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]

Whats this? A break up in the fifth? This is one heck of a match, which way will it swing now?

[HM Murdock]

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?

He won a couple against Tsonga at RG and WTF. But he is not reliable. Lost one to Andy at USO, Fed at Cincy, Rafa at AO12. He's the worst of the top 4 at them.

[User 774433]

Djoko will win.
Guaranteed.

[The Special Juan]

His tea's gone cold he's wondering why......

[lags72]

It has to be said, Wawry brilliant ball stricker but his fitness level is simply horrendous.
...............................

So then, we are expected to believe that a guy who has taken the world's best player (and on that player's best surface) to five sets, and as of now has won more games than him, has done so with a level of fitness that is "simply horrendous"

Oh dear

[CAS]

Is this Australian Open quicker than last years US Open? What are peoples opinions?

[Guest]

Not guaranteed i feel IMBL but the point is made, an early break on Djokovic neevr feels safe nowadays

[Guest]

Is this Australian Open quicker than last years US Open? What are peoples opinions?

I think the USO was a smidge faster but the wind probably held the ball up at times.

I would have rated last years USO as a medium paced (maybe medium fast) court and this as a medium slow court.

[Guest]

Screech is now in a real dog fight.

[summerblues]

Screech is now in a real dog fight.

But who between these two would you favor in a dogfight? Not Stan, surely.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Let me guess this match will end 7-5 yes?

[Guest]

No Screech is still a strong favourite.

[Jeremy_Kyle]

It has to be said, Wawry brilliant ball stricker but his fitness level is simply horrendous.
...............................

So then, we are expected to believe that a guy who has taken the world's best player (and on that player's best surface) to five sets, and as of now has won more games than him, has done so with a level of fitness that is "simply horrendous"

Oh dear

Wawrinka is visibly overweight. He is still in the match thnks to a very bad day for Djokovic and the superior pace of his shots.

[The Special Juan]

Stan's no less fit than Tipsarevic.

[Guest]

My hope is that Stan can make this a long set and tire Screech out for the rest of the tournament. But it'll need something like 16-14 for that to occur.

[Guest]

Visibly overweight's a bit much, hes not on Djokovic levels of fitness, but hes nowhere near fat.

[Danny_1982]

Is Wawrinka as physically fit as the top 4? No.

Is his fitness level "simply horrendous"?.... No, of course it's not. Thats a ridiculous thing to say. He's a professional athlete who has been in the top 10 in the world of a physically gruelling global sport!

As for this match, brilliant entertainment... But we've seen this movie before. Djokovic always finds away in long drawn out wars. I just can't see Stan winning.

[Guest]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=screech+djokovic&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=X_D7ULH2Lc3B0gWBt4DYDA&sqi=2&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=651

[CaledonianCraig]

Totally agree Danny.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Djok's pace on the forehand has been so slow today though, not sure how he will trouble the big muzz if he gets through that far.

[bogbrush]

Cramp.

Match decided on fitness.

[Jeremy_Kyle]

Is Wawrinka as physically fit as the top 4? No.

Is his fitness level "simply horrendous"?.... No, of course it's not. Thats a ridiculous thing to say. He's a professional athlete who has been in the top 10 in the world of a physically gruelling global sport!

As for this match, brilliant entertainment... But we've seen this movie before. Djokovic always finds away in long drawn out wars. I just can't see Stan winning.

It's not sufficient for a professional athlete. I guess if me and you were as fit as him we would be happy.

[The Special Juan]

Tsonga v Berdych final!! Maybe.

Well done to Stan, he's playing his best tennis for a while. I can't believe he and Federer never won the DC.

[prostaff85]

For someone close to cramp it must be a nightmare to play against Djokovic!

[Jeremy_Kyle]

which guy is experiencing physical distress right now?

[Danny_1982]

Is Wawrinka as physically fit as the top 4? No.

Is his fitness level "simply horrendous"?.... No, of course it's not. Thats a ridiculous thing to say. He's a professional athlete who has been in the top 10 in the world of a physically gruelling global sport!

