Australian Open 2011 Women's Quarterfinals Preview

BY MAD PROFESSAH


Reuters
From top row left to right: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Vera Zvonareva of Russia, Kim Clijsters of Belgium, Francesca Schiavone of Italy. From bottom row left to right: Li Na of China, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

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Here are my predictions for the women's quarterfinals at the Australian Open this year.

Caroline Wozniacki DEN (1) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (23) Francesca Schiavone ITA (6). After the historic marathon match between Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schivaone, most observers expected the quarterfinal involving the "winner" to be scheduled last in order to increase the likelihood of a competitive match. Unfortunately, the powers that be have decided that the World No. 1's quarterfinal would not be a featured night match, opting for a women's doubles quarterfinal instead. There are very few men's 5-set matches that have lasted the 4-hours and 44 minutes of "Franlana." After the titanic first round match between David Nalbandian and Lleyton Hewitt was won by the Argentine, it resulted in the "winner" retiring meekly after playing about a set and a half of tennis 48 hours later. Schiavone finished her match around 8:05pm on Sunday and is scheduled to play her match against Wozniacki on Rod Laver Arena following the all-Swiss Federer-Wawrinka quarterfinal which will not be before 12:30pm on Tuesday. That is much less than 48 hours of recovery time. I know that the Italian has already proved that "Impossible is Nothing" with her incredible 2010 French Open win but I think that asking her to be 100% (even 50%) for her match with Wozniacki less than 48 hours after playing the longest women's grand slam match in history is a hill too high for even this dynamic athlete to climb. PREDICTION: Wozniacki in 2 sets.

Maria Sharapova RUS (14) Andrea Petkovic GER (30) vs Li Na CHN (9) Victoria Azarenka BLR (8). I really like the play of the veteran Chinese player (so much so I named my dog after her!) and am very excited that she is playing even better than last year, where she reached the semifinals of this tournament, losing to the eventual winner Serena Williams. Li Na has been a trailblazing icon of Chinese tennis; she is the first Chinese player to reach the Top 50, Top 40, Top 30, Top 20, Top 10 and to win a Tier 1 title (when she defeated Kim Clijsters in Brisbane earlier this year). She dismissed what some people thought was a legitimate contender to win the title in Victoria Azarenka in straight sets. Li has excellent power on both wings and is currently brimming with confidence since she is undefeated so far in 2011. Petkovic is no slouch and has improved upon her best result in a major (4th Round at the 2010 U.S. Open) at this year's 2011 Australian Open. I think it is highly unlikely she will prevent Li Na from attempting to improve her best result in a major and become the first Chinese player to reach a major final. PREDICTION: Li in 2 sets.

Agnieszka Radwanska POL (12) vs. Kim Clijsters BEL (3). Kim Clijsters is simply the best player on hard courts still left in the tournament, as evidenced by her three consecutive US Open titles. She does have a tendency to go off sometimes, and can get frustrated by counter-punchers. She had a surprisingly tight match with the diminutive Alize Cornet of France in the third round. Aggie Radwanska is the epitome of the kind of player who could give Clijsters fits, since she plays a game resembling the late, little lamented Martina Hingis. Clijsters had a pretty good record against Hingis and the one time she played Radwanska (more than 5 years ago) she won that match as well. I suspect this match will either be a 2-set blowout or a seesaw 3-setter where none of the individual sets are very close. PREDICTION: Clijsters in 3 sets.

Samantha Stosur AUS (5) Petra Kvitova CZE (25) vs. Vera Zvonareva RUS (2). Petra Kvitova is the most dangerous player in the draw. She is a very confident, powerful lefty with tremendous power on both wings and she's an excellent mover with a good serve. She's also undefeated for 2011; in fact she's only lost one set all tournament, to the hard-hitting and crafty Italian Flavia Pennetta. Kvitova dismissed the host country's great hope Samantha Stosur in straight sets with no regard for the audience.Vera Zvonareva has defeated every player she has faced in her half of the draw in the last two majors she has played (Wimbledon 2010 and US Open 2010) and has done an admirable job of turning around her reputation as "head case" by embodying consistency. But when consistency meets power, I usually put my money on power. Zvonareva has also lost only one set so far in the tournament (to hard-hitting young Serb Bojana Jovanovski) and almost lost another one to the hard-hitting lefty Lucie Safarova from the Czech Republic. I'm pretty sure that streak will end when she faces an even harder hitting lefty Czech player. PREDICTION: Kvitova in 3 sets.

