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

[User 774433]

I'm may be biased, but you're wrong here Im afraid LS.
The reason Djokovic turned it around at 5-4 was not fitness but:
Mental Fragility of Wawrinka + Mental Strength of Djokovic

Djokovic sensational defensive play stems from his elasticity, movement, and reflex. If it gets into the 5th set maybe fitness and stamina will be a concern.

[Guest]

The standards dropped now. Both making lots of errors.

[Guest]

bad miss from Stan

[CaledonianCraig]

Apparently, Stan has been working with a coach who helped turn Tsonga's career around. The one hope for Stan is that he has done some work on the mental frailties in Sta's game.

[Guest]

Two match points

[User 774433]

Two match points

G.S.M

[LuvSports!]

I'm may be biased, but you're wrong here Im afraid LS.
The reason Djokovic turned it around at 5-4 was not fitness but:
Mental Fragility of Wawrinka + Mental Strength of Djokovic

Djokovic sensational defensive play stems from his elasticity, movement, and reflex. If it gets into the 5th set maybe fitness and stamina will be a concern.

How about saying we agree to disagree?
No? ok... well then you are wrong (i'm afraid!).

Again you are missing the point. Lets say before the match started my view of the two are: stan - very talented, djoko - amazing defense and fitness, ok?
That is what i was referring to, so you may disagree with that but its my opinion its not a fact and you can't disprove that fact.
You saw the moment djoko "relaxed" and went for his shots more he was broken back instantly, despite hitting some good winners in that game.
Is choking just not delivering what you delivered before? stan still went for it but couldn't execute as djoko was getting more balls back and upping the pressure.

whatever we shall just have to not agree on this one.

[Guest]

Al my streams have dissapeared

[CaledonianCraig]

Djokovic now on his way to the quarters. He holds his serve and leads by two sets to one.

[barrystar]

Surely this is the 4th and last set. Stan's shown us what a great player he can be, but there's a reason (or maybe several) for the disparity so far in their respective career achievements. Djoko just got on level terms in the sense of overall points won as well as what is almost certainly a decisive scoreboard lead.

[CaledonianCraig]

Defence and returning is just as valuable a talent as being attacking. Look at Federer last night as he had to call on excellent defence to stay in rallies before turning them around.

[LuvSports!]

I'm not saying it isn't! I just think amazing attack can beat through amazing defence, that is the tennis i love to watch, nothing more.

[Jeremy_Kyle]

It has to be said, Wawry brilliant ball stricker but his fitness level is simply horrendous. No fat player can reasonably think to go out there and win a tough match like this one those days and maybe neither before.

[CaledonianCraig]

But this match is proving it doesn't. Stan's attacking couldn't break down Novak's amazing defence to which point Stan had to try to hit the lines every shot to beat Novak and he couldn't manage it and by the way Novak has played sime great attacking shots himself.

[LuvSports!]

i disagree but hey ho, break over back to revision

[bogbrush]

But this match is proving it doesn't. Stan's attacking couldn't break down Novak's amazing defence to which point Stan had to try to hit the lines every shot to beat Novak and he couldn't manage it and by the way Novak has played sime great attacking shots himself.

His point is that the way the game has developed is to prevent great attacking from defeating great defending. Fine on clay but disappointing on a 'hard' court. It's the strings, of course.

[lags72]

Yep, can't see this needing a fifth now - pity really cos Stan deserves that much at least.

In many ways this is turning out to be an ideal match for Novak at this stage of the tourney. He was given a horrendous shock in the first set, had to dig himself out of a hole in the second, and has been mentally & physically tested throughout. All in dramatic contrast to previous rounds where we saw he was very much in the zone, but not remotely stretched by opponents and so not quite battle hardened. He sure is now !!

CC - very good point on the importance of defensive skills as regards getting yourself in a position to deliver the killer attacking blow.

[CAS]

Stan needs to just run around his forehand and hit backhands all night! His forehand misses so much

[User 774433]

LuvSports, the defence of Djokovic takes reflex, elasticity, and supreme movement. All great talents to have.

And I'm not quite sure what you're explanation of the events at 5-4.
I think it's because Wawrinka was mentally fragile, while Djokovic was more focused.
Are you suggesting that it was because Wawrinka coincidetally ran out of stamina for just that game? Or do you agree with me?

[CaledonianCraig]

But this match is proving it doesn't. Stan's attacking couldn't break down Novak's amazing defence to which point Stan had to try to hit the lines every shot to beat Novak and he couldn't manage it and by the way Novak has played sime great attacking shots himself.

His point is that the way the game has developed is to prevent great attacking from defeating great defending. Fine on clay but disappointing on a 'hard' court. It's the strings, of course.

