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Sunday, January 18th, 2009Women’s tennis is marked with many dots and splotches. It hasn’t shown a player-oriented trend since Swiss sensation Martina Hingis fell out of favor from God. Today, the game is evenly distributed between some top players. Since the day of Henin Hardenne, the sport has changed a lot into a Russian and Serbian duoopoly and only the oft-fallen, oft-redeemed Williams sisters have been able to break their vice like grip. It was started by the fleet-footed Sharapova, who since then has found the vagaries of modeling to be a more charming thing perhaps.
Her game is on a down spiral and the ease with which she loses to wild-cards is the most debated point of women’s tennis. Scattered few and far between, her beautiful control on the game is evident as well. We wish she was more consistent. And yes, for those who love the glamour of the game, Maria is not playing this year. To come back, it all started with Sharapova and with time, the baton has been picked up by Ivanovic, Jankovic, Kuznetsova, Vladisova and many others.
Let’s look into the list of women who can make the difference this year. Starting their campaign tomorrow at the Flanders Park, most of the names we are about to discus are injury-free. This is an exception to the trend shown in previous few years when injury has marred the prospect of at least three to four of them. (Mauresmo and Kuznetsova have some injury worries though)
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Jelena Jankovic- Well! She has been drawn no for the Australian open and not without any reason. She has terrific control over her shots and even the shot selections have not been wanting except on her off days. Among the Russians and Serbians who have strutted their stuffs on the tennis courts, Jelena is the one who seems most poised. She does make her mistake but quickly regains composure. Her game is a variety of baseline and semi-base line game and she adapts really well to different challengers. Power and refinery are very beautifully incorporated in the player and she is perhaps the one for who m we van say that the racket seems like an extension of her hand.
Yes she can look all crushed on days and those are the times when you can safely put off your television, but then the racket swings the right way for her, she is too formidable an opponent. If Meusberger does not do a Dokic (1999), then the top seed is looking good to sail into the second round and in fact even lap the cherry a fortnight hence.
The burning thought is: will she be able to add her first grand slam to her 9 ATP tour singles titles. Well! In her 15th week as world no. 1, the player can be criticized for this deficit.
Ana Ivanovic- Ana feels that Safina, Williams’s sisters, Dementieva and Jelena are all playing great tennis and can be a major threat to her chances but the very charming and intensely beautiful Ana thinks she can make the final cut if she plays her best game. With 6732 WTA points, the girl certainly knows what she is talking.
Serena Williams- she is ranked second and has been playing consistent tennis since her return from oblivion. We are fortunate to see the come-back of the Williams’s sister or tennis would have lost something brilliant prematurely. While venues has acquired somewhat of a feminine grace in her tennis display; Serena is all about power but then no one becomes rank 2 with power alone.
It’s true that she hardly uses refinery but then she makes very few unforced errors and her shots are perfectly put to place most of the times. Her understanding of the baseline and her position when she comes on the net is impeccable. Serena has a 17-4 record in the Australian Open. Though this is marginally worse than her other Open performances, it still is good. In fact, Serena and Venus sisters are only pair to have won a grand slam each.
Venus Williams – Venus is full of grace, poise and undisputed talent. This means that you can never deny her the moment of glory she deserves. A critic commented that if she played to her true potential perhaps the Russian and Serbian brigade combined can’t damage her on court. Like Serena and unlike the Russians, Venus has won many grand slams and she has done some service to her class.
Ranked 6th and with 6544 WTA points, she can turn the other’s turtle, her baseline game is a class in itself and she can turn fleet footed the moment she wants. She can even be a force to reckon with on net. In fact, at her best, Venus’s slices and drop shots are a treat to the eyes.
For the service bit, all we can say is that Venus holds the record for fastest serve made at 129 Kmph. Her best performance has been reaching the final in 2003. You can hardly believe this as she has won 14 titles altogether.
Svetlana Kuznetsova- Kuznetsova has been an enigma and she is the only one among the top seeds who is carrying an injury. Svetlana Kuznetsova might not go the distance as her game is showing signs of wearing down and physical fatigue. But if she somehow manages to bring together all her resources, you never know how she can register her presence on the turf. Most feel that she is all about powerful serves and forehands but her fluidity and panache is visible when you look at her closely. She is the only player to have made to the fourth round of each grand slam this year. In fact, Ladbrokes are quite positive about her chances.
In the final go, it seems that Serena and Jelena have the best chances. If Safina plays her best game, she along with Dementieva stands the best chance in the open.