US Open Series Champs

Reuters

Argentina's David Nalbandian celebrates after beating Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus to win the finals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington August 8, 2010.


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Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia poses with the trophy after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the championship match in the Mercury Insurance Open at La Costa Resort and Spa on August 8, 2010 in Carlsbad, California.

Indian Wells Semifinals Open Thread

AP

The men come down to two today. Andy Roddick takes on Robin Söderling, and big surprise Ivan Ljubicic takes on defending champ Rafael Nadal.

Last night, Caroline Wozniacki out counterpunched her good friend Agnieszka Radwanska, while Samantha Stosur couldn't subdue Jelena Jankovic in the day session.

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Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
[6] R Soderling (SWE) d [4] A Murray (GBR) 61 76(4)
[7] A Roddick (USA) d [18] T Robredo (ESP) 63 75

Women's Singles - Semifinals
[2] C Wozniacki (DEN) d [5] A Radwanska (POL) 62 63
[6] J Jankovic (SRB) d [8] S Stosur (AUS) 62 64

Men's Doubles - Semifinals
[1] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) 64 62
[WC] M Lopez (ESP) / R Nadal (ESP) d [6] S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS) 64 64

Women's Doubles - Semifinals
[3] N Petrova (RUS) / S Stosur (AUS) d [6] B Mattek-Sands (USA) / Z Yan (CHN) 63 62

Asian Champions

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France holds the winners trophy after winning 6-3, 6-3 against Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in the Men's Singles Final during day seven of the Rakuten Open Tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum on October 11, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.

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Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia kisses the trophy during the award ceremony after beating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-4 at the women's final match of the China Open 2009, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on October 11, 2009.


Reuters

Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds aloft the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Marin Cilic of Croatia at the China Open tennis tournament 6-2, 7-6(4) in Beijing October 11, 2009.

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I didn't watch a point of any of the finals. I couldn't change my sleep patterns for the Asian swing this year. If anyone has a match report, please post in the comments.

Thanks in advance.

Day 8: Devastating

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Agnieszka Radwanska could afford to acquire a little grace. I'm all for bucking tradition from time to time, but not when it comes to the traditional sportsmanship players show at Wimbledon by walking off the court together after a match. This is the second year in a row she has departed before her vanquisher. Nothing earth shattering, mind you. But I can't imagine it would cause her undue pain to suck it up and just do it.


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Sabine Lasicki could afford to get more fit. She hasn't won a three-setter that I'm aware of and today, she was a waste in the final set of her match. I thought she was gagging, which she might have been as well, but she was simply unable to put anything behind her incredible serve or get in position to hit her ferocious ground strokes.

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Francesca Schiavone could afford a little pampering when she returns to Italy. Strike that. Her people should throw her a big party with loud live music and a feast. My longest-lasting dark horse did everything she could to make the final eight, everything she could to defeat her opponent, but without the weapon of a finishing shot, the Russian with the body to die for and the tennis to back it up was just too strong.

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Victoria Azarenka could afford to get out of her own way. Clearly, as I said in the comments earlier, she has the talent and desire to become the star the hypemakers are trying to turn her into, but her inexcusable temper and attitude when things don't go her way will keep her from becoming a champion. Nicole Vaidisova 2.0. And I sure wish she would stop making that dying pigeon sound every time she strikes the ball. At least she could smile and chat with her vanquisher as they walked off the court together.

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Venus Williams seems unstoppable, taped knee be damned. I feel sorry for the Russian with the too-small clothes. Almost.


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Dinara Safina seems way out of her league. What else is new. But here she is in the final four despite herself. Her fight a tribute to the peasant stock from which her people come.

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Elena Dementieva seems to enjoy flying under the radar. And boy was she flying today. She can do just about everything on the court when she feels like it. If only she possessed a bigger and better serve. But what legs.

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Serena Williams seems to have played her match as though saying "Fuck you!" to the Wimbledon schedulers who decided her opponent's "hotness" trumped Serena's ranking, past Wimbledon history, and current tennis form when they put together the Day 5 Order of Play. Apparently, Serena got lost trying to find her way to the new Court 2 last Friday. Now I see why Serena said "no comment" when asked about it in her press conference after.