But that isn't the case though is it. Players have been able to work on the defensive side of their game as it is vitally important to combat attacking players shots to stay in rallies regardless of slower court speeds. If by staying in a point by great defensive that takes talent especially to turn a position of defence into attack like we ofren see.

[Guest]

I think he means that in any individual point Djokovic has the physical advantage thuse when the rallies long he wins the majority of them - that's the physical aspect of each point.

Of course there is also the physical aspect of having a long draining match, we haven't quite entered that stage yet.

[bogbrush]

I never believe this stuff about needing a hard match, they don't go into these events having forgotten how to play.

[User 774433]

Sorry Emancipator, but I don't think Djokovic is getting enough credit for his defensive work here.
His elasticity and reflex on the defence is amazing.

[The Special Juan]

Despite this match I still don't give Berdych a hope against Djokovic in the quarters. I think this was a blip and Novak will pick it up in the next round.

[CaledonianCraig]

The physical side of things means nothing here as Stan has won his share of long exhausting rallies. The defence of Djokovic is superb and yes that takes just as much talent as playing an attacking shot.

[Guest]

Don't get me wrong I think his elasticity and staying power in any given point are amazing but they are definitely physical aspects at which he excels compared to Stan.

I think that's stating the obvious and is not discrediting him in anyway.

[Guest]

And no one is stating that it doesn't take talent. At least I'm not. Of course it does

[CaledonianCraig]

Even if that is the case emancipator then credit still goes to Novak for working so hard on his fitness and shame on Stan for not.

[Guest]

Yes of course. He deserves all the credit. I'm not taking that away from him.

[Guest]

At the end of the day the better player should win using their relative strengths. Those strengths dont have to be the same.

[CaledonianCraig]

Put it this way if we were playing Top Trumps (remember that) then give me the Djokovic card over the Wawrinka card any day as Novak is stronger in so many areas hence he is a multi-slam winner whilst Stan is yet to really make his mark in the game.

[Guest]

Stan's BHdtl is amazing.

[lags72]

Great stuff from Stan. Not sure how many other players would have stuck with him in this form.

[Guest]

Trainer on for Stan

[User 774433]

Put it this way if we were playing Top Trumps (remember that) then give me the Djokovic card over the Wawrinka card any day as Novak is stronger in so many areas hence he is a multi-slam winner whilst Stan is yet to really make his mark in the game.

Djokovic has a better forehand, the best backhand in the game, superb reflexes, unbelievable elasticity, mentally much much stronger than the fragile Wawrinka, and has more endurance.
How people honesty believe Wawrinka is more talented than the multi slam winning Djokovic is beyond me.

[bogbrush]

Attacking is always more technically demanding than defending.

Defenders have most of the court to aim at, attackers are aiming at a few square feet. One takes risks, the other doesn't.

[User 774433]

No but that's the thing, Djokovic gets it back right on the line so Wawrinka doesn't have a simple put away.

[CaledonianCraig]

But to get in a position to attack you often have to defend as well so defensive skills are needef as without them you cannot be in a position to attack a lot of the time.

[Jeremy_Kyle]

The physical side of things means nothing here as Stan has won his share of long exhausting rallies. The defence of Djokovic is superb and yes that takes just as much talent as playing an attacking shot.

Difficult to know that if you nerver played competitive tennis.

Djokovic embarassing himself at the net again.

[bogbrush]

No but that's the thing, Djokovic gets it back right on the line so Wawrinka doesn't have a simple put away.

Not really, he relies on being able to get to the next one anyway, then he has good attacking shots to turn a rally around.

The point I'm making is that it is just wrong to say defending takes the same talent as attacking. In other sports the more limited participant usually adopts a defensive strategy hoping to frustrate the opponent.

[The Special Juan]

Come on Stan!!

[CAS]

STAN THE MAN

[User 774433]

BB, Djokovic gets his returns back on the line.
That's what makes him so good on the defence.

[HM Murdock]

My default setting when watching Novak in a tie break is to assume he will lose it.

[CaledonianCraig]

Takent is what exactly?? The feel/touch and control of the tennis ball off the racquet?? If that is the case then yes it does take just as much talent to hot a defensive shot as you have to play the ball from ridiculous spots and not only get it back in court but back deep peppering the baseline otherwise the point is as good as lost. Just my opinion. Stan level but money still on Novak.

[User 774433]

NOW fitness and endurance for Djokovic may help him.
He won this set, so it's fair to say he wasn't tired @ 4-5 in the second set.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Stan is finally listening to Federer!

[The Special Juan]

My default setting when watching Novak in a tie break is to assume he will lose it.

Mine too. When was the last time he won one?

[Guest]

Oh minions do not fear,

I have recommenced the Stan-the-Man dance.

Stan-the-Man, Stan-the-Man go go go!



emancipator

[Guest]

Tbh this match is mostly being decided by Stan's raquet. He either blasts them in or blasts them out. It's great fun to watch.

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