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

[CAS]

Im convinced the courts are much faster this year, so many tiebreaks so many quick rallies. Dont think Federer has been broken, that is always a sign of a quick court for me. Stepanek did great as well, another sign of a fast court

[User 774433]

Is that Federer is a warwinka costume?

Djokovic isn't going to win in straights sets though??

[HM Murdock]

Holy Moly 6-1 4-1, I wont count Novak out till the last point though, he only needs Stan to drop 5% or soo and hes back in

From where I'm sitting, the gap is more than 5%!

If Stan takes the 2nd set, then he has to be the big favourite for the match. Novak in this form isn't going to take three in a row from Wawrinka in this form.

If Novak falls this early, this must give Fed a huge opportunity to make an early assault on the number 1 spot?

[User 774433]

Djokovic will win in 4-5 sets, guaranteed.

[User 774433]

Holy Moly 6-1 4-1, I wont count Novak out till the last point though, he only needs Stan to drop 5% or soo and hes back in

From where I'm sitting, the gap is more than 5%!

If Stan takes the 2nd set, then he has to be the big favourite for the match. Novak in this form isn't going to take three in a row from Wawrinka in this form.

If Novak falls this early, this must give Fed a huge opportunity to make an early assault on the number 1 spot?

Djokovic will win, we all know that.

[CaledonianCraig]

You just sense that Stan will mentally collapse at some point. His tennis is great at the moment but the concern is in Stan's mentality.

[Guest]

He's gotta win this set or Screech will win.

[Guest]

You just sense that Stan will mentally collapse at some point. His tennis is great at the moment but the concern is in Stan's mentality.

Sadly this is true. You just feel the collapse could come at any point.

Similar to when Davy was a set and a break up against Fed a few years ago.

[HM Murdock]

You just sense that Stan will mentally collapse at some point. His tennis is great at the moment but the concern is in Stan's mentality.

It will need to be a collapse. A mere dip would still put him ahead of Novak right now!

[CaledonianCraig]

Emancipator for me either Stan wins in straights or Novak wins. Even if Stan goes two sets up all novak needs to do is take the third and I'd expect him to win. Stan is not known for his mental toughness and a set loss could affect the whole of his game.

[User 774433]

Wawrinka falling apart now.
Game to love for Djoko

[Guest]

5-2 now i think hell get the second... then it'll really start

[barrystar]

Doesn't even have to be a collapse: they both know the disparity between Djokovic's experience of going to the well and getting what he needs in tight situations vs. Stan's experience of, by and large, losing matches he is expected to lose.

[Guest]

How the hell did Screech get that back!

[Guest]

Emancipator for me either Stan wins in straights or Novak wins. Even if Stan goes two sets up all novak needs to do is take the third and I'd expect him to win. Stan is not known for his mental toughness and a set loss could affect the whole of his game.

Totally agree, if Screech gets a set at any point, he's the favourite

[CAS]

I think Novak has shown enough even in the last 2 service games that he's just finding his rhythm. I sense he's on the verge

[User 774433]

Game.
Set.
Match.

[CaledonianCraig]

That was the turning point for me.

[Guest]

Stan really tightened up in that game.

[CAS]

7-5 Novak written all over this

[Guest]

There it is 30-0 to a break. Stans got work to do

[Josiah Maiestas]

Stan has lost his marbles. This sport is too much in favour of successful pushes.

[barrystar]

Big break back to get it on serve. What a difference between 4-5 and 2-5. It's like waiting for Nadal to reel in Federer.

[The Special Juan]

Oh Stanford

[Guest]

Ah man that is so unfair, Stan was in charge of that rally

[TopoftheChops]

Come on Stan, keep fighting

[Guest]

Come on Stan, FIGHT!

[bogbrush]

I suppose what remains after this is the vulnerability of Djokovic. He certainly wasn't a dominant force earlier on.

[The Special Juan]

Seriously Stan Who wants circular bakery products?

[CaledonianCraig]

Djokovic definitely finding his range now as Stan loses his. Djoko breaks again to lead 6-5 and will aerve for the set.

[User 774433]

Did someone seriously think Djokovic would lose this?

[Josiah Maiestas]

6-1 4-1 up for Stan that is when the match ends.

