Australian Open 2013 Match Thread

[User 774433]

First topic message reminder :

Australian Open 2013:

Information: The Australian Open is a major tennis tournament held annually over the last fortnight of January in Melbourne, Australia. First held in 1905, the tournament is chronologically the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events of the year – the other three being the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. It features men's and women's singles; men's, women's, and mixed doubles and junior's championships; as well as wheelchair, legends and exhibition events. Since 1988 the tournament has been played on hard courts at Melbourne Park.
The Australian Open typically has very high attendance, second only to the US Open. It was also the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat with its two primary courts, Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, equipped with retractable roofs.

Day by Day Match Reports: http://www.sportpulse.net/category/tennis

v2 Preview: https://www.606v2.com/t39437-australian-open-2013-the-contenders#1785084

Dates: January 14 - January 27

Draw: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/ms/index.html

Schedule: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/index.html

AO Rankings Points Tracker: https://www.606v2.com/t39351-points-tracker-ao-2013


Ready? Play.

Amritia3ee

[Guest]

Murray's draw gets even easier.

He'll either have a gassed Monfils or an injured and gassed Simon.

[lags72]

Some truth in that I guess!

The opponents are supposed to get tougher the deeper you go ....

[Guest]

This match is turning into the black knight scene from monty python, which one collapses from injury first

[bogbrush]

At this rate Gasquet will be coming though the bottom quarter and Anderson / El Mugro the top half.

[Guest]

Ive never seen a Monfils match without an MTO.

[lags72]

I think Danny that Raonic ran into an inspired Murray at the USO, and worth remembering that Raonic still leads their h2h, albeit just by 2-1.

Raonic on song can be incredibly difficult to break. I'd be very surprised if we don't see at least one TB in the Fed clash, as has been the case in their previous meetings, and once you're into TB's anything can happen (remember Isner v Nadal at RG...)

Federer still favourite to go through but not in straights IMHO.

I agree with all that lags, but if Rogers ground strokes are as solid as they were today I can only see one winner. I agree there may be at least one tie break, and I think Raonic is dangerous, but I was really impressed with roger today. He looks right in the zone.

Fair comment.

Top level pro tennis can be a funny game as regards perception of 'form', not least in the pressure cooker of the Slams. Federer looked totally in the zone at USO last year, sailed through three rounds and then fell somewhat meekly and inexplicably to Berdych. Yet earlier at Wimby he looked out of sorts v Bennetteau, injured v Rochus but the rest is history.

Stunned by Delpo's exit. He will have many better days in the future but the years can go by quickly. He will turn 25 in September so suddenly no longer the youngster who took the USO........

[bogbrush]

Rochus? You mean Malisse don't you?

[lags72]

Indeed I do. Apologies

[Henman Bill]

All seems to be pointing to a Murray-Federer semi at the moment. At the start of the tournament, I thought Murray would win this, but now I think 50/50, maybe a 5-setter.

As for the women's tournament, now that Robson is out, I can't be bothered to watch again unless I hear that Azarenka and Serena are both out.

[The Special Juan]

Come on Gilles!!

[bogbrush]

Monfils is completely mental.

[bogbrush]

The calling on the Monfils baseline is garbage. Two Simon shots out in one game. The last giving the break.

[Mad for Chelsea]

The calling on the Monfils baseline is garbage. Two Simon shots out in one game. The last giving the break.

true, but Monfils should still be cruising this one, he's somehow let Simon back in...

[lags72]

All seems to be pointing to a Murray-Federer semi at the moment. At the start of the tournament, I thought Murray would win this, but now I think 50/50, maybe a 5-setter.

As for the women's tournament, now that Robson is out, I can't be bothered to watch again unless I hear that Azarenka and Serena are both out.

I guess it's the sound effects that put you off, certainly does me. But this year I'm intrigued to see who will take out the seemingly-perfect Screechapova.

As for men, I just don't see anyone stopping Djokovic - other than Murray at his very best.

[The Special Juan]

Murray's on course for one of the easiest major draws of all time

[The Special Juan]

*aside from the semi and final

[Mad for Chelsea]

Murray must be laughing his head off watching this TBH. Monfis breaks back to level at 3-3.

[The Special Juan]

I hear it's strangely compelling viewing. Any idea when Murray plays the winner?

[Danny_1982]

Commentators were just saying that earlier in this match there was a 71 shot rally.

71 shots!!! That's ridiculous! Highest ever in a slam?

[lags72]

Did that really happen.....? I had just assumed it was said in irony when I first saw mention.

Will now stick with the end of this one. At least it's er .... different..!!!

[Danny_1982]

Apparently so lags. 9th game of the first set I believe.

71 shots. Must be a slam record, on hard courts anyway.

[The Special Juan]

Apparently so lags. 9th game of the first set I believe.

71 shots. Must be a slam record, on hard courts anyway.

"The longest women's match (by time) took place at a tournament in Richmond, Virginia, in 1984, when Vicki Nelson took 6 hours, 31 minutes to defeat Jean Hepner 6–4, 7–6(11–9). The match featured a 29-minute, 643-shot rally, the longest in professional tennis history."

