ATP Men's Tennis

Australian Open Day 13 Order of Play Saturday January 28th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:35:00 +0000

Australian Open Day 13 Order of Play Saturday January 28th 2012

Rod Laver Arena

1:00 PM

Junior Girls' Singles - Finals

Taylor Townsend(USA)[14] vs. Yulia Putintseva(RUS)[4]

Junior Boys' Singles - Finals

Luke Saville(AUS)[1] vs. Filip Peliwo(CAN)

Not Before:7:30 PM

Women's Singles - Finals

Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[3] vs. Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]

Men's Doubles - Finals

Bob Bryan(USA)[1] /

Mike Bryan(USA)[1] vs. Leander Paes(IND) /

Radek Stepanek(CZE)

Show Court 2

1:00 PM

Women's Wheelchair Singles - Finals

Esther Vergeer(NED)[1] vs. Aniek Van Koot(NED)[2]

Men's Wheelchair Singles - Finals

Maikel Scheffers(NED)[1] vs. Nicolas Peifer(FRA)

Quad Wheelchair Singles

David Wagner(USA)[1] vs. Peter Norfolk(GBR)[2]

Murray upset with late-night drug testing at Australian Open

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:21:00 +0000

Murray upset with late-night drug testing at Australian Open

Andy Murray had just spent nearly five hours on court in an Australian Open semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic that ran past midnight.

Then he found out drug testers were looking for him.

“Just a bit annoyed … I know the players go on about it a lot, but they’ve changed these rules with the drug test,” Murray said. “I’ve just done the drug test, the urine test.”

But there was more—a blood test.

“They just told me I need to sit down for 30 minutes before I can give blood,” Murray said. “I want to get out of here, so I’m annoyed with that, which on top of losing a match like that, it’s really a frustrating thing to have to go through at 1:00 in the morning.”

Source Yahoo Sports

Video: Novak Djokovic The Open Drive: Australian Open 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:20:00 +0000

Video: Novak Djokovic The Open Drive: Australian Open 2012

An incredible tennis player, a relaxed guy and one of the biggest characters in the game, Novak Djokovic talks life, tennis, and his many language skills...

Videos: Djokovic v Murray Australian Open semis highlights and hot shot

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:25:00 +0000

Videos: Djokovic v Murray Australian Open semis highlights and hot shot

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray match the challenge set by the first semifinal, turning on a thriller on Rod Laver Arena.

They may have started shakily, but Novak and Andy provided some serious highlights material tonight. This point characterised the stubborn will of both players, with Murray returning ball after ball to set up a decisive break point.

Photos: Djokovic at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:03:00 +0000

Photos: Djokovic at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

Enjoy the following tennis photos of Novak Djokovic during in his semi-final men's singles match against Andy Murray of Britain on the twelfth day of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Djokovic won 6-3. 3-6. 6-7. 6-1. 7-5.

(Photos by AP/Pool/aaron Favila/AFP/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic Australian Open Interview Semifinal January 27th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Novak Djokovic Australian Open Interview Semifinal January 27th 2012

N. DJOKOVIC/A. Murray 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑7, 6‑1, 7‑5

Q. During the match, you got messages coming in from around the world people wondering how you managed to look so dead in the second and third sets and still managed to come through. How did you manage to come through?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You have to find strength in those moments and energy, and that keeps you going, I guess. At this level, very few points decide the winner, as it was the case tonight.

I think we both went through a physical crisis. You know, him at the fourth set, me all the way through the second and midway through the third. Had some chances in those sets.

But it was a very even match throughout, from the first to the last point. As I said on the court, I think we both found it easier to break each other's serve rather than just, you know, serve it out and keep our serve going.

We both have great returns, and it was very difficult because we put a lot of pressure on each other's serve. So even though I was 5‑2 up in the fifth, I knew even playing against the wind on 5‑3 I'm not the favorite in that game, you know. It's proven to be the truth.

But I held my composure. I was happy to react the way I did and win in the end.

Q. This breathing problem, are you seeing a doctor about it or is it related to hayfever or something?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I've seen doctor and I've talked with some people. I don't know. I've talked with couple of players that have a little allergy problems this year in Australia for now reason, ones they didn't have in last couple years but they had reactions this year.

I suppose that's my problem, as well. I've been trying to, you know, do everything possible to clear that out. But, you know, we are all surrounded with the flowers. It's really difficult to take that away. But still, you know, I mean, no excuses.

It was very physical from both sides, from both players all the way through the end. For these kind of matches, you really practice all your life to be able to be a winner out of five sets.

Q. You played many tough matches in your career. Where do you rank this one?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Definitely one of the best ‑ under the circumstances. I had a couple matches in New York against Roger in last couple years which can be compared to this one.

But time‑wise, I think this was one of the longest, if not the longest, that I've played in the later stages of a Grand Slam.

Yeah, I have to be satisfied. I have to be happy. As I said, as a tennis player, you practice hard every single day knowing that you will get an opportunity to be part of such a great match and on such a high level.

Q. You know Andy pretty well. Have you noticed a difference in his attitude compared to last year's final?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. He was more confident on the court. He was taking his chances. He was being more aggressive. I think he was playing better.

Q. What effect do you think it will have to have spent so much physical energy and have to play Nadal?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: There is no secret it is going to be physical again. I will do my best to recover. I have a day and a half. I will try to get as much sleep and recovery program underway and hope for the best.

I think that's going to be crucial, you know, for me to recover and to be able to perform my best, because Rafa is fit. He's been playing well. He had an extra day. He definitely wants to win this title.

Q. Do you take any encouragement from the fact when Rafa won it here a couple years ago the role was reversed?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, we are all different so we all have different scheduling, different programs that we respect with our teams. We all have different bodies that require more or less time to recover, so I can't really compare that to him.

But I have been in similar situations, let's say, before where I had the long matches and I'm supposed to play, like, for example, a couple years back with Roger I had a very long match, and then the next day I was supposed to play finals.

