2019 Australian Open

[trysail]

Goodbye Andy Murray.

You had a great run.

Among your many accomplishments, perhaps the most important was that you broke the 0-fer streak and won Wimbledon.


Well done !!!

On bad hip, Andy Murray out in 1st round of Australian Open

by Howard Fendrich
Associated Press

"(AP)...Playing on a surgically repaired right hip so painful that pulling on socks is a chore, he summoned the strength and strokes to erase a big deficit and force a fifth set before eventually succumbing to 22nd-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-2, Murray’s first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam tournament in 11 years.

“If today was my last match, look, it was a brilliant way to finish,” Murray said. “I literally gave everything that I had on the court, fought as best as I could, and performed a lot better than what I should have done with the amount I’ve been able to practice and train.”

Murray, just 31, is a year removed from his operation, and he said that he will decide in the next week or so whether to have a second one. If opts to avoid another procedure, he might be able to play in July at Wimbledon, where he won two of his three major titles, including the first for a British man in 77 years. If he decides for further surgery, then Monday’s match might have been his last.

Even with a hitch in his gait, even as he leaned forward to rest his hands on his knees between points, Murray summoned the strength and the strokes to push the match beyond the 4-hour mark..."
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[trysail]

Isner out after 1st round loss:



by Howard Fendrich

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — It was a bit as if John Isner was looking at a mirror-image across the net at the Australian Open on Monday, facing that rare guy who’s actually a tad taller than he is and can smack serves nearly as well.

And so it was that, even though he hit more aces than his opponent, 47-40, delivered more total winners, 79-64, and finished with more overall points, 147-142, Isner — for the first time in his career — failed to beat an American foe at a Grand Slam tournament. Reilly Opelka, ranked just 97th, earned his first victory in a main-draw match at any of the majors by edging the No. 9-seeded Isner in four tiebreakers 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5).

“There’s just a lot of things that are out of your control. That’s something I can relate to. I feel like when I’m playing well, that’s how my opponents think. And I was expecting that today; that I probably wouldn’t get to touch too many balls, too many serves, but I was hoping the same for him,” said Opelka, a 21-year-old who is based in Florida. “I know it’s awkward for both of us.”

The 33-year-old Isner was a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year and entered the day with a 9-0 record in all-U.S. contests at the Slams. But he does not often go up against someone with a similar profile: At 6-foot-11 (2.11 meters), Opelka is an inch (3 centimeters) taller than Isner...​

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[trysail]

Australian Open

by Howard Fendrich

(AP)...seeded winners Tuesday included No. 4 Naomi Osaka, No. 7 Karolina Pliskova, No. 12 Elise Mertens, No. 13 Anastasija Sevastova, No. 17 Madison Keys and No. 18 Garbine Muguruza among the women, plus No. 4 Alexander Zverev, No. 8 Kei Nishikori, No. 11 Borna Coric and No. 12 Fabio Fognini among the men...


...The tournament’s two No. 1 seeds, Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep, played at night and both won — although in contrasting fashion. Djokovic eliminated Mitchell Krueger of the U.S. 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, while Halep trailed by a set and a break before coming back to beat Kaia Kanepi 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-2 and avoid becoming the first top-seeded woman in 40 years to lose her opening match at the Australian Open.

Krueger was part of a rough day for American men, who went 1-5 Tuesday...​

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Australian Open 2019: Djokovic, Williams Sisters Advance

by Connor Grott

"Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record seventh Australian Open title with a dominant win in the round of 128 on Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Djokovic, the tournament's top seed in the men's bracket, defeated Mitchell Krueger in the first round 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The Serbian had six aces in the match and only had one serve broken. Djokovic is looking for his third consecutive Grand Slam win. He moves on to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the round of 64.

Seventh-seeded Dominic Thiem beat France's Benoit Paire in five sets. Thiem took the opening two sets before Paire stormed back with 7-5, 6-1 wins. Thiem slammed the door with a 6-3 win in the fifth set.

No. 16 Milos Raonic held off Australian Nick Kyrgios in straight sets 6-4, 7-6, 6-4. It was Kyrgios' first time being eliminated in the first round in the last three majors. He made it to the fourth round in last year's Aussie Open.

In women's action, No. 1 seed Simona Halep battled with Kaia Kanepi. Kanepi won the first set 7-6, but Halep rallied from a rocky start and closed out the match with 6-4, 6-2 wins. Fourth-seeded Naomi Osaka dominated Magda Linette, winning 6-4, 6-2 in her first match. Osaka had six aces and a 96 percent first serve win percentage..."


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[trysail]

Australian Open 2nd Round


by Howard Fendrich

(AP)...That match was followed in Rod Laver Arena by No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a rematch of the 2008 final at Melbourne Park...

