Week 4: Australian Open [Hall]

[Magrat Garlick]

Haha. Shpidla finally gets beaten and I can't get up to that semi.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Men's Singles - 1st Semi Final (Thursday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Men's singles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4 - Section 5 - Section 6 - Section 7 - Section 8)

• World No. 1 Jason Hall has again come from a set down to chase down seeded opposition after a four-set win over World No. 9 Illya Altman. Aiming for a place in a second straight Australian Open final, Hall started quickly to lead 4-2 after breaking serve. But the clean-hitting Ukrainian knew he needed to take the first set to trouble the world's best player, and managed to secure an immediate break back as he fired two clean forehand winners before levelling it at 4-4. A rare missed opportunity at the net for Hall gave Altman another break; one which he capitalised on to take the first set 6-4. But much like Henry Charles on Tuesday, Altman could not press his early lead and was outgunned in the most important moments despite finding himself a break up in the third. Hall, however, clawed back to steal the third set with some fantastic striking to really heap the pressure back on Altman. And like Charles before him, Altman wilted under the aggression of the top seed who closed out the fourth set to love 4-7, 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-0. Hall moves to a third hard court Grand Slam final, and only requires a win from Daniel Páez Blanco to set up just his second meeting against the Spanish world No. 2.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Illya Altman.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Men's Doubles - 1st Semi Final (Thursday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Men's doubles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)

• The World No. 1 doubles team Hugh James & Ralph Robinson are out of the Australian Open after being upset in three sets by East CWLanders Jefferson Drake & Martti Korpinen. The fourth seeds had their chances to romp the match home in straight sets, but the resiliance of the top seeded duo very nearly did wonders in a three set affair on Centre Court. Yet to make a Grand Slam final, Drake and Korpinen got the surprise jump on the French Open champs to lead the first set 5-2, but their single break lead was reeled back by the Americans who somehow scrapped enough to take the set to a tiebreaker. Despite claiming four of the last five games of the set, the top seeds could not take the breaker as they fell behind 0-4 and could not recover. Nevertheless, the signs were good for the second set until the underdogs again stormed ahead to a 5-1 lead and were on the edge of a Grand Slam final. But, much like Rasmus Olesen yesterday, amazingly dropped six games in a row as the top seeds looked to have taken the match by the scruff of its neck. However, for a third time James and Robinson could not make a strong start and some nervous serving saw the two-time Grand Slam finalists down 2-5. There was no fight back this time, and the East CWLanders were through to the biggest match of their career 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-2. If third seeds Heath Davis & Jojo Mustard can win their semi final tomorrow, they will set up a huge all-CWLand affair just a week ahead of a likely Davis Cup clash.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Hugh James &
  
  Ralph Robinson.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Junior Boys' Singles - 3rd Round (Wednesday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Boys' singles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)

• Third seed Marcuss Deane has continued his great run through to the boys' singles semi finals after coming from a set down to beat local hopeful John Standish. Deane had been taken to three sets in his previous two matches, and if he wanted to win here he'd have to do it again as he was broken once by Standish who took the first set 6-3. The Australian Optus Under 18s champion looked more comfortable against players his age (he lost first round of the main draw to Almen Benaglio 1-6, 0-6, 3-6), but Deane still possesses a service beyond his years and pulled it out at important occasions to fight off three breaks points in the second set to take it 6-4. Heading to a decider, Deane began to find his serving rhythm and took the first game of the third to love and quickly set about attacking the Standish serve. It took him until the tenth game to finally break the largely steady Australian's serve to secure a big 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win. He will now face second seed Harry Thompson who overcame a jittery start to beat unseeded German Tom Eiffel 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

• In the top half, Bulgaria's Yuri Shankov got a taste of his own medicine as he was crushed by Romania's George Costea. Shankov won his third round clash against Nathan Hannah 6-0, 6-0, but it was a different story against the thirteenth seed who ran home for a 6-1, 6-1 win. Costea will now face sixth seeded Swede Marcus Lindberg who charged home 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 to beat Zoltán Timar and book his semi final spot.

• Seeded players out:
  
  John Standish.

Australian Open
Junior Boys' Doubles - Quarter Finals (Wednesday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Boys' doubles (Seeds - Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)

• In the boys' doubles final, second seeds Jack & Tommy Schaap will vie to become the first junior doubles champions when they face Asian pair Mahesh Masih & Anid Niraj. The Schaap Brothers hadn't dropped a set all week, and that didn't change against Jasper Mikluho-Maklai & Austin Rhodes as they won 6-3, 6-2. India's Masih and Indonesia's Niraj had it tougher, but ultimately won through 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 against seventh seeded Japanese pair Hiroshi Motokata & Kiyo Osaka.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Hiroshi Motokata &
  
  Kiyo Osaka.