As for this match, brilliant entertainment... But we've seen this movie before. Djokovic always finds away in long drawn out wars. I just can't see Stan winning.

It's not sufficient for a professional athlete. I guess if me and you were as fit as him we would be happy.

It is sufficient, he's proving it right now. It's just not up to the level of the elite in the sport.

As for me, well I've just played football for 40 minutes and I'm shattered! I'd be elated to be half as fit as Stan!

[theslosty]

When you consider Wawrinka is ranked world no. 15, it really is a fantastic advert for the so-called "Golden Era".

[lags72]

JK - let's consider this in a rational manner rather than armchair perspective.

For his entire career to date Wawrinka will have followed gruelling physical regimes and tests under the direction of a number of highly experienced, professional fitness coaches.

Find me any such coach who has actually worked with him (as opposed to watching him on TV or even court side) who describes his fitness level as "simply horrendous" and some folk might believe your own assessment.

[Danny_1982]

Wow, what guts from Stan. He's almost making a believer out of me!

..... Almost, but not quite.

[Guest]

Brilliant volley from Screech

[Jeremy_Kyle]

let's do it. Tell me about Bagdatis and Nabaldian's fitness first: are they overweight?

[CaledonianCraig]

That point was a prime example of the importance of defence.

[Guest]

Stan's got about 2 more games before he's body gives out

[HM Murdock]

Novak must get out of this game...

[The Special Juan]

let's do it. Tell me about Bagdatis and Nabaldian's fitness first: are they overweight?

Dunno about Nalby but Baghdatis has moobs.

[barrystar]

Overend saying that Federer would be thrilled if his 'main rival' for the title were defeated by his 'good friend'.

I doubt Federer is thinking in those terms - I'm sure he'd be chuffed for Stan should Stan pull off the next to impossible, but he's got a few things on his own plate that someone as professional as him will be thinking of first.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wawrinka missing key shots at key moments.

[Danny_1982]

This reminds me of Murray v Djokovic at 5-5 in last years semi.

I said it then, and i think the same now... the winner of this game wins the match.

[barrystar]

1/7 BP conversion in this set, missed 3 this game. Wawrinka's got to win this game you feel - in fact this 4th BP......

[Josiah Maiestas]

I don't believe this. 4 chances miserably gone to break and serve for it. Stan is always the "nearly guy".

[bogbrush]

Not impressed with Djokovic, this match is being decided on Stans racquet.

[Danny_1982]

You feel that was Stans moment.

Djokovic to take this now surely.

[Guest]

Come on Stan.

Dance, dance, dance.



emancipator

[barrystar]

Let's see how Djoko manages with this service game. You've still got to make Djoko the favourite, but it's not gone according to plan at all so far....

[CaledonianCraig]

What an epic match. Credit to Stan he has dug deeper than I thought he could both mentally and physically to get to this point.

[HM Murdock]

You feel that was Stans moment.

Djokovic to take this now surely.

No, he's struggling too much on his service games. Feels like it is on Stan's racquet.

[bogbrush]

You feel that was Stans moment.

Djokovic to take this now surely.

No, he's struggling too much on his service games. Feels like it is on Stan's racquet.

I agree, but matches can be lost on your racquet, as I suspect this might be.

[barrystar]

You feel that was Stans moment.

Djokovic to take this now surely.

No, he's struggling too much on his service games. Feels like it is on Stan's racquet.

Not in that last game - Wawrinka was helpless against relatively moderate serving and needing massage to his thighs.

This feels like it now.

[lags72]

Don't know whether they're overweight or not JK. They might look it on your TV pictures but that's hardly the same as a professional assessment.

But this wasn't about Nalby or Baghdatis anyway. Your point was that Wawrinka has a "simply horrendous" level of fitness. A claim which to me, and no doubt many others, is simply nonsensical.

Nothing more to add from my side really.

[CaledonianCraig]

My money would still be on Novak as he plays the bigger points better. Whatever happens it has been an epic match.

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