So, you know, we are familiar with these kind of conditions and situations, so we will try to take the best out of it and recover.

Q. What will you do for the next 48 hours to get yourself ready?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: As I said, try to get as much sleep. I don't think I'll practice much. I think I had enough time spent on the court. Now it's all about recovery.

Q. You had a great run against Rafa whenever you met him last year. What, if at all, will that play on your mind or on his mind?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's something that we are about to see, you know, on Sunday. Yet again, I'm repeating that physically I need to be fit. I know that I maybe have a mental edge because I've won six finals the five or six times we played in 2011 and I've had lots of success against him.

On the other hand, it's a new year. It's a new challenge. It's a different situation. As I said, he has maybe a day advantage over me for recovery and for getting ready for the finals.

That's going to be my main priority and concern the next day and a half, to physically be able to perform my best and be ready to play five sets.

If I am able to do that, then I can believe that I can win.

Q. Were you ever scared in this match, a thought that ever came to you that you might lose this match?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Definitely. It was so close. Both of us believed that we can win, and that's how we played. We played with courage a lot of shots. In decisive moments we were aggressive and wanting to win this match.

I think crowd enjoyed as much as we did in competing. It could have easily gone the other way. He was couple of points away from winning the match, so I was lucky to go as a winner.

Q. Comparing him to when you saw him here a year ago, is his forehand a very much more aggressive shot?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.

Q. Technically changed, as well?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I mean, you can't significantly change in technique a stroke, especially if you're at this level. He's already a complete player. Even last year he was.

It's a matter of, you know, having a little bit of luck combined with a choice of the right shots at the right moments, and that's it.

I mean, he's so close to winning the Grand Slam. He's one of the best players in the world, that's for sure.

Q. Did he give you a reminder that as No. 1 it's going to be very, very hard for you to keep your No. 1 ranking, let alone stay in the top 3?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm very much aware of that fact. Obviously there is Rafa, Roger, and Andy who have been probably my biggest rivals in the last couple years. I managed to get to the No. 1 place, win a couple of Grand Slams last year, and have the best year of my career.

I'm aware now that everyone wants to win the major title, get that No. 1 spot. It's normal. It's something I'm prepared for. I've been working hard in the off‑season.

The year is long. It's a great way for me to start the year, playing finals in the Australian Open, first Grand Slam of the year. It's going to be huge confidence boost for me to continuation of the season.

Q. You had some breathing problems in the middle of that match. How do they compare to some previous matches you've had in the past? Was it worse or about the same?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: As I said, we both had some physical crisis and felt the difficult physical moments probably end of second and beginning of the third. I mean, that reflected a little bit on my game. I wasn't taking my shots any more. Every time we got to a longer rally, I made mistakes. That's what happened with him in fourth.

So it's normal to expect that. We are competing on a very high level where each points goes to 10 and plus rallies. You have to expect that you have some ups and downs throughout the match.

Q. How do you solve it, with medication during the match?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No. You try to get energized in every way. A lot of liquids, try to eat something, as well, that gives you energy.

Q. Your girlfriend was in a lovely red dress today. She stood up many times cheering for you in crucial moments. You were looking at her, as well. Did that help you that she was here and she was standing up there?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Of course. She is my love and my big support. It's great to have her around. You know, we had lots of success together. She's been present at the US Open and Wimbledon and many other tournaments that I have won.

Actually, she was present at the first tournament I ever won in Amersfoort in 2006. We have a long relationship and understanding, so it's great to have her there.

Q. Do you think missing the warmup tournaments here in Australia has been a help to your fitness?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Could be. You know, I've said before that my goal was physically, mentally to prepare for the Australian Open. I played so many matches in 2011 that I didn't need any, you know, warmup events or any first‑week events in 2012 seasons.

I played in Abu Dhabi couple matches against top players, so I felt that I am ready.

Q. Have you seen Rafa's matches during this tournament?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.

Q. What do you think of his play?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, the last one I've seen is obviously against Roger. It was a fantastic match I think from both of them. Roger started off really well. It was an incredible effort from Rafa to come back and some incredible passing shots. That's why he's a champion. That's why he's one of the best players to ever play this game. He's never giving up. He has a fighting spirit. He has very few weaknesses.

Yeah, I mean, he's very much eager and motivated to win the title ‑ as much as I am. It's the final. It's unpredictable what's going to happen.

Q. The four of you have real clear water between the other players behind you in the sense that you're always in this point of the tournaments. Has that been contributory to each of you keeping each other honest, motivated, and the desire of winning in an era when there are yourself and three others?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it's great for the sport to have I think more candidates to win the major titles; whereas maybe three, four years ago it was only Roger and Rafa. It was only two, and now we have four.

I mean, it's great. I wouldn't exclude Berdych and Tsonga. Tsonga played finals of the World Tour Finals.

There are more players in that group. There are more players that are really believing they can win against the top four. But it's an incredible effort. It takes a lot of effort for top four to be here where we are.

Obviously that confidence and maybe mental advantage and experience that we have in the major events, playing on this high level, helps us to be where we are.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Photos: Murray at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:19:00 +0000

Photos: Murray at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

Check out some tennis pictures of Andy Murray of Britain during his semi-final men's singles match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on the twelfth day of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Djokovic won 6-3 3-6 6-7 6-1 7-5.

(Photos by AP/William West/AFP/Getty Images)

Andy Murray Australian Open Interview Semifinal January 27th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Andy Murray Australian Open Interview Semifinal January 27th 2012

N. DJOKOVIC/A. Murray 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑7, 6‑1, 7‑5

Q. I think most people were astonished you had it in you to come back from 5‑2 in the fifth and have those chances. It was an unbelievable performance.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, it was obviously a very good match. Yeah, I mean, I had the chance at 5‑All, one of the points. I missed a backhand into the net.

But if you look at the stats from that game, it was probably like four or five deuces. He missed one first serve.

Again, he served really well on those points, so he was able to dictate them, which when I was getting myself into the rallies, I was dictating a lot of the points.

