Australian Open 2021

yerwanthere123

Now it's Australia's turn to host a grand slam in a global pandemic.

Men's draw

Women's draw

Here's to some great matches with a bit of atmosphere, hopefully!

Joe_ Public

Serena wont be breaking any records with that draw i dont think. Possible Sabalenka/Halep/Osaka and just to reach final. Well set up for barty though you'd have to expect a few more shocks than usual.

lostcat

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Serena wont be breaking any records with that draw i dont think. Possible Sabalenka/Halep/Osaka and just to reach final. Well set up for barty though you'd have to expect a few more shocks than usual.

Am I correct that Barty basically hasn't played since last years AO? Hard to see her being up to speed.

Mens draw looks balanced enough, Djokovic /Thiem on one side with Nadal / Medvedev on the other, Nadals side looking a bit tricker on paper.

Joe_ Public

lostcat wrote: »

Am I correct that Barty basically hasn't played since last years AO? Hard to see her being up to speed.

Thats correct, played one tournament after AO last year i think and called it a halt. Serena withdrawing from their scheduled match tonight won't help much either. Still, has best draw you could possibly ask for and didnt have to quarantine so that much is in her favour. Wide open though, even more than normal. Think Azarenka might go well and Alexandrova is another i'm keeping my eye on of late.

yerwanthere123

Anyone else thinking potential upset on the cards for Osaka against Pavlyuchenkova? Obviously depends on which Pavlyuchenkova shows up, but not an easy first round at all.

First impressions are it's a very, very good draw for Barty, and not a bad one for Kenin. Tricky comeback draw for Andreescu but I won't believe she's playing until I see her on court.

Potential Djokovic-Wawrinka match in the fourth round, is Stan up for carrying out the Lord's work at almost 36 years of age?

Shapovalov-Sinner in the first round, that could be great. Potential Thiem-Kyrgios in the third is also one to watch.

Also a potential Muguruza-Osaka fourth rounder, I googled to see what the h2h was.. turns out this would be the first match! Same goes with Serena-Sabalenka, on a collision course for their first ever match. Sabalenka probably won't get that far though. Halep-Swiatek is another to watch out for in the fourth round.

Joe_ Public

Going by seeding Osaka would have to beat Pav, Garcia, Jabeur & Muguruza just to reach qf. She'll be earning it the hard way if she wins. Bottom half of that draw is vicious.

Floppybits

Looking forward to dimitrov vs cilic, Shapovalov vs sinner and Thiem vs Kukushkin. Hard to know who is in form with the build up to this. Can't wait.

Rjd2

Kerber is done at this level sadly.

No shame in that had an excellent run a few years ago, won 3 Grand Slams and made loads of money.

Hector Savage

Nadal for the mens, can't see anyone else realistically.

Floppybits

Rjd2 wrote: »

Kerber is done at this level sadly.

No shame in that had an excellent run a few years ago, won 3 Grand Slams and made loads of money.

Didn't realise that Kerber is 33. Her game has really dropped of a cliff, reminds of Jelena Jankovic had a couple of good years and the dropped of a cliff.

Floppybits

Hector Savage wrote: »

Nadal for the mens, can't see anyone else realistically.

There's a shocker.

Hector Savage

Floppybits wrote: »

There's a shocker.

Bookmark it

lostcat

Floppybits wrote: »

Didn't realise that Kerber is 33. Her game has really dropped of a cliff, ....

didn't see the match but in her presser she noted that two weeks lockdown isn't the best preparation when facing someone who hasn't been in a lockdown..
I think it will take the first week for a lot of players to find their feel/feet.

Kerber hasn't been at the business end of things for a good while however.

Hector Savage

So envious of Australia, look at the audience there, we can only dream of this in Europe ...

hamburgham

I hope they have to fetch their towels themselves like they did in the French Open last year, I got kick out if it. Didn't realise how much I disliked the kids running around like lackeys after a flick of the wrist from the players.

Hector Savage

Djokovic still doing the heart throw cringe, jaysus doesn;t he have PR people ?

Floppybits

hamburgham wrote: »

I hope they have to fetch their towels themselves like they did in the French Open last year, I got kick out if it. Didn't realise how much I disliked the kids running around like lackeys after a flick of the wrist from the players.

Never liked the whole towel at the back of the court and toweling down after each point. For years sweat bands were enough. Maybe the fact they have to get their own towel now the players may just do without it.

josip

Hector Savage wrote: »

Nadal for the mens, can't see anyone else realistically.

Happy New Year Hector.
Out with the old, in with the new

josip

Hector Savage wrote: »

Djokovic still doing the heart throw cringe, jaysus doesn;t he have PR people ?

What people don't realise is that everytime he does the heart thing, he's actually thinking "Jebi se, Jebi se".



