Australian Open

[Borry]

Starts at 10am AEDT. Serena Williams, Roger federer, Andre Agassi, Samantha Stosur, Carlos Moya, Sharapova, Kuznetsova and Joachim Johansson are just some of the big names on the main courts this afternoon.

 

[Borry]

Serena has won 6-1 6-1. Simply put, her power got her over the line.

 

[Bomber Spirit]

The action on centre court looks a bit one-sided, with Serena Williams and now Roger Federer doing demolition jobs.
If you've got Fox Sports, they're showing a good match between Thomas Johansson and Peter Luczak. Johansson won the first 7-6, but Luczak fought back to take the second 6-4. It has all the makings of an epic.

 

[Borry]

Johansson won 6-0 in the fifth set. Draper lost in four to Tommy Robredo.

Intensity and endurance a telling factor as usual in Agassi's 6-4 6-3 6-0 job over a German qualifier 22 year old Dieter Kindlmann. Kindlmann very competitive early with siome strong groundstroke winners, but Agassi took control and belted him.

Federer belted Santoro 6-1 6-1 6-2 . Contest, what contest.

18 year old Sydney sider Sophie ferguson won a tight three setter against Spaniard Nulia Llagostera Vives 2-6 7-6 6-4.

Dent and Hrbaty also through in straight sets. Hrbaty won due to Robin Soderling retiring injured 1-0 down in the third set.

Kuznetsova, Zvonareva, Zuluaga, Panetta, Maleeva and Asagoe are through to the second round. Seed casualties today include Mary Pierce (6-2 6-2 hiding to the hands of fellow Frenchwoman Stephanie Cohen Aloro) and Ai Sugiyama, who also went down in straight sets.

Gaston gaudio defeated Gilmelstob in straight sets, and Ancic and Ljubicic are also through comfortably in straight sets. No seeded casualties atm for the mens singles. But Moya was looking down the barrel when down two sets to love against unknown Spaniard Guillermo Garcia Lopez and has won the third set with games currently going on serve in the fourth.

 

[Dasher39]

18 year old Sydney sider Sophie ferguson won a tight three setter against Spaniard Nulia Llagostera Vives 2-6 7-6 6-4.

I watched most of that game today. Was a really good game by Ferguson. She got behind early, and fought back really well in the 2nd to force it to a 3rd set. It looked like she was cruising to victory but Llagostera fought back well, however Ferguson managed to pull it out. She looks a very likely prospect. With all the doom and gloom in the press recenlty about the lack of quality young juniors in our system, its refreshing to see someone come through who could possible have a future. Given time to develop I can see another Alicia Molik here!

 

[red+black]

I'm giving up on Stosur. 1-4 down. She's now ranked #45 after being #65 at the start of the year.

 

[red+black]

Another loss of serve. 1-5.

 

[red+black]

Miracle. She breaks back. 2-5.

Only to lose her serve and the set to love.

19 unforced errors.

 

[red+black]

I take it all back. 3-1 up in the second. Only 4 unforced errors so far this set.

 

[red+black]

She lost. 2-6 3-6, lost the last 5 games. A disappointing effort. No disgrace to lose, but she would do well to stay top 40 or top 50 this year.

 

[kingsleyhunter]

Extremely surprising to see Moya bow out, he just looked disinterested today possibly an injury cloud. The draw really opens up for Hrbaty and Safin now, with Mario Ancic an outside hope with a couple of easier games coming up for him. My hot tip is David Nalbandian to win it against Federer in the final.

 

[Borry]

Molik got through easily against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, the highest ranked player without a seeding in this tournament 6-1 6-3.

Guccione got comfortably knocked out by Canas, far too smart and determined for him.

Casey Dellacqua, the 19 year old Western Australian girl from Woodvale has been knocked out in three by Jelena Kostanic.

Arthurs lost in straight sets to fiery Argentinian Juan Ignacio Chela. Chelahad only 4 unforced errors to Arthurs 42 for the entire match and that was the telling factor.

Coria won in straight sets.

Hantuchova beat Akiko Morigami in straight sets.

Roddick had no problems over an unfit Iraki Labazde 7-5 6-2 6-1.

 

[Borry]

Hewitt won easily 6-3 6-4 6-1.

He will meet James Blake in the next round.

 

[Borry]

Davenport and Venus won comfortably in straight sets.

Henman and Massu won in four.

Nalbandian got past his opponent Ferrer in a tough five setter

 

[Russian]

Day 7 Preview

Roger Federer v Marcos Baghdatis
2nd on Rod Laver Arena
World number 1 against world number 155 who came through qualifying doesn't seem like much of a contest, and probably won't be although Baghdatis' scalps this tournament are pretty impressive, having knocked out seeds in his previous 2 rounds dropping just one set. But Federer has had 2 straight sets victories and another where his opponent retired without causing any problems, and should be too strong.