Yeah, it was tough at the end 'cause, you know, obviously you come back, then you get close to breaking. To lose, yeah, it's tough.

But a different player, a different attitude to this time last year. Yeah, I'm proud of the way I fought.

Q. Where does that match rate for fluctuations in emotion, drama? Must have been very hard to keep pace with it. Can you tell us what it was like.

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I didn't think he played that well at the start. I thought I was poor the first set. Then I started to play better and managed to turn around the second set playing better, and the third set, some of the points in the second and third set, they were brutal. They were so long.

I guess it was maybe normal there was a letdown in the fourth set. That was something that I would have liked to have done better, though. I would have liked to have played a better fourth set, got off to a better start. That would have helped.

But physically both of us were obviously tired. You know, once you get behind in a set, you have to weigh out whether it's worth trying to get yourself back into it or saving yourself for a fifth set.

It was an up‑and‑down match. Both of us played well. He was just a little bit better.

Q. When you say 'different player, different attitude,' is that something that has just happened or something you think you've been working towards over a period of time?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of things that go into it. You know, everybody matures at different ages and different rates. I feel now like, yeah, I'm ready mentally. Physically I can still get better, for sure. But, yeah, I mean, in comparison to how I played last year, it was much, much better.

Everyone always says to me, Andy's too passive; he doesn't go for his shots enough. I think tonight I did that. I probably made more mistakes than him, but I'm quite sure I hit more winners. I think through like three sets he only hit 14, 15 winners.

So, you know, I was moving well and dictating a lot of the points, which is important.

Q. You said that your new coaching arrangement is going to take a while. What kind of things will you be doing?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I want to work on all parts of my game. I thought I played pretty well up at the net this tournament, which was good. Something I'll need to keep improving.

You know, I mean, you can always make every shot more consistent, and there's one thing I need to do way better, because that's how close I was this evening. It's minor things.

I haven't sat down and spoke to Ivan, you know, about what I'm going to work on next two or three months in the buildup to Indian Wells and Miami yet, but I'm sure we'll have that conversation when the time is right.

Probably not tomorrow, but a week or so.

Q. How would you describe your feeling right now?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, disappointed obviously. You know, but sometimes you come off the court and you've played really badly, you haven't quite been there mentally, and then you're really disappointed with yourself 'cause you've let yourself down.

I don't feel like I've let myself down today. Just a bit annoyed that I've already ‑‑ I know the players go on about it a lot, but they've changed these rules with the drug test. I've just done the drug test, the urine test.

They just told me I need to sit down for 30 minutes before I can give blood. I want to get out of here, so I'm annoyed with that, which on top of losing a match like that, it's really a frustrating thing to have to go through at 1:00 in the morning.

Q. Did you think you had the match at any moment during the competition, that you were going to win this match?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah. If you don't, I wouldn't have come back like I did in the fifth set. I wouldn't have got myself into a winning position after going behind after the first set.

So, yeah, I fought well; I believed all the way through. Just about got it at 5‑All. Next time I'll make sure I do.

Q. You've gone away from the Australian Open feeling low after the last two years. After the performance tonight, do you think you'll be in a more positive frame of mind leaving this tournament?

ANDY MURRAY: I don't think I necessarily went away the last couple of years with a negative attitude. You know, it was more, I don't know, like it knocks your confidence a little bit. I wasn't, like, really down on myself.

It's just like once you get back on the court again, you know, you're doubting yourself a little bit. I wasn't beating myself up. It's just like, Am I going to get there or not?

You know, I think after the matches that I've been through ‑ I've lost a lot of tough matches ‑ that I've learnt to deal with them better. I bounced back well from most of the tough matches that I lost last year.

Obviously not after the Australian Open, but after the French, Wimbledon, US I did well. Hopefully that will be the same again.

Q. Towards the end of the fifth set, if you had any other challenges in your back pocket would you have used any of those in the last couple of games?

ANDY MURRAY: No. There was not really any really close, close balls. Yeah, I mean, the linespeople were excellent tonight. They didn't make any mistakes that I'm aware of. They were really good.

No one ever talks about them doing a good job. I thought tonight the umpire was great, and I think the linespeople did really well.

Q. Nadal has an extra 24 hours' preparation. What effect do you think that will have on the final Sunday night?

ANDY MURRAY: It's going to help. Novak has recovered well before; sometimes he hasn't. You never know how you're going to pull up. I mean, I'm sure both of us will be sore tomorrow.

I mean, I hope it's a good match and he recovers 'cause he deserves to have a good final. That's the thing, you know, unlike the US Open when you play the Saturday, Sunday finals.

I mean, I wouldn't be fancying his chances if he had to play tomorrow, that's for sure. But we'll wait and see.

Q. When you've had time to reflect on tonight's match particularly, do you think you will feel that you're closer than ever to winning a Grand Slam title, better equipped to do that?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think so. You know, tonight's match was important for many reasons. Obviously I wanted to win first and foremost.

But, you know, also sort of after last year, the year that Novak's had, I think there's a very fine line between being No. 1 in the world and being 3 or 4. I think that gap, I feel tonight I closed it.

My job over the next two or three months is to surpass him and the guys in front of me. So take a lot of hard work, and hopefully I can do it.

Q. You and Ivan haven't been together long, but has he had an impact during this slam already?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I enjoyed it. I feel like, you know, when you look up at someone like that in the stands it helps.

You know, obviously for me, I want to try and repay the sort of faith that he's shown in me by coming to work with me. So I would have liked to have done obviously better here.

But, you know, I haven't spoke to him too much yet. Hopefully he was happy with the way I did and how I acted on the court. Hopefully at the French Open I'll do a little bit better.

Q. Was there kind of one little nugget before the match tonight that he said or did?

ANDY MURRAY: He told me it was going to be painful. And, yeah, I mean, he said, You'll win, but you're going to have to go through a lot of pain to get there, so be ready for that.

