Running (albeit late) 2012 Aussie Open thread

[Blitz]

Just watched final hour of a live (I think) showing of the Bryan/Bryan semifinal win over Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau.
An awesome final few minutes as the Bryans fell behind 5-2 in a all-in tiebreaker, then stormed back to win.
This has been an interesting tournament, in several respects.

 

[BrianGriffin]

The timing and participation on this thread says alot about tennis in America.

 

[Blitz]

I know, I know.
I do think more people like it or follow it than let on.

 

[Quakes]

Thanks for starting it, Blitz. You really couldn't ask for better semifinals on both sides -- 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 on the men's side, and 11 (Clijsters, who took out the 1) vs. 3 and 2 vs. 4 on the women's side.

I'm debating whether I should/can stay up for Federer-Nadal tonight. I'm pulling for Roger, and he's certainly capable, but I'm going to need to see him beat Rafa in a big spot before I believe it.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Announcers just ripped Azarenka for complaining about talking in crowd. Seriously, if there's someone who has no right to complain about noise...

 

[Blitz]

Just glad, too, to see Clijsters back near the top after her temporary fall from elite status.
Women's game has always spawned so many players who were able to reinvent themselves, much moreso than on the men's side.
Seles did it momentarily, Davenport did it big time and there have been other females who came and went and came again.

 

[Quakes]

Capriati, too. Clijsters didn't fall so much as retire, though (and get injured for a while). But she may be letting this match slip away after winning the second set. Then again, she's probably setting up a big comeback victory. (Volleyball might be the only sport with more runs and momentum shifts than women's tennis.)

I haven't seen Azarenka play that often, so I'm wondering if this is her normal grunting/shrieking. She doesn't sound that loud to me.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Quakes,

She's brutal. Players complain more about her than about Sharapova.

 

[Quakes]

Yeah, I know that's her reputation. It just didn't sound too bad. It was certainly audible, and much louder than Clijsters, but it didn't seem that loud or distracting or annoying. Maybe I've become desensitized to grunting. Or maybe I have the volume down too low. (Sharapova, at the moment, sounds louder to me.)

 

[HanSenSE]

Quakes,

She's brutal. Players complain more about her than about Sharapova.

Ear protection mandatory for reporters at Sharapova-Azarenka final?

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Nadal with a wrap around his knee. Can't help but think whatever that is would take some power from Nadal.

 

[Dignan]

I'm not even a big tennis fan, but Federer-Nadal is worth staying up for. To compare a rivalry to Ali-Frazier is the biggest cliche in sports, but this is the closest thing we have.

 

[Quakes]

I just woke up, after dozing for a few hours, and saw the score. After seeing that Nadal just went up a break on Federer in the second set, after losing the first set, my gut instinct is that this is going to fit the pattern of many previous matches, in which Federer started well against Nadal and then faded. Thoughts? Now let me turn my TV on.

 

[TrooperBari]

In case anyone is up, the other men's semifinal with Djokovic and Britain's/Scotland's (delete as necessary) Andy Murray is another cracker.

 

[qtlaw]

Nadal looks awesome. Watched Federer in the prior rounds and he was as magical as ever, but then Nadal just rolled him, he's near peak level. (Fed has not won a major in two years now, wow.)

Djoker is in the final, saw a bit of the first two sets with Murray and they both looked lackluster. Then they go to 5. Must have improved.

Last year was magical but this is a new year and Nadal looks better so far but he's got to overcome that 0-7 last year against Djoker.

I'm kind of pulling for Azarenka just to see someone new actually break through. Sharapova is fun to watch (not listen to though) because she just goes for everything and hits out at all times, love that.

 

[the fop]

Nadal looks awesome. Watched Federer in the prior rounds and he was as magical as ever, but then Nadal just rolled him, he's near peak level. (Fed has not won a major in two years now, wow.)

Wishful thinking, perhaps, but I think Fed has one more in him. What he needs is Murray across the net from him in Paris or Wimbledon.

 

[John]

I refuse to watch the women's final because of the noise (it's not grunting), which hopefully is becoming a big enough issue that the WTA does something about it.

I stayed up for both men's semifinals, but I doubt I'll do that for the final.

 

[HanSenSE]

If the WWL could find a way to mask vuzuvelas, they should be able to silence this women's final.

 

[spikechiquet]

The character Tate from the movie Ken Park doesn't see anything wrong with this match. In fact...he's about to grab his belt.

 

[old_tony]

My goodness did Sharapova fold. Gets a break, goes up, 2-0, and wins one more game the rest of the way. 6-3, 6-0.