Today, she let her racquet do all the talking. Not another young, blonde, "rising star" was going to build a career on her back by allowing the ingenue to hit her off Centre Court. No way. No how. What Serena ultimately said was beautiful, brutal, vicious, outrageous, devastating.

Wimbledon 2009 Day 8 Open Thread

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Ladies' Quarterfinals Day.

MadProfessah is too busy teaching summer class to offer up one of his anticipated previews and predictions, but he did send me a note saying:

"I do think it's Serena in 3 over Azarenka, Venus in 2 over Aggie, Safina over Lisicki in 3 and Dementieva over Schiavone."

What say you?

CENTRE - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Dinara Safina (RUS) [1] 1 vs Sabine Lisicki (GER)
2. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [8] vs Serena Williams (USA) [2]


COURT 1 - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Venus Williams (USA) [3] vs Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [11]
2. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) vs Elena Dementieva (RUS) [4]

Eastbourne Quarterfinals

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With so much activity on the farm, having to hold it all down while my other half was in the Netherlands for a week, I missed a few days of scoreboarding. Had no idea the draw drain in Eastbourne was so thorough.

When I finally turned on the television this morning after completing round one of chores, I expected to see Amélie Mauresmo or Nadia Petrova or Svetlana Kuznetsova on the order of play. Instead, there's Caroline Wozniacki, the highest seed remaining at No. 6, playing Ekaterina Makarova and Virginie Razzano against No. 8 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, Marion Bartoli against Anabel Medina Garrigues, and most shocking of all, Vera Dushevina against Alexsandra Wozniak.

With such a depleted field remaining, I'd imagine Radwanska and Bartoli are the favorites to win the title but they would face off in the semifinals if they both win today.

Sister Act III

In the rivalry between the WTA's third youngest sisterhood, little sis takes the early lead.

Day 8: Chinese History

Zheng Jie became the first Chinese player to advance to the semifinals of a Slam in singles in tennis history. As a wild card. Her gutsy 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory over No. 18 seed and headcase Nicole Vaidisova stunned the commentators and raised the hopes of a nation in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics.

Remember back in 2005 when the Chinese players weren't allow to compete at Wimbledon because they had to prepare for the China games? The stringent control the government wields over its athletes has come under fire from everywhere.

But today, one of their players has made history and she didn't even celebrate with much enthusiasm. Perhaps she was simply shocked herself.

But her backhand, return of serve, and wily point construction also shocked NikkiV, who was trying to get her boring, one-dimensional bashing back on track and steer her career in the right direction. I was pleased that she lost as much as I was pleased Zheng won.

I first saw Zheng play in 2004 when she took on Serena Williams on Centre Court in the first round. Serena was in fine form, but I was impressed with Zheng's all striking and it was apparent her game got along great with the grass. Her run through the draw proves it.

And speaking of Serena, who Zheng will play again in the semifinals, has she played a better match?



The Fierce Stomping Diva painted corners and lines, defended absorbed fired on all cylinders and all the above.

Agnieszka Radwanska didn't know what hit her. 51 minutes later, Serena finished with 27 winners to 5 unforced errors, 11 aces to 1 double fault.

I'm not seeing anybody beat this brand of Serena tennis.

If she can keep it up....

Nice to see her get over her quarterfinal blues. This is the first Slam since she won Melbourne last year that she's advanced past the last eight.

As for Aggie. The talented Pole needs a serve. Her first serve is placed well, but her second serve is a cupcake sweet for eating. And while I have no problem with a woman's game compared to a man's (I can't believe I read someone say that there's no way you can compare the two because men are so much stronger), the comparison to Andy Murray John McEnroe was tossing around doesn't work. Neither does the one to Martina Hingis. Aggie's game is quite original given what she does (and does not) bring to the table. I'm not seeing anybody in her game except her.



Venus Williams had a tougher time against Tamarine Tanasugarn in their quarterfinal, but she still advanced in straight sets behind the strength of her huge serve, saving all but 1 of 10 break points.

TammyT did herself proud this forthnight, advanced past the round of 16 at her favorite Slam on her umpteenth try. Too bad her country didn't find it necessary to broadcast her matches. I've little doubt if Paradorn Srichaphan were in the second week of Wimbledon, he'd be all over the television in Thailand.

Sexism is the bitch.