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Australian Open 2009 – Federer vs. Nadal Live Results
Roger Federer Vs Rafael Nadal Live Streaming Online
Australian Open Tennis 2009 Men’s Singles Winner
Australian Open Tennis 2009 Men’s Singles Winner
Sunday, January 18th, 2009Tennis is a mesmerizing sport. After the introduction of Open Era, different Opens have shown different trends. While Wimbledon and French Open have seen a one-man presence for a few years on trot, the US Open and the Australian Open have not been completely dominated by a single champion at any point in time. Yes, Mr Federer has shown some grit while registering constant victories but truly, it has offered an exception every third year.
A simple illustration would be enough to boot home the point, (Ah! No pun intended here). At different times, Rod Laver, Borg, Sampras and Federer have loomed over the England club with their tall shadows, almost to the extent that no other winner has been conceivable in our imagination.
It’s again a beautiful time for all tennis lovers today, the Australian Open is just about to begin and Flanders Park is all decorated with the scent of stalwarts. This year, Australian Open poses a very open look. It’s difficult to predict the winner as such. Men’s tennis for the last year or so is being increasingly recognized as a three-person sport; it has largely been a Federer-Nadal-Djokovic affair. The last guy hasn’t won many titles but its observed that he wouldn’t have lost any had the two walls called Federer and Nadal not been there. Gone are the days, when you couldn’t look beyond Federer and Ladbrokes offered houses on a penny (forgive the exaggeration) for other players.
Apart from the triumvirate, few others have been emerging from the shadows rather well. Andy Murray and Roddick have been playing some great tennis of late. Their game is being marked by lesser unforced errors; something that has killed them all before they could reach their summit. A connoisseur of the sport would admit that Federer himself has been making a lot of unforced errors of late and that has brought a steep decline in the showman’s mastery. However, we can forgive the man a homicide for thrilling us the way he has in general and hitting that impossible backhander in the fourth set of Wimbledon last year in particular.
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Let’s quickly analyze then, how the show is expected to unfold and who may emerge the champion.
Roger Federer- His class is redoubtable. We are frightened because we have seen sudden demise of many formidable names in tennis. In fact, another Swiss giant Martina Hingis is a prime example; having said that, Federer is certainly cut out in different clay. He has already won 3 Australian Open though his US and Wimbledon count is 5 each.
General theory a year earlier was that the man plays against himself, looking to better his earlier self and the opposition is just a toy that he uses for the purpose. Of late though, the opposition on the other side of court has become men and formidable men. Federer’s vice like grip is looking to ease a little. Federer’s win-loss record in 2008 has not been that impressive. It all started with the psychological deficit versus Nadal but now he has been shown wanting even against the other biggies of the game.
As for his strength; delicacy, refinement, great range of forehand as well as backhand, unimaginable control, and his understanding of the turf are his greatest assets. For the weakness, there are many if you tie both his hands.
Rafael Nadal- The proverbial “David slaughters Goliath” and the addition- David then himself turns to Goliath could not have been truer. After gutting Federer, back to back in French Open and Wimbledon, Nadal has emerged into something of a quick legend. Not the coffee table and the beer bar type but one who is there to stay.
History registered the presence of this man on that fateful night at Wimbledon (it turned into night as the match lasted very long). His march on the tall stands was like the march of time itself; brute force, negligible unforced errors, capacity to come back from dead shots, and a guile-filled drop-shot is the strength of this maverick player. Also, you can’t come to net against him as a shot will zip past you from either side. And yes, do not consider him dead at any point, even when he is on the ground when you have hit the shot. He still has to improve his little.
Novak Djovokic- the Serbian has been playing some remarkable tennis in the last couple of years. His serves have been fantastic and the way he has understood the turf is just as excellent. Djokovic has a problem with his temperament but he is young. At 21, he still has few hysterical years before mellowing down. In fact, the anger takes away from his game as he begins to make even more errors when he is down and angry.
This results in losing quite many matches where he has been a set or two up. Another player who has good control on the forehand as well as backhand; moreover, he is a complete player. Yes, like Nadal and unlike Federer he likes to stay at the baseline.
Djokovic was the finalist in 2005 and that’s his best performance in the Australian Open so far. His record is 38-9 for the last year and he shall be a force to reckon with if he doesn’t tire down due to too much tennis.
Andy Murray- another young gun who should strut his stuff; Murray has been the on-off variety. But of late, he has registered his presence well and its up to the best ranked British player in the world to redeem the early potential that we have all seen in him. He has been the latest nemesis against Federer and with the way he has improved his over all game, the 21 year old has more than a passing chance to land the prize.
His torque, slice, movement, backhand, serves; each thing has improved and he does not even have the temperament issue anymore. For the statistically bent, his record of 8 wins in last 10 days is simply a revelation.
