David Nalbandian seemed to get ripped off in his Australian Open 2012 match against John Isner. It was 8 all in the fifth set and Nalbandian had a break point which was overruled. Then Nalbandian decided to challenge the call, but the umpire and tournament referee told him that he took too long to challenge the call. This is crazy! What a joke. In the end the ball left a mark on court and it was going to be a second serve for Isner at break point 8 all in the fifth set. In the end Isner won 10-8 in the fifth set, but really it should have been the other way!
Last night (Australian time) I was watching Marcos Baghdatis and Stanislas Wawrinka match. Baghdatis seemed to be in complete control in the first set, but really struggled to close out the set. This seemed to become a trend for the rest of the match.
Wawrinka won the match 7-6 6-4 5-7 6-1.
p.s. Did I mention that Baghdatis broke four racquets during the match! Great to see some emotion on court from a top player (shows it means a lot).
Lleyton Hewitt has moved into the third round of the Australian Open 2012 at the expense of Andy Roddick. Roddick had to retire injured with Hewitt leading two sets to one at the time.
Hewitt was leading 3-6 6-3 6-4.
“In the last four years I’ve had five surgeries, and last year I played just two grand slams and two Davis Cup ties,” Hewitt said.
“I came in here with nothing to lose, I’ll play with my heart on my sleeve and see where it gets me.”
Hewitt will now play Canadian Milos Raonic in the third round.
Mardy Fish struggled in Melbourne and is out of the Australian Open 2012. Fish lost to Alejandro Falla 6-7 3-6 6-7 and freely expressed his irritation that Falla was treated for cramps at the change of ends.
“I see that guy’s called the trainer three, four times, however many times he was out there. It’s hot and I’m down two sets to love and I’m looking for anything to sort of gain the momentum a little bit. They’re making the balls bigger and heavier. They’re making it to where it’s such a physical match now that you’re going to have guys that are going to abuse that a lot. So, yeah, I thought he was having some physical issues. But then in between on every point he was totally fine.
Matthew Ebden joins the list of Australians into the second round of the Australian Open 2012. Ebden defeated Joao Souza 6-3 7-6 6-2.
“I’m not really overrating it too much,” Ebden said.
“I think it’s a good opener. I’m just, you know, getting ready for the rest of the tournament.
“I think I’ve shown, in the last year or two, I’ve shown myself and my team where I can belong in world tennis, the level I can play at. So we’re confident that I’m moving in the right direction.”
Ebden will now face Kei Nishikori in the second round and I think Ebden will have a very good chance of an upset.
James Duckworth has moved into the second round of the Australian Open 2012 with the best win of his career! Duckworth, 19, had a straight sets win over Estonian qualifier Jurgen Zopp.
He made light work of Zopp, a 23-year-old ranked No.148, winning 6-3 6-4 6-4 in 99 minutes on Show Court 3.
“I’ve always dreamt about playing the Australian Open in front of my home fans and my family and friends.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
“I was pretty nervous walking out. There were lots of people out there,” Duckworth said.
“I managed to hide my feelings quite well and, you know, I’m really happy with the win.”
Duckworth now faces Serbian No.9 seed Janko Tipsarevic in the second round.
Rafael Nadal has a strong win in the first round of the Australian Open 2012, but he did suffer a knee injury. Nadal played with a heavy strap on his knee. He said an MRI revealed no damage.
“I am really confident that having the worst feeling that I ever had in my knee yesterday and today was able to play,” he said. “I have fantastic hope that gonna happen the same for after tomorrow.”
Rafael is taking a huge amount of anti-inflammatory medication and is hoping to be fit to play the second round match. However, I wouldnt place a bet on him to win the title if I was you!
Petra Kvitova is getting very close to having the world number one ranking. Thus, the Australian Open 2012 is a vital tournament for her. Here is Petra Kvitova’s press conference at the Australian Open 2012.
Bernard Tomic has played an amazing first round match at the Australian Open 2012. Tomic came back from 2 sets to love to defeat (22) Fernando Verdasco in five sets 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-2 7-5. Tomic had a lot of chances in the first two sets, but could capitalise, but then he turned that around converting his opportunities in the final three sets.
It will be very interesting to see if he can keep up this great form he has had in Australia.
Kim Clijsters is off to a great start at the Australian Open 2012. Clijsters began her Australian Open defence with a straight sets with over qualifier Maria Joao Koehler 7-5 6-1.
“It doesn’t matter how hard you train in the off-season, the matches always put more stress on your body.”
It will be interesting to see if she has the drive and the stamina to make it into the second week and beyond!
Here is the full ESPN schedule for the Australian Open 2012 for US viewers. All the times below are in Eastern Stardard Time.
