DAILY DOSE of DOWN UNDER
Daily Dose of Down Under
by TLR Host Todd
Hello TLR Nuts and tennis fans! The 2009 grand slam season has begun and Tennis Live Radio will be back soon. I thank you for your patience and very much look forward to speaking to you all again. While we wait for our radio return, I decided to express some of my Australian Open opinions right here during the next two weeks. Please excuse any spelling and/or grammatical errors. We do this on the fly.
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 & Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14
DAY TWELVE THOUGHTS
#1 TREE FALLING in the FOREST: Does a great match really happen if no one is around to watch it? Unfortunately I was unable to witness what was not only the best match of the tournament, but very well might hold to be the best of the year (4th Annual TLR Awards, Novmeber 2009). No I still don't have a DVR and if I did, Yes I could have recorded it. BUT, before watching the rerun, I would have know the score which certainly would have taken the sting out of this instant classic. I watched the first two sets on replay in the AM, but was unable to view more. I missed Federer/Safin AO SF in 2005, I missed Nadal/Coria Rome final 2005 and I missed the one that still stings the most, Sampras/Becker Wimbledon final 1995. Unfortunately, like the Sampras/Correjta 1996 QF US Open match I did see, this one ended on a double fault. Speaking of Becker, last night's SF became the longest match in AO history, lasting three minutes longer than the previous 5 hrs. 11 minute mark set by Boris/Camporeses in 1991. Amazing stat: Nadal only 25 unforced errors in 5 hours and 14 minutes. I'll be sure to watch much throughout the day and look forward to receiving the opinions of those in the TLC on this historic match.
 

#3 I'M GOING to DISNEYWORLD
: The Steelers and Cardinals will play for the Vince Lombardi trophy on Sunday and surely the game's MVP will be asked where he is headed after a triumph season. "I'm going to Disneyworld!" Fernando Verdasco did not win, but a trip to Orlando is in order for the new Top 10er. Representing the two feel good, unexpected stories of the AO, both Fernando Verdasco and Jelena Dokic deserve a night at Cinderella's Castle.

 
#4 STYLES MAKE FIGHTS: Although Rafa hadn't dropped a set until the SF, some might say Federer enters the final playing the better ball. He waxed JMDP and Roddick, while Nadal was forced to the limited last night. Granted Rafa didn't close out Verdasco until well less than 48 hours until the final tip off and could be less than 100%, I still throw the first 6 matches out the window. Like they say in Boxing, "Styles Makes Fights", and the 19th match between #1 and #2 will probably be tight. Do I even bother trying to break this one down. If were writing for ESPN, FOX Sports or another, I would probably have to...BUT I'm writing to you. The most educated tennis fans on the planet. I can't tell you anything you don't know. I'm going to pull up my chair, pop the corn, have a few cold ones and take it all in. All this at 3:30am eastern. Who else will be watching this live?
 

#5 DOUBLES SLAM: Congrats to Venus and Serena. Wimbledon champs, Olympic Champs and now Aussie champs. I have a feeling they may go for the doubles slam this year.

 
#6 WOMEN'S FINAL: If Serena serves well, she wins. If she doesn't, I'll still picking her. Having already beenlearned from her first slam final in 2008, I do not believe Safin-ah will be overwhelmed by the moment. But I have to go with the 9 time champ who loves the Aussie summer. Agassi did to and I wouldn't pick against him.
 
 


































 
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