Aus Open Day 1:

Ostapenko (7) vs Schiavone (33)
Dimitrov (3) vs Austrian Novak (33)
Nadal (1) Burgos (33)
Venus (5) vs Bencic (33)
Cuevas (31) vs Youzhny (33)
Stephens (13) vs Zhang (33)
King (33) vs Tsonga (15)
Kyrgios (17) vs Dutra Silva (33)
Cilic (6) vs Pospisil (33)
Tsitsipas (33) vs Shapovalov (33)
Anderson (11) vs Edmund (33)

Ostapenko, Novak, Burgos, Bencic, Cuevas, Zhang, Tsonga, NKR, Pospisil, Shap, Anderson

bulge: ostap, dimi, burgos, bencic, youzhny, stephens, tsonga, nkr, cilic, shapo, anderson
mikey: ostap, dimi, nadal, venus, cuevas, stephens, tsonga, nkr, cilic, shap, anderson

Thanks for the game, LS.

Ostapenko, Dimitrov, Burgos, Venus, Cuevas, Zhang, Tsonga, Kyrgios, Cilic, Shapalov, Edmund.

Go Jelena!
Go Shapo!

Ostapenko (7)
Dimitrov (3)
Burgos (33)
Bencic (33)
Cuevas (31)
Stephens (13)
Tsonga (15)
Kyrgios (17)
Cilic (6)
Shapovalov (33)
Anderson (11)

Who is teh Australian Novak?

Ah...Hewitt?

Austrian...

Ah....Yuo mean the new Muster. or the SHBH Nadal!

obviously not....cause Thiem Novak would not be a 1st round match. Dunno then.

Funny article:

3 reasons Nadal may win:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/3-reasons-why-nadal-will-win-melbourne-2018

....one of the them is the easy draw!

According to Federer: "Then again, we talk about Murray and Djokovic being grinders. I mean, I think they actually play quite aggressive. To be honest, everybody. Even Rafa is standing closer to the baseline normally than he ever has in the past as well."

I was watching Wimbledon TB (I think it was 2014 final) today, came after that new service motion clip, and was amazed how aggressively Nole was returning Federer’s serves, that alone was really the key of winning then.
I just didn’t notice it to this extent then.



His returns were like fastest groundstrokes, right at your shoelaces.

So I can see why Federer saw him as aggressive. 

Having seen one of those finals live, I was surprised with how physical Nole’s shots were. 

You may think he looks weaponless on tv, but in real life he was pounding Federer with deep, hard shots. Consistently, without giving him breathing space.

I also couldn’t see which racquet Federer was playing with, but the neobackhand was not there then.

Once he gets his confidence back (provoded the elbow doesn’t bother him), he’ll be dangerous again.


And I wonder how much that added hard ball hitting contributed to the wear and tear of the elbow, under the crakclimg od Boris’s slave driving whip.

He played a lot of matches while he winning everything he entered more or less.

Tenez wrote:According to Federer: "Then again, we talk about Murray and Djokovic being grinders. I mean, I think they actually play quite aggressive. To be honest, everybody. Even Rafa is standing closer to the baseline normally than he ever has in the past as well."

The interesting thing with Nadal was how much he was moving to and away from the baseline during 2017.

Despite playing faster shots from the baselime, he is clearly quite stressed out there, under duress almost and much prefers to be back...maybe that’s why fans love him. He plays so close to them.

Also playiing today - Rublev-Ferrer, at 3 am...
Hopefully, youth will prevail in this match!

Shapovalov easily outplaying Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas is actually older than Shapovalov but Shapo's game is far superior. He has far more firepower, but is also smarter on the court. He is not playing superb tennis, but easily good enough to be in total control.

Dzumhur, a major obstacle to Rafa's title chances is a set and a break down.  Maybe Lady Luck is smiling at Rafa?

noleisthebest wrote:I was watching Wimbledon TB (I think it was 2014 final) today, came after that new service motion clip, and was amazed how aggressively Nole was returning Federer’s serves, that alone was really the key of winning then.
I just didn’t notice it to this extent then.



His returns were like fastest groundstrokes, right at your shoelaces.

So I can see why Federer saw him as aggressive. 

Having seen one of those finals live, I was surprised with how physical Nole’s shots were. 

You may think he looks weaponless on tv, but in real life he was pounding Federer with deep, hard shots. Consistently, without giving him breathing space.