Venus will face first-time Wimbledon semifinalist Elena Dementieva, who fought through her demons to dismiss compatriot Nadia Petrova, who didn't fight through her demons, in three unwatchable sets of tennis.



At No. 5, Elena is the highest seed remaining in the final four.

Who woulda thunk it?

WIMBLEDON 2008: Women's Quarterfinals PREVIEW

by Mad Professah

The 2008 Wimbledon Women's Quarterfinals are now set. After correctly predicting all four of the 2008 French Open Women's quarterfinals here are my predictions for the second summer slam's women's quarterfinals. Note, that this post was begun before the 4th Round of play was completed on Monday.

Ana Ivanovic SRB (1) Agnes Szavay HUN (15) Jie Zheng CHN vs. Nicole Vaidisova CZE (18). This was supposed to be the new World No. 1's easy road to her second consecutive Wimbledon semifinal. Unfortunately for her, after barely surviving a second round clash against determined Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy 6-7, 7-6, 10-8, Ivanovic easily lost to doubles specialist Jie Zheng in the next round. Nicole Vaidisova has had a horrible year but getting through to the Wimbledon quarterfinals (and possibly the semifinals) should resurrect her year, and career. However, the achievement of Zheng to make her first quarterfinal (and possibly semifinal) is a bigger story. This is a player ranked No. 133 in the World in singles (No. 22 in doubles, but been as high as No. 3) who could possibly make her country's first major semifinal! She is very consistent, plays low to the ground and is comfortable on grass. But Vaidisova is more powerful and has the bigger game. PREDICTION: Vaidisova in 2 sets.

Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (4) Agnieszka Radwanska POL (14) vs. Serena Williams USA (6). This should be the best quarterfinal of the four. As you can see, I had expected Kuznetsova to get through to be Serena's opponent here. Kuznetsova was up 4-2 in the third set but somehow managed to lose that match. Surprisingly Aggie won the grass court warm up in Eastbourne, beating last year's Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli and Nadia Petrova. Serena has been playing well and has actually been coming to the net more than Venus. She faced down a spirited challenge from fellow American Bethanie Mattek who impressed many with her serve-and-volley game. Radwanska plays similarly to the recently departed but rarely lamented Martina Hingis, absorbing power and redirecting it with ease and possesses an uncanny ability to anticipate where her opponent is going to hit the ball. However, she really has no single dangerous weapon except her mind. However, both Aggie and her sister Ursula Radwanska (who Serena beat 6-4 6-4 in the 2nd round) have won Junior Wimbledon titles (2005 and 2007). Agnieska can get overpowered, and Serena Williams is used to out-hitting her opponents. If you see Serena starting to play slice and dice cat-and-mouse points it will be a long afternoon. PREDICTION: Serena Williams in 2 sets.

Elena Dementieva RUS (5) vs. Maria Sharapova RUS (3) Nadia Petrova RUS (21). This will probably be the ugliest quarterfinal of the four. Remember that horrendous 2007 Kuznetsova vs Chakvetadze semifinal? I think that this could rival that in nervous tennis. Matches between fellow Russians are often not very pretty affairs and when the stakes (and prizemoney) gets bigger the quality of the tennis gets worse. That being said, Dementieva has been playing reasonably well. She still has some of the best groundstrokes of anyone on tour and her serve has significantly improved from the one-time laughingstock it was. Petrova leads their head-to-head rivalry 7-4 and has never lost to Dementieva on grass. In fact, Petrova got to the Eastbourne final, losing to Radwanska in a tough 3-setter. But Petrova is widely known as the least mentally strong of the top Russian players, so if anyone can find a way to lose a match she should win, it's Nadia. PREDICTION: Petrova in 3 sets.

Jelena Jankovic SRB (2) Tamarine Tanasugarn THA vs. Venus Williams USA (7). Why was 4-time (and defending) champion seeded No. 7 this year? When getting this far in the tournament Venus has never lost before the final, and she has been in 6 out of the 8 played this decade. Tamarine Tanasugarn is a good grass court player and won a grass court warm up last week. Six times the unseeded Tanasugarn has played well above her seeding to play in the round of 16 and 6 times she has lost. In the seventh attempt she played the highest remaining seed in Jankovic and took her out easily 6-2 6-3. Jankovic was injured and facing the mental pressure of becoming No. 1 if she outperformed Kuznetsova in this tournament. Now she won't have to worry about that and will have to listen to the whispers of why she is the top Serbian player who hasn't one a major yet. In fact, Jankovic is the most current occupant of the "Best Player Not To Have Won A Major." Venus has played Tanasugarn 6 times and never lost. Will the seventh time be a charm for the Thai player? Doubftul. But I hope they don't schedule the match on Court No. 2. PREDICTION: Venus Williams in 2 sets.

