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#1 CLASSLESS in SESSION:
I got my first look at Rafael Nadal in 2009 on Day 4 vs.
Croatia's Roko Karanusic. As we all know now, Rafa is
sporting a new look for the New Year and it includes
longer sleeves and shorter shorts. To me this signals
and even more professional world number one in 2009.
Both his game and style mature as he further affirms his
place as leader of the ATP World Tour. He is all
business and all class, unlike his opponent on Thursday.
While I support every player's right to believe he can
win a match, Roko's behavior was a bit overboard.
Constantly berating himself in between points displays a
lack of respect for his grand slam opponent. I remember
when Noak Djokovic declared he was in control of the
points vs. Rafa at Roland Garros a few years back and
much of the media and some fans were put off by his
statement. I didn't find it that out of line
because he didn't say it on court and again I
support any player to be confident and speak his mind
regarding his ability to play the game despite any
opponent he/she plays. In this case, Roko lacked a bit
of class. |
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#2 CREDIT to CAHILL: ESPN analyst and former
Andre Agassi coach, Daren Cahill, made a case why Rafael
Nadal may be posed to capture his first hardcourt slam.
Normally the technical and instructional element of the
game bores me, but Darren discussed the difference in
Rafa's forehand Down Under. Rafa is whipping it across
his body as opposed to the above his head/shoulder which
results in less bounce and more penetration.
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#3 MJMS is THRU:
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez advanced to 3rd round. |
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#4 ZOFRAN: I stopped at the pharmacy
today in preparation for the result of tonight's Federer/Safin
match. Zofran - 'blocks the actions of chemicals in the
body that can trigger nausea and vomiting.' See
Day One.
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#5 PROOF POSITIVE:
Venus Williams became the first upset victim of the
tournament on Day Four when she was defeating by Carla
Suarez Navarro of Spain. I'm not surprised for two
reasons. Although Venus did make the QF last year, as of
late she has stumbled out of the gate in January. In
2004 she lost 3rd round to Lisa Raymond. In 2005 she
lost 4th round to Alicia Molik and in 2007 lost 1st
round to Tsvetana Pironkova. Not to mention she hasn't
won a hard court slam since 2001. My second reason will
be no surprise to those that listen to TLR. Suarez
Navarro wields a one-handed backhand and as Ron Burgandy
once stated about his own guns, "They'll get you." Part
of this theory is personal preference of course, but
I'll certainly use Venus' loss as evidence in a future
discussion on this topic. Hats of to Carla. She has a
good chance to make her 2nd career slam quarterfinal in
less a than a year. Also, although all matches are tough
matches, this opens up Elena Dementieva's draw a bit. |
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#6 SPIRIT of '99:
It's been 10 years since Amelie Maursemo appeared before
the tennis world and contested Martine Hingis for the AO
title. Could she come out of no where again? A few seeds
stand in her way to the final but can you really count a
multiple grand slam champion out? Especially with the
parity in the women's game. She struggled a bit against
Elena Baltacha on Day Four, but as champions understand,
you don't play seven perfect matches. "The beginning of
a Grand Slam is always tricky. Sometimes you play good,
sometimes it's not so great. But then it gets better. So
I'm definitely hoping to get better as the tournament is
going." You may be saying to yourself, "Todd you're
nuts. It's not going to happen. Plus she's 29". But I'll
say, "You're forgetting one crucial bit of information.
She wields a on-handed backhand." |
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#7 CRUISING: Venus' exit makes it one upset on
each side. Nalbandian lost one day three, all other top
names on the men side are simply cruising. My One
for the Ages prediction on
Day One could still happen.
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