I also couldn’t see which racquet Federer was playing with, but the neobackhand was not there then.

Once he gets his confidence back (provoded the elbow doesn’t bother him), he’ll be dangerous again.


And I wonder how much that added hard ball hitting contributed to the wear and tear of the elbow, under the crakclimg od Boris’s slave driving whip.

He played a lot of matches while he winning everything he entered more or less.

But Fed did not serve and play as well in that final than in the previous rounds. Even in 2015 Fed beat Djoko 3 times mostly on fast surfaces.

noleisthebest wrote:Also playiing today - Rublev-Ferrer, at 3 am...
Hopefully, youth will prevail in this match!

he did well....to win that first round. Must have been a tough match physically though,

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Also playiing today - Rublev-Ferrer, at 3 am...
Hopefully, youth will prevail in this match!

he did well....to win that first round. Must have been a tough match physically though,

Nice news to wake up to!

Well done to Rubi to get past Ferrer, even if it took him five sets to do it.

Hopefully he will be able to recover for thr next round..

summerblues wrote:Dzumhur, a major obstacle to Rafa's title chances is a set and a break down.  Maybe Lady Luck is smiling at Rafa?

Hehe, Dzumhur was only playing himself into form, now that he is through in five sets he’ll be tough to crack.
You kno what they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

summerblues wrote:Shapovalov easily outplaying Tsitsipas.  Tsitsipas is actually older than Shapovalov but Shapo's game is far superior.  He has far more firepower, but is also smarter on the court.  He is not playing superb tennis, but easily good enough to be in total control.

That is great news.
Tsirsipas is only s little older but much less experience than Shapo.

Of course Shapo is a superior talent, plus he is so exciting to watch.

I hope he makes at least two more rounds, didn’t look wt his draw beyond Tsits., but know he is in the talemt quarter from hell.

Tenez wrote:
But Fed did not serve and play as well in that final than in the previous rounds. Even in 2015 Fed beat Djoko 3 times mostly on fast surfaces.

8 think it had a lot to do with who he was playimg, tbh.
I remember in 2015 he was physically finished after two sets.

I just saw the 5:1 score in Nadal’s match.

I take it his knee is fine...

Tenez wrote:Who is teh Australian Novak?

Ah...Hewitt?

You can breathe a sigh of relief, Novak is out!

noleisthebest wrote:I just saw the 5:1 score in Nadal’s match.

I take it his knee is fine...

He's been perfectly fine this year. It's a shame a player with so many titles under his belt still feels the need to feign injuries. A sign of mental weakness, or just one of his nasty habits.

A week ago his presence for the AO was in jeopardy, a few days later he's the fittest in the draw.
So typical 

Again another example of not particularly intelligent logic to try and fit a certain narrative.
It's common sense that playing a warm up tournament is good before a slam after a winter break. Hence most players play either Hopman/Brisbane/Doha.
Nadal's statement to press was that due to his knee he had to delay his start to practice so wouldn't be ready in time for the warm up tournaments.
Feigning the injury to miss practice tournaments would be an unnecessary self inflicted wound.
You talking about 'a week ago his presence for the AO was in jeopardy' is a completely made up quote. He's consistently said he will be fit for Melbourne.

If Nadal does have tendinitis in his knee, he’ll onky ne feeling it if he plays long matches.

A decent five setter against Dzumhur, for example .

I had s look at his draw again and saw Simon and Muller are there, too.

Haven’t seen any mstches yet, how are the courts playing?

DECIMA wrote:....
You talking about 'a week ago his presence for the AO was in jeopardy' is a completely made up quote. He's consistently said he will be fit for Melbourne.

Really?

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiBpKjj1NnYAhUiCcAKHURzByEQFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsport%2F2017%2Fdec%2F28%2Fnadal-doubtful-for-australian-open-after-pulling-out-of-brisbane&usg=AOvVaw3V7fiLJOMxaUhDHWRMbW-d

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiBpKjj1NnYAhUiCcAKHURzByEQFggsMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.ndtv.com%2Fusopen2011%2Frafael-nadal-unsure-of-form-for-australian-open-1560907&usg=AOvVaw1R1I56xnkWUSpyUj8snbar

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiBpKjj1NnYAhUiCcAKHURzByEQFgg3MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2012-01-09%2Fnadal-unsure-of-form-for-australian-open%2F3763464%2F%3Fsite%3Dsport%26section%3Dtennis&usg=AOvVaw1DdjdePb5zLOeTeTL3aQk9

and google gave another 100 000 results with Nadal unsure about AO 18!

noleisthebest wrote:If Nadal does have tendinitis in his knee, he’ll onky ne feeling it if he plays long matches.