Day 5: Classics

As much as we can have true tennis classics on the slowed-down lawns of SW19, today was the day. On Centre Court, a resurgent Mario Ancic, the last player to defeat Roger Federer on grass in the same venue in 2002, electrified the crowd against the dogged Spaniard David Ferrer, who, for all of his grit, had few answers for the old-school, serve-and-volley, chip-and-charge play of the giant Croatian also known as Baby Goran (Ivanesivic), the first and last Croat to hoist the Wimbledon trophy. Mario outlasted David 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-3). And he never lost his serve. Against one of the best returners in the game.

At the same time, Marat Safin was in devastating form against the unheralded grass court lover Andreas Seppi of Italy, pushing him aside 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. This was nothing short of a tremendous match on Court 1.



I thoroughly enjoyed both of these classics. The players battled each other as they battled the darkness falling over London after 9:00pm London time. (Note to the AELTC: either start matches earlier in the day, or invest in some damn lights. There's no reason the players should be fighting as though they're on a playground in some poverty-ridden, inner-city. Not with all the pomp and circumstance and money that girds the most hallowed event in one of the world's most elite sports.) Simply put, there was no better tennis on display at this year's Wimbledon so far than that from the racquets of the above warriors.



I was so full when the men finished, that I almost forget that Serena Williams, my girl, beat back Amelie Mauresmo, a fading light in women's tennis to be sure. Forgot that Ana Ivanovic, the new world No. 1 and Roland Garros champion, was picked apart by Jie Zheng, a Chinese woman who refused to be impressed by the game of a woman who won her Slam too soon, rose to No. 1 too soon, and who clearly, in all her giggly girlishness and manufactured fist pumps, is simply not ready to own the mantle of the world's best. Nathalie Dechy ought to have been playing the determined Chinese woman, but that's not the way the script played out. No matter. Ana will need to mature emotionally and mentally if she is to repeat her recent success. Otherwise, she'll turn into another Svetlana Kuznetsova, who also won her first Slam before she was ready.



Bobby Reynolds put up a good fight, but he as no match for Feliciano Lopez, the only Spaniard of the current crop who actually prefers grass, slow as it has become in London, to any other surface. There are no more American men in the Wimbledon draw after the third round. If I didn't know better, I'd think we were in Paris and crushed red brick was swirling into the eyes of the players, blinding them to the task at hand.



But American women's tennis has something to celebrate in the exquisite play of Bethanie Mattek, the woman who made headlines when she appeared in gypsy basketball garb on Centre Court against Venus Williams in 2006. She demoralized defending finalist Marion Bartoli with a game so solid, so deceptively powerful, the French woman who considers Wimbledon her favorite tournament could never get comfortable in her own exquisite game. Despite the 6-1, 6-4 scoreline, this was the best women's match of the day. Some of the games lasted for double-digit minutes, a trademark in most matches featuring the moody Marion.




Overheard

Keeping with the sex talk so prominent in this forthnight, I couldn't fail to report that Chris Fowler and Darren Cahill had an extended conversation about Raja's opponent Marc Gicquel who, last year in Halle, took a tennis ball in the balls and had to pullout from his next match. Fowler even wanted to know if Cahill had ever experienced such excruciating pain by tennis ball. Cahill admitted that he had and when Fowler asked him how long he wanted to talk about the subject, Cahill answered: "Only as long as you do, Chris."

No disrespect to Raja's fans, but this is what the boredom of so many of his early-round Slam matches conjures up in those employed to cover them.

Darkhorse Nation

With so many of the top seeds falling like dominoes, there's a lot of talk of who's actually going to survive this thing and make it to the final weekend. Agnieszka Radwanska, Eastbourne champion, is doing her thing under the radar and might be the author of some more big headlines. But if any of the remaining Big Babes are still around and bring their A-games, the gutsy Pole won't have a chance. (For the darkest of darkhorses see Sugiyama Ai, who's celebrating her record-setting 57th consecutive appearance in a Slam event. I know, I know. I just wanted to give her her props.)

