Magical Downunder---Australian Open 2007 Melbourne

[Annie]

OK, in case anyone cares about my opinion here it goes...

I have just watched Andy-Roger. At the end of the match the whole stadium got up and gave him a standing ovation and trust me if I was there I would have too.

Incredible game!!!!!!! Absolutely amazing tennis!!! Everything worked for Roger, the shots he was making were something out of this world. I mean Andy didn't play badly, he tried and tried but this was one of those days when no matter who stood at the other side of the net as jewell very rightly pointed out, it would have made no difference... Roger was incredible. I just sat there with my mouth wide open... it was just breathtaking. Super high class tennis. I take my hat off and take a bow Roger.

Tough luck Andy. Too bad you had to play him on a day like this. But as Roger said in his post-match interview "This is a day for me to remember and for Andy to forget"

Good luck Roger!!!

[sonya]

He said he had got the injury at the end of the match against Murray . I don't know anything more,didn't watch either match completely .

[LaFFy TaFFy]

nataliepeterson said:

anushka said:

touchy addie, rafa had a injuiry and played better
Always next year

Considering the way Rafa has played for the past six months, you can't always defend his losses by saying he has an "injury". It seems to me he was just fine during the other matches before the quarters.... Weird injury to come and go like that at the most opportune times.

yeah watever, both games sucked really, just andy sucked more , they just came up against better players.
good for him making it to the semi though, 1 up on rafa

[breakingthehabit]

this time 2 yrs ago, Marat was serenaded by Australian tennis fans and had been celebrating his birthday that way for 3 yrs. How i want to see that again. But, sadly it's not to be. Well, maybe next year. Happy Birthday Marat!!! hope you have a great many years of tennis ahead of you and continue to wow us with your look, game and personality .





PS: i post this here cos i couldn't find the birthday thread, sorry guys!!

[maryb]

Didn't get to see the match, but that was a pretty cruel scoreline. Maestro, what can I say? We bow at the feet of genius. ;D ;D

Never thought I'd say it, but poor Andy. I remember his quote from Wimbles 'I threw the sink at him. That didn't work and then I threw the bath at him' (or words to that effect). He he he. Marat would have thrown the bath, the racquet, the sofa, the umpire, the crowd, his coach, his mum ... and then won. He he he.

Good luck to Gonzo. Would like to see him get to the final and see a great tactical match. I'm growing a bit tired of the heavy baseline rallies over the years. I want to see a bit more touch play. The way Borg played ... hey ... did I mention I'm going to see him play in Liverpool in June ... aaaaaaaaaaaaaarggh. (Sorry, been a while for the scream ... they'll be a build up towards June. Liverpool and Wimbles. I need to remember to breathe ...)

PS Just read the Marie Claire article. "911 ... shove a Mars bar down Annie's throat, quick. She's hyperventilating. "

Marat's such a wee cutie isn't he? (Sorry guys, you know that already). That was such a sweet, honest article. He's a right wee philosopher too. Plato Safin. Awww. He made me smile. Wee sweetchops.

[Annie]

An entertaining rout

Jon Wertheim, SI.com

Five things we learned from the Roger Federer-Andy Roddick semifinal massacre on Thursday in the Australian Open semifinals:

1. Federer is meaner than he looks. As modest a figure as he cuts, Federer is deceptively strong-willed and competitive. This match was unmistakably a statement -- one made in 72-point block letters. Roddick came within a first serve of beating Federer at the Shanghai Masters Cup last fall. He then beat him in a pre-tournament exhibition. Talk abounded of the "gap closing" between Federer and the rest of the field, Roddick, in particular. This beatdown -- Federer won 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in a match that wasn't even as close as the score indicated -- suggests that gap is now a vortex.

2. Federer can entertain, even if the match lacks suspense. This clash was built up as a "popcorn match" and faster than you can say "Orville Redenbacher" it was over. Because Federer was simply virtuous and hit so many obscene winners, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable night. Kia, the car manufacturer, sponsors a "play of the day" spot. I was talking with Mats Wilander after the match and he suggested Kia simply replay the second set, one in which Federer was 24 of 30 and hit 11 winners to only one unforced error. Roddick sometimes seemed less an opponent than a partner in the performance. Still, the fans loved it and showered The Mighty Fed with a standing O when it was over.

3. Coaching is overrated. Roddick, of course, has Jimmy Connors in his corner. Federer is essentially coachless, the great Tony Roche serving only as a sort of part-time consultant. Yet Federer played a much better tactical match. Roddick clearly came in with an attack-attack-attack gameplan, but more often than not he watched helplessly as passing shots strafed by. He had little variety on his serves and did little to try and disrupt Federer's timing.

4. Here's still another Federer asset: his eyes. We hear all the time about Federer's superior movement, his anticipation, his hands, his complete game -- everything short of his ability to make a soufflé. But tonight he really impressed with his vision. He read Roddick's serves as though they were propped on a tee, even taking cuts at the 140 mph screamers. Consider that Roddick, perhaps tennis' most fearsome server, was broken more times (seven) than he held (five). Eagle-eyed, Federer was also right on all three of his replay challenges. Line up that LensCrafters endorsement.