 

[David]

**** yeah!

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

****. The chance of a massive all CWLand East vs. West affair could be on the cards. Come on Mustardo, we've got a semi to win!

 

[Jarquis]

Didn't even realise I was playing here! Ecstatic to make it to the quarters! Is going to be an absolutely mamoth task against the 2nd seed but if I can carry on my serving form I have a chance.
!

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Men's Singles - 2nd Semi Final (Friday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Men's singles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4 - Section 5 - Section 6 - Section 7 - Section 8)

• For the first time in history, the world's No. 1 and 2 player will meet and it will take place in the Australian Open final after second seed Daniel Páez Blanco crushed Denmark's Rasmus Olesen in straight sets. The eighth seed was so impressive against third seed Radek Špidlá in the quarter finals, but his inability to take advantage of his opportunities to end the match early clearly cost him as he looked stiff and out of it against the Spanish star. Blanco was all over Olesen right throughout the contest as he dominated the points from the baseline; getting back any shot from Olesen that went down the line and then capitalising on anything that dropped short. Olesen, already weary on his legs, was not thriving under the type of match that was being played and in a last-ditch effort looked to change it up more in the third set for greater results. But it was too little too late, and at 4-4 he played a tired stroke to net a simple volley to give Blanco the chance to serve for the match. Needing just four points, he held to love to move to a second Grand Slam final 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Rasmus Olesen.

For the record, I'm not entirely sure if this is the first 1 vs. 2 match, but I think it is. Hall and Špidlá didn't play until after Špidlá lost the world No. 2 spot, whilst the Hall/Daneu final in Miami was when Daneu was No. 3.

Incidentally, Oxenstierna will be kicking himself for missing this.
​

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Men's Doubles - 2nd Semi Final (Friday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Men's doubles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)

• Finals day on Sunday will produce a momentous occasion as East and West will clash on the biggest stage so far after Heath Davis & Jojo Mustard advanced to the their second straight Grand Slam final. Pitted against in form Wimbledon champions Sandro Bachunelli & Hicham Hadir, the West CWLanders would have felt there was a battle on their hands early as the Davis serve was broken thanks to some good returning from Bachunelli and a volley sprayed wide from Mustard to help them take advantage of their first break point. Whilst the West CWLanders heaped the pressure on Hadir in the very next service game, the Moroccan held strong through six deuces to serve out the set 6-4. The writing was then on the wall for Davis and Mustard; for the fourth time this tournament they needed to win in three sets and they had to do it against a team that had yet to even drop a set. But with the finish line in sight, the fifth seeds began to freeze up and make mistakes that weren't evident earlier in the week. A bizzare clash of racquets handed Davis and Mustard the early break in the second, whilst Hadir made things worse by seeking medical attention for an ankle injury following an awkward landing after a smash. Nevertheless, Hadir played on but it was obvious that the veteran Bachunelli was left to pick up the pressure and the momentum was well in favour of the third seeds. To Hadir's credit, he didn't throw it away when the match looked done, but it was all an exhibition for Davis and Mustard from there who cruised into a historic showdown with Jefferson Drake & Martti Korpinen 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Sandro Bachunelli &
  
  Hicham Hadir.

I think this might be the first meeting between Davis/Mustard and Drake/Korpinen. Great win from the Westerners, though, after probably the toughest run so far length wise.
​

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Junior Boys' Singles - Semi Finals (Friday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Boys' singles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)

• Marcuss Deane, the third-seeded West CWLander, has produced a fine performance to survive a tense three-set affair with second seeded favourite Harry Thompson to move into the boys' singles final at Melbourne Park. The senior ranked youngster had been pushed in many of his matches this week, and that did not change against the local who ensured the match would go to three sets. But after taking the second set with some handy backhands to wrongfoot Deane, disaster struck Thompson in the third set as he was broken in the very first game despite leading 40-15. With a break in hand, Deane set about shutting out Thompson completely and succeeded with five convincing holds of serve to secure a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 passage to the final.

• Deane will now face sixth seeded Swede Marcus Lindberg who accounted for thirteenth seed George Costea of Romania 6-4, 6-4 in a confident display.

• Seeded players out:
  
  George Costea;
  
  Harry Thompson.