How this guy helped Federer to a doubles gold i'll never know.

[LuvSports!]

This is more about stan dropping his level though.
The more talented one being worn down but the one with the greater fitness again

[TopoftheChops]

Game over, might as well switch off now

[CaledonianCraig]

And Djoko displays what Stan just doesn't have - a strong mindset as he serves out to take the second set.

[CaledonianCraig]

This is more about stan dropping his level though.
The more talented one being worn down but the one with the greater fitness again

Sorry I disagree. Early doors Stan was simply playing lights out tennis whilst Novak simply wasn't at the races. Novak's mental strength then came into play and he gradually found his range whilst Stan went in the opposite direction.

[The Special Juan]

Pffff he'd probably carry on like this against Murray. Where's Rosol when you need him?

[HM Murdock]

Phew. It's a good job that Novak is so good at getting himself out of trouble -because he is so good at getting himself IN trouble!

There's an assumption that he is a cert for the final and/or title but today has shown he is vulnerable.

[Guest]

What a point, a Djoko special, big issues for Stan

[CaledonianCraig]

I disagree Juan. He was playing at a level he was never going to keep up and similsrly Djoko was at another level (so low) that he was never going to let that continue. Stan has always been guilty of mental fragilitu and we are seeing it again plus his golden streak of tennis has now gone and he hasn't the mental toughness to hang in there.

[Guest]

Stan looking cooked

[CAS]

and Stan breaks from 40-0 down, where did that come from????

[User 774433]

This is more about stan dropping his level though.
The more talented one being worn down but the one with the greater fitness again

Oh c'mon don't make me laugh.
You honestly believe Wawrinka collapsed at 5-4 because of 'greater fitness'?

-Djokovic is a superb counter puncher, Wawrinka is a very good but inconsistent attacking player.
-At the start of the match Wawrinka was timing the ball well, while Djokovic was making too many errors.
-This continued until 5-4 in the 2nd, at which point Wawrinka mentally broke down while Djokovic stepped up his game to make his defence tighter. Won the set 7-5.

Where fitness comes into that, no one knows.

[Guest]

Stan seems to get embroiled in so many five setters. Coud this be another?

[CaledonianCraig]

Stan breaks back but more because of a sloppy game by Djokovic. Stan MUST hold serve here and a bit of belief msy be restored. I can only see Djoko winning from here though.

[Guest]

Every service game is a struggle for Stan

[User 774433]

Wawrinka holds, I guess his fitness levels have gone up again

Anyone can see, at 5-4 Wawrinka collapsed as he is mentally fragile. Not because he ran out of energy and stamina.

[lags72]

Will this all end in relatively routine fashion by Djoko restoring normal service ; or are we witnessing the match - and perhaps upset - of the year right here? And still only January ........

I suspect the former.

[The Special Juan]

I disagree Juan. He was playing at a level he was never going to keep up and similsrly Djoko was at another level (so low) that he was never going to let that continue. Stan has always been guilty of mental fragilitu and we are seeing it again plus his golden streak of tennis has now gone and he hasn't the mental toughness to hang in there.

We can never know for sure but the reason I think Stan would keep it up is because he's beaten Murray over BO5 but not Djokovic or Federer (as far as I'm aware).

[LuvSports!]

This is more about stan dropping his level though.
The more talented one being worn down but the one with the greater fitness again

Oh c'mon don't make me laugh.
You honestly believe Wawrinka collapsed at 5-4 because of 'greater fitness'?

-Djokovic is a superb counter puncher, Wawrinka is a very good but inconsistent attacking player.
-At the start of the match Wawrinka was timing the ball well, while Djokovic was making too many errors.
-This continued until 5-4 in the 2nd, at which point Wawrinka mentally broke down while Djokovic stepped up his game to make his defence tighter. Won the set 7-5.

Where fitness comes into that, no one knows.

Ahh so by putting this in that naturally makes me look stupid and you the all knowing, unbiased observer..... right.
you think some of those rallies they engaged in weren't down to djokos amazing court speed, greater defense and fitness?
He got back in by defensive tennis and outlasting wawrinka, not by attacking talent and taking risks.
Just because you don't agree there is no need for that is there?

And my point was a general one about how i seem them individually (regardless of the match), ok???

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