Andy Roddick- once upon a time and not a time distant in past, Andy Roddick along with Hewitt and tall Russian Marat Safin made a formidable trio. Between them, they landed many slams till their combined weight was punctured by a by-stander called Roger Federer. Roddick is perhaps the strongest server of the game and also has a sturdy forehand. Well, his backhands can be good but then they are also the cause of many unforced errors from his side. Roddick and Blake are considered among the only two players who can beat Federer.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga- well! For the starter, this sturdy fellow from France lost in the finals in the last year’s Australian Open. Having gone past Nadal, he conceded to Djokovic in finals last year. Presently, he is coming out of injury but has form on his side. He opens his campaign against Juan Monaco, an Argentinean rookie.
Three others, Fernando Gonzalez, Martin Del Petro and Lleyton Hewitt have a chance just as well. And yes, Hewitt sees this as his last shot at the pie so better look out for him.
2009 Australian Open Thrillers
In what promises to be a thrilling match, Roger Federer set up a third-round clash against his long time foe Marat Safin. This is the first time that the two Former World Number-1 will be playing each other so early in a Grand Slam.
2009 Australian Open HeartBreakes
In what can be described as the first heartbreak of the Grand Slam, Lu Yen-Hsun from Taiwan played some brilliant tennis to oust 10th seed David Nalbandian.
Also Check out the Following Useful Links
Australian Open 2009 – Federer vs. Nadal Live Results
Roger Federer Vs Rafael Nadal Live Streaming Online
Australian Open Tennis 2009 Women’s Singles Winner
2009 Australian Open Tennis Live
Sunday, January 18th, 2009Australian Open Tennis Championships 2009
If you have been waiting for this event, the 2009 Australian Open Tennis Tournament is right around the corner. From January 19th to February 1st, the matches will be taking place in Melbourne, Australia. All the top ranked tennis players in the world will be putting their talents to the test in what promises to be the most exciting Grand Slam event in history.
(Photo: Juan Martín del Potro)
Juan Martin Del Potro is thought to be one of the leading contenders in this year’s Grand Slam event. Having an outstanding season, he is looking forward to his first Grand Slam win this year. If his game stays on the mark and he remains injury free, this player will create some excitement in the 2009 Australian Open.
(Photo: Maria Sharapova)
The big news in the event is coming from the disappointing withdrawal of Maria Sharapova from the ladies event. This makes it the first time that the Grand Slam will be starting the event without a defending champion. The tennis player said she regrets to make the announcement, but promises her fans that she will be back next year to try and regain the title. Maria Sharapova just did not feel as though she was ready for what it takes to win a Grand Slam tournament.
Jelena Jankovic recently withdrew from the Hong Kong Open but is currently third favorite among bookmakers for the women’s event. The illness that forced Jankovic out of the Hong Kong Open does not appear to be affecting her competing in the Australian Open. However, she has expressed some concern over her training for the event.
(Photo: Jelena Jankovic)
If you are a fan of world tennis, then the 2009 Australian Open Tennis Tournament is not one that you will want to miss. There promises to be many exciting and closely contested matches between all the players in both the men and women’s sections.
The Australian Open started in 1905 in Kooyong where it was played on grass courts. During those early years it was rather difficult for players to travel to Australia and the contests eventually faded out of the limelight. In 1988, the Australian Open Tennis Tournament began to make a comeback as players were able to get to the event by air.
The matches were eventually moved to Melbourne Park where they are played to this day. In Melbourne the more pressing problem for the players during the tournament are the hot summer days, when the temperatures can reach the upper nineties.
Since 2007, the event has taken aboard new technology which allows players to contend calls made by linesmen and this technology is known as the Hawk eye confirmation technology. This also allows spectators to see instant replays of the decisions on a special large screen that has been installed in the arena.
Tennis Australian Open 2009 Live Scoreboard
Get real-time scores, match schedules, the latest news, player statistics, and photos of the Tennis Australian Open below;
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2009 Australian Open Draw
Below are links to Australian Open Draw 2009;
Australian Open 2009 Men’s Singles Championship
Australian Open 2009 Women’s Singles Championship
Australian Open 2009 Men’s Doubles Championship
Australian Open 2009 Women’s Doubles Championship
Australian Open 2009 Qualifying Men’s Singles Championship
Australian Open 2009 Qualifying Women’s Singles Championship
2009 Australian Open Schedule of Play
Schedule for Day 1: Monday, 19 January 2009
Australian Tennis Open 2009 Preview
httpv://in.youtube.com/watch?v=P1RgRbZ6u2w
If you have been looking forward to the 2009 Australian Open Tennis Tournament, don’t forget January 19th for the start of the event. There will be plenty of excitement as the best tennis players in the world compete for the first Grand Slam win in this year’s tour.
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