Keep up, would you?

The first day of a slam. It’s all so exciting and you make plans that it’s going to be such a fun and relaxed day of tennis-watching. Two hours go by and suddenly everything is happening at the same time, you can’t keep up and it is now super stressful. We fumble with our keyboards trying to flip streams because Twitter said a good match is going on at Court 18. What if it ends up becoming an epic? No one wants to miss out on an epic. *fumble* *fumble* *bufferiiiiiiing…* “Goddamnit!” Also, World No. 547 is leading the 12th seed over on MCA. “Wait, he was but not anymore? Is my stream delayed?” No. 22 is getting routined over at 4. Your sometimes favorite is in a deciding set against some dangerous floater. There’s an upset alert on Hise… RaaaaaaaaaahIlovetennis!

I tried to absorb as much as I could on Day 1 of the Australian Open. I tried so hard that my brain was starting to tap out before the day session ended then nodded off 2 games into the Hewitt-Tipsarvic match. WEAK. In no particular order, here’s what I remember most about the first day:

• You don’t engage in a long rally with a “rusty” Maria Sharapova because she’ll come alive.
• Venus Williams is looking sharp early on and is on course to meet Sharapova in the 3rd round.
• Sam Stosur won her first match of the year! Phew.
• Agree with Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic is still good at tennis.
• Patrick McEnroe’s seemingly ridiculous prediction almost came true. That’s what you get for laughing, tennis world. And me, too.
• Grigor Dimitrov flames out to veteran, Julian Benneteau. Kid still has a lot of work to do on the tennis court. *winkyfaceemoji*
• What happened, Juan Monaco? And who is Andrey Kuznetsov?
• Sad we won’t be seeing more of Mona Barthel’s wide array of outfits.
• Ana Ivanovic scored a good win over Melinda Czink.
• Yung-Jan Chan def Daniela Hantuchova 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. Yeeeaaaap, this is Dani’s life these days.

I’m sure I’m forgetting a few notable matches/results because I don’t think this is even 1/4 of the Day 1 happenings. Aaah! Let’s do it again!

Image © Getty Images

Around the practice grounds in IW

Oh, you know.

Hoggy: No, Maria. You’re not supposed to hit your second serves harder than your first.

Nico: So, I tried to sell my house online…

Just because Dani is there, no? Muzz practiced with Berd which was a downgrade from Pablo Andujar on Wednesday, obviously.

I saw 3 Muzz smiles yesterday. 2 in press and then at practice. What is going on?

John was observing…

Fer was telling John that he’d been working on his volleys in the off season and these scenes happened:

More practice photos later and that now famous Nole, Rafa, Janko and Feli soccer match.

And the trophy goes to…

Agnieszka Radwanksa defeated Julia Goerges in the finals of Dubai, 7-5, 6-4, to win her first title of the year. In four tournaments this year, Aga has only lost to Victoria Azarenka. In light of all the “real No. 1″ talk during the Wozniacki Era, does this make her the real No. 2?

Aga improves her career finals win-loss record to 8-2. Very Ninja-like of her to sneak in an 80% success in finals. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Juan Martin del Potro claimed his first ever indoor hardcourt title at the Open 13 tournament in Marseille. He defeated a crafty lefty, Michael Llodra, in the finals, 6-4, 6-4.

This title caps off a very successful two-week indoor run for Delpo. Last week, he was in the finals of Rotterdam where he lost to a man who hasn’t dropped an indoor hardcourt match since 2010, Roger Federer.

Sofia Arvidsson really likes Memphis. She won her second WTA Tour career title after defeating Marina Erakovic in the finals, 6-3, 6-4. Her first title also came at this tournament exactly 6 years ago and she was runner-up to Maria Sharapova in 2010. The WTA website has crowned her the Queen of Memphis.

It was also a sentimental win for Sofia and her team. Her sparring partner suffered a recent death in his family.

“I’m so happy, but sad also – my sparring partner had to go home earlier in the week because his godson was dying of cancer, and he died yesterday. When I was out there I thought this was just a tennis match, and I was quite relaxed.

“This is for him.”

