Australian Open 2012 - Day 5

Order of play

Rod Laver Arena
11:00 AM Men's Singles - 3rd Round
Lukas Lacko(SVK) vs. Rafael Nadal(ESP)[2]
Men's Singles - 3rd Round
Ivo Karlovic(CRO) vs. Roger Federer(SUI)[3]
7:00 PM Men's Singles - 3rd Round
Alexandr Dolgopolov(UKR)[13] vs. Bernard Tomic(AUS)
Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Anabel Medina Garrigues(ESP)[26] vs. Na Li(CHN)[5]

Hisense Arena
11:00 AM Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[3] vs. Mona Barthel(GER)
Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Caroline Wozniacki(DEN)[1] vs. Monica Niculescu(ROU)[31]
Men's Singles - 3rd Round
John Isner(USA)[16] vs. Feliciano Lopez(ESP)[18]
7:00 PM Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Kim Clijsters(BEL)[11] vs. Daniela Hantuchova(SVK)[20]
Men's Singles - 3rd Round
Yen-Hsun Lu(TPE) vs. Juan Martin Del Potro(ARG)[11]

Margaret Court Arena
Tomas Berdych(CZE)[7] vs. Kevin Anderson(RSA)[30]

Show Court 2
11:00 AM Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Nina Bratchikova(RUS) vs. Iveta Benesova(CZE)
Not Before:2:30 PM
Men's Singles - 3rd Round
Stanislas Wawrinka(SUI)[21] vs. Nicolas Almagro(ESP)[10]
Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Romina Oprandi(ITA) vs. Julia Goerges(GER)[22]
Men's Singles - 3rd Round
Alejandro Falla(COL) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber(GER)

Thanks Tenez,

Fed should get past Dr Ivo but it's not a good match for him to build any kind of rythmn from the baseline. He will probably not hit through his BH as much also since the low slice is more effective against Ivo. Even on his Fh I expect him to play safer since there is no need to try and paint the lines against Ivo. Fed can just patiently outmanoevure him without taking big risks on his groundies. Of course the challenge will be to break that ridiculous serve!

No not good for rhythm but what Fed's need in slams is short easy first rounds matches. It's not going to be easy but win or lose he shoudl not be too harsh physically and that is a good thing.

Fingers crossed.

Against the serve, Federer showed some excellent 'blocked' returns. I expect to see a lot of these tonight.

PS: This is what I had in mind. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-EbfM1ank4

Tomic-Dolgopolov should be a fantastic match.

TopoftheChops wrote:Tomic-Dolgopolov should be a fantastic match.

Hope Dolgo is healthy. If he is he can play some fantastic shots.

This Slovak Lacko looks like a decent player.

But Nadal's defence is so good

This Lacko looks like a complete joke currently, can't serve, can't return, UF after a few shots, Rafa FH going like rockets, what a joke of the match at these late hours.

Back to Azarenka-Bartolli, much more interesting.

Nadal breaking the rule by 15 sec at every point.

Now Lacko breaks back, 1:1 wierd match.

10 minute game to get a break back. Can Lacko sustain this?

Jahu - This Lacko is very good.

More than 10mn for Nadal's service game. What is the referee doing??????

Lacko will be worn out by running as usual from Nadal. Thought he's got his rhythm back a little.

Why does Nadal grimace like he's constipated every time he serves? Is that why he scratches his backside every time before serve? What a disaster.

That FH to hold was pretty good.

Back to Azarenka-Bartolli, much more interesting.[/quote]

It's so interesting that you don't realise it is Barthel not Bartoli

Lacko has beautiful groundstrokes, really pure striker of the ball, reminds me of nalby.

But of course the Nadull will probably eventually run him into the ground.

Top of course you are right, thats why I'm commenting Nadal match here. That was a pun.

Lacko's slice has way too much air on it

Nadal looks like he's run out of steam after first game. And whats this chair/hotel incident scandal I'm hearing? That might cost him a lot in this GS.

Jahu wrote:Nadal looks like he's run out of steam after first game. And whats this chair/hotel incident scandal I'm hearing? That might cost him a lot in this GS.

It's the usual Nadal injury BS - ie much ado about nothing

Azarenka 6:1 first set.

Nadal first serve won 81%, second serve won 0%, what a number.

To be fair that was 0/4

Now it's 2/7.

Nadal on fire, feeling sorry for this chap. What a crush.

Karlovic doing his bit so far, Fed resisting but not at his best 2:2 first set.

