Aussie Open Recap Day 6

Rusty's on a rollThe old man's still got it:  Former number 1 Lleyton Hewitt, who has been plagued by injuries over the past few years, defeated the young up-and-comer and number 23 seed Milos Raonic in 4 sets, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.  According to ATP manager Greg Sharko, Rusty's wins over Roddick and Raonic are his first back to back top 25 wins since 2005.  I'm not even a fan of Lleyton but his reaction to winning almost (almost) made me cry.

Hitting a milestone:  Not a tennis milestone, (he already did that) but Nicolas Mahut turned 30 today.  His present?  A bagel and some breadsticks in a straight set loss to Novak Djokovic, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1.  BUT, he did get a cake in his presser, although he doesn't look too happy about it.

Best cocktail: 

Tweeted by @BrettHaber

Upsets: Vera Zvonareva [7], Marion Bartoli [9], and Gael Monfils [14].

Getting into character:  - Zheng Jie, "After my video, every player watch me don’t say hello, say Yo, Yo".  She also apparently "brushed her shoulders off" in her presser!

Last American standing:  Serena Williams.  Vania King lost in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to Ana Ivanovic.

The 'Business End':  And with this post we journey into the Round of 16.  A lot of crazy good match-ups coming your way.  Get your popcorn ready folks.

Photo:  Reuters

Somewhere In The World Lleyton Hewitt is Pissed

David Nalbandian of Argentina reacts as he walks on his way to retire from his men's second round match against Richard Berankis of Lithuania at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2011. Berankis won after Nalbandian retired from the match. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON fotoglif919730

Because Nalby and his endearing but noticeable belly couldn't hang, and he had to retire in his 2nd round match against Richard Berankis 1-6 0-6, 0-2.  And in truth, Lleyton probably could have won that match and sprinted a 100-yard dash afterwards.  Just sayin.

Australian Open Day 2: Never Give Up, Never Say Die

I was initially going to start robotically regurgitating all of the scores from yesterday, (which at this point you probably already know), but then I remembered that I am not a journo or an analyst, I am a blogger and more importantly, a fan. And therefore, although I want to keep you updated on who beat who, I also am going to bless you with my non-eloquent way of summing up the day in 3 words:   BALLS OUT TENNIS (not tennis balls, ok?)

You see, tennis is not about the numbers for me.  I could give a rat's ass if Rafael Nadal wins the "Serena Slam" or whatever you choose to call it, or if Roger Federer gets his number 17.  The only thing I have ever cared about is the blood, sweat, and tears that the players leave out on the court, and that is precisely why I root for the Ferrer's, the Rafa's and the Nalbandian's, because I am a never-give-up, never-say-die kind of girl.  I don't like double faults and excuses, which is maybe why I am more of an ATP fan than a WTA fan, although there are some ladies that could probably hang in a 5-setter with the best of them.  I like the players that, if this was the NFL, you'd give the ball to on a crucial 3rd down and 5, and you know they won't come up short, and if they do, they got a concussion trying.  

And that is why yesterday's match between Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian was so awesome:  2 men, both 29 (which is like 75 in tennis years), who left their guts out on the tennis court for almost 5 hours.  And then to put the icing on the cake, Nalby wins with a fucking lob, a LOB!!!  Honestly, if I could crush up the giddiness, anguish, shock, and awe of matches like these and snort it, I would.

The numbers looked like this Nalbandian def. Hewitt, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 9-7.

But it really looked like this:

Tennis, you're my drug, and I promise to never quit you.

Photos: Rally For (Comic) Relief

I tried to get this post up yesterday, but I was up WAY too late, partially to get myself on the Australian Open schedule, but also because I was analyzing the draw for hours, so do me a favor and take a look at some interesting women's and men's first round matches here and here.  With that said, if you missed the Rally For Relief yesterday, which was an exo to raise money for the devastating floods in Queensland, and if you are a true tennis fan......

Dude. You. Missed. Out.  

The first half cast was: Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, Justine Henin, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt, and umpire/emcee Jim Courier. They were split into two different teams, Gold and Green, to compete.  At this point I don't completely remember who was playing on what team because it got a little wild out there.

At times you had A-Rod facing 3 ladies because "men like options."  At times there was some singles going on between the players, but, the best is when Ana (you flirty girl you) was on the court.  The men definetely played up her sex appeal, and she and Andy Murray had a bit of a grunt fest when they hit the ball.  Seriously sounded like sexy-times (and YES, it was on purpose.)

Ana was definitely the break out star, (we all know Nole and A-Rod can hold their own at an expo).   All the funny sexual innuendo, (example her telling Novak to get behind her, and then saying "well, you know what I mean") her giggle fits, and tweeners......she just seems like a delightful person, and I am now officially an AnaKAD.

Other highlights:  Nole the photographer, and A-Rod the linesman.  Yes, he went there and called footfaults, even saying it was their right foot.  If you don't know what I mean, you need to google:  US Open, Andy Roddick, and footfault.  I'm SURE it will pop up.