Jurgen Melzer is the broken toe wonder. He defeated a red hot Milos Raonic in the Memphis finals, 7-5, 7-6(4), to win the title. Jojo has been playing on a broken toe all week and still notched wins over John Isner, Radek Stepanek and Raonic en route to the title.

With this run, Broken Toe rises 19 spots to No. 19 in the rankings. A few more good weeks and we could see him back in the Top 10.

Elsewhere

David Ferrer denied Nicolas Almagro a second straight title in Buenos Aires after he defeated the younger Spaniard, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. This is Daveed’s 13th career ATP World Tour title.

18-year-old Timea Babos won her first ever WTA Tour title in Monterrey. She defeated Alexandra Cadantu in the finals, 6-4, 6-4.

Images © AP Photo

Azarenka, Federer and Raonic stay perfect

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images

Victoria Azarenka keeps her unbeaten streak going and wins her third title of 2012. She improved to 17-0 after defeating Samantha Stosur in the Doha finals.

Vika is handling her post-grand slam breakthrough differently from the last 3 winners. While the others floated around the Tour after their wins seemingly hungover from all the glory, she keeps going and winning like she’s been expecting all of this. And perhaps she has, it’s been a long time coming. I have to admit, it’s refreshing to see someone in the women’s game not crumble under pressure. If Vika can remain healthy, who knows how long she can keep at this.

KOEN SUYK/AFP/Getty Images

Roger Federer, not a stranger to streaks, is currently riding a 24-0 one on indoor hard courts. His last loss on this surface was November 2010 against Gael Monfils at the Bercy Indoors. Since then, he has won 5 titles including this week’s ABN Amro World Tennis in Rotterdam.

Roger scored an routine 6-1, 6-4 victory in the finals over a surging Juan Martin del Potro. A good win for the 30-year old following the disappointing Davis Cup loss to the United States. He won’t let us forget that he’s still got it.

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

In his two appearances at the SAP Open, this year and last, Milos Raonic has yet to lose a set. That’s right, a set. At this weekend’s championship match, he defeated Denis Istomin, 7-6(3), 6-2, to claim his third career ATP World Tour title.

Milos played incredibly well to defend his title. His serve was on fire (I think it could really kill someone.) and his forehand is at it’s best ever. It’s a little scary to think that he still has a lot of room for improvement. I’m really excited to watch him grow and see how far he can take his talents. (Hopefully, not to South Be… hahaaaa haa ha.)

Elsewhere

Nicolas Almagro successfully defended his Brazil Open title. He defeated Filippo Volandri in the finals, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

19-year-old Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino won her first ever WTA Tour title at the XX Copa BBVA Colsanitas in Bogota. She is the youngest Spanish player to win a title since Anabel Medina Garrigues won Palermo in 2001.

Australian Open 2011: Day 7 wrap

“Oooof!” “OMG! How did she get that?” *gasp* “asdfghj” “WAH! Are you kidding?” “That was fucking ridiculous!” Only a few of the many comments I threw around last night. I was all alone while watching the Francesca Schiavone and Svetlana Kuznetsova match so I could do/scream whatever I wanted.

I don’t even know what to say about that match. 4 hours and 44 minutes for a 3-setter? YOU CRAZY?! It was WTA tennis at it’s best. No, it’s tennis, in general, at it’s best and matches like these make us fall in love with the sport again. As the match and final set went later and later, both played at an even higher quality. Less errors, great scrambling from Franny and great hitting from Sveta. The display of guts and fight and the refusal to lose, both women are real champs.

And just like what most said on Twitter last night, if anyone gives shit about the WTA again, point them to this match and tell them, “what eva!”

My favorites, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick lost last night. Both played poorly. Well, Masha played poorly and Andy’s gameplan was full of crap. I pick them well, I know. I miss their glory days in majors- Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2006. (Andy lost to Federer in both these years but it’s somehow A-OK.) Heck, even Australian Open 2007 wasn’t bad. I wonder if we’ll ever get those back.