Remember Marcos Baghdatis? The Greek-Cypriot with the big gut and bigger smile who wowed the world in Melbourne in 2005? Well, the ut isn't so big right now, while his face is all business has he soldiers on. He has declared grass his favorite surface and his current form and draw tell me I shouldn't be shocked if he's playing on the final Sunday.

You heard it here first.

Photos of the Day


Marcos


Feliciano


Serena


Sugiyama Ai


Misha Zverev, who retired against Stanislas Wawrinka


Bethanie


Ana

Roddick and Blake, Roma Quarterfinalists

Andy Roddick and James Blake advanced to the quarterfinals at the Foro Italico today in Roma.

How can it be that these two Americans are both in the last eight of the same clay court Masters series event? In my recollection, this hasn't happened since 2002 when Roddick and Blake joinedAndre Agassi in the quartefinals. Roddick and Agassi both advanced to the semifinals, while Blake lost to Jiri Novak in three tight sets. Agassi went on to defeat Tommy Haas in the finals that year.

Roddick dispatched homeboy Simone Bolelli 7-6(5), 6-3. It was a tough match. Bolelli is a claycourt specialist, so he knows all about the geometry of the court. But Roddick fought from a break down in the first set to capture the tiebreak in a set that seemed to last forever. I was most impressed that Andy was able to win 50% of his second serve points against a man who hit deeper, wider and with more spin.

Blake had the tougher row to hoe against Spaniard Fernando Verdsasco. I saw none of that match, but a 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 victory is impressive stuff for a man who tends to mentally check out of claycourt matches when the going gets rough.

Meanwhile in Berlin, Serena Williams blitzed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals where she'll face Dinara Safina who upset Justine Henin.

Good day for American tennis.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2008: Women's Quarterfinals Preview

by Mad Professah

The 2008 Australian Open Women's Quarterfinals are now set. While I missed most of the first two rounds due to my trip to Northern Italy I have seen many of the important matches since.

Justine Henin BEL (1) vs. Maria Sharapova RUS (5). This marquee quarter-final match-up is a reprise of the final match of the WTA Tour last year, which I regarded as one of the best women's tennis matches of 2007. That the last two U.S. Open champions and Australian Open finalists are meeting in a quarter-final is a testament to the depth of the field in the women's game at the first grand slam of the year. Henin has won seven major titles to Sharapova's two and leads their lifetime head-to-head rivalry 6-2. But, Sharapova hates to lose and will not go down without a fight. Henin has every shot in the book and better mobility. Hopefully this match-up will live up to the hype none of the much heralded Grand Slam showdowns between Serena Williams and Henin failed to do on three separate occasions last year. Frankly, I don't like either of these players but I would like to see someone start beating Henin with regularity. Unfortunately, I think I'll have to keep on waiting. PREDICTION: Henin in 3 sets.

Jelena Jankovic SRB (3) vs. Serena Williams USA (7). Surprisingly, Serena and Jelena have only played each other four times in the past four years and they have a split score of 2 wins each. However, last year Serena was able to beat the Serbian player when the American was still playing her way into her best tennis and Jankovic was higher ranked and playing better tennis than she has shown so far in 2008. With the American's ranking now back in the top 10 and Jankovic's falling, Serena will have no problem booking her semifinal berth against her nemesis, Justine Henin. PREDICTION: S. Williams in 2 sets.



Venus Williams USA (8) vs. Ana Ivanovic SRB (4). This matchup is a repeat of the 2007 U.S. Open quarterfinal where Venus played her best tennis of the event and demolished the 2007 French open finalist and brand new #3 player in the world in two short, scintillating sets. It is doubtful that Ivanovic will be dominated so easily again but the fact remains that Venus has never lost to the pulchritudinous heir apparent to Sharapova's "It Girl" tiara in four meetings and it is doubtful that trend will be reversed in Melbourne this year. However, the fifth time may be the charm for Ivanovic to get her first win over the reigning Wimbledon champion. PREDICTION: V. Williams in 3 sets.