He told me a couple nights ago, Prepare yourself mentally for that, to go through a lot of pain, a lot of tough points to play when your legs are sore and your legs are burning. That was probably the main thing.

Tactically, I mean, by the end of the match you're not really thinking about the tactics. You're thinking about where you serve, and then you're kind of going on instinct after that.

So it wasn't one specific thing that I would have changed tactically tonight. I don't know if Novak would say the same thing. So many long points. He's obviously a great mover. I move well, too, so it's very difficult to penetrate our defense.

Q. What are your plans at this point for the next four weeks?

ANDY MURRAY: I'm going to go home. I've been away since December the 5th or 6th, close to two months now. Go home, spend a bit of time with my family and friends, and then see what I do after that.

My body's sore. I've had a few problems during the tournament, niggles and things. I had a problem with my back, like a nervy [oops] thing in my back that 's not really gone away. I need to get that fixed. Hopefully I'll do that sooner rather than later.

Then I need to decide on Davis Cup first, 'cause that's the next thing that's coming up. I've got a bit of time off after that.

Q. How well were you aware of his physical presence, especially in the fifth set? He was breathing heavy.

ANDY MURRAY: He's done it many times before. He runs very well even when he's breathing heavy. That's something we spoke about before the match.

Even if he looks tired or he's breathing heavy, you just kind of got to put your foot down on the accelerator and not wait for him to miss because he's hitting the ball so cleanly, as well.

If he is tired, which both of us will have been tired at different points during that match, you know, he's hitting the ball so cleanly, he's going for shots and making them, shortening the points.

I was ready for that. He was similar in the last match. But he moved fine.

Q. The external pressure on you playing in Australia compared to Wimbledon, what's the difference for you?

ANDY MURRAY: To be honest, when you're on the court it's more of like a blur. You're not thinking about anything else. I mean, the crowd were excellent here tonight. That always helps. I didn't feel like there was a huge difference from playing at Wimbledon to playing here.

I mean, it's just that you're not in the paper every day. Everyone's more interested in Novak and Rafa and Tomic than they are me. So that's something that I've always preferred to be out of the spotlight rather than in it. So I guess that helps a little bit.

Q. What was Ivan putting in your drink?

ANDY MURRAY: Ivan is not doing it. It's my fitness trainer. It's just an energy drink that I've been using for four years now.

Q. If you give yourself a score, how would you score your performance tonight out of 10? What would you give yourself?

ANDY MURRAY: Like eight and a half probably. I think for a lot of the match it was close to a 10, but at the start of the match I didn't play as well as I would have liked.

And then start of the fourth set I would have liked to have been a bit better. But apart from that, I can't really complain too much.

I think I can still improve, and that's why I can't give myself a 10. But, yeah, it was close to a really great match.

Q. It's a match of almost five hours. Novak said it was one of the hardest matches he ever played. How did you feel physically towards the end of the match?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, that's the thing. I actually felt okay towards the end. You know, I was tired. You have the huge adrenaline rush at the end of the third set. Then you have a bit of a letdown and things start aching and are sore.

Towards the end of the fifth set I was actually feeling okay because the adrenaline gets back up and everything feels all right.

I'm sure that when I stand up from this seat, my body's going to be pretty painful.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Australian Open: Djokovic edges Murray, sets up final vs Nadal

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Australian Open: Djokovic edges Murray, sets up final vs Nadal

Novak Djokovic beat 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the 2012 Australian Open final where he will face Rafael Nadal.

Both players had their form dips, but Djokovic’s were more obvious. He led by a set and a break before Murray started coming back at him. Then Djokovic started walking gingerly and appeared to be struggling for breath.

At one point, he pointed to his nose and seemed to indicated to his support group that he was having trouble breathing.

He stayed in the points, despite Murray scrambling and trying to get him involved in long rallies.

After losing a tight tiebreaker and virtually conceding the fourth set, Murray rallied again after slipping behind 5-2 in the fifth. He broke Djokovic at love when the Serb was serving for the match on a three-game streak that put all the pressure back on the defending champion.

But Djokovic composed himself and seemed to be gathering energy as the match wore on. He held serve and then broke Murray to finish it off.

“Andy deserves the credit to come back from 2-5 down. He was fighting. I was fighting,” Djokovic said. “Not many words that can describe the feeling of the match.

“Evidently it was a physical match … it was one of the best matches I played. Emotionally and mentally it was equally hard.”

“To be honest, I think I matured as a player. I started to believe on the court I could win majors,” he said. “Rafa and Roger are the most dominant players for the last seven, eight years. … It was very hard to take away the titles from them. They will not give you the titles. You have to earn it.”

“I’m extremely delighted to be in the final,” Djokovic said. “What can be a bigger challenge than playing against Rafa Nadal, one of the greatest players ever.

“I’m going to try to recover. Obviously it’s going to be physical as well. So I need to do some push-ups tonight.”

Despite being friends and childhood rivals, this was only the second meeting between Djokovic and Murray at a Grand Slam. Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011 Australian final and had a 6-4 lead in their overall head-to-heads at tour level.

Murray won the Brisbane International and came into the semifinal on a 10-match winning streak and with new coach, eight-time major winner Ivan Lendl, in his support crew.

The blue-and-white crossed Scottish flags fluttered in the crowd, held by fans with the flag painted on their faces and some wearing their tartan Tam hats. The support was evenly split at Rod Laver Arena, encouraging both players in the tense final set.

Source AP

Video: Nadal sends message to fans before Australian Open final

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:22:00 +0000

Video: Nadal sends message to fans before Australian Open final

"Before going to bed I would like to share this video with you. Thanks for your support!" He wrote on Facebook....

Video: Djokovic v Murray Preview - Australian Open 2012 semifinal

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:08:00 +0000

Video: Djokovic v Murray Preview - Australian Open 2012 semifinal

Brett Phillips and Pete Marcato are back to preview the Day 12 action, with the Novak Djokovic - Andy Murray semifinal a tantalising prospect.