...In men’s action, Stan Wawrinka was up a set and was just two points away from taking the second against Milos Raonic. Couldn’t do it. About an hour later, 2014 champion Wawrinka was a single point from grabbing the third set. Denied again. And another hour after that, Wawrinka was two points from seizing the fourth to force a fifth. Nope, not on this afternoon. Wawrinka kept coming oh-so-close, and Raonic kept hanging in there and toughing out the most important moments along the way to a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (11), 7-6 (5) victory that put the 16th-seeded Canadian into the third round...Raonic delivered 39 aces, part of an impressive ratio of 84 total winners to only 44 unforced errors...This was a matchup probably better suited to the second week than the second round of a Grand Slam tournament, given both men’s credentials. But Wawrinka, a three-time major champion once ranked as high as No. 3, dropped out of the top 250 last season, when he had surgery on his left knee.His signature one-handed backhand is as dangerous as ever — he had a 16-2 edge in winners on that shot Thursday — and he hit 28 aces of his own. But as even as the match was in many respects — Raonic only won two more points overall, 163-161 — Wawrinka couldn’t come through when he really needed to. Raonic had plenty to do with that, of course, including in the third-set tiebreaker, when he served his way out of trouble. Wawrinka’s three set points there came at 6-5, when Raonic delivered a serve at 129 mph (208 kph) followed by a forehand volley winner; at 8-7, when Raonic’s 125 mph (201 kph) serve drew a missed return; and at 10-9, when an ace at 132 mph (213 kph) did the trick. A 123 mph (198 kph) service winner gave Raonic that set.

...In other men’s action on Day 4, No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev won in five sets and 2014 U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori withstood 59 aces from 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic en route to a 6-3, 7-6 (6), 5-7, 5-7, 7-6 (7) victory, but No. 7 Dominic Thiem retired from his match in the third set after dropping the first two...


https://apnews.com/b921010a1926486d846ee6832dca751e

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[trysail]

Australian Open: Sharapova Upsets Wozniacki, Nadal Moves On

https://cdnph.upi.com/svc/sv/upi_com/7461547824632/2019/1/0ec4a6dc54aa8f12f54547eb79a1050f/Australian-Open-Sharapova-upsets-Wozniacki-Nadal-moves-on.jpg

by Alex Butler

Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova upset third-seed Caroline Wozniacki in three sets on Friday to advance to the fourth round at the 2019 Australian Open in Melbourne...

...American Amanda Anisimova also advanced to the fourth round in an upset over No. 11 Aryna Sabalenka. No. 2 Angelique Kerber, No. 5 Sloane Stephens, No. 8 Petra Kvitova, Danielle Collins, Ashleigh Barty and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also advanced to the fourth round.

No. 2 Rafael Nadal beat No. 27 Alex De Minaur in straight sets as the top men's player to advance on Friday to the fourth round. No. 3 Roger Federer, No. 6 Marin Cilic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tomas Berdych, Frances Tiafoe, Roberto Bautista and Gregor Dmitrov also advanced to the fourth round on the men's circuit...

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[Writer_FM]

I'd love to have seen Simona Halep's original tits.

 

[trysail]

"Old Guys" vs Youngsters 3 Days In A Row At Australian Open
by Dennis Passa

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — So far the older guys are holding court against the new generation at the Australian Open.

On Saturday, 31-year-old Novak Djokovic beat 19-year-old Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.

A day earlier, it was 32-year-old Rafael Nadal defeating 19-year-old Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

And on Sunday night, the elder statesman of the group, 37-year-old Roger Federer, faces 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas in a fourth-round match at Rod Laver Arena. It will be Federer’s 101st appearance on the tournament’s main show court — and Tsitsipas’ first...



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[ronmcc2448]

I'd love to have seen Simona Halep's original tits.

What am I missing?

 

[ronmcc2448]

Who ever chose Serena outfit for yesterdays match did a poor job. I don't know if she still designs her own line of Tennis Clothes? You would think in her Team, they would want a more positive look and fit for her Brand especially coming back from having a baby.

 

[Writer_FM]

What am I missing?

She had a voluntary breast reduction a couple years ago. You can Google clothed before and after pics.

 

[Writer_FM]

Who ever chose Serena outfit for yesterdays match did a poor job. I don't know if she still designs her own line of Tennis Clothes? You would think in her Team, they would want a more positive look and fit for her Brand especially coming back from having a baby.

I agree. Not flattering.

 

[trysail]

Federer, 37, Shocked By Tsitsipas At Australian Open

by Howard Fendrich

(AP)...[Federer] was outplayed in the Australian Open’s fourth round by a much younger man, 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas, during a 6-7 (11), 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (5) surprise that ended Federer’s bid for a third consecutive championship at Melbourne Park...

...Federer was able to crack a joke when asked whether Tsitsipas reminds him of a younger version of himself, replying: “He has a one-handed backhand. And I used to have long hair, too.”...

...This match was a thriller from beginning to end, both in terms of the high quality and entertaining style of play from both men — something long expected of Federer. The world is still learning what the 14th-seeded Tsitsipas can do.

His soft hands serve him well on volleys, and he is that rare man who will press forward as often as Federer and have nearly as much success. On this cool evening, Tsitsipas won the point on 48 of 68 trips to the net, while Federer went 50 for 66.