Joachim Johansson v Andre Agassi
3rd on Rod Laver Arena
Should be the match of the day - world number 11 against the world number 8. Agassi has kept his record of making the 4th round in every Australian Open appearance, while Johansson makes his first appearance in an Australian Open 4th round. Agassi has the advantage of having had 3 straight sets victories, while Johansson had to play pretty much 6 sets in the 3rd round, but Johansson's 12+ year age advantage will reduce the effect of this. Expect this to go the distance, but Agassi's experience to get him over the line in the end.

Marat Safin v Olivier Rochus
4th on Vodafone Arena
One of the tallest players on the tour (Safin 193cm) against one of the shortest (Rochus 165cm). It's Rochus' first appearance in the 4th round at Melbourne Park, while it's Safin's third. If he's got his mind on the job Safin will win this in short straight sets, if not then Rochus could make his first Grand Slam quarter final.

Dominik Hrbaty v Thomas Johansson
3rd on Show Court 3
Can't understand why this is out on Show Court 3, should be on Rod Laver or at the very least Vodafone imo. 20th and 30th seeds but currently ranked 27 and 31. Johansson has made hard work of his first three games, all of them going the distance, while Hrbaty has gone to 4 and 5 sets in his two completed games after a first round default. Johansson has only made the 4th round once before, he went on to win the tournament, while Hrbaty has made this stage 3 times for only one win. Hrbaty to win on the slower surface with Johansson to take at least one set.

Svetlana Kuznetsova v Vera Douchevina
11am on Rod Laver Arena
Both young Russians playing their first Australian Open fourth round matches, Douchevina her first at a Grand Slam. Both players yet to drop a set at the tournament however Kuznetsova has dropped 13 games to Douchevina's 21. Kuznetsova should be too strong, straight sets victory.

Silvia Farina Elia v Maria Sharapova
3rd on Vodafone Arena
Within 8 days of 15 years between these two however both looking for their first Australian Open quarter finals. Both players haven't played anyone of any real quality so far, and the scores reflect that despite Sharapova dropping a set. Sharapova hasn't been very impressive so far but should be able to win this one in 3.

Serena Williams v Nadia Petrova
4th on Rod Laver Arena
Number 7 v number 13 seems a good match up, but this seems all to easy for Serena. Petrova hasn't been playing that well while Serena has dropped just 10 games in 3 straight sets victories. Fourth straight set victory coming up today.

Evgenia Linetskaya v Amelie Mauresmo
2nd on Margaret Court Arena
Linetskaya playing her 2nd grand slam against Mauresmo in her 28th. Mauresmo has played 3 very tough opponents and been a pretty convincing victor in the end. Having never heard of Linetskaya this is a wild guess, Mauresmo in straight sets.

 

[Total Power]

Re: Day 7 Preview

Baghdatis is going to be a future champion..although he is not much of a threat now but last year in the US open playing his first ever big tournament he took a set off federer..playing extremely attacking tennis and slamming winners after winners.I was very impressed to see his style of gameply.

 

[crazzzy_grrl]

Johansson v Agassi just about to start

C'mon Pim Pim

 

[Total Power]

Johansson v Agassi just about to start

C'mon Pim Pim

Pim pim is going to be a star soon enough

 

[crazzzy_grrl]

Pim pim is going to be a star soon enough

Definally. Lots of ppl are predicting to become world number 1 eventually, and after jumping from 113 at the start of last year to becoming world number 11, it was an amazing year last year for him. Playing agassi would be a great learning experience for him, unfortunally he lost but he will be a better player for that experience.

I've been a fan of his since the start of last year so its great to see everything going together just right for him now

 

[Total Power]

Definally. Lots of ppl are predicting to become world number 1 eventually, and after jumping from 113 at the start of last year to becoming world number 11, it was an amazing year last year for him. Playing agassi would be a great learning experience for him, unfortunally he lost but he will be a better player for that experience.

I've been a fan of his since the start of last year so its great to see everything going together just right for him now

Thats great to hear mate, atleast you are not a bandwagoner.. thats what annoys me the most.

 

[crazzzy_grrl]

Thats great to hear mate, atleast you are not a bandwagoner.. thats what annoys me the most.

I know what you mean. Everyone is noticing him now (firstly due to who he is dating, then his tennis) but I first saw him play against Ferrero last year in the 3rd round of the aus open, then the davis cup tie against australia. Looked very good then and looking even better now. The training with Hewitt when he was younger definally must have helped. Being ranked 200 odd in the world training with the world number 1.