Djokovic v Murray Australian Open 2012 Semifinal Preview

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Djokovic v Murray Australian Open 2012 Semifinal Preview

In a few hours Novak Djokovic will be playing Andy Murray for a place in the final of the 2012 Australian Open... Check out the preview by Tennis.com

What Djokovic needs to do to win:
In short, he should do what he did against Murray last year in Oz: Serve with authority to set up his first strike, control the center of the court, occasionally hit behind the speedy Scot to open the court, and use his variety to prevent Murray from establishing a rhythm and gaining confidence in extended rallies. Easy, right? For Djokovic, maybe.

What Murray needs to do to win:
The three-time major finalist must maintain a high first-serve percentage, attack mid-court balls, hit his forehand with authority, and win the longer, grinding baseline exchanges to prevail. But Murray’s mental tactics may be paramount. He needs to play with positive emotion and not get down once Djokovic inevitably begins to surge.

The Pick: Djokovic in five sets.
Murray has won 10 straight matches and will be pumped to avenge his loss to the Serb in last year’s final, but Djokovic is playing at a very high level and competing with the confidence that comes from capturing three of the last four Grand Slam crowns.

Watch Djokovic v Murray Australian Open Online Live Free Streaming - Day 12 January 27th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:19:00 +0000

Watch Djokovic v Murray Australian Open Online Live Free Streaming - Day 12 January 27th 2012

Enjoy great tennis from Day 12 at the 2012 Australian Open ... Watch live streaming on AustralianOpen.com which will be offering free live streaming content for the qualifying round and on demand content.

Also, check out ESPN and other free live streaming possibilities for the 2011 Australian Open

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Videos: Nadal v Federer Australian Open 2012 highlights and hot shot

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Videos: Nadal v Federer Australian Open 2012 highlights and hot shot

In a high-quality, unpredictable battle it was Rafael Nadal who edged out Roger Federer in four sets to reach the men's final.

Rafael Nadal turns the second set on its head with an amazing running forehand that will take some beating as Shot of the Tournament.

2012 Australian Open Day 11 Results and Day 12 Order of Play

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:54:00 +0000

2012 Australian Open Day 11 Results and Day 12 Order of Play

Australian Open
Grand Slam *Not ATP Member
Melbourne, Australia
16-29 January 2012

THURSDAY, 26 JANUARY, 2012

Singles - Semi-finals
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d [3] R Federer (SUI) 67(5) 62 76(5) 64

Doubles - Semi-finals
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d [7] R Lindstedt (SWE) / H Tecau (ROU) 46 63 76(5) - Saved 1 M.P.
L Paes (IND) / R Stepanek (CZE) d [2] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) 26 64 64

Friday January 27th 2012 Order of Play

Rod Laver Arena

3:00 PM
Mixed Doubles - Semifinals
Sania Mirza(IND)[6] /Mahesh Bhupathi(IND)[6] vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands(USA)[8] /Horia Tecau(ROU)[8]

Not Before:4:00 PM
Women's Doubles - Finals
Sara Errani(ITA)[11] /Roberta Vinci(ITA)[11] vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova(RUS) /Vera Zvonareva(RUS)

Not Before:7:30 PM
Men's Singles - Semifinals
Novak Djokovic(SRB)[1] vs. Andy Murray(GBR)[4]

Show Court 2

3:00 PM
Women's Wheelchair Doubles - Finals
Esther Vergeer(NED)[1] /Sharon Walraven(NED)[1] vs. Aniek Van Koot(NED)[2] /Marjolein Buis(NED)[2]

Legends' Doubles
Wayne Arthurs(AUS) /Thomas Muster(AUT) vs. Guy Forget(FRA) /Henri Leconte(FRA)

Quad Wheelchair Singles
David Wagner(USA)[1] vs. Peter Norfolk(GBR)[2]

Men's Wheelchair Doubles - Finals
Stephane Houdet(FRA)[1] /Nicolas Peifer(FRA)[1] vs. Ronald Vink(NED)[2] /Robin Ammerlaan(NED)[2]

Mixed Doubles - Semifinals
Roberta Vinci(ITA) /Daniele Bracciali(ITA) vs. Elena Vesnina(RUS)[5] /Leander Paes(IND)[5]

Show Court 3

3:00 PM
Junior Boys' Singles - Semifinals
Luke Saville(AUS)[1] vs. Adam Pavlasek(CZE)[10]

Junior Girls' Singles - Semifinals
Yulia Putintseva(RUS)[4] vs. Eugenie Bouchard(CAN)[2]

Junior Boys' Doubles - Finals
Adam Pavlasek(CZE) /Filip Veger(CRO) vs. Liam Broady(GBR)[6] /Joshua Ward-Hibbert(GBR)[6]

Junior Girls' Doubles - Finals
Irina Khromacheva(RUS)[1] /Danka Kovinic(MNE)[1] vs. Gabrielle Andrews(USA) /Taylor Townsend(USA)

Court 6

3:00 PM
Junior Girls' Singles - Semifinals
Krista Hardebeck(USA) vs. Taylor Townsend(USA)[14]

Junior Boys' Singles - Semifinals
Mackenzie McDonald(USA) vs. Filip Peliwo(CAN)

Quad Wheelchair Singles
Noam Gershony(ISR) vs. Andrew Lapthorne(GBR)

Photos: Federer at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:48:00 +0000

Photos: Federer at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

Check out more than 60 tennis photos of Roger Federer of Switzerland during his semi-final men's singles match against Rafael Nadal of Spain on the eleventh day of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Nadal won 6-7 6-2 7-6 6-4.

(Photos by AP/William West/AFP/Getty Images)

Photos: Rafa Nadal at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:09:00 +0000

Photos: Rafa Nadal at Australian Open 2012 semifinals

Enjoy the following tennis pictures of Rafael Nadal of Spain during his semi-final men's singles match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on the eleventh day of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Nadal won 6-7 6-2 7-6 6-4.

