Australian Open 2016

[Redline]

I went on a few days to the Australian Open last week. It has been five years since I have been. It was noticable how much they have improved things for spectators. Plenty of shade on most courts which there didn't used to be and more seating.

The one thing I would love to see them do is put more shade on court 2 and 3. They are terrible courts in the heat with no breeze. I am not sure how it would work but there must be a way.

 

[tehnoodnub]

Djokovic seems to be playing well within himself at the moment. A short priced favourite coming into the tournament but after a lackluster performance against Seppi (bar the first set) and an arm-wrestle with Simon, I'm beginning to wonder if he might fall short this year. Don't get me wrong, Seppi and Simon have both proven that, on their day they can beat some of the best players so obviously it wasn't totally unexpected that they might challenge Novak but it's more about the way Novak is playing. He doesn't seem quite as switched on as usual. Maybe he will lift his game as we get to the business end of the tournament but if he doesn't then he could very easily find himself ousted against Nishikori or his probably opponent in the semis, Fed.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I prefer if Novak has had a couple of tough games heading into the 2nd week anyway.

 

[tehnoodnub]

As an unashamed Novak fan, I agree and understand the logic behind it but the problem is that they weren't really tough games in the sense you would like them to be. I don't mean to be disrespectful to either Seppi or Simon but neither of them played all that well. I was at the Seppi match and Novak just looked like he was elsewhere mentally and not really finding his rhythm at all. As for the Simon match; 100 unforced errors says it all and those drop shots...let's just say that when Novak is going for those, and missing, IMO it's a sign of a lack of confidence. Maybe I'm being cynical but I won't be surprised if Novak suffers a repeat of his US Open loss against Nishikori when they meet tomorrow. If anyone can flick the switch it's him but something just doesn't feel right to me.

 

[X_box_X]

I'm not taking the piss when I say this...

Monfils has taken a medical timeout because his finger is bleeding.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

As an unashamed Novak fan, I agree and understand the logic behind it but the problem is that they weren't really tough games in the sense you would like them to be. I don't mean to be disrespectful to either Seppi or Simon but neither of them played all that well. I was at the Seppi match and Novak just looked like he was elsewhere mentally and not really finding his rhythm at all. As for the Simon match; 100 unforced errors says it all and those drop shots...let's just say that when Novak is going for those, and missing, IMO it's a sign of a lack of confidence. Maybe I'm being cynical but I won't be surprised if Novak suffers a repeat of his US Open loss against Nishikori when they meet tomorrow. If anyone can flick the switch it's him but something just doesn't feel right to me.

Don't agree, I think he plays better when he's had some time on the court. I always worry more if he is going into a QF or SF cols without much time on the court. If anything yesterday allowed him to really work on his serve.

 

[iluvparis]

It didn't really work - think he only served one ace in the last two sets.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It didn't really work - think he only served one ace in the last two sets.

Not about the amount of aces, it is about placement. The amount of break points he served massive first serves into the corners. It will help as he goes further along having to beat better players.

 

[iluvparis]

His serve was atrocious in the 3rd-4th sets - though he did finally pick it up in the 5th.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

His serve was atrocious in the 3rd-4th sets - though he did finally pick it up in the 5th.

Exactly, which as a Novak fan I'm glad he had the match. Yes it was as ugly as anything, but he fought through it and he served really well in the last. Thought he served terribly in Rounds 1-3.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

No place to really post this and not worthy of its own thread so I will plonk it in here, but what exactly is meant when players talk about 'defending points'?

 

[pepsi]

Djokovic won the AO title in 2015 and gained 2000 points towards his ranking points.

He needs to win the title again this year to keep those 2000 points and defend them.

If djokovic were to lose in the final, he gets 1300 points, so an overall loss of 700 points to his rankings total points.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Djokovic won the AO title in 2015 and gained 2000 points towards his ranking points.

He needs to win the title again this year to keep those 2000 points and defend them.

If djokovic were to lose in the final, he gets 1300 points, so an overall loss of 700 points to his rankings total points.

So basically, you need to do as well as you did the previous year to 'defend' your points.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

So basically, you need to do as well as you did the previous year to 'defend' your points.

Yep. The rankings are based on a rolling one-year window. So after the 2016 Australian Open, the points from the 2015 slam come off their rankings and are replaced by the points earned in the 2016 tournament.

 

[pepsi]

So basically, you need to do as well as you did the previous year to 'defend' your points.

Correct. Its also the way you gain points. If you lost in the 1st round of the AO last year and win the tournament this year, you gain 2000 points.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Ah, yep, now I am getting the picture. Thanks

 

[Gavin Excell]

Yawn