The 2nd Official 2009 Australian Open Thread

[Drummond]

Yeah I didn't realise they had changed to that until I saw Tomic and Wejnart play the other day on Margaret Court. The two set match was over in 44 minutes - followed by the 4 hours 9 minutes five set Gonzales/Gasquet match.

Wejnart's got a little Miranda Kerr in her I reckon.

 

[-VC-]

Does anyone give any chance of an upset tonight? Rafa is paying 1.12 to about $6 Verdasco... Rafa at times didn't look to convincing the other night but if he does win tonight I think he will beat Fed in final.

That seems long to me. I still think Rafa will win and I want Rafa to win, but a little bit of money on Verdasco wouldn't be the worst investment. He played quite well against Tsonga (who himself was in good form too). Rafa showed a couple of chinks in his armour in the second and third sets against Simon.

It's a lot more conceivable than $6 odds to me.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

It should be a close match, Nadal V Verdasco, because they both have similar game styles. But in the end, Nadal should win in straights IMO. I don't think it'll be as easy as many think, but I think Nadal is a sure bet to make it into the final.

 

[-VC-]

That seems long to me. I still think Rafa will win and I want Rafa to win, but a little bit of money on Verdasco wouldn't be the worst investment. He played quite well against Tsonga (who himself was in good form too). Rafa showed a couple of chinks in his armour in the second and third sets against Simon.

It's a lot more conceivable than $6 odds to me.

Don't have an online account and couldn't be ****ed heading down the road. Extra incentive to cheer Nadal on, because Verdasco winning would be like lost money.

 

[XFactor1979]

its ironic how the crowd tails off for the doubles

sometimes doubles matches features the same players as the singles, safin played doubles this time around, but the crowd avoids doubles like the plague.

mind you i was there on centre court to see wimbledon in 2007 after federer beat nadal in a five setter, to give my support for aussie rep alicia molik team up with jonas bjorkman, they went down convincingly to jamie murray and jelena jankovic

mind you that was wimbledon...

 

[CHBench]

Dear jebus,
please don't let verdasco win.
yours faithfully
CHBench


go rafa.

 

[CHBench]

Woah. Id be pissed if i was Raf...So unlucky.
****. verdasco takes the first.

 

[Thrawn]

Go Verdasco!

 

[Selective Retention]

Verdasco is the epitome of the 110% cliche.

I was watching him play Tsonga and just waiting for JW to overpower him put it just never happened.

A bit of luck on the net cord but he plays the percentages.

 

[Warsaw]

Entertaining to watch. Fed will be happy with this. Longer this goes on the better.

 

[CHBench]

WTF!?
What a point by rafa. Rally of the tournament.
And with that Rafa takes it, 1 set all.

 

[ronnie1234]

What a shot by Nadal

 

[Jono B]

WTF!?
What a point by rafa. Rally of the tournament.
And with that Rafa takes it, 1 set all.

It was the best point I have ever seen.

 

[-VC-]

That was beyond insane.

I am yet to properly process what I just saw.

 

[scooterb]

That ball curved like a mother ******!

 

[CHBench]

Unnbelleeeevable.
Rafa's athleticism is (to quote the red man ) obscene.
I think that point has swung the momentum back into Nadal's favour.
15-40 in that game. Then produce that shot and win the set. Heartbreaking for Verdasco.

 

[aaronm46]

cmon Rafa force the issue!

 

[CHBench]

Great match this one.
The angles these two are producing are insane.
WTF!? The spin Rafa is getting..curves around Verdasco and the line hooks back and lands in.

 

[Astro_]

this is a cracking match. Thank god the power came back on!

 

[aaronm46]

rafa cant convert the break and its back on serve

 

[scooterb]

This has the makings of a classic.

 

[Astro_]

I cant see a problem with coaches coaching during a match. I mean there's not much they can say is there. Not much time to coach

 

[Astro_]

Ver. is coming up with some massive ground stokes.

 

[Astro_]

WTF!? The spin Rafa is getting..curves around Verdasco and the line hooks back and lands in.

Point of the slam so far

 

[sblack]

Ver. is coming up with some massive ground stokes.

The point where he got the break had that huge forehand...they said it was around 175 km/h...which is ridiculous