(Photos by AP/Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images)

Rafa Nadal Australian Open Semifinal Interview – January 26th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Rafa Nadal Australian Open Semifinal Interview – January 26th 2012

R. NADAL/R. Federer 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4

Q. Congratulations. How do you think you have succeeded to turn this match around tonight?

RAFAEL NADAL: Thank you very much. Well, I think he started playing aggressive, very, very high level at the beginning of the match.

Always you can do a little bit more, no? But I really felt that when he plays like this, it's almost impossible to rise there to that level, no?

But after the first three games I started to have the chance to hit balls, to play with a little bit with my rhythm, so I started to hit a few good forehands so I felt that the point stays.

So before one shot winner, another shot winner, so almost impossible for me, no?

After that moment I felt that the level start to be closer and closer. I had the break in the 42, and for the rest of the set I think anything can happen.

I felt at the end of the first set that my level was there, close to him. For moments I felt dominant at the end of the first set. That gives me confidence.

You know, finally I lost the set, but even the first game of the second that he had the break he was playing with the wind in his favor, so he played fantastic game, first game of the second.

But that moment was a little bit more calm, because in just the first game of the second set I felt that I had chances on my returned, too. So was very important to have break back in the next game.

But in general, after that I think I started to play aggressive. I started to play my game finally. I had the chance to move him a little bit more. Open the court from his forehand after changing to his backhand.

I didn't play as I played hundreds of times against him. I didn't play all the time against his backhand like I did a lot of times.

Today I think I played more normal match, playing in his backhand, playing in his forehand, too.

I really wanted to do that before the match, because I felt that in the last match against him in London he played very aggressive with his backhand, so he was very inside the court. Was very difficult for me to find, you know, spaces to move him, no?

Even the final of Roland Garros, the same. He played more aggressive with his backhand. On clay is different. You have more time.

But today went on court with the idea change a little bit more the direction against him, and in my opinion it worked well. Because I think he was a little bit tired.

Q. When you're in a match like that and he has started so well, can you draw on your experience to having beaten him now so many times in Grand Slam matches? Can that be an inspiration for you even when he's playing well?

RAFAEL NADAL: Any moment is different, and what happened in the past is past. Last match against him was 63, 6Love in 50 minutes.

Q. That's not a Grand Slam.

RAFAEL NADAL: Not Grand Slam, different conditions. What give me more calm is I play best of five. I play not indoor. I play outdoors. That's always a little bit more advantage for me, because when you play indoor, when you play best of three, he plays aggressive. Is very difficult to come back when he start like this, no?

Playing best of five outdoor, you normally have more time to do things and to try to find solutions and on the problem that he's causing, no?

So in general, I am happy about how I did. I think I played a good match with some mistakes, as usual. But I tried to play aggressive with my forehand, trying to hit winners with my forehand.

I did for moments. For moments I had few mistakes with the backhand. But I am trying with the backhand to not go behind the baseline, to stay in the baseline, to hit the ball earlier than before.

That's something that I am working on and something that we believe that I have to keep improving, to don't lose court, to play more inside. It's working well.

I a, very happy about my result on these two weeks. I did much better than what I thought, what I dreamed for three weeks ago. So very happy for everything. It's a fantastic victory for me. Very, very happy playing against the greatest of the history in semifinals, big match on Rod Laver.

It's one of the victories that's gonna stay in my mind forever, no? It's a fantastic way to start the season. Very happy for everything. He deserves to be there because, in my opinion, he was a little bit unlucky for the last year and a half in a few matches.

He was a little bit unlucky in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon; a little bit in the semifinals on the US Open. So he had the chance to win more Grand Slams the last year and a half, and he lost a few matches that he really had chances to win.

Today he had his chances, too. So the match was close. Anything can happen there. I won.

Q. You celebrated like it was a final. Did it feel like that to you?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. Didn't feel like that. I feel like semifinals match of Grand Slam. That's a very important match for me. Start the season with the final here is a fantastic start, and that's give me a lot of confidence. That's give me a lot of calm. At the same time, that's give me confidence about how I working.

You know, I working in few things that are working well. With nothing of practice, just thinking a little bit about what we have to do to be better player. I really didn't had the chance to practice a lot. I practiced one week and a half in Mallorca.

Seriously, Doha was a very important tournament for me. Qatar I think I played very, very well there, because I arrived without preparation. Play four matches there was decisive to my preparation for Melbourne, no?

So was a very important tournament. And for the rest, just these kind of matches actually better like this, because I played not bad the second half of the season in 2011. Not bad, but not very well.

So I really need to win points to stay in the top positions of the ranking. Because the final of the US Open give me calm, yes. But for the rest I had a few struggling results in Masters 1000.

That's a lot of points for me. It's a fantastic way to start the season.

Q. I guess the question is whether or not you feel like you're playing aggressive enough with the forehand and more inside the court with the backhand and feeling calm enough if you have to play Novak this time to get over on him again.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I happy about how I am doing. Any time to do this during all the match, as I am doing for moments for moments I am playing a little bit like before  but when I am able to play inside, to play aggressive, I think the things are working fantastic.

I don't know if it's gonna be enough against Novak or against Andy. But what can I say? I'm very happy about my tournament. I gonna try my best to try to play a fantastic final, and hopefully I will have my chances.

But if the opponents play better than me and he beat me, I gonna go home very happy about my tournament. I gonna go home knowing that the way that I am working is working very well, and keep working on this way. Probably this way give me a good success in the next months.

Q. You said when you were interviewed on the court that if you were told before the tournament that you had made the final you would not believe it. Is that because of the injuries you have had or what?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I explained before the tournament. I explained that after my match on the first round of Monday, not what happened the Sunday before on my knee, something very strange.

But that's why, because Sunday afternoon, 24 hours to play my first match, I was in my room crying because I believe I didn't had the chance to play Melbourne.

So it was a very, very tough situation for me, these hours. Two weeks later I am here in the finals, so is a dream for me because having very bad expectations 24 hours before the first match, and now two weeks later I am playing well. I am in the final.

