*Official* Tennis Thread

[Simon]

$13 is great value, she was already in $8 on centrebet last night, probably just a little too short for someone who hasnt even made a grand slam final and is carrying several injuries. Theres also the fear she ma have peaked a little early in the summer.
The womens draw is quite open but i expect Cljisters to win, Sharapova is still favourite but Cljisters win over her last week has her slightly in front in my books.
Mauresmo looks a bit short of a gallop and i dont really see a smoky coming from anywhere. With Kuznetsova, Williams, Myskina, Henin all out or carrying an injury the field doesnt look too strong.
I thought before today Vaidisova may be up for a very good showing but she was unimpressive.

 

[pasag]

Was just thinking in the car that Baghdatis has heaps of similarities with Monty.

 

[alternative]

Simon, are we having the prediction thread for Australian Open?

 

[Stumped]

i dont think bagdatis will do too well

 

[Simon]

Simon, are we having the prediction thread for Australian Open?

yeh cant see why not, monday's schedule wont be out until sunday evening, so it wont be until then that we can start it...

 

[luffy]

i dont think bagdatis will do too well

Any reason behind that??

 

[Simon]

Seeds announced

Men                      Women
1. Roger Federer (SUI) 1. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)

3. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 3. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

4. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 4. Kim Clijsters (BEL)

5. James Blake (USA) 5. Nadia Petrova (RUS)

6. Andy Roddick (USA) 6. Martina Hingis (SUI)

7. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 7. Elena Dementieva (RUS)

8. David Nalbandian (ARG) 8. Patty Schnyder (SUI)

9. Mario Ancic (CRO) 9. Dinara Safina (RUS)

10. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 10. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)

11. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 11. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

12. Tommy Haas (GER) 12. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)

13. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 13. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)

14. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 14. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

15. Andy Murray (GBR) 15. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)

16. David Ferrer (ESP) 16. Shahar Peer (ISR)

17. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 17. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)

18. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 18. Marion Bartoli (FRA)

19. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 19. Na Li (CHN)

20. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 20. Tatiana Golovin (FRA)

21. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 21. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)

22. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) 22. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

23. Robin Soderling (SWE) 23. Ai Sugiyama (JPN)

24. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 24. Samantha Stosur (AUS)

25. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 25. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)

26. Marat Safin (RUS) 26. Maria Kirilenko (RUS)

27. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 27. Mara Santangelo (ITA)

28. Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 28. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)

29. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 29. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)

30. Agustin Calleri (ARG) 30. Tathiana Garbin (ITA)

31. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 31. Jie Zheng (CHN)

32. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 32. Eleni Daniilidou (GRE)

 

[luffy]

Seeds announced

Men                      Women
1. Roger Federer (SUI) 1. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)

3. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 3. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

4. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 4. Kim Clijsters (BEL)

5. James Blake (USA) 5. Nadia Petrova (RUS)

6. Andy Roddick (USA) 6. Martina Hingis (SUI)

7. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 7. Elena Dementieva (RUS)

8. David Nalbandian (ARG) 8. Patty Schnyder (SUI)

9. Mario Ancic (CRO) 9. Dinara Safina (RUS)

10. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 10. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)

11. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 11. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

12. Tommy Haas (GER) 12. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)

13. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 13. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)

14. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 14. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

15. Andy Murray (GBR) 15. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)

16. David Ferrer (ESP) 16. Shahar Peer (ISR)

17. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 17. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)

18. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 18. Marion Bartoli (FRA)

19. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 19. Na Li (CHN)

20. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 20. Tatiana Golovin (FRA)

21. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 21. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)

22. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) 22. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

23. Robin Soderling (SWE) 23. Ai Sugiyama (JPN)

24. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 24. Samantha Stosur (AUS)

25. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 25. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)

26. Marat Safin (RUS) 26. Maria Kirilenko (RUS)

27. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 27. Mara Santangelo (ITA)

28. Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 28. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)

29. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 29. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)

30. Agustin Calleri (ARG) 30. Tathiana Garbin (ITA)

31. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 31. Jie Zheng (CHN)

32. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 32. Eleni Daniilidou (GRE)

So Nadal's expected to be playing now is he?

 

[Simon]

yeh he'll play, how fit he is will be another story altogether...

 

[Johnners]

$13 is great value, she was already in $8 on centrebet last night, probably just a little too short for someone who hasnt even made a grand slam final and is carrying several injuries. Theres also the fear she ma have peaked a little early in the summer.
The womens draw is quite open but i expect Cljisters to win, Sharapova is still favourite but Cljisters win over her last week has her slightly in front in my books.
Mauresmo looks a bit short of a gallop and i dont really see a smoky coming from anywhere. With Kuznetsova, Williams, Myskina, Henin all out or carrying an injury the field doesnt look too strong.
I thought before today Vaidisova may be up for a very good showing but she was unimpressive.

