Australian Open 2018

A year on after its magical ‘17 edition, Australian Open 2018 has never looked so unusual and up in the air.

That beautiful, luminant, ozzie blue air.



As if, again after its last year’s bag of surprises, it now wants to keep the tradition..because, unlike last year when more or less everyone was there,  this year we don’t even know who is going to play!

As things are, Murray and Nishikori have confirmed they won’t be in Oz.

I am 95% sure Nole will skip it, too.

What about Nadal?

Not even Toni knows...as he is now oficially not part of his coaching box. (will I miss him?)

Then, there is Stan who sacked Norman (a bad omen?)

Who’s left....?

Ah yes...the oldest of them all...

The defending Champion GF. (no, it’s not a short for girlfriend)

Plus all the “youngsters”...ranging from the teenagers 19 (Shapo) to “veteran babies” 27 (Dimi), and then, why not - throw in the middle-aged ones too - Kyrgios (22), Goffin (25).

Is that enough for another unforgettable OZ open?

I think it is. Just.

I doubt Djoko will skip.

I certainly fancy a youngster to win it.

Tenez wrote:I doubt Djoko will skip.

How come?

Tenez wrote:
I certainly fancy a youngster to win it.

Which one?

he said he will play. Doubt he will be sharp enough to win it though.

No idea!

Tenez wrote:he said he will play. Doubt he will be sharp enough to win it though.

I didn’t see that.

Regardless, news on Serbian websites are so funny about the whole thing. People commenting are taking the mikey of his guru Imaz, the only one Nole did not sack.
Today, in another article his wife is “forgiving  the nation for blaming her” ,
add to it the latest news that Agassi won’t be traveling to Oz as he’s recovering from a holiday skateboarding injury...and you’ve got a spicy Nole operatic pandemonium.
Or panettone grande.

In the more balanced waters, Zimonjic said he doubts Nole’s participation in Feb’s DC match vs US.

So there you go...

At least it’s not boring.

I quite like what I see in that clip from Rublev. Nice striking of the ball and going to the net as well.

I thought he had beaten Coric more than once prior to that encounter...but no record of it.

If you meant this clip:




yes, an interesting match, I thought it would be closer, that Coric would grind Rubi and wind him up...but he did not have a chance...

And such a gap in talent between the two.

While watching the clip I took time to compare the 18 year old Rubi I saw first and this one.

Clearly he has seen a sports psychologist as he has calmed down, not berating and hitting himself any more and that has reflected well on his game.

He is now a little more relaxed and able to rely on his talent: he goes the line almost more than crosscourt and at full pelt.

It was beautiful to watch Coric scramble and look helpless, hehe.

Then the thought came to me when Nadal thrashed Rubi (was it USO)
and I was not able to compare that Rubi to this one.

As for going to the net, he was good when he did it, but it was so rare.

He is still very tightly wound up inside himself and 1d.

Still, I enjoyed his bullets and even more their consistency.

I think Rubi is now beginning to flourish also because he is joined by other young players from the Russian wave - Medvedev, Kachanov, Shapovalov...maybe even Kozlov...

Also Rubi has got a bit stronger at last.

next Pella! I'd like to see him go through to see whether he can hit through guys like Monfils or Thiem.

I somehow find it curious that all the last year injured players are likely to miss the AO as well.

Any explanations, or even better - conspiracy theories?

Tenez wrote:next Pella! I'd like to see him go through to see whether he can hit through guys like Monfils or Thiem.

Yes...

Though I find it strange how he beat Coric easily yet got thrashed by Nadal, who Coric beat in Basel a couple of years ago.

Rubi is still very uptight in his mind.

Maybe winning will help him gain some real, earnt confidence, not this paper one.
Time has come for rubber to hit the road.

The conds were ridiculously slow in NY, allowing Nadal to put so much spin on it, it was a very difficult ball to handle. Coric does not inject nearly as much spin on it.

I suppose...though Rubi looked clueless, I think it’s his rigid 1d side.
There is no concept of a slice or variety, varying length and pace...or evidence of much thinking.

Coric has no weapons but was able to beat Nadal, ok Basel was faster and indoor.

We’ll see...

Good to see Kokki beating Zverev. Zverev has a very poor record in slams and over 3 setters. His stamina does not seem tip top.

Delpotro should be a good candidate for the title.

DelPo can't handle faster courts so well, he doesn't get the wind-up time.

Tricky one really. Heart says Federer can do it and head is not disagreeing strongly. Obviously when you've got to win 7 matches everyone is odds-against simply by dint of compound probabilities.

I agree about the wind up time but Delpo did well in Shanghai v Federer. Shanghai being one of teh fastest court out there. Same with DUbai....he has a decent record there.

Rublev is a great stricker of the ball....watching him play v Pella now. really good!

I will measure the pace of rallies with Rublev...I am sure it is getting close to the Fed v Blake USO 06/07 times!

I like his aggressive mind.
He doesn’t hesitate a second and can really push people back with his flat bombs easily.

Tenez wrote:I agree about the wind up time but Delpo did well in Shanghai v Federer. Shanghai being one of teh fastest court out there. Same with DUbai....he has a decent record there.

Fair point.

Also, his ground strokes are so good he is trusting them and breaking back straight away.

He did it both yesterday and today.
Very good sign.

What a fearless player Rubi is.

Shame he lost the second set.

He must not lose to this dullard Pella!!!

His FH pace has dropped....he feels/felt a bit of pain in his elbow.

YAAAAAAAAY!


What a fight and win for Little Dragon! 

Really entertaining. I was meant to work but could not take my eyes off it.

Tenez wrote:His FH pace has dropped....he feels/felt a bit of pain in his elbow.

Yes, he was shaking his arm...but did well in the end.
I checked, he is playing with 97” prostaff, which is about 30g lighter than the Autograph version...which I have tried and it is a heavy, stiff stick, very different from the 95” one.

Is Rubi the only other player apart from Fed to use prostaff?

I have a seen a few players with prostaff..but can't remember on top of my head.

How about Kyrgios for a serious contender?

I read today that some guy put (I think) £40 k on Federer to won Wimbledon last year and made £280K, and has now put £40K on Kurgios to win AO....which apparently is not going well as he has already starting to have niggles and withdrawals etc...

Tenez wrote:Good to see Kokki beating Zverev. Zverev has a very poor record in slams and over 3 setters. His stamina does not seem tip top.

Kokki is no winderkind but I liked watching him, so glad he is back and winning,

Zverev is a funny player, has he hit his glass ceiling already like Coric did?

Because if he lacks stamina (which he does) and plays like he plays, it’s difficult to see him win 7 matches in a row.

noleisthebest wrote:How about Kyrgios for a serious contender?

I read today that some guy put (I think) £40 k on Federer to won Wimbledon last year and made £280K, and has now put £40K on Kurgios to win AO....which apparently is not going well as he has already starting to have niggles and withdrawals etc...

£40k? that might be my friend!

I remember I had a friend addicted to betting and a big tennis fan. He wanted to bet £15k on Fed to win WImby in 2005 or 6....and advised him against it!

I am not sure that's the reason but we are not talking to each others much nowadays.

Kyrgios has no chance, he will always blow up.

yep I agree with that...though the crowd might carry him on.

He was useless in slams last year

Anyone watching Fed v Zverev?

Fed is definitely trying to hit his BH harder.

I didn’t notice.

But he is hitting it more cleanly, by the sound of strings.
How come Belgium never made the final?

Federer is playing well...but there is not a safe place in the court with guys like Zverev....he is everywhere.

yep....surprised Belgium did not make it. I believe they did not do as well in double and ladies.

Tenez wrote:Federer is playing well...but there is not a safe place in the court with guys like Zverev....he is everywhere.

Still, he is not good enough to make Fed nervous which he does, judging by Fed’s first serve and some of inexplicable FH misses.

Tenez wrote:yep....surprised Belgium did not make it. I believe they did not do as well in double and ladies.

Poor Goffin, can’t win DC, can’t win Hopman cup....however well he plays.

After all the years, still amazing to see Federer stand on the baseline on returns. Esp with his SBH.

In the era where players train with DBH because they can’t return serves ven 1-2m behind the baseline.

What's amazing is how Zverev manages to win that set being dominated most of it. Federer rattled by that dead easy volley he missed.

I thought the same even at 4:4 - how can this dull player with all his scrambling and safe play be equal with that returning, volleying and guile.

It must be quite annoying to play him.

He is a strange co bination of Nole and Murray he picked up the worst from them and beefed it up with his good ballstriking, all together - a very dull player with no character or anything trademark.

Wow, 5:0 in the second set, what happened!?

I was writing stg and missed it all.

And he wins the second set with a bagel.

That missed volley must have irked him a LOOOOOOOOOT!

noleisthebest wrote:
He is a strange combination of Nole and Murray he picked up the worst from them and beefed it up with his good ballstriking, all together - a very dull player with no character or anything trademark.

He is.

Very bizarre the way Zverev collapses again in the 3rd set. Actually right from the second set....but his 3rd set is even more obvious he is dead on his legs.

Federer looked extremeky good, that is Slam mode virtuosity. Sure, Zverev fatigued but Federer was by far the dominant player throughout, and part of the fatigue comes from the relentless pressure Federer applies.

Phenomenally clean hitting throughout.

Yes, that was quite obvious, yet he keeps playing like he does.
Maybe he can get away with it /vluff vs other players, but not Federer.

Zverev probably has no other option.

His attempts to come to the net vs Federer today were so bad, esp. contrasted to Maestro’s...so no wonder he gave up the fight.

bogbrush wrote:Federer looked extremeky good, that is Slam mode virtuosity. Sure, Zverev fatigued but Federer was by far the dominant player throughout.

Phenomenally clean hitting throughout.

Did you see the first set in which he was missing sitter FHs, many 1st serves and not to mention THAT voley?

He was playing very well but his level rose later.

Clearly the tiredness he suffers after one set caused him to improve dramatically afterwards.