Always play Grand Slam final is very good news. I played last four Grand Slams I have been in the finals, so is a great effort, I think.

Q. How is that knee feeling?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am feeling great. No problems.

Q. Do you think having the extra days to recover on the final will be a big advantage for you? Having the extra day advantage for the final? Your opponent plays tomorrow night.

RAFAEL NADAL: I am fine physically. I believe that they are strong. They are feeling very well, very fit, so not gonna be decisive, no?

When happens like the US Open that you play the day before, yes, because if you have five hours match, four hours 30 match, next day you can be destroyed physically, no?

But one day in the middle, if it's not something very, very crazy, you will not have problems. I had that four hours 30 match two nights ago. I was in perfect condition today.

So you can have a tougher match, yes, but four hours and a half is a lot. The recovery is very good, and they don't have problems on that, no?

If you play a match like I played in 2009 against Verdasco semifinals, maybe yes, you can have a little bit troubles for the final. But that's something not usual.

Q. Roger says he has the impression that you play your best tennis against him. Do you have that impression, as well?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think sometimes. London I didn't play my best tennis. I play my best tennis against him when I am ready to play my best tennis. I don't play my best tennis because it's Roger in front. I play my best tennis because I am ready to play my best tennis.

That's what I can say. Normally when I play against Roger it's because I am playing my best tennis because I always was in a finals or was in a very important matches, and having a good confidence because I have won a lot of matches before.

It's true I played a lot of good matches against him during my career, so is something fantastic. But I believe that he played a few fantastic matches against me too during his career, during our rivalry, no?

So I enjoy playing against him. It's always a special feeling because our matches always have been special, and especially today after a lot of ones, a lot of important moments for our careers.

So our relationship always have always been in a very positive way. So for all of this facts our matches are special, no?

I think hopefully we will repeat soon.

Q. Would you rather play Andy in the final than Novak?

RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer the player who gonna play worse that day. (Laughter.)

That's what I can say, no?

Q. What are your thoughts on the other semis, and how closely will you watch that match having in mind Andy changed his coach and Djokovic had so much success against you last year?

RAFAEL NADAL: Both players are top players, very, very high level.

The level of tennis of both players is fantastic, so gonna be a fantastic tennis match tomorrow. I gonna watch the match, because it's gonna be a fantastic show, my opinion.

Both are playing very well. Novak has the advantage that he won the last two Grand Slams. He's No. 1 of the world. He's coming with big confidence.

But Andy is doing really well. Only lost one set at the first match of the tournament. After that, he won all the matches you cannot say easy, because nothing is easy but with very comfortable result.

So when you win with a comfortable result, it is because you are playing well. That's true. So both players gonna have chances. The player who will play better tomorrow gonna be the winner.

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Roger Federer Australian Open Semifinal Interview – January 26th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Roger Federer Australian Open Semifinal Interview – January 26th 2012

R. NADAL/R. Federer 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4

Q. It was another great, great match, but also big loss. How do you explain it? Do you think it was a matter of few points or also legs at the end were a little tired?

ROGER FEDERER: I thought Rafa played well from start to finish, really. I started really well myself. It was obviously a big set for me to win, and missed obviously the opportunities in some of all the sets maybe.

But Rafa did well to hang in there. At the end was a bit better. It was a tough match physically as well, but, you know, only beginning of the season.

I'm feeling all right, so it's okay.

Q. You're having trouble with your forehand. Was there any reason for that, do you think?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't think it was that bad. I'm always gonna miss forehands because I have to go after the ball. If I just put it into play he'll smack it. So it's pretty simple. I have to keep him driving it, and obviously at times I clipped the tape a bit too often.

But I hit flatter than Rafa, so it's always gonna happen, some of it. I thought I retrieved well again. Obviously the surface is not the fastest, but he does a good job getting a lot of balls back and staying in the points.

And then obviously he's got great passing shots and so forth. You have to, you know, go after it and try your best there.

Q. We have heard what Rafa thinks of the rivalry. What's your take on it after a game like that tonight?

ROGER FEDERER: We have had good matches over the years. I enjoy playing him. The crowd really gets into it, which is nice. We have a lot of respect for each other, which is good, too, I think.

I hope it inspires future generations or other players, you know, being nice to each other on the court and all that stuff.

You know, works as well at the highest of levels. Yeah, we also kind of, you know, play well against each other. I always think he plays a bit better against me than against other players, but that's good for him.

Q. We saw his emotions after the match. What were yours as you left the court?

ROGER FEDERER: I didn't see what he was doing, you know. I don't see much, anyway, because I turn around very often and I focus on my thing.

You know, I mean, I was slightly disappointed, obviously, you know, leaving center court, because I, you know, felt like my game was good, you know, and I could have done something in the finals potentially.

But I don't have to worry about that now anymore. It's fine. I feel okay now. You know, it's in the past already.

Q. How many times do you think you'll keep coming back here?

ROGER FEDERER: How many times? I hope often.

Q. Still have a few left in you, do you think?

ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I do.

Q. I think you lost 11 points after the break. Is there any frustration in having a timeout in the middle of an intense match like that with the fireworks?

ROGER FEDERER: It's not helpful, that's for sure. Then again, I know I lost a lot of points in a row. I probably don't want to say I would have lost the set anyway, but I was down in the score.

The important was to get back from that Love40. Like you say, I lost many, many points in a row. It was surprising to me. At the French Open finals there also is I think multiple interruptions. You know, in many of the matches we have had that in the match.

Obviously if you're gonna play that many times, you'll always have some strange things happening during matches. That was a different one. I have had it in the past. I don't remember sitting out and waiting for it, but I remember playing Lleyton here on Australia Day. I don't remember if we sat down or actually played through it.

But they told us before, so it wasn't a surprise for us, and we could I don't want to say plan with it but kind of almost waited for the fireworks, you know, to start until our game was over, which is kind of nice.

