Australian Open 2012 Day 2 Preview
Day two of the Australian Open 2012 will be starting in a few hours and it is going to be a very interesting day. Here is a preview of Day 2!
Archive for the ‘Grand Slams’ Category
Backstage at Australian Open 2012 Media Day
Here is a great backstage video of the Australian Open 2012 media day.
Following Roger, Rafa Novak, Sam, Serena, Kim, Maria and Li Na as they went round the world of media.
Petra Kvitova Press Conference – Australian Open 2012
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.
Mens Seeds Out of Australian Open 2012 Day One
There were a lot of seeds dropping out of the Australian Open 2012 Mens Singles on day one.
Bernard Tomic def. (22) Fernando Verdasco = 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-2 7-5
Philipp Kohlschreiber def. (25) Juan Monaco = 7-5 4-6 6-3 6-7 6-0
Ivo Karlovic def. (31) Jurgen Melzer = 7-6 7-5 6-3
Lukas Lacko def. (28) Ivan Ljubicic = 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4
Bernard Tomic Wins a Thriller in Australian Open 2012 First Round over Fernando Verdasco
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 Great Start to Australian Open Defence
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!
US TV Schedule for Australian Open 2012
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
Australian Open 2012 Singles Draws
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.
Margaret Court has nothing against homosexuals
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.
Australian Open 2012 Seeds
Here are the seeds for the Australian Open 2012.
Men’s Seeds
1 Djokovic, Novak (SRB)
2 Nadal, Rafael (ESP)
3 Federer, Roger (SUI)
4 Murray, Andy (GBR)
5 Ferrer, David (ESP)
6 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA)
7 Berdych, Tomas (CZE)
8 Fish, Mardy (USA)
9 Tipsarevic, Janko (SRB)
10 Almagro, Nicolas (ESP)
11 Del Potro, Juan Martin(ARG)
12 Simon, Gilles (FRA)
13 Dolgopolov, Alexandr (UKR)
14 Monfils, Gael (FRA)
15 Roddick, Andy (USA)
16 Isner, John (USA)
17 Gasquet, Richard (FRA)
18 Lopez, Feliciano (ESP)
19 Troicki, Viktor (SRB)
20 Mayer, Florian (GER)
21 Wawrinka, Stanislas (SUI)
22 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP)
23 Raonic, Milos (CAN)
24 Nishikori, Kei (JPN)
25 Monaco, Juan (ARG)
26 Granollers, Marcel (ESP)
27 Chela, Juan Ignacio (ARG)
28 Ljubicic, Ivan (CRO)
29 Stepanek, Radek (CZE)
30 Anderson, Kevin (RSA)
31 Melzer, Jurgen (AUT)
32 Bogomolov Jr., Alex (RUS)
Women’s Seeds
1 Wozniacki, Caroline (DEN)
2 Kvitova, Petra (CZE)
3 Azarenka, Victoria (BLR)
4 Sharapova, Maria (RUS)
5 Li, Na (CHN)
6 Stosur, Samantha (AUS)
7 Zvonareva, Vera (RUS)
8 Radwanska, Agnieszka (POL)
9 Bartoli, Marion (FRA)
10 Petkovic, Andrea (GER)
11 Schiavone, Francesca (ITA)
12 Clijsters, Kim (BEL)
13 Williams, Serena (USA)
14 Jankovic, Jelena (SRB)
15 Lisicki, Sabine (GER)
16 Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia (RUS)
17 Peng, Shuai (CHN)
18 Cibulkova, Dominika (SVK)
19 Kuznetsova, Svetlana (RUS)
20 Pennetta, Flavia (ITA)
21 Hantuchova, Daniela (SVK)
22 Ivanovic, Ana (SRB)
23 Goerges, Julia (GER)
24 Vinci, Roberta (ITA)
25 Safarova, Lucie (CZE)
26 Kanepi, Kaia (EST)
27 Medina Garrigues, Anabel (ESP)
28 Kirilenko, Maria (RUS)
29 Wickmayer, Yanina (BEL)
30 Petrova, Nadezda (RUS)
31 Kerber, Angelique (GER)
32 Niculescu, Monica (ROU)
Venus Williams puts off return to the tour
Former world number one Venus Williams has withdrawn from next year’s ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand where she would make her first appearance in a tournament since August.
Venus has played at a recent exhibition in Milan and has played only four tournaments in the 2011 season but is still recovering from Sjogren’s syndrome, which causes joint pain and fatigue.
Organizer’s of the event have stated that she is just not ready to come back to the pro circuit. Venus, who is now 31 does have the Australian Open ahead of her coming up on January 16th, so we are all hoping Venus will make her appearance there and hopefully do well in her comeback.