A decent five setter against Dzumhur, for example .

I had s look at his draw again and saw Simon and Muller are there, too.

Haven’t seen any mstches yet, how are the courts playing?

There are some decent players in Rafa's draw but they are all fighting in the same corner to play him. Nadal has clearly a ridiculously easy draw....again.

Tenez wrote:

DECIMA wrote:....
You talking about 'a week ago his presence for the AO was in jeopardy' is a completely made up quote. He's consistently said he will be fit for Melbourne.

Really?

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiBpKjj1NnYAhUiCcAKHURzByEQFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsport%2F2017%2Fdec%2F28%2Fnadal-doubtful-for-australian-open-after-pulling-out-of-brisbane&usg=AOvVaw3V7fiLJOMxaUhDHWRMbW-d

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiBpKjj1NnYAhUiCcAKHURzByEQFggsMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.ndtv.com%2Fusopen2011%2Frafael-nadal-unsure-of-form-for-australian-open-1560907&usg=AOvVaw1R1I56xnkWUSpyUj8snbar

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiBpKjj1NnYAhUiCcAKHURzByEQFgg3MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2012-01-09%2Fnadal-unsure-of-form-for-australian-open%2F3763464%2F%3Fsite%3Dsport%26section%3Dtennis&usg=AOvVaw1DdjdePb5zLOeTeTL3aQk9

and google gave another 100 000 results with Nadal unsure about AO 18!

You've had a shocker there Tenez.

First link in the article Nadal clearly says in the statement he's missing Brisbane and doesn't mention anything negative about Melbourne (says he is looking forward to seeing the fans in Melbourne). The only 'doubt' in that article is just the article headline, which is not quoted from Rafa, just a subjective headline from the journalist.
The other two links are from 2012 Tenez. I know you don't like Nadal but claiming we're in the year 2012 is a step too far away from reality... even for you.

Tenez probably hasn’t had his coffee yet. 

Then again, a good reminder of how Nadal is never ready for AO more or less, and in 2012 he played that most famous 6 hour final!

He never said he was injured for 2012 AO either.

Nah....I did not check but that's the title we read everywhere and out of the 102k results I am sure 1000s were about 18.

Pouille playing with 0 confidence. Not sure that's due to teh Belgian hitting hard on this fast surface.

One can hear nadal so clearly from Pouilles court.....it's ridiculous.

Tenez wrote:Nah....I did not check but that's the title we read everywhere and out of the 102k results I am sure  1000s were about 18.

LOL, so there were 102K results, but the 3 articles you found; one of them confirmed he never said he was injured for Melbourne, and the other 2 were from 2012
As for 'titles'... Nadal isn't in control of editorials, journalists always try and claim he's on the verge of being finished.

I did not find 3 I copied the first 3. Different.

Tenez wrote:One can hear nadal so clearly from Pouilles court.....it's ridiculous.

That is bad.
I need to find some decent stream, bet365 now showing ao.

And I don’t want to go back to eurosport after the cheating they did last year,

You can check and count them there....

https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=1365&bih=682&ei=HXtcWqjFAezfgAan7YGYAQ&q=Nadal+doubt+for+the+Australian+open+2018&oq=Nadal+doubt+for+the+Australian+open+2018&gs_l=psy-ab.3...21720.27865.0.28135.12.9.3.0.0.0.103.709.7j2.9.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.POp_jpC3h2w

Tenez wrote:Pouille playing with 0 confidence. Not sure that's due to teh Belgian hitting hard on this fast surface.

I am aftaid Pouille may be another Benneteau.

He has everything to be a good player but little heart. Another French player crushes by national expectations.

That’s why I like Simon, he fights like a lion despite his slender frame.

Tenez wrote:You can check and count them there....

https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=1365&bih=682&ei=HXtcWqjFAezfgAan7YGYAQ&q=Nadal+doubt+for+the+Australian+open+2018&oq=Nadal+doubt+for+the+Australian+open+2018&gs_l=psy-ab.3...21720.27865.0.28135.12.9.3.0.0.0.103.709.7j2.9.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.POp_jpC3h2w

That doesn't mean it's a quote from Nadal, it's just journalists speculating he may not play Melbourne because he didn't play Brisbane. Means more clicks for them, not a very solid argument from you, is it?