It's the greatest in-joke in tennis. He knows he's disliked everywhere. He knows that's not going to change just by making shapes with his arms. It's him against all of us. And he likes it that way.

josip

Hector Savage wrote: »

Djokovic still doing the heart throw cringe, jaysus doesn;t he have PR people ?

What people don't realise is that every time he does the heart thing, he's actually thinking "Jebi se, Jebi se".

It's the greatest in-joke in tennis. He knows he's disliked everywhere. He knows that's not going to change just by making shapes with his arms. It's him against all of us. And he likes it that way.

yerwanthere123

josip wrote: »

What people don't realise is that every time he does the heart thing, he's actually thinking "Jebi se, Jebi se".

It's the greatest in-joke in tennis. He knows he's disliked everywhere. He knows that's not going to change just by making shapes with his arms. It's him against all of us. And he likes it that way.

Never the impression I've gotten tbh, I've always thought he's desperate to be liked, and his lack of popularity bothers him greatly.

josip

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Never the impression I've gotten tbh, I've always thought he's desperate to be liked, and his lack of popularity bothers him greatly.

Can't see how he'd have won so many slams if it bothered him 'greatly'.
I think he's able to feed off it.

whiterebel

Such a shame Shapa and Sinner meet so early, its a great match.

Hector Savage

whiterebel wrote: »

Such a shame Shapa and Sinner meet so early, its a great match.

Indeed fantastic stuff, sorry one has to leave so early.
Sinner will be a future slam winner, great player.

40/40 there at *5-4, fifth set, tennis is such a knife edge sport ...

Floppybits

Great match between Kyrgios and Humbert. Say what you like about Kyrgios he is exciting to watch. Bit of controversy with the net sensor going off on serves when the ball has clearly cleared the net. Kyrgios asking for the sensor to be turned off.

Joe_ Public

Big scare for halep there, survives a bit of a war against Tomljanovic. A round away from a potential rematch against Swiatek.

Floppybits

Kyrgios in trouble now, Humbert a break up in the 4th set and leading 2 sets to 1.

Floppybits

Great match between Kyrgios and Humbert. Kyrgios saving 2 match points in the 4th set. Next up Thiem.

yerwanthere123

The Melbourne crowd cheering like Kyrgios just won the tournament.

Hector Savage

Floppybits wrote: »

Great match between Kyrgios and Humbert. Say what you like about Kyrgios he is exciting to watch. Bit of controversy with the net sensor going off on serves when the ball has clearly cleared the net. Kyrgios asking for the sensor to be turned off.

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Big scare for halep there, survives a bit of a war against Tomljanovic. A round away from a potential rematch against Swiatek.

Great matches, felt bad for Tomljanovic, but she has a future in the game for sure.

Kryios is great, don't really like the guy as a person but total entertainment and something Tennis badly needs.
Glad he went through.

camz09

Are people watching this on Eurosport player? I don't understand their highlights..literally all matches replay are posted, even some doubles, EXCEPT the Tiafoe-Djokovic one is not there?¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Half asleep watching the Wawrinka-Fucsovic only to wake up Fucs winning in the end, surprising! Also happy to see Su Wei Hsieh the bamboozler/giant killer again!

Joe_ Public

camz09 wrote: »

Are people watching this on Eurosport player? I don't understand their highlights..literally all matches replay are posted, even some doubles, EXCEPT the Tiafoe-Djokovic one is not there?¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Half asleep watching the Wawrinka-Fucsovic only to wake up Fucs winning in the end, surprising! Also happy to see Su Wei Hsieh the bamboozler/giant killer again!

Hsieh is so good to watch, and seems to thrive off the power being directed at her, should beat errani and think qf a definite possibility which would be her best ever GS performance at 35.

yerwanthere123

Thrilled for Hsieh, that was everything I hoped from her and more, she's brilliant when she's on. Would liked to have seen her play Venus next, but not to be. Difficult not to feel some sympathy for Andreescu though, coming back after 15 months and then being caged in her room for two weeks was tough, but at least she got to play. Now what she needs is matches, matches and more matches. I think she's signed in to Adelaide in a couple of weeks? Maybe she might even request a wildcard for Philip Island Trophy that's being put on next week.

Disappointed Humbert couldn't get the job done. I know the crowd are obviously gonna be pretty overt in their support for an Australian, but a bit unnecessary to wildly cheer his missed first serves. Bit nervous about the looming Thiem-Kyrgios match, especially when they've never even played a full set against each other, but I trust Thiem will get the job done handily enough.

Quite impressed with what I've seen from Shapovalov so far, he's got a good chance of making his second grand slam QF and will have navigated his way through a tricky draw to do so.

yerwanthere123

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Hsieh is so good to watch, and seems to thrive off the power being directed at her, should beat errani and think qf a definite possibility which would be her best ever GS performance at 35.

I dunno, she's 0-3 against Errani and has never even won a set. In fact the six sets went 61 60 60 64 60 61! Two of the matches were on clay though, so I really hope Hsieh gets the job done this time, a QF against Osaka would be nice :cool:

Hector Savage wrote: »

Great matches, felt bad for Tomljanovic, but she has a future in the game for sure.