5. Even in defeat, Roddick has a hell of a sense of humor. His postmortem was one for the ages. Among the highlights. "It was frustrating. It sucked. It was terrible. Besides that, it was fine." How will he sleep tonight? "It depends on how much I drink." Roddick was told that he had performed better in the news conference than on the court. His response: "No s---."

[reese]

Gonzalez won the first set 6-1 and is leading 3-0 in the 2nd set. Looks like an easy win for Gonzalez at the moment. A bit like Federer vs. Roddick.

[reese]

Gonzalez just won the second set 6-3..

[Mrs. Fabregas]

Gonzalez just beat (or should I see, kicked ass ) Tommy...... 6-1 6-3 6-1!

So the final will be: Roger vs Fernando.......
Hope it's gonna be a interesting and entertaining final!

[ginapants]

here are some vids from Safin-Rodick match www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=42298&page=107 (if it had been posed before i'm sorry)

[Annie]

Well Well Gonzo-Roger... well there are only two ways this could go.

1. Gonzo puts the fact that this is his first GS final and he is playing the best tennis player in the world behind him and delivers a performace as wonderful as against Nadal and Haas and this match turns into a great show.

2. Gonzo's nerves take over for the reasons mentioned above and Roger thrashes him to get his 12th GS title.

As much as I love Roger I am hoping for the first option.

[davis]

Post-match interview with Tommy Haas

Q. When someone's hot like González was tonight, is there anything you can take out of the match?

TOMMY HAAS: That's a good question. I mean, you know, I'm obviously trying to think what I could have done differently after the match like this. But, you know, it's really hard.

When I got back to the locker room, I looked at the stats that I saw on TV. You know, I knew that it was going to be somewhere close to, you know, what I saw basically is how I felt out there. He had three unforced errors the whole match and 45 winners, a very high personal of first serves. Just really, you know, pretty much everything he touched tonight seemed to go his way.

I felt at times that I didn't even play, you know, bad. I mean, I played actually pretty good tennis. Every time I tried to do something differently, he came up with the answer. That's quite frustrating after a period of time. Each set, you know, you try to start well and maybe get a momentum going. He got on top of me every single time.

I just have to hand it to him, tip the hat, say that's too good tonight. Nothing I could have done.


Q. Have you ever played somebody playing that well?

TOMMY HAAS: Uhm, maybe. I think in Davis Cup one time I played Kafelnikov where he played unbelievable, as well. Maybe a couple other matches here or there. But tonight is certainly one of them where, you know, that's great tennis.


Q. Apart from his level of execution, how different a player did you feel he was just in terms of the way the ball came at you, the way he moved...

TOMMY HAAS: I mean, I don't think he really ‑‑ you know, we have never played before in a real match, just in a couple exhibitions. I've been following obviously his last couple matches here, the last couple of months. You know, the slice, he doesn't do much with it. But every time you seem to come in, he kind of feels or he knows ‑ he did tonight at least ‑ with some unbelievable shots.

You know, you start to wonder when to come in, when is the right time. My first serves didn't really come that well to put pressure on him. When he gets a chance with the forehand, I mean, he tries to dictate play, and really showed tonight that he did that well.

Really, three unforced errors, you know, you kind of hope sometimes it kind of comes off or you have a chance to, you know, try something different.

He's playing some good tennis, that's for sure.


Q. With his game, do you feel he has a realistic chance of upsetting Roger on Sunday?

TOMMY HAAS: That's obviously a tough task. If he can maintain the level he showed tonight and the last couple of matches, you know, like the stats speak for themselves. If he can make very few unforced errors, play like he did tonight, I think it would be a good match, and we'll see what happens.


Q. Did you watch Andy and Roger last night?

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah. I watched that. I mean, pretty similar for Roger last night, I think. Everything that he touched or did was, you know, unbelievable display, unbelievable to watch. Not much Andy could do.

I think he was a little bit confused at times, pretty much like I am, trying to do something different, and nothing really worked.

Should be a pretty good final.

[davis]

And some more statistics:

Andy - Roger

Federer hit 45 winners to Roddick's 11, and had 12 unforced errors to Roddick's 18
Federer won 83 points to the American's 45
The match lasted just one hour and 23 minutes
Federer sent down 10 aces to four
Federer won 10 points at the net to Roddick's nine, but the American approached 20 more times


Tommy - Fernando

Gonzalez won 85 points, Haas 42
Gonzalez made just three unforced errors, and had 42 winners
Haas had 20 winners and 21 unforced errors
Gonzalez did not have a break-point on his serve
Gonzalez had nine aces and no double faults
The match lasted just one hour and 31 minutes

[Annie]

Thanks for those Annette If you showed those stats to anyone, they would never believe we are talking about GS semifinals I think LOL ;D

[mari]

Hey grils, I'm so happy, this day couldn't be better, I woke up this morning at 05:30 am to see Feña's match. He played incredible!!!
I really hope that Feña win his first GS
VAMOS FEÑA!!! VIVA CHILE!! ;D