Karlovic wastes a set point on his serve. Fed returns a superb BH on Karlos fastest serve of the match and gets the set. Tight play from both as expected.

Ivo's such a nightmare opponent.

Fed at 4-2 (in the third set) switches in exho mode. No respect for Dr Ivo.

230 match wins in slams. Second to Connors.

Isner-Lopez tied one set apiece.

Kohli 2 sets and a break up..

laverfan wrote:230 match wins in slams. Second to Connors.

How many did Jimmy get?

Feliciano (or is it Deliciano) Lopez through to the Fourth Round beating the marathon man John Isner in five sets.Rafael Nadal looking very good but I'll reserve judgement on his form until he meets a top quality opponent nonetheless looks good. Roger Federer came through in three sets in his toughest match yet against Karlovic and remains on target for a semi-final match-up with Nadal.

Lacko seemed to be playing very well until I went to bed. But again, weight of shots and stamina seemed to have got the better of the youngster.

Again how easy are Nadal's draws???...Lopez next and Almagro or Berdych for the 1/4. Knowing his luck Nadal will get a cramping Almagro for the quarter who would have killed himself v choking Berdych.

Nadal beat Lacko in 3 in 1Hr 55mins. Proof he can play within the rules.

Nadal has not been at the top of his game since the 2011 US Open, but he certainly was against 119th-ranked Lacko.

"The body is fine, I'm very happy to be in the fourth round," said the Spaniard, who was again playing with a heavily strapped right knee.

"It was a really complete, solid match and I'm very happy about my game. Being in round four without losing a set is fantastic."

This is what I call "Nadal's slam form".

It's either an amazing coincidence he finds this kind of forms only in slams or the guy is purposedly tanking matches v lower ranked (even @WTF) in those smaller tournaments.

Probably the former if you ask me.

legendkillar wrote:Nadal beat Lacko in 3 in 1Hr 55mins. Proof he can play within the rules.

When I watched he took 40s+ in between points. 10mn per game!!!!see comment above from LF. that's 1hour for a 6/0 set!!!

He must have sped up when he realised it was in the bag.

Not a big fan of Tomic's game.

he calls himself tactical with a smart brain....according to the Eurosport commentator.

Another player relying essentially on his physique.

Tenez wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Nadal beat Lacko in 3 in 1Hr 55mins. Proof he can play within the rules.

When I watched he took 40s+ in between points. 10mn per game!!!!see comment above from LF. that's 1hour for a 6/0 set!!!

He must have sped up when he realised it was in the bag.

A 3 set match under the 2 hour mark is still good going. It is good you acknowledge he can 'speed' up when he wants to. Let's just give him a pat on the back just this once

legendkillar wrote:It is good you acknowledge he can 'speed' up when he wants to. Let's just give him a pat on the back just this once

Well but that is on his terms. Which clearly shows he is slowing down on purpose.

Anyway...Dolgo playing great to break back.

Beautiful play from Dolgo!!!


We need another successful talent in tennis! We are desperate for one!

Tenez wrote:Beautiful play from Dolgo!!!


We need another successful talent in tennis! We are desperate for one!

Indeed! And some clutch play to save 3 break points...

Dolgo saving 3 BPs beautifully to take the first set. Can he keep it up for 3 sets?

Tough draw for Federer...whoever he plays.

Tough match for Dolgo. Got the feeling he should be able to get the job done relatively quickly. Watch out for Delpo - Dolgo in the making , match of the tourney!!

Who is this woman commentator on Eurosport? Joe Durie? She talks sense.

How passive is Tomic...typical of a retriever! Hoping for an opponent UE!

Tenez wrote:How passive is Tomic...typical of a retriever! Hoping for an opponent UE!

Tenez,

These days they call'em "Crafty" players...

spuranik wrote:

Tenez wrote:How passive is Tomic...typical of a retriever! Hoping for an opponent UE!

Tenez,

These days they call'em "Crafty" players...

I know! they call them "smart player" as well!

As smart as they are fit I say!

Tenez wrote:

spuranik wrote:

Tenez wrote:How passive is Tomic...typical of a retriever! Hoping for an opponent UE!

Tenez,

These days they call'em "Crafty" players...

I know! they call them "smart player" as well!

As smart as they are fit I say!

You know, yesterday when I was watching Simon-Benneteau, I made a comment that each and every point looks to be on Benne's racquet. I feel the same here with Dolgo.

I got a very good reply saying that that what it looks like when a positive player plays a pusher...