Daniela Hantuchova SVK (9) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (2) Agnieszka Radwanska POL (29).
For the second slam in a row, Polish youngster Aggie Radwanska knocked out the #2 seed in the third round (Sharapova at the 2007 US Open, Kuznetsova at the 2008 Australian Open). This was always the weakest quarter of the draw and it was a dream path for Sveta to make her first big splash in Melbourne. Unfortunately for her, she made a huge splash crashing out to the wily counterpuncher in straight sets. Taking advantage of her opportunity is the hard-hitting Slovak waif who is now a tour veteran at age 24. Hantuchova has been to three Grand Slam quarter-finals about five years ago but never won any. Radwanska's never been remotely this far in a slam. Although widely considered mentally fragile, it is very likely Hntuchova will be the one more mentally prepared to take advantage of Kuznetsova's early exit to earn a major semifinal slot. PREDICTION: Hantuchova in 2 sets.

Day 6: Dog Fight

ESPN's Darren Cahill calls him a bull terrier. He'll grab hold of your leg and never let it go. Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic took hold of two-time defending champion Roger Federer in a third-round match and didn't let go till Federer prevailed 10-8 in the final set. The drama equalled that in the Andy Roddick - Philipp Kohlschreiber epic that finished earlier in the morning.

The Australian Open is officially awake.

I don't know how anyone really thought Janko was going to win the match. But he didn't let Raja go till 10-8 in the fifth set by playing exquisite, courageous tennis.

And he didn't choke.

Roger showed why he's a 12-time Slam champion. The way he played his returns at 8-8 was nothing short of brilliant. The way he served it out was worthy (almost) of all the praise he gets. I wish I could be a fan.

But I got what I wanted. Finally. A player not named Rafael Nadal played Raja on a big stage, latched onto his leg and bullied him all the way to the wall.

And he didn't choke.

Tipsy, baby, you the man.



No Country For Old Men



Who's that bald guy running around like he was born to win five-set matches? James Blake made his own personal history today. He beat Sebastien Grosjean for the first time in four tries, and he rallied from a two-set deficit for the first time in his career to bring his five-set record to 2-10. But wait, there's more. He was also down a double break in the fourth set and 1-4 in the tiebreak. Clutch.

Grosjean, a 29-year-old tour veteran and father, was worn out from his five-set win over qualifier Robin Haase in the previous round. But he had such a huge lead in the fourth set, physical exhaustion isn't the main reason he wasn't able to hold on.

Blake simply refused to lose. A controlled, composed performance was just what the situation required and that's exactly what James gave. With Sam Querrey's loss to Novak Djokovic, if Vince Spadea loses his rain-delayed third-round match against David Ferrer tomorrow, James will be the last American man standing at a Slam for the first time in his entire career. His own personal history.

Upset Specials



Maria Kirilenko and Anna Chakvetadze can both be described as Martina Hingis with a serve. Both take the ball early to make up for the lack of pace on their groundies, both change direction of the ball with ease, both play tennis like chess. But on this day, MariaK was too tough to take, even after dropping the first set in a tiebreak. Tough to be the No. 6 seed in the third round. Just ask Roddick. MariaK advances to the first round of 16 at a Slam in her career.



Agnieszka Radwanska knocked off the No. 2 seed at the US Open. She did the same at the Australian Open today, this time in the form of one Svetlana Kuznetsova. I guess the Polish girl has become the bane of Russians in the early rounds of Slams. For Sveta's part, she was simply terrible. Aggie will play yet another Russian in the next round after Nadia Petrova and Ekaterina Makarova's rain-delayed match is completed tomorrow.



Marin Cilic had his knee tightly wrapped, but his game flowed freely. Discovered by Goran Ivanisevic, the Bosnian-born giant has officially announced his arrival. No. 7 seed Fernando Gonzalez, last year's runner-up, had few replies to the questions the Croat asked. Late in the match, Gonzo's shoulder gave out and Marin munched on serves slow as molasses in January. With this upset, the Chilean's ranking will fall out of the Top 10 into the mid-20s.

Midnight Madness

Hometown hopeful Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis coudn't start their match till just before midnight. The dog fight extended the day session into night and with Venus Williams' quick dismissal of Sania Mirza, Tennis Australia broke its own rule of not beginning a match after 11:00PM.

So despite dozing in and out for most of the middle of the night here in the States, the morning sun is shining brightly on the snow and ice outside, and I'm watching extended live coverage of tennis on cable television. Going on eleven straight hours. Freshly brewed, strong coffee in hand. Credit where credit is due: ESPN has finally put the tennis fan first.

I'll drink to that. Let's all drink to that.

Photo of the Day


Click to enlarge. (AFP/Getty Images)