The 2nd half was less entertaining where we had some doubles action between Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters, Samantha Stosur, and Rafael Nadal.  

The unfortunate part was that they didn't mike up the players, so after all the guffawing during the 1st half, it got strangely quiet.  

It got a little better when the women took on the men and won with a fabulous forehand winner from Kim! And then we got to see this:

Hopefully it will be loaded on YouTube at some point and I can share it with you if you didn't see it.  Don't forget if you want to donate to the Queensland Relief Fund, click here.

Photos:  Australian Open website, Getty Images, AP

Update on Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 2:35PM by [OnTheGoTennis]

Yay!  Video Highlights:

Sexy-times:

Australian Open: Men's First Round Matches To Watch

There are some fabulous matches in the 1st round that are screaming for potential upsets.   Here are the matches I'll be watching.

Feliciano Lopez vs Alejandro Falla - 2 Spanish speaking lefties.  One from Spain and the other from Columbia.  If ranking means anything, (31 vs. 103) Lopez should win, but he has had so many first round losses that this match makes me nervous (Armada fan).

David Nalbandian vs Lleyton Hewitt - This will be a battle to the death.  They've met 5 times and Hewitt leads the head-to-head 3-2, but Nalbandian won the most recent match-up in Sydney 7-6, 7-5.  Today, Nalbandian was a finalist at the Heineken Open, and Hewitt won at the Kooyong Classic.  I expect it to be a 5 setter with Hewitt pulling it out with the help of the hometown crowd.

Jarkko Neminen vs David Ferrer - They've only met once in a challenger back in 2001, with Neminen winning 6-4, 6-0.  Ferrer just hoisted the trophy today at the Heineken Open and Neminen had to retire in the first round at Syndey due to pain in his knees.  Ferrer should be able to pull this out if he isn't weary from his run in Auckland.

Ryan Harrison vs Adrian Mannarino - The Great American Hope has probably the easiest draw of all the American Men.  He made it to the 2nd round of the US Open after qualifying, but this year he has a ticket to straight to the main event.  If he can play his best tennis, I think he'll make it at least to the 2nd round here.

Julien Benneteau vs Juan Monaco - They've never met, and both just lost their 1st round matches in Sydney and Auckland respectively.  The problem:  Although Pico was on the comeback trail in 2010, he can be unpredictable at times.  I really want to see him through to the 2nd round.  Fingers crossed.

Thiemo De Bakker vs Gael Monfils - They've met 3 times, and Monfils has the edge 2:1.  The problem:  Monfils just lost to Hewitt in the Kooyong Classic Final and sustained a back injury in the process.  If he can keep his focus on his game and not entertaining the crowd and hurting himself again, he will win.

Mardy Fish vs Victor Hanescu - Mardy had a Great 2010, reaching a career high of 16 and lifting the US Davis Cup team out of relegation. Recently he played in Brisbane but fell in the 2nd round to Stepanek.  Hanescu, currently ranked 50, has a giant serve.  He recently played in Auckland, losing in the 2nd round to Almagro.  They've never met, and Mardy should have the edge, but my gut says this match might get tricky.

Philipp Petzschner vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - After an injury plagued 2010 Jo-Willy says that he is hungry and determined, but because of little match play in the past several months, this could be an upset. (Sad-face)

Dudi Sela vs Juan Martin del Potro -  They've played 3 times with Delpo leading 2:1 but they haven't played since 2008.  No expectations, but would love Delpo to win this one.

Other matches that will be good, but I don't have time to write about:

Dustin Brown vs Albert Montanes

Ernests Gulbis vs Benjamin Becker

and

Michael Llodra vs Juan Ignacio Chela

Weekend Wrap Up: Hewitt, Na, Ferrer, Groth and Simon Hoist Trophies

 

Photo:  AFP

All the events leading up to the Australian Open are finished and here were the results:

Kooyong Classic: 

Lleyton Hewitt defeated an hobbled Gael Monfils (he sustained a back injury during the match) 7-5, 6-3.

Medibank International: 

Women:  Li Na defeated Kim Clijsters in a bit of a wacky match 7-6, 6-3.  Na was down 0-5 in the first set but Clijsters couldn't close it out and began serial double faulting resulting in the above score.

Men:  Gilles Simon, who is on the comeback trail, defeated Viktor Troicki 7-5, 7-6.

Heineken Open:

David Ferrer defeated David Nalbandian 6-3, 6-2.  This is the second Heineken Open win for Ferrer, he also won back in 2004, which I might add was when he had a career high of World Number 4.  Foretelling?

Hobart International:

Jarmila Groth defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-3 to win her second WTA title.

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia lifts his trophy after beating Gael Monfils of France during their match at the Kooyong Classic Final in Melbourne January 15, 2011. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT TENNIS IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE)

Gilles Simon of France holds his trophy after winning the men's singles final against Viktor Troicki of Serbia at the Sydney International tennis tournament January 15, 2011. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT TENNIS)

Photo: John Selkirk

Can I just say that I REALLY wish I was that trophy.