Australian Summer Of Tennis

[CK]

The summer of international tennis about to kick off in Australia, so thought it may be worth having the one thread devoted to all tournaments.

Brisbane International will kick off on January 2, with a pretty fair lineup. Australians Sam Stosur, Jarmilia Groth, Anastasia Rodionova, Jelena Dokic and Sophie Ferguson, with Nadia Petrova, Shahar Peer and Marion Bartoli all in the main draw.

The Hopman Cup also starts on New Years Day, with TV coverage shifting to Channel 10/One HD. GROUP A

(1)
Serbia
Ana Ivanovic & Novak Djokovic
(3)
Belgium
Justine Henin & Ruben Bemelmans

Australia
Alicia Molik & Lleyton Hewitt

Kazakhstan
Yaroslava Shvedova & Andrey Golubev

GROUP B

(2)
Great Britain
Laura Robson & Andy Murray

(4)
Italy
Francesca Schiavone & Potito Starace

France
Kristina Mladenovic & Nicolas Mahut

USA
Bethanie Mattek-Sands & John Isner

Organisers will hope that Nicolas Mahut and John Isner don't meet, after their world record 11 hour, five minute match at Wimbledon this year.

[sapaul]

They'll have to meet being in the same group.

Which one of Hewitt and Molik will get injured?

Looking forward to seeing who TEN have as commentators...Luke Darcy? Liz Ellis? Nicole Stevenson? Poached any from ABC?

Reckon Belgium will win the Hopman Cup. Never heard of the bloke but Joostine (that's how Jo Griggs pronounces it) will carry him.

[Thiele]

They'll have to meet being in the same group.

Which one of Hewitt and Molik will get injured?

Looking forward to seeing who TEN have as commentators...Luke Darcy? Liz Ellis? Nicole Stevenson? Poached any from ABC?

Reckon Belgium will win the Hopman Cup. Never heard of the bloke but Joostine (that's how Jo Griggs pronounces it) will carry him.

Ten has Anthony Hudson as Host. With Liz Smiley, Fred Stolle, Josh Eagle and someelse as there commentery team

[sapaul]

Henin defeated Molik first up.

6-4
6-4

[CK]

Solid win by Ana Ivanovic over Yaroslava Shvedova, although Ivanovic having terrible trouble with her ball toss tonight. All over the shop.

[Big Phil]

Solid win by Ana Ivanovic over Yaroslava Shvedova, although Ivanovic having terrible trouble with her ball toss tonight. All over the shop.

It was as bad as I've seen it with Ana tonight...

[CK]

Australia face Serbia on Tuesday, with Ana Ivanovic playing Alicia Molik, followed by Novak Djokovic vs Lleyton Hewitt.

[Sorry Dude]

Italy beat England 2 - 1.
America beat France 3-0. It is a good way to showcase a few of the young stars for both countries in the ladies. Unfortunately Mladenovic (France 17yo) showed her inexperience after taking the 1st set 6-3. I thought it was going to be a good game but, Mattek-Sands took it quite easily winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Really looking forward to the Aus v Serb game. Ivanovic's serve was a bit dicey the other night and Molik played well againts Henin. If Molik can get the first rubber, Ley-Ley may (would need to play his best tennis) be able to get over the line against Djokovic. If the Aussies are 1-1 after the singles we should get the rubber 2-1.
I think Italy have a good shot at taking it out. Schiavone (ranked 7) is a very competitive player and should win her singles and Starace (ranked 47) should be about 50-50 and if they come out of the singles 1-1 I can't see them losing the doubles as they are both ranked in the top 50 for their doubles.
Loving the Tennis being back

[Big Phil]

Australia face Serbia on Tuesday, with Ana Ivanovic playing Alicia Molik, followed by Novak Djokovic vs Lleyton Hewitt.

That will be quality viewing CK

[CK]

Australia face Serbia on Tuesday, with Ana Ivanovic playing Alicia Molik, followed by Novak Djokovic vs Lleyton Hewitt.

That will be quality viewing CK

Most disappointing part is, I was out catching up with some mates at a time that had been arranged a while ago . Did get to see some highlights on One HD when I got home, but had to watch the mixed doubles past midnight to see some of the action.

[JK]

Australia face Serbia on Tuesday, with Ana Ivanovic playing Alicia Molik, followed by Novak Djokovic vs Lleyton Hewitt.

That will be quality viewing CK

Most disappointing part is, I was out catching up with some mates at a time that had been arranged a while ago . Did get to see some highlights on One HD when I got home, but had to watch the mixed doubles past midnight to see some of the action.

So all those Kleenex and moisturisers you bought on special are still in stock?

[sapaul]

Serbia vs USA final tomorrow but Ivanovic is injured and withdrawn so not quite sure what is happening yet.

edit: It will now be Belgium vs USA in the final.

[CK]

Andrea Petkovic (Germany) plays Petra Kvitova (Czech) in the women's final of the Brisbane International tonight.

On the men's side, top seed, Swede Robin Soderling squares off against Czech Radek Stepanek in the first semi final, while second seeded American Andy Roddick meets South African Kevin Anderson in the other semi final. Watch for a battle of the serves in the latter game, quite possible to see both players fire off 20+ aces.

[mickey]

Australian Open tennis dream team is here...

http://tennisdreamteam.sportal.com.au/?p=index

SA Footy league code is: 794201

let the fun begin

[CK]

Australian Open draw released this morning. Overall, bad news for the locals.

On the men's side:

Lleyton Hewitt handed a horror draw, with 27th seed David Nalbandian first up. IF he gets over him, a likely third round encounter against 7th seed, David Ferrer.

Bernard Tomic plays Frenchman Jeremy Chardy first up, but if gets over that, a small matter of Rafael Nadal to negotiate in the third round.

Matthew Ebden plays Jarkko Niemenen; Carsten Ball faces Spainiard Pere Riba; Peter Luczak meets 17th seed Ivan Lubijic.

On the women's side:

Sam Stosur will almost never get a better opportunity to win a Slam. The fifth seed meets Lauren Davis (USA) in the first round, but shouldn't - in theory - face a serious challenge until the quarter finals, where she would expect to find second seed, Vera Zvonareva.

Jamila Groth has a tricky first game against 21st seed Yanina Wickmayer; Olivia Rogowska will play Russian Evgeniya Rodina; but then would meet 9th seed Li Na if she wins; Sophie Ferguson encounters a qualifier, but will then face either Kimiko Date-Krummor 12th seed, Polish Agnieszka Radwanska.

Alicia Molik's first match is against Italian Roberta Vinci, Sally Peers plays 25th seed Petra Kvitova and Anastasia Rodionnova meets 22nd seed Flavia Pennetta.

[Thiele]

Australia 's won in Hobart this afternoon

[CK]

Olivia Rogowska is Australia's first casualty, going out in straight sets to Russian Evgeniya Rodina 6-3, 6-1.

Maria Sharapova through, 6-3, 6-1

[sapaul]

Loving Fox Sports coverage with the choice of 3 matches.

[mighty_tiger_79]

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/index.html

[mighty_tiger_79]

Monfils won in 5

interesting in report on the game he is quoted as saying he thinks his opponent was tanking in the 4th set to get ready for the 5th set