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!
Laura Robson didnt have the Australian Open 2012 that she wanted. Robson got a tennis lesson today at the hands of (13) Jelena Jankovic. Jankovic tore Robson’s game apart and frankly made her look like a rookie. Robson obviously is young and will have many more opportunities, but she really needs to work on her physical shape if she wants to compete with the big hitters.
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.
The USA Today has Caroline Wozniacki blogging directly from the Australian Open 2012. Caroline is the top seed for the Australian Open 2012, but she is by far not the favourite to win the title. It will be interesting to see if she can find some form and overcome her Grand Slam curse.
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.
Roger Federer is going to be looking very good at the Australian Open 2012 in this stripe Nike outfit. Im really hoping he can have a strong performance and regain the world number 1 spot.
Novak Djokovic will be wearing a very interesting pattern from Sergio Tachini for the Australian Open 2012. Here is a quick preview of his Australian Open outfit.
Rafael Nadal is going to be a contender for the Australian Open 2012 title. Here is Rafael’s Nike outfit he will be wearing at the Australian Open 2012.
Venus Williams has announced that she wont be coming back onto the tour until February (after the Australian Open). Venus has been training and receiving treatment for several months, she has been getting a lot stronger, but just isnt going to be ready in time for the Australian Open.
Serena Williams has confirmed she will play the Australian Open through Twitter. After looking at the replay of her twisting her ankle it really wasnt that bad and there seemed to be a lot of stress over nothing. Especially considering Serena played on after the incident and still won the match.
It will be interesting to see how she performs at the Australian Open 2012.
That pic is a bit over the top.. just makes me laugh!