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:One can hear nadal so clearly from Pouilles court.....it's ridiculous.

That is bad.
I need to find some decent stream, bet365  now showing ao.

And I don’t want to go back to eurosport after the cheating they did last year,

What cheating? They are quite good and cheap overall, slam wise.

DECIMA wrote:

Tenez wrote:You can check and count them there....

https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=1365&bih=682&ei=HXtcWqjFAezfgAan7YGYAQ&q=Nadal+doubt+for+the+Australian+open+2018&oq=Nadal+doubt+for+the+Australian+open+2018&gs_l=psy-ab.3...21720.27865.0.28135.12.9.3.0.0.0.103.709.7j2.9.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.POp_jpC3h2w

That doesn't mean it's a quote from Nadal, it's just journalists speculating he may not play Melbourne because he didn't play Brisbane. Means more clicks for them, not a very solid argument from you, is it?

Of course. He is probably not even allowed to emit doubts for a slam until he is 100% sure cause there is too much money at stake. But Even Toni speaks of rafa's health in his interview.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:One can hear nadal so clearly from Pouilles court.....it's ridiculous.

That is bad.
I need to find some decent stream, bet365  now showing ao.

And I don’t want to go back to eurosport after the cheating they did last year,

What cheating? They are quite good and cheap overall, slam wise.

I bought annual subscription which lasted only 6 months.

After rg I couldn’t log in at all, apparently due to “technical issues” which lasted till the rest of the year. And it wasn’t just me,

Pathetic.

I remember clearly thinking to myself after Federer won the Aus Open 2010 words to the effect of, 'right, he's out of sight now, I can relax, everything else he does is bunce.'  Here we are 10 more slams for Nadal later with Federer only ahead because of 3 'bunce' slams since 2010, and even after the huge relief of last year's AO it's more tense than ever.  I realise that, probably absurdly, I do really care that Federer should end his career with more slams than Nadal.  When they are both done I want to watch tennis played by more guys trying to emulate Federer than Nadal (although properly emulating either is a huge stretch).  There's always a debate about whether there is a GOAT and, if there is, who it is.  I'm done with all that nonsense, but I do so want Fed at least to be ahead on the most important number when all is said and done - that would just seem to me to be 'fitting' - don't ask me why, I wish I was less bothered.

Now we see Nadal with the usual light draw, playing like a beast despite the usual 'will he won't he' build up, scheduled for extra day's rest before a potential decider with a 36-yr-old Federer; not only that, but all the real blocks to Nadal's progress are injured (to be fair, Fed has a chance to take advantage of that too).  Look at all sport, and the guy chasing records usually has an advantage because the person he is following has shown what can be done and is given an incentive to keep on going.

So, absurdly, and amazingly 8 years after I thought it was all over and I could relax watching Federer again, I find the whole situation more uptight than ever - the sport of tennis is truly lucky to have such great competitors and they will individually and collectively be missed when they hang up their racquets.  A Fedal final would be 'behind the sofa' stuff for me.

DECIMA wrote:Again another example of not particularly intelligent logic to try and fit a certain narrative.
It's common sense that playing a warm up tournament is good before a slam after a winter break. Hence most players play either Hopman/Brisbane/Doha.
Nadal's statement to press was that due to his knee he had to delay his start to practice so wouldn't be ready in time for the warm up tournaments.
Feigning the injury to miss practice tournaments would be an unnecessary self inflicted wound.
You talking about 'a week ago his presence for the AO was in jeopardy' is a completely made up quote. He's consistently said he will be fit for Melbourne.

For 12 years we hear his complaints about injuries while he's the fittest almost every time he steps on court. Nadal always surrounds himself with question marks about his fitness.  And if Nadal he loses he can always throw the "subtle" hint: 'No,no i don't want to talk about the injury...not the time to talk about the injury, no?'
Apparently even particularly intelligent Nadal fans try to cover that.