Q. The margins are always so fine and you had to deal with  if you win everything it's fine, and if you lose everything is sort of a disaster.

ROGER FEDERER: Depends who you ask.

Q. You cope with these victories and losses more than anyone on the tour right now. How do you keep your equilibrium on occasions like this?

ROGER FEDERER: You look at that I haven't lost in five months or something, you know. It's not that bad. Don't feel too sorry for me kind of thing. Obviously I would have loved to have come through and, you know, gotten a crack, a chance at winning the title here again.

It's been one of the most successful tournaments in my life here. It's the ninth time I am in the straight semifinals. Clearly I'm disappointed.

But then again, important is the reaction from now, you know. Where do I go from here? You know, start planning other trips. Start planning the preparations, and, again, have, you know, a good reaction like I showed after the US Open.

Q. Do you think there was a key moment today maybe when you had break point...

ROGER FEDERER: There was many. There was many key moments, not just one, in my opinion.

Q. Do you think Rafa seems to play better against you than the other players? Do you know why? Do you have an explanation?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't know if it's true. It's my assumption. I feel he plays really good against me. Now obviously I play a different game, too. I have a onehanded backhand. He's played me that many times on clay, so maybe he always draws something out of those matches.

He's also got a winning record against me which maybe gives him extra confidence, I don't know. Yeah, I think he has a clear plan and he follows that one very well.

Like I said, I think he just plays good, you know, and he's obviously improved a lot on all surfaces over the years. Anyway, every surface is very similar today, otherwise we couldn't have achieved all these things on all these different surfaces so quickly, like him and myself.

He's a very good player, obviously.

Q. It's always an event when you two play. Did the sense of occasion feel significantly different today, given it was a semifinal and not a final?

ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I mean, once I start a tournament I don't read much press or none at all so I don't know exactly how much the buildup was to it, you know, compared to a finals.

So I figured people got excited, because I was, and I was very happy with my game this entire tournament. Even today, you know, I had good moments.

Yeah, so I don't know if it was for me it didn't feel any different, you know, a finals or a semis against Rafa. It's always an occasion, like you mentioned.

Yeah, it was the same.

Q. Did it feel different though walking off before a trophy presentation this time?

ROGER FEDERER: It's nicer, yeah. I prefer to walk off this way than having to go through the trophy ceremony after losing.

Q. You now trail 82 in Grand Slams to Nadal. Is that in your mind when you go on court?

ROGER FEDERER: No, not really.

Q. (Question regarding Rafa's record against him in Grand Slams.)

ROGER FEDERER: No, I respect it. I think he's doing great against me. It is what it is, you know. At the end I care about my titles, if I'm happy or not as a person. Headtoheads for me, I mean, are not the most important. If I beat Andre 10 times in a row or Lleyton many times in a row, at the end of the day I don't care.

I remember the matches on that given day, that I played well against them or not, and I don't remember the headtohead that much. All I know is that we've played many times, and either comes my way or his way. Rallies have gone a little bit more his way obviously.

Q. If you're down two sets to one versus Nadal, is that the worst feeling you can have against another player? He's the player that worries more you when the match goes long, long, long, three hours and so on? No difference?

ROGER FEDERER: No, no. You're in the wrong sport if you think that way. I mean, Ferrer did great yesterday, you know, trying to plug away after losing first set, second set. He could have gotten both.

You just keep on trying and keep on working hard, you know. It's still a long way to the finish line. And, again, it was awfully close in the fourth set. Turned it around, and you never know how he feels in the fifth set.

I'm not worried going into five sets against him. If I were, you know, I wouldn't be the player I am today.

It's very important to be strong mentally, believe in your physical, you know, capabilities, yeah. So wrong question to the wrong guy.

Q. Do you have a pick from the other semi? What kind of game do you think Andy will play now since he's working with Lendl against Djokovic?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, look, they just started. You have to give it some time, too. I would assume. I think both are playing really well. I knew that or have the feeling that both of them are gonna have another very good season.

How good starting now we'll see who makes the finals. But it's going to be an interesting match to follow. One guy has to lose, so it's not so simple.

But I think both are playing good enough also again to win this title. I think all four of us really. But there's only gonna be one winner, and I'm interested to see who it's gonna be, too.

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Nadal beats Federer to reach Australian Open final

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Nadal beats Federer to reach Australian Open final

Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to advance to the 2012 Australian Open final.

Nadal will next play the winner of Friday’s semifinal between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Nadal, who holds a 6-2 edge in Grand Slam finals against Federer, made the key service break in the ninth game of the fourth set, making an incredible cross-court forehand winner from well behind the baseline, then watching as Federer hit a backhand wide to give Nadal a 5-4 lead.

Serving for the match, Nadal moved two points away from the win when Federer sent a backhand long. He won on his second match point when Federer floated forehand long.

At the end, Nadal smashed a ball up high in the stadium, almost clearing the roof. He then applauded along with the crowd when Federer walked off.

Two weeks ago, Nadal injured his right knee and wasn’t sure he’d be able to start the tournament. Now, he can barely believe he’s in the final.

“If you tell me that two Sundays ago, I really cannot imagine,” Nadal said. “For me, it’s a dream to be back in a final of the Australian Open.”

Rafa won the 2009 Australian title but lost in the quarterfinals in his next two trips to Melbourne Park. Federer hasn’t added to his record 16 Grand Slam titles since he won the 2010 Australian Open.

When the often enthralling play was suspended for 10 minutes late in the second set for an Australian Day fireworks display, Federer seemed to be affected most. Nadal led 5-2 at the time, and Federer lost his serve in the next game to give the Spaniard the set. In all, the Swiss dropped 11 points in a row.

With the players on serve in the second set, Nadal went so far wide on a Federer return that he was near the side wall of the arena. Incredibly, he stretched wide and returned the ball crosscourt for a winner. That set up three break points and Nadal clinched the game to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.

Federer saved a set point in the 11th game of the third set that eventually forced a tiebreaker. But Federer made three unforced errors in the tiebreