Australian Summer Of Tennis

[sapaul]

Nalbandian breaks to love. Double fault from Hewitt to end the game.

Nalbandian to serve for the march.

[sapaul]

Holds and Nalbandian wins 9-7 in the 5th.

4 hours and 48 minutes.

[redden whites]

What!, Ley-Ley didn't "tough it out"?

[A Mum]

He did tough it out.
Good game - shame about the result

I think it might be bed time now...lol.

[Gozu]

Great game of tennis. I always love watching Nalbandian & Hewitt play each other.

[Bully]

what a shame...poor hewitt lost

[Jim05]

Hope thats not the last time we see him at aus open.
Heard that he is going to try to play all majors this year then sit down at end of year and contemplate his future.

[Pup]

Great game of tennis. I always love watching Nalbandian & Hewitt play each other.

It was.

Hewitt had so so many chances and should have won especially after Nalbandian was really waving the white flag early in the 4th set.

[CK]

Hewitt's issue nowadays is that he lacks a real physical, game oriented weapon agsinst many ranked above him. He has lost a degree of pace (understandable after so many years on the Tour), and his serve is only okay. His height is less than many of the bigger players and his movement around the court is not markedly better than many, many others. A great fighting spirit can only carry a player so far nowadays.

An excellent career that is drawing the curtain upon it. Strongly suspect, though, there is a very good and insightful commentary career awaiting him, if he chooses to go down that path.

[sapaul]

He beat Federer only 6 months ago.

Hardly played after Wimbledon last year.

Obviously he'll never be the player he was but who is 14 years after they started?

He'll be in the top 20 by the end of the year.

[Pup]

Hewitt's issue nowadays is that he lacks a real physical, game oriented weapon agsinst many ranked above him. He has lost a degree of pace (understandable after so many years on the Tour), and his serve is only okay. His height is less than many of the bigger players and his movement around the court is not markedly better than many, many others. A great fighting spirit can only carry a player so far nowadays.

An excellent career that is drawing the curtain upon it. Strongly suspect, though, there is a very good and insightful commentary career awaiting him, if he chooses to go down that path.

Spot on.

Had Nalbandian on toast but did not have the weapons to put him away. Was intriguing watching two guys who are probably 3-4 years past their used by date battling it out.

[CK]

He beat Federer only 6 months ago.

Hardly played after Wimbledon last year.

Obviously he'll never be the player he was but who is 14 years after they started?

He'll be in the top 20 by the end of the year.

To rise 34 places, minimum, he will need to play a LOT of tournaments and get a long way through them, and not merely second level tournaments. At his stage of life, with three children, will he be able to devote the time necessary for the travel, never mind the intense work required to leapfrog over a number of other players to do that?

[dedja]

Hewitt's issue nowadays is that he lacks a real physical, game oriented weapon agsinst many ranked above him. He has lost a degree of pace (understandable after so many years on the Tour), and his serve is only okay. His height is less than many of the bigger players and his movement around the court is not markedly better than many, many others. A great fighting spirit can only carry a player so far nowadays.

An excellent career that is drawing the curtain upon it. Strongly suspect, though, there is a very good and insightful commentary career awaiting him, if he chooses to go down that path.

Spot on.

Had Nalbandian on toast but did not have the weapons to put him away. Was intriguing watching two guys who are probably 3-4 years past their used by date battling it out.

Pretty much my thoughts as well ...

[dedja]

Is it just me that I find Alicia Molik both attractive and butch at the same time?

[Grahaml]

Hewitt was always a strange sort of player. His strength was he had no weakness, and his weakness was he had no strength, to a certain extent. Most top players have some sort of damaging weapon. A big forehand, devastating backhand, massive serve, great volleys etc. He was fortunate in one sense that when he was at his best around 2001-2003 that there weren't too many top level players but he did still have to complete the job. My feelings are he's a similar standard player to Andy Roddick, who is now a 5-10 ranked type of guy.

I get the feeling Hewitt won't be full time on tour anymore, probably just play 10-15 this year tournaments to keep his ranking high enough to get into main draws of grand slams next year then that might be it.

Certainly has had a good and long career, almost certainly SA's greatest ever player. But given that I don't particularly like the guy so when he does depart I can start cheering for any aussie to do well again.

[CK]

Is it just me that I find Alicia Molik both attractive and butch at the same time?

Take out the butch part and no, its not just you

[Thiele]

V.Willams a set down

[Jim05]

V.Willams a set down

Now speakin about butch

[dedja]

Gorilla woman into the next round ...

[mickey]

wonder if they just refer to her by the christian name tonite

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova