so he can do it on the big stage. He's not going to have a better chance to beat Djokovic given the circumstances.

 

[Mint Condition]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but Stan looked like he was going to challenge however he looked up at the umpire and the umpire perhaps suggested that it was out and not to challenge. Wawrinka very unlucky there.

I think the umpire just basically indicated he agreed that it was out when Wawrinka asked him. Sometimes the umpire might suggest they're not so sure, and so a player will be more likely to challenge.

The real unlucky thing though was the call itself. If he'd challenged and the point got replayed there's every chance Novak fires down a big serve and gets out of it. If the linesman had correctly seen it hit the line Wawrinka would have most likely won that point. Djokovic got the ball back in I think, but not well.

I wonder if tennis will eventually have a system where there's no challenge system and no line judges, where all the calls are made by some computer system like hawk eye in real time.

 

[steveys]

Cracker of a game btw Djoka and Wawrinka. What a belta of a serve, backhand and passing forehand Wawrinka has. Kept Djoka on his toes for 5 hrs. Have to hand it to the swiss they know tennis

 

[Fat Nyfe]

I'm not a huge tennis fan but that match last night was something else, both players were absolutely out on their feet and still pulling out amazing shots in that epic last set. Wawrinka did everything he could to save it, never wilted under the pressure but Djokovich just had that bit extra when it mattered.

Also 7 should employ Lleyton on commentary full time. Bruce is ok, but 5 hours of 'you just feel this is an important point don't you' grates a tad.

 

[Caesar]

It does disappoint me that it's so hard to hit through the court these days at the AO. Stan was having to work some insane angles to prevent Djokovic getting a racquet on the ball, and Djokovic wasn't even playing that great.

It would be nice to see a slightly quicker surface that rewarded aggressive shotmaking a little more. Having the ball sit up a little more to prolong rallies is well and good, but it's a bit sad that you can have someone like Wawrinka being the aggressor all night and not really getting rewarded for it in the winner column.

You look back at the days of Rebound Ace and it looks like they are playing on grass compared to how it is now. And back then Hewitt was already complaining about the courts being too slow.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Jesus, I'm not on for a day and we progress 18 pages.

Fantastic match last night, loved every second of it. I'm a bit pissed off since I was actually supposed to be there last night, but got sick and couldn't go.

 

[Mint Condition]

Federer's been saying he feels the courts are playing a little quicker this year. But yeah they're still pretty slow. Maybe instead of changing the surface they could use slightly lighter balls. Like in the French Open a couple of years ago (when Djokovic complained about them ha!)

Wawrinka did hit a lot of winners and would have hit more against pretty much anyone else. Djokovic really does have insane defensive ability.

 

[MegaBob]

Anyone watching Wozniacki vs. Kuznetsova?

Kusnetsova won the first set 6-2 and I just can't see Woz using anything that would damage Kuznetsova'a game.

 

[Igloo]

Anyone watching Wozniacki vs. Kuznetsova?

Kusnetsova won the first set 6-2 and I just can't see Woz using anything that would damage Kuznetsova'a game.

Yep. Wozniacki has started this set well, but she just doesn't seem like she's doing any damage. Even if she gets 3-0 up or something, you feel like it could be taken away easily.
I like Wozniacki, but god damn, she needs to change things up once in a while.

 

[Sir Vlado]

Anyone watching Wozniacki vs. Kuznetsova?

Kusnetsova won the first set 6-2 and I just can't see Woz using anything that would damage Kuznetsova'a game.

Except Kuznetsova is prone to going walkabout mentally in matches, which is probably the only thing preventing her from disposing of Wozniacki in straights here.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Kyrgios is now the world number 1 junior.

 

[estibador]

I'm not a huge tennis fan...

I never used to be but I'm gaining a whole new appreciation for it during this Open. The ratio of gameplay vs downtime is right up there with the most action packed sports and the tension during games like last night is amazing. This thread is helping too, giving me a new appreciation of tactics and the different playing styles.

 

[rockwolf]

Damn shame Stan The Man couldn't go the distance last night, I was amazed at the amount of defense Djoker had! That was crazy stuff.

Hope one of the matches today is near the quality.. 'hope.'

 

[Igloo]

Wozniacki robbed right there.