The kid served well, too, compiling a 20-12 edge in aces and, more significantly, staving off all of those break chances that Federer earned: two in the first set, eight in the second, two in the third....



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[trysail]

The Latest: Djokovic Gets Past Medvedev To Reach Aussie QFs

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/00/06/05/16802169/37/1024x1024.jpg
(trysail comment: Why go halfway? If you're going to destroy a racquet, you might as well reduce it to smithereens. Zverev didn't stop until he finished the job)


by Associated Press

(AP)..****-seeded Novak Djokovic overcame a couple of tumbles to the court and a series of energy-sapping baseline exchanges — one point lasted 42 strokes! — to get back to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2016 by beating No. 15 Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3...

...After edging Medvedev in a 3-hour, 15-minute struggle, Djokovic joked during an on-court interview: “Since I guess my next opponent is watching, I’m feeling fantastic. I’ve never felt fresher in my life.” His next opponent is No. 8 Kei Nishikori, whose own fourth-rounder was even more grueling, going to a fifth-set tiebreaker and lasting 5 hours, 5 minutes...

...Kei Nishikori reached the Australian Open quarterfinals after clinching a fifth-set tiebreaker that had No. 23-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta screaming in anger as he left Margaret Court Arena. Nishikori rallied after dropping the first two sets and had a chance to serve out at 5-4 in the fifth but was broken. Nishikori, who eventually won 6-7 (8), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (8), was trailing 8-5 in the tiebreaker when a contentious call changed the momentum and prompted the angry response from Carreno Busta. Carreno Busta’s shot clipped the net, and Nishikori reset to hit a backhand down the line after the ball landed near the doubles alley. A line judge called it out as Nishikori hit the ball down the line, and Carreno Busta was nowhere close to playing it. He challenged the decision, and Hawk-Eye showed the ball hitting the line, but the point remained with Nishikori. After arguing with umpire Thomas Sweeney, Carreno Busta lost the next three points and Nishikori sealed the match with an ace. After shaking hands with Nishikori, Carreno Busta threw his bag into the court before collecting it and yelling at the chair umpire as he left the arena...

...Milos Raonic has beaten racket-smashing No. 4-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (5) on his fourth match point to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth time. The big-serving Canadian had his serve broken in the opening game but responded by winning the next eight games to go up a break in the second set. After falling behind 4-1 in the second, Zverev had just about enough. The 21-year-old German sat down in his courtside chair and destroyed his racket by whacking it against the ground eight times — and then tossing it aside...

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[trysail]

The Fine Art of Smashing A Tennis Racquet

by Howard Fendrich

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Way behind in a match he soon would lose, Alexander Zverev leaned forward in his Australian Open sideline seat to repeatedly, and violently, crack his racket against the court with a reverberating THWACK — one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight times in all, before throwing down the offending, and now-mangled, piece of equipment...

...It certainly was not unusual. Smashing, spiking, bouncing or otherwise harming rackets is the most public form of anger, um, mismanagement in professional tennis, done all the time by all kinds of players, whether they are men or women, famous or unknown, seeded or otherwise, winning or losing. Over the first week of the Australian Open, Naomi Osaka, Dominic Thiem,Ryan Harrison and Daniil Medvedev, just to name a few, joined Zverev in producing GIF-worthy outbursts...

...“I mean, sure, it’s not good for kids to see,” he said. “But sometimes, it’s very important to show emotion. ... In my generation, we had so many players who did that: John McEnroe was doing it a lot; Goran Ivanisevic was breaking rackets. Sometimes, when you see your opponent doing that, you say: ‘Oh, he’s really upset. That’s good.’ But if you were playing McEnroe, you were in trouble, because he played better afterward.”

Current players will cite McEnroe or Andy Roddick or Marat Safin, among others, when the subject is raised. They’ll talk about all-time classic displays, such as three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka’s signature move of bending a racket in half over his knee, the way a Major League Baseball slugger might try to break a bat. Or Marcos Baghdatis reaching into his bag for additional rackets during a changeover at the 2012 Australian Open (in a match against Wawrinka), until he’d slammed four and discarded them. Or Benoit Paire and his multiple-racket, sitting-then-standing tantrum (in a match against Baghdatis) that drew $16,500 in fines, more than double his prize money...

...Crowd reactions vary. Fans are sometimes seen begging a player to hand over a messed-up racket as a keepsake. Yet when Djokovic shattered a frame by pounding it against the French Open’s red clay last year, spectators whistled and booed. “I’m not proud of doing that, to be honest. I don’t like doing that,” he said...



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No. 1 Djokovic to face No. 2 Nadal for Australian Open title


by Howard Fendrich

"...It will be the No. 1-ranked Djokovic — owner of 14 Grand Slam titles, including the past two — against No. 2 Nadal, who’s won 17 majors. Roger Federer, with 20, is the only man whose total is higher.

“I would definitely want to buy a ticket,” Djokovic told the crowd.

He holds a 27-25 edge over Nadal in their head-to-head series; Nadal leads 4-3 in Slam finals...."

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