Nadal fans (and team Nadal btw) and trying to create a myth: 'can you imagine what would have happened had he been fit all the time'

barrystar wrote:I remember clearly thinking to myself after Federer won the Aus Open 2010 words to the effect of, 'right, he's out of sight now, I can relax, everything else he does is bunce.'  Here we are 10 more slams for Nadal later with Federer only ahead because of 3 'bunce' slams since 2010, and even after the huge relief of last year's AO it's more tense than ever.  I realise that, probably absurdly, I do really care that Federer should end his career with more slams than Nadal.  When they are both done I want to watch tennis played by more guys trying to emulate Federer than Nadal (although properly emulating either is a huge stretch).  There's always a debate about whether there is a GOAT and, if there is, who it is.  I'm done with all that nonsense, but I do so want Fed at least to be ahead on the most important number when all is said and done - that would just seem to me to be 'fitting' - don't ask me why, I wish I was less bothered.

Now we see Nadal with the usual light draw, playing like a beast despite the usual 'will he won't he' build up, scheduled for extra day's rest before a potential decider with a 36-yr-old Federer; not only that, but all the real blocks to Nadal's progress are injured (to be fair, Fed has a chance to take advantage of that too).  Look at all sport, and the guy chasing records usually has an advantage because the person he is following has shown what can be done and is given an incentive to keep on going.

So, absurdly, and amazingly 8 years after I thought it was all over and I could relax watching Federer again, I find the whole situation more uptight than ever - the sport of tennis is truly lucky to have such great competitors and they will individually and collectively be missed when they hang up their racquets.  A Fedal final would be 'behind the sofa' stuff for me.

Yep. I am in the same mood though I know why I support Federer over Nadal.

I think Kyrgios might be our saviour here.

Yes - Kyrgios is currently my Atlas too, he looks good for such a burden at the moment.

I go part of the way with you on Nadal - I think he is an envelope pusher in a number of respects which borders on cheating (I remember feeling particularly pee'd off at his performance vs. Del Boy at Wimbledon 2011).  Credit where it is due - he is a great competitor and manages to be magnanimous in victory and defeat.

gallery play wrote:

DECIMA wrote:Again another example of not particularly intelligent logic to try and fit a certain narrative.
It's common sense that playing a warm up tournament is good before a slam after a winter break. Hence most players play either Hopman/Brisbane/Doha.
Nadal's statement to press was that due to his knee he had to delay his start to practice so wouldn't be ready in time for the warm up tournaments.
Feigning the injury to miss practice tournaments would be an unnecessary self inflicted wound.
You talking about 'a week ago his presence for the AO was in jeopardy' is a completely made up quote. He's consistently said he will be fit for Melbourne.

For 12 years we hear his complaints about injuries while he's the fittest almost every time he steps on court. Nadal always surrounds himself with question marks about his fitness.  And if Nadal he loses he can always throw the "subtle" hint: 'No,no i don't want to talk about the injury...not the time to talk about the injury, no?'
Apparently even particularly intelligent Nadal fans try to cover that.

Nadal fans (and team Nadal btw) and trying to create a myth: 'can you imagine what would have happened had he been fit all the time'

Spot on. 

HOW MANY TIMES do we have to see a Sky or BBC headline "Rafa a doubt for X"  Why, just this year it's happened already.  Everyone is talking about how Nadal skipped a tournament and was "plagued" with injuries.  The man is a maggot.  A stuck record of excuses and deliberate mind games.  I've never known a narcissist as bad as Nadal.

Like you say, he then gets on court like a gazelle. If he loses, the "knee" flares up again.  If he wins... oh what a warrior.

Reality check: People with real injuries can't compete at club level, never mind slam level.  The sooner you accept the guy is a savage cock head, the better.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-sparks-fears-of-players-revolt-over-pay-after-meeting/ar-AAuH80U?li=BBoPWjP&ocid=iehp

Happy New year one and all. Just saw this. Eeek!

legendkillar wrote:http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-sparks-fears-of-players-revolt-over-pay-after-meeting/ar-AAuH80U?li=BBoPWjP&ocid=iehp

Happy New year one and all. Just saw this. Eeek!

I don't know the details, but Serbian media are reporting Troicki's saying (after having a chat with Nole), the meeting was all about getting lower ranked players to get paid more, that if you are ranked below 50 you struggle.
Also that despite media salivatingly reporting about millions in ever increasing prize money, the players see peanuts.

And apparently players have threatened with strike.

Nole must have rocked the boat to get Gog and Magog on his back. Good on him!