Madison Keys and Jesse Levine Win USA Australian Open 2012 Wildcard Playoff
Madison Keys is only 16, but she performed above her years to defeat Gail Brodsky in the USA Australian Open 2012 Wildcard Playoff final 6-3 6-4.
While on the mens side Jesse Levine hammered Robby Ginepri 6-0 6-2 6-1 to win the mens wildcard.
Maria Sharapova’s 2012 Australian Open outfit
Here is what Maria Sharapova is really going to wear for the 2012 Australian Open! By the way, sorry for my previous post about her outfit…
Ana Ivanovic’s 2012 Australian Open dress
This is most likely what former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic will wear to the 2012 Australian Open!
Li Na’s Australian Open 2012 outfit
This is what Li Na is going to wear to the 2012 Australian Open. Well, this is actually just the top! I will keep you posted for the bottom of the outfit, though!
Ashleigh Barty and Marinko Matosevic Win Australian Open 2012 Wildcards
Marinko Matosevic has won the Australian Open 2012 playoff and earnt himself a wildcard into the Australian Open 2012. Matosevic defeated James Duckworth in the final 6-4 6-1 6-2.
While in the female side of the draw Ashleigh Barty (the 15 year old) won in straight sets over Olivia Rogowska 7-6 6-2.
All Time Grand Slam Winners
Here is a very interesting table we came across of the top Grand Slam winners.
| Player | Total | Era | Surface | Time Span | Win/Loss | Win % | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amateur | Pro | Open | Grass | Clay | Hard | Indoor | Age | Span | Years | ||||
 Ken Rosewall |
23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 6 | N/A | 9 | 18 – 37 | 20 | 1953–1972 | 246-46 | 84.24 |
| Rod Laver |
19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 2 | N/A | 5 | 21 – 31 | 10 | 1960–1969 | 180-36 | 83.33 |
 Roger Federer |
16 | N/A | N/A | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | N/A | 21 – 28 | 8 | 2003–2010 | 228-34 | 87.02 |
 Pete Sampras |
14 | N/A | N/A | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | N/A | 19 – 31 | 13 | 1990–2002 | 203-38 | 84.23 |
| Bill Tilden |
14 | 10 | 4 | N/A | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27 - 42 | 16 | 1920–1935 | 150-30 | 83.33 |
| Pancho Gonzales |
14 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | N/A | 12 | 20 – 33 | 14 | 1948–1961 | 103-29 | 78.03 |
| Roy Emerson |
12 | 12 | N/A | 0 | 10 | 2 | N/A | N/A | 24 – 30 | 7 | 1961–1967 | 174-39 | 81.69 |
 Björn Borg |
11 | N/A | N/A | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | N/A | 18 – 25 | 7 | 1974–1981 | 141-16 | 89.81 |
| Don Budge |
10 | 6 | 4 | N/A | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 22 – 27 | 5 | 1937–1942 | 95-18 | 84.07 |
 Fred Perry |
10 | 8 | 2 | N/A | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 24 – 32 | 8 | 1933–1941 | 120-22 | 84.51 |
 Rafael Nadal |
10 | N/A | N/A | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | N/A | 19 – 25 | 7 | 2005–2011 | 143-20 | 87.73 |
 Henri Cochet |
9 | 8 | 1 | N/A | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 19 – 33 | 14 | 1922–1936 | N/A | N/A |
via – Tennis Planet
Ashleigh Barty to Face Olivia Rogowska in Australian Open 2012 Wildcard Playoff
Ashleigh Barty is only 15, but already she has found herself in the final for the Australian Open wild card. Ashleigh won the Wimbledon girls singles in 2011 and this going to be a tough test in the final against Olivia Rogowska.
”I didn’t even think I was going to be in the tournament,” Barty, told the Sydney Morning Herald. ”I was a wildcard in here, so I’m just pleased to win a few matches and get rewarded. I’ve just been playing some pretty tennis. I think I’m getting rewarded for the way I’m playing and the way I’m conducting myself on court.”
Robin Soderling Withdraws From Australian Open 2012
Robin Soderling has announced he will not be playing the Australian Open 2012. Soderling has had a really tough time recovering from illness which saw him withdraw from the US Open.
On his Twitter account: “I am very sorry for being away for so long and for not giving many updates but my recovery has been longer than expected. I am feeling better with each day but it will still take some time before I can start practising in full speed. My goal is to start with practice in January and I hope for tournament comeback in February but at this stage it is hard to know when and where. I hope my body will allow me to do that. “
Australian Open 2012 Wildcard Qualifying: JP Smith, Chris Guccione, Marinko Matosevic and Sam Groth
Qualifying for the Australian Open 2012 wildcard has begun and here are some of the highlights from Day 2 matches.
JP Smith vs Chris Guccione
Marinko Matosevic vs Sam Groth
p.s As I predicted… JP Smith is going to be the player to watch for 2012!