Australian Open
Junior Boys' Doubles - Quarter Finals (Wednesday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Boys' doubles (Seeds - Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)

• After not dropping a set all week, second seeds Jack & Tommy Schaap have fallen short of capturing the doubles title as Mahesh Masih & Anid Niraj performed well in a three-set win. After dropping the first set, the Indian-Indonesian pairing were sensational as they performed fantastically at the net and baseline alike to overwhelm the Dutch brothers and to secure the first junior doubles title 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Jack Schaap &
  
  Tommy Schaap.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

What a victory! The gloss taken off a little bit by Hadir's victory, but for Mustard and I to make the final after the draw we've had, and not having really hit top gear is fabulous.

It will be great to meet Drake on the field on the field of battle, having shared many pints and women in the past. Should be an epic encounter.

 

[Jarquis]

Into the final!!!! This would be amazing. Have been taken to 3 sets quite a few times not and I can't see it being any different in the final. Just need one more big performance !

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Admit it, you're just handing the CW players the win so someone will post.

 

[Mister Wright]

So awesome! Hopefully the East v West confrontation will live up the obvious hype. Really confident going into this and will be a good preview to the Davis Cup clash ahead.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Admit it, you're just handing the CW players the win so someone will post.

Haha actually no. Was kinda hoping one of the CWLanders would lose in the semis to avoid the thought it was a set up!

So awesome! Hopefully the East v West confrontation will live up the obvious hype. Really confident going into this and will be a good preview to the Davis Cup clash ahead.

Should be a very interesting clash. Live sim likely.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Junior Boys' Singles - Final (Saturday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Boys' singles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)

• In the only Saturday match at Melbourne Park, third seeded FR CWLander Marcuss Deane has clinched the first ever junior Grand Slam title with a confident win over Sweden's Marcus Lindberg. Deane had been taken to three sets regularly throughout the week, but showed that his style of play left him with a tank full of gas as he quickly shot out to a 3-0 lead. Lindberg, though, was making inroads when returning and with a crafty drop shot earned the break back to level the score at 3-3, before holding again to be 4-4. Nevertheless, Deane was able to bounce back from the early setback to hold to love, and then secure the first set as Lindberg failed to return a deep forehand. The Swedish sixth seed needed a much better start to the second, and he got it as an early break gave him a 2-1 lead with service. He managed to bring up a couple of game points, but was not able to consolodate as Deane drew level thanks to a wild unforced error. Deane continued to press, and in the eighth game finally got his reward via a break of the Lindberg serve; going on to secure the title 6-4, 6-3.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Marcus Lindberg.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Well done Deane. Might be time to mix it with the men, now that you've thrashed the boys.

 

[Jarquis]

Yes! Overjoyed by that! The tournament was definitely good for my tennis and it was brilliant to come awya with the title. Hopefully I can transfer the habit of winning matches across onto the mens circuit!

!

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Well played. Should be a good man to have in the land for the coming years.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Australian Open
Men's Singles - Final (Sunday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Men's singles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4 - Section 5 - Section 6 - Section 7 - Section 8)

World No. 1 Jason Hall has successfully defended his Australian Open crown in a fine display against second seed Daniel Páez Blanco. In just their second meeting, Hall was too good for the Spaniard as he claimed his third Grand Slam title in four sets 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5). In their only previous meeting, the then World No. 12 Blanco crushed Hall 6-4, 6-3 on the Monte Carlo clay, but here was a different story on a court Hall has made his own with fourteen appearances. Whilst Blanco stuck with the top seed, he was broken late in the first two sets and seemed to be losing touch in an entertaining affair. But the French Open champion blew the match open in the third set as Hall's one weakness of waiting too long for an opening became apparent; Blanco attacking his backhand side with some fierce and deep shots. But after coming back from a break down in the fourth, Blanco could not stop Hall from securing the match in a tiebreaker as he took advantage of his first championship point to win the first battle of the world No. 1 against the world No. 2.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Daniel Páez Blanco.

Australian Open
Men's Doubles - Final (Sunday) - Melbourne (Australia)

Men's doubles (Seeds - Finals - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)

Heath Davis & Jojo Mustard have claimed a second Grand Slam title by overcoming a horror second set to win 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. In their fifth three-set win of the tournament, the third seeds proved too good for CWLand rivals Jefferson Drake & Martti Korpinen to hoist their second massive title. Full coverage of a fiery affair can be found here.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Jefferson Drake &
  
  Martti Korpinen.