Day 7 results:

Stanislas Wawrinka [19] def Andy Roddick [8] 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Roger Federer [2] def Tommy Robredo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Novak Djokovic [4] def Nicolas Almagro [14] 6-3, 6-4, 6-0
Tomas Berdych [6] def Fernando Verdasco [9] 6-4, 6-2, 6-3

Caroline Wozniacki [1] def Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-4
Andrea Petkovic [30] def Maria Sharapova [14] 6-2, 6-3
Na Li [9] def Victoria Azarenka [8] 6-3, 6-3
Francesca Schiavone [6] def Svetlana Kuznetsova [23] 6-4, 1-6, 16-14

Image via Getty

Australian Open 2011: Gentlemen

Rafael Nadal is the top seed at this year’s Australian Open. He’s going for his fourth consecutive major and second Australian Open title. According to Rafa, he’ll be very happy if he wins this event because it’s the Australian Open and not because it will be his fourth consecutive major. And I believe him. He’s going to face a few tests mid-tournament. A potential fourth round clash with Marin Cilic [15] or John Isner [20] and then he has fellow Spaniard, David Ferrer [7], in his quarter. David has Mikhail Youzhny [10] in the fourth round.

Possible draw ruiners:

• Isner is ranked and seeded lower than Cilic but I think he’ll come through that group, beating Cilic in the process, to face Rafa in the fourth round.
• The most interesting first round match on the men’s side, Lleyton Hewitt against David Nalbandian [27]. Whoever comes through that match will have a chance to upset Ferrer in the third round.

Thanks to his title win in Brisbane last week, Robin Soderling will come in as the tournament’s 4th seed. This is the only major where Sod has not gotten past the second round… ever. He’ll surely look to improve that this year. He has a relatively easy first week. Then, a potential fourth round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [13]. Andy Murray [5] anchors Sod’s quarter with Jurgen Melzer [11] (huh?!) in his 16.

I think the seeds will hold up in this section. Go Muzz!

3rd seed and former Australian Open champion, Novak Djokovic, will try to get to a major final for the second straight time. He doesn’t have an easy quarters but he should be able to come through it. A potential fourth round against Nicolas Almagro [14] then Tomas Berdych [6] in the quarters. Berd has Fernando Verdasco [9] in the fourth round.

Potential draw ruiners:

• You can’t count out a big server in the first week and Ivan Ljubicic [17] will be tough test for Nico in the third round.
• Janko Tipsarevic is going to give Fernando all sorts of problem in the second round.

2nd seed and defending champion, Roger Federer, has been in good form since last  year’s WTFs. He won the warm-up tournament in Doha a week ago and is looking the best out of all the top guys. He has my man, Andy Roddick [8], in his quarter… of course. Andy will face Gael Monfils [12] in the fourth round and Roger has Mardy Fish [16]. Because life is fair.

Possible draw ruiners:

• Sam Querrey [18] in the 3rd round will be a test for Mardy, who, by the way, I haven’t seen in a second. Sam’s never been to the second week down under so this will be a good chance for him. Not that I care about either of them.
• Unfortunately, Stanislas Wawrinka [19], looked pretty good during his title win in India. He has a date with an injured Gael in the 3rd round.

US Open 2010: Day 7 wrap

Crazy day! My pick to win the men’s title, Andy Murray, was sent home in the third round by Stanislas Wawrinka. Some great matches on the women’s side; Venus Williams and Shahar Peer played a tight 2-setter and Elena Dementieva and Samantha Stosur played the best match on the women’s side so far this tournament.

After winning the first set in his match against Stan, Muzz played very passively and got very down on himself. Per usual. I don’t think anyone can explain why he does it but everyone can see that it needs to stop for him to be able to break through and win a slam.

Lena D and Sam played a great match where they both held and saved match points. This match started a little before 11pm and went late into the night, last call for alcohol late. Lena had 4 chances to win but was not able to convert any of them. Sam had 2 and won it on #2 in the 3rd set tiebreak after Lena sent a forehand long. Towards the end of the match, it was clear that Sam was mentally stronger and that got her the W.

Day 7 results:
Kim Clijsters [2] def. Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1
Venus Williams [3] def. Shahar Peer [16] 7-6(3), 6-3
Samantha Stosur [5] def. Elena Dementieva [12] 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(2)
Francesca Schiavone [6] def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [20] 6-3, 6-0

Image via Getty