[Danny_1982]

They both look ready to collapse.

It's great to watch.... And yet horrible to watch at the same time.

The strangest tennis match I think I've ever seen.

[CaledonianCraig]

Got to admire Simon's guts. He is suffering all sorts of pains and saving break points to stay afloat and is now attacking the Monfils serve.

[Danny_1982]

Apparently so lags. 9th game of the first set I believe.

71 shots. Must be a slam record, on hard courts anyway.

"The longest women's match (by time) took place at a tournament in Richmond, Virginia, in 1984, when Vicki Nelson took 6 hours, 31 minutes to defeat Jean Hepner 6–4, 7–6(11–9). The match featured a 29-minute, 643-shot rally, the longest in professional tennis history."

643 shot rally?!?!

Two aggressive players then.

[The Special Juan]

Here's apparently the longest male major rally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkvDbqAPE28

[Mad for Chelsea]

Simon will serve for the match at 5-4, unbelievably.

[lags72]

It really has to be a record, and I'd be fascinated to know how many shots have been struck in this entire match when it eventually ends (very soon surely....?). Although perhaps not as many as in last year's Final. Don't know if such stats are actually logged....

Ps written before TSJ post

[Mad for Chelsea]

of course these two have previous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8iunyDh4ms

[Danny_1982]

Here's apparently the longest male major rally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkvDbqAPE28

Murray v Djokovic played a longer one than that in New York Juan. 54 shots.

Apparently today's isn't the longest... According to a comment on that youtube clip (must be fact then). "The longest rally ever in a Grand Slam (86), is Borg vs Vilas in 1978."

Doesn't say which slam.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Borg vs Vilas was FO I think.

[bogbrush]

This is a junk fest.

Please God, tennis must never allow this to become the norm.

[lags72]

Would have to be RG surely.....??

[Mad for Chelsea]

This is a junk fest.

Please God, tennis must never allow this to become the norm.

I'm finding it entertaining, in a slightly bizarre way. To be fair, there's been some decent shotmaking by both, and it's a special kind of circumstance (two crocked players, neither natural risk takers, etc.). But I do agree with the basic premise.

Meanwhile Monfils breaks back for 5-5, but Simon has 2 BPs straightaway. The anti Isner-Mahut?

[Danny_1982]

I agree MFC, I am enjoying it too.... It's weird but I can't help but like it.

A bit like Uma Thurman.

[bogbrush]

It's car crash tennis.

[Mad for Chelsea]

thought you weren't allowed to get treated on court for cramp?

[lags72]

Bit harsh there I think bb.

Any folk for whom one of these guys is their favourite player will have found a lot to admire and enjoy here even if the tennis is not the most jaw-dropping....

[bogbrush]

Sure, if you're emotionally invested its gripping.

Meanwhile, as an example of a sport I've loved, it isn't.

[Guest]

The tennis is a mixed concoction to be generous, but its riveting, you just dunno whats gonna happen next. Im going for Simons head to fall off, and spend time between points trying to tape it back on as he plays. Well played to him though

[Mad for Chelsea]

Simon with some gutsy gets, twice chasing down drop shots before Monfils is long with an attempted lob. Simon to "serve" for the match again at 7-6. Murray safely tucked into bed, probably with a huge grin on his face.

[Guest]

Hes broken monfils again... this is insane, Monfils is the defensive one making silly mistakes

[Danny_1982]

Simon with some gutsy gets, twice chasing down drop shots before Monfils is long with an attempted lob. Simon to "serve" for the match again at 7-6. Murray safely tucked into bed, probably with a huge grin on his face.

You think Kim is with him then?

Sorry.

[lags72]

Tennis is different from some other big sports in that its duration is unlimited. We see lots of football matches over the course of a season that are not great adverts for the game but they end after 90 mins so perhaps come under less scrutiny.....

[Guest]

GSM Simon, well done mate, little ugly tennis wise, but thats guts, few players have that...

[theslosty]

Admittedly this match was annoyingly compelling but it will be the soul of tennis will be destroyed if this is allowed to be the norm.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Simon with some gutsy gets, twice chasing down drop shots before Monfils is long with an attempted lob. Simon to "serve" for the match again at 7-6. Murray safely tucked into bed, probably with a huge grin on his face.

You think Kim is with him then?

Sorry.

Simon gets it done in the end, just about deserved it really, just for the way he kept fighting. Unless some miracle occurs though that'll be a nice and straightforward 4th round match for Murray.

[The Special Juan]

Fognini effect

Things are now looking reasonably rosy for Mr Murray, a 4th round match against a wounded opponent and a quarter-final against someone who's never been there before.

[CaledonianCraig]

The gutsiest win of the tournament so far by Gilles Simon. He was visibly suffering from a couple of injuries and had to save break points when he looked a spent force. Well done to him.

[lags72]

Simon may not even be fit to play R4, a W/O for Andy isn't out of the question....

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