Australian Open Thread

[-VC-]

That was so impressive.

I caught Tsonga by chance at last years Aus Open because I went into Vodafone to watch Roddick play some unknown in his first major. When it was in the Arena that this kid was playing his first Grand Slam match this low chuckle went through the crowd as if to say, "Good luck mate. Drawing Roddick first up. Better luck next year." He famously took A-Rod deep into the fifth set and almost had him. His game was so raw and his ground strokes so powerful and since then he has improved everything so much.

Saw him again this year in the second round against Warburg and he was barely getting warmed up (and this was after beating Murray!)

 

[__aria__]

Wouldn't mind hearing a Nadal press conference. I'd be interested to hear his thoughts on the match.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

I laugh at anyone who can seriously predict Djokovic to beat Federer tomorrow...it's just silly.

I mean come on...Federer is one the greatest players of all time in the peak of his career and you can seriously say that Novak Djokovic is going to beat him?

Novak looked absolutely stuffed after 3 sets against Ferrer and you think he could last 5 sets in a grand slam semi against one the greatest players of all time?

It's just hope.

 

[red+black]

Wouldn't mind hearing a Nadal press conference. I'd be interested to hear his thoughts on the match.

Get more sense out of him if it was in Spanish with subtitles than in English.

 

[Drummond]

Nadal didn't play as well as usual. True he wasn't allowed to, but he was just a fraction off tonight. The #2 player in the world shouldn’t lose in straight sets winning only 7 games. Tsonga was absolutely on fire but Nadal kept giving him exactly what he wanted.

As some have pointed out, against the heavy, flat hitters he struggles. Tsonga was just too much for Rafa tonight, right from the outset. I was waiting all night for the comeback, out of hope more than anything, but Tsonga just didn’t let up.

As for Tsonga, can’t stand him. They called him “shy and humble” in the pre-match, he’s anything but! I can’t stand him, he reeks of arrogance. And you just know he’ll crumble in the final, just like all surprise finalists do. If Federer wins tomorrow I'll be supporting Tsonga in the final, but he'll lose in straight sets as his play won't be able to continue.

 

[red+black]

Rafa made only 12 unforced errors for the match, and apparently just 4 (total) in the first 2 sets. Amazing.

It's like there was only one man on court tonight.

 

[Thrawn]

It's like there was only one man on court tonight.

Yep, Nadal looked like a boy compared to this guy.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Nadal didn't play as well as usual. True he wasn't allowed to, but he was just a fraction off tonight. The #2 player in the world shouldn’t lose in straight sets winning only 7 games. Tsonga was absolutely on fire but Nadal kept giving him exactly what he wanted.

As some have pointed out, against the heavy, flat hitters he struggles. Tsonga was just too much for Rafa tonight, right from the outset. I was waiting all night for the comeback, out of hope more than anything, but Tsonga just didn’t let up.

As for Tsonga, can’t stand him. They called him “shy and humble” in the pre-match, he’s anything but! I can’t stand him, he reeks of arrogance. And you just know he’ll crumble in the final, just like all surprise finalists do. If Federer wins tomorrow I'll be supporting Tsonga in the final, but he'll lose in straight sets as his play won't be able to continue.

You are a bitter, bitter man.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I enjoyed this one.

I think this is a great result for Nadal as there's no way Tsonga is keeping up this form and Nadal will get every one of his flashy shots back and eventually frustrate him. When that happens, expect his head to drop, just like Monfils.

But...but...but, they're both black, French and athletic!

 

[Scruff83]

Wouldn't mind hearing a Nadal press conference. I'd be interested to hear his thoughts on the match.

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2008-01-24/200801241201176322037.html

 

[Rick18]

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2008-01-24/200801241201176322037.html

....no?
....no?
....no?
Almost screaming in frustration here.

 

[Scruff83]

....no?
....no?
....no?
Almost screaming in frustration here.

Settle down. He hasn't fully grasped the english language, does it in all his interviews.

 

[Hot Spenny]

I think this is a great result for Nadal as there's no way Tsonga is keeping up this form and Nadal will get every one of his flashy shots back and eventually frustrate him. When that happens, expect his head to drop, just like Monfils.

Ouch. Bitter much? Sure you shouldn't add yourself to the list of January tennis fans?

 

[Syd Kennets]

Nadal's easy draw made him a sitting duck for the first good player he had to face.

He will forever find one better than him in non clay Grand Slams.

 

[ShearMagic9]

....no?
....no?
....no?
Almost screaming in frustration here.

All Spanish people do it when speaking English.

If not all, then certainly most.

See: Rafa Benitez.

 

[Hot Spenny]

As for Tsonga, can’t stand him. They called him “shy and humble” in the pre-match, he’s anything but! I can’t stand him, he reeks of arrogance. And you just know he’ll crumble in the final, just like all surprise finalists do. If Federer wins tomorrow I'll be supporting Tsonga in the final, but he'll lose in straight sets as his play won't be able to continue.

your attitude towards various players is quite fickle. You say that Roddick is a personality because of his outbursts, when obviously he is an arrogant, disrespectful twat. It's great to watch him take down an umpire like that is it? Maybe he should have stayed in school. Tsonga was very respectful when dealing with that umpires mistake last night.
Can you imagine tennis without personalities like Tsonga Drummond?

 

[-VC-]

I can't say I agree with Nadal's view that Tsonga wasn't lucky though. I think Tsonga had luck on his side as well. This is on top of the already unbelievable tennis that he was playing. He had a couple of shots that hit the tape and fell his way, a couple of shots that he didn't hit right but just happened to land in the court and left Nadal scampering. It's not at all a bad thing to be lucky. They often say that in sport to win the title you have to be lucky and good, because how often do you see an unlucky guy win something?

 

[Rick18]

All Spanish people do it when speaking English.

If not all, then certainly most.

See: Rafa Benitez.

As a general rule, I stay away from anything Liverpool

 

[Sir Vlado]

The moral of the game is: Nadal was owned by a better player on the day.

 

[Geddy Lee]

I laugh at anyone who can seriously predict Djokovic to beat Federer tomorrow...it's just silly.

I mean come on...Federer is one the greatest players of all time in the peak of his career and you can seriously say that Novak Djokovic is going to beat him?

Novak looked absolutely stuffed after 3 sets against Ferrer and you think he could last 5 sets in a grand slam semi against one the greatest players of all time?

It's just hope.

It was a smokescreen.

He is a sneaky bastard and has alot more fitness than he lets on, like Sampras used to do.

 

[Ricketts]

And you just know he’ll crumble in the final, just like all surprise finalists do.

Gonzo hardly crumbled last year, sure it was straight sets but was close with only the 1 break in each.

 

[dooda]

tsonga will go into eaely retirement after the absolute belting he will recieve of either Federer or djokovic

 

[scarecrow2k1]

How badly did the HUN twist Nadals words for their back page today

 

[Escude]

Gonzo hardly crumbled last year, sure it was straight sets but was close with only the 1 break in each.

actually he did crumble, look at the ratio of winners to unforced errors in the finals and compare it to semi finals or even quarter finals

 

[roostersgal4eva]

It was a smokescreen.

He is a sneaky bastard and has alot more fitness than he lets on, like Sampras used to do.

Sampras would look like he was about to drop half the time and still win - even if he was a five setter

Novak will win tonight and Sunday - wait and see