Kryios is great, don't really like the guy as a person but total entertainment and something Tennis badly needs.
Glad he went through.

Don't think so tbh, she's been around a long time now. She'll be 28 in May, and her best performance at a slam was 4R of RG almost seven years ago.

Joe_ Public

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

I dunno, she's 0-3 against Errani and has never even won a set. In fact the six sets went 61 60 60 64 60 61! Two of the matches were on clay though, so I really hope Hsieh gets the job done this time, a QF against Osaka would be nice :cool:



Don't think so tbh, she's been around a long time now. She'll be 28 in May, and her best performance at a slam was 4R of RG almost seven years ago.

Hadnt seen that head to head record, not all that recent but could suggest hseih not able to impose her preferred style on a player like errani. Definitely no gimme, i just hope hseih wins because i really really dislike errani!

Was surprised when i checked Tomljanovic bio while watching her earlier, expected her to be younger. Judging by that performance you'd wonder why she isnt higher in the rankings but generally there is a reason for these things.

2lazytogetup

nice to know Hsieh is liked by others. always a fan of hers.

I feel sad for Venus. and im a much bigger fan of hers than her sister Serena. I respect Serena and acknowledge she was better than Graf, but i cant stand her attitude.

RobertKK

RTE sports coverage and not one mention of the Halep v Tomljanovic match.

That was such a great match and RTE gives it zilch.

Augme

Kyrgios will always be one of those what if stories. Amazing natural talent.

whiterebel

He totally switched on when facing match point. Brilliant after that.

2lazytogetup

Augme wrote: »

Kyrgios will always be one of those what if stories. Amazing natural talent.

yeah id say Kyrgios the most naturally talented fellow out there.
Though isnt his family Malalysian royalty so id say there was money for many private tennis lessons when he was younger. im not taking a dig. id be far more a fan of his than his nemesis djoko.

somebody needs to stir up the medvedev and Tsitsipas rivalry. create a bit of excitement.

josip

2lazytogetup wrote: »

yeah id say Kyrgios the most naturally talented fellow out there.
Though isnt his family Malalysian royalty so id say there was money for many private tennis lessons when he was younger. im not taking a dig. id be far more a fan of his than his nemesis djoko.

somebody needs to stir up the medvedev and Tsitsipas rivalry. create a bit of excitement.

Although I think Kyrgios is an unbearable ********, i don't think the Malaysian royalty angle bestowed any great wealth on the family.
The private schools he went to in Canberra would have been fairly midrange fee-wise.

Hector Savage

Norrie v Safiullin was an entertaining match, Medvedev (Terminator) looks impressive.

Nadal - same old crap, start of the tournament - he's injured , he won't last long bla bla bla .... he proceeds to play stronger than he has ever played, today I don't think I've ever seen him hit the ball as hard from the baseline.... hm

Amazing the way he just gets stronger and stronger and stronger and STONGER!! as the years pass.... 35 in June!!!

That woman who heckled him, can't say I blame her, he's a despicable character.

hamburgham

Hector Savage wrote: »

Norrie v Safiullin was an entertaining match, Medvedev (Terminator) looks impressive.

Nadal - same old crap, start of the tournament - he's injured , he won't last long bla bla bla .... he proceeds to play stronger than he has ever played, today I don't think I've ever seen him hit the ball as hard from the baseline.... hm

Amazing the way he just gets stronger and stronger and stronger and STONGER!! as the years pass.... 35 in June!!!

That woman who heckled him, can't say I blame her, he's a despicable character.

Why do you think he’s despicable? What did the heckler say?

Joe_ Public

Watching Sabalenka, pretty impressive, not overloaded on finesse, but if she could tame the wildness and UEs, she'd be quite the force. Looking like last 16 v serena, tough one for serena i think.

Joe_ Public

Great first set between hseih and errani, thoroughly absorbing. Errani looks out on her feet already.

yerwanthere123

Victoria going back into lockdown, no crowds for the next 5 days at least in Melbourne

Hector Savage

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

Victoria going back into lockdown, no crowds for the next 5 days at least in Melbourne

Time to accept that this is here forever.

These sh1t lockdowns will never end.

Hector Savage

Good 1st set by Kryios there, should be a good match...

Floppybits

Hector Savage wrote: »

Good 1st set by Kryios there, should be a good match...

Kyrgios maybe a twat but he is entertaining on a tennis court. Why is Thiem standing so far back to receive serve?

whiterebel

Floppybits wrote: »

Kyrgios maybe a twat but he is entertaining on a tennis court. Why is Thiem standing so far back to receive serve?

Always does. Doesn’t seem to know how to play any other way.

Floppybits

Unbelievable this should have been done in 3 sets with Kyrgios winning but due to Kyrgios being a dope Thiem is going to win.