Sun, Jan 15 – Australian Open Day 1
6:30 pm – 3 am Early round play -LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 7:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
Mon, Jan 16 – Australian Open Day 2
7:00 am Australian Open Today : 1st Round – Tennis Channel
1:00 pm Australian Open Today : 1st Round – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : 1st Round (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
9:00 pm – 3:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 7:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
Tue, Jan 17 – Australian Open Day 3
Noon – 3:00 pm – Same-day – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : 1st Round – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : 2nd Round (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
9:00 pm – 3:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 7:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
7:00 am Australian Open Today : 1st Round – Tennis Channel
Wed, Jan 18 – Australian Open Day 4
7:00 am Australian Open Today : 2nd Round – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm Same-day – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : 2nd Round – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : 2nd Round (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
11:00 pm – 3:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 7:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
Thur, Jan 19 – Australian Open Day 5
7:00 am Australian Open Today : 2nd Round – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm Same-day – ESPN2HD
11 pm – 3:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 7:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : 2nd Round – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : 3rd Round (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
Fri, Jan 20 – Australian Open Day 6
7:00 am Australian Open Today : 3rd Round – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm Same-day – ESPN2HD
9 pm – 3:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 7:00 am LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : 3rd Round – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : 3rd Round (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
Sat, Jan 21 – Australian Open Day 7
7:00 am Australian Open Today : 3rd Round – Tennis Channel
10:00 am – 1:00 pm Same-day – ESPN2HD
1:00 pm Australian Open Today : 3rd Round – Tennis Channel
4:00 pm Australian Open Today : 3rd Round – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : Round of 16 (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
9:00 pm – 2:00 am – Round of 16 LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 7:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
Sun, Jan 22 – Australian Open Day 8
7:00 am Australian Open Today : Round of 16 – Tennis Channel
11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Same-day – ESPN2HD
9:00 pm – 2:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : Round of 16 – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : Round of 16 (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
3:30 – 6:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
Mon, Jan 23 – Australian Open Day 9
6:00 am Australian Open Today : Round of 16 – Tennis Channel
10:00 am Australian Open : Round of 16 – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm – Same-day – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : Round of 16 – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
9 pm – 2:00 am – Quarterfinals – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:30 – 6:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
Tue, Jan 24 – Australian Open Day 10
6:00 am Australian Open Today : M/W Quarterfinals – Tennis Channel
10:00 am Australian Open : M/W Quarterfinals – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm – Same-day – ESPN2HD
9:00 pm – 2:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:30 – 6:00 am – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : M/W Quarterfinals – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
Wed, Jan 25 – Australian Open Day 11
6:00 am Australian Open Today : M/W Quarterfinals – Tennis Channel
10:00 am Australian Open : M/W Quarterfinals – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm – Same-day – ESPN2HD
9:30 pm – 2:00 am – Women’s Semifinals – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open Today : M/W Quarterfinals – Tennis Channel
7:00 pm Australian Open : Match TBD (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
3:30 – 6:00 am Men’s Semifinal #1 – LIVE – ESPN2HD
Thurs, Jan 26 – Australian Open Day 12
6:00 am Australian Open : W Semifinals and M Semifinal 1 – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm Men’s Semifinal #1 – reair – ESPN2HD
3:30 – 6:00 am Men’s Semifinal #2 – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open : W Semifinals and M Semifinal 1 – Tennis Channel
11:00 pm Australian Open : Mixed Dbls SF and W Dbls Final (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
Fri, Jan 27 – Australian Open Day 13
6:00 am Australian Open : M SF2 and W Dbls Final & Other – Tennis Channel
Noon – 3:00 pm Men’s Semifinal #2 – reair – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 5:30 am – Women’s Final – LIVE – ESPN2HD
3:00 pm Australian Open : Men’s SF2 and W Dbls Final & Other – Tennis Channel
11:00 pm Australian Open : Men’s Semifinal 2 – Tennis Channel
Sat, Jan. 28 – Australian Open Day 14
5:30 am Australian Open : Men’s Dbl Final (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
7:30 am Australian Open : Women’s Dbl Final – Tennis Channel
9:00 – 11:00 am Women’s Final – reair – ESPN2HD
11:00 am Australian Open : Men’s Dbls Final & Men’s Semis – Tennis Channel
10 pm Women’s Final – reair – ESPN2HD
3:00 – 6:30 am Men’s Final – LIVE – ESPN2HD
8:00 pm Australian Open : Women’s Final – Tennis Channel
Sun, Jan 29 – Australian Open Day 15
12:30 am Australian Open : Mixed Doubles Final (LIVE) – Tennis Channel
7:00 am Australian Open : Women’s Final – Tennis Channel
9:00 am – 1:00 pm Men’s Final – reair – ESPN2HD
1:00 pm Australian Open : Men’s Final – Tennis Channel
5:00 pm Australian Open : Men’s Final – Tennis Channel
9:00 pm Men’s Final – reair – ESPN2HD
If you havent already heard the Australian Open Main Draw was conducted yesterday. There are of course some very interesting matches in the first round of both the mens and womens singles.
Check out the Australian Open 2012 Mens Singles here and Womens Singles here.
After the heated headlines of Margaret Court being against gay marriage and homosexual unions, the 24-time Grand Slam champion decided to set things straight about her beliefs concerning the gay community.
Court told the Reuters that she isn’t disinclined toward gay people, just the notion of same-sex marriage. She is a pastor at the Victory Life Center church in Perth and sternly follows the beliefs written in the bible.
“I actually love homosexual people,” stated the 69-year-old. “I do not have anything against them. It’s just my view (about gay marriage) and it’s in the scriptures … The bible will always be the TV guide to my life. I believe marriage is something between a man and a woman.”
Protesters have expressed their disappointment by arranging planned protests at the Margaret Court Arena which is in use for the Australian Open beginning on January 16th. Margaret Court hasn’t changed her mind about attending this year’s Slam in Melbourne despite the risks of protest. According to the bible, she believes that marriage is something between man and woman, and the union of two people of the same gender in marriage is “unhealthy” and “unnatural”.
It is probably understandable why the Australian is in a stance against same-sex marriage, and she has every right to her opinion. But beware Dame Court, for you may see rainbow flags flying high in all their splendor at this year’s Australian Open.