Despite the 1st round loss to Jankovic at Sydney, i'd still rate Hingis a fair chance, if she can make it to the Quarters comfortably, she definetly knows what it takes to go on from there, whether she can do it remains to be seen.

Molik could be a darkhorse as well, her early matches will be the hardest though imo for the reason that she's still a little rusty from a long lay-off, but if she can string a few good wins together, a semi-final birth is definetly a possibility.

Sania Merza could alo cause a bit of a stir, she's been playing great tennis at both Hobart & previously at Perth.... that forehand is a weapon!!!

 

[Johnners]

Seeds announced

Men                      Women
1. Roger Federer (SUI) 1. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)

3. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 3. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

4. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 4. Kim Clijsters (BEL)

5. James Blake (USA) 5. Nadia Petrova (RUS)

6. Andy Roddick (USA) 6. Martina Hingis (SUI)

7. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 7. Elena Dementieva (RUS)

8. David Nalbandian (ARG) 8. Patty Schnyder (SUI)

9. Mario Ancic (CRO) 9. Dinara Safina (RUS)

10. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 10. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)

11. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 11. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

12. Tommy Haas (GER) 12. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)

13. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 13. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)

14. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 14. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

15. Andy Murray (GBR) 15. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)

16. David Ferrer (ESP) 16. Shahar Peer (ISR)

17. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 17. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)

18. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 18. Marion Bartoli (FRA)

19. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 19. Na Li (CHN)

20. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 20. Tatiana Golovin (FRA)

21. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 21. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)

22. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) 22. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

23. Robin Soderling (SWE) 23. Ai Sugiyama (JPN)

24. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 24. Samantha Stosur (AUS)

25. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 25. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)

26. Marat Safin (RUS) 26. Maria Kirilenko (RUS)

27. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 27. Mara Santangelo (ITA)

28. Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 28. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)

29. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 29. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)

30. Agustin Calleri (ARG) 30. Tathiana Garbin (ITA)

31. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 31. Jie Zheng (CHN)

32. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 32. Eleni Daniilidou (GRE)

Is Safin in the same half of the draw as Federer? Could possibly be a huge match up in the 4th round if he is

I'm hoping for an A-Rod victory tbh Ever since that 5-setter against Younis El Anyoui (sp?) in 2001 (i think) where he came out on top 19-17, he's been me favourite player. I'd love nothing more than to see the big-fella come out on top at the open. Mind you, federer might have something to say about it... but i'm hoping this is Roddick's year

 

[Stumped]

Is Safin in the same half of the draw as Federer? Could possibly be a huge match up in the 4th round if he is

I'm hoping for an A-Rod victory tbh Ever since that 5-setter against Younis El Anyoui (sp?) in 2001 (i think) where he came out on top 19-17, he's been me favourite player. I'd love nothing more than to see the big-fella come out on top at the open. Mind you, federer might have something to say about it... but i'm hoping this is Roddick's year

safin and federer played at kooyong...federer won i think 6-3 7-6

 

[Simon]

Draw is today at 1pm...

Baghdatis is now in some doubt, Davydenko is also carrying an injury, i think we may see quite a few people withdraw from this years tournament...

 

[Simon]

Ive also decided Patty Schynder is my dark horse for the womens draw, shes always been a solid top 10 player without challenging the top players, but given most of the top players are injured, out of form or not here i for some reason think she may win the Australian open, might put a few bucks on her today...

 

[Dydl]

I've got completely no idea who will win. At all. I've been surprised too many times in these tournaments to go for the predictable one, i.e. Federer. (Example: Baghdatis beating Federer in huge upset). So, no tips from me, but I hope Anabel Medina Garrigues does well (and that one of her friends doesn't have a birthday on the day that she's playing so she can't sing Happy Birthday again). Obviously supporting any Australian. It should be good.

 

[ash chaulk]

Yessss Golovin seeded 20 !!

 

[luffy]

I have a feeling Kim Clijsters has a good chance in this years Australian Open

 

[Matt79]

How appalling were the Serbian chick's fans tonight at the final against Clijsters???

 

[Simon]

interesting draw yesterday, Federer and Baghdatis in the same quarter.
Haas would be delighted with his draw, would have to meet Nalbandian in the 4th round and Davydenko in the quarters, but the rest of that quarter is very weak, probably the worst of the 4...

 

[Johnners]

Top job from Roddick to bring Federer down in 3 sets, 6-2 3-6 6-3 at the final of the Kooyong Classic today. I'm hoping it's a sign of things to come, Roddick winning that is

Worth noting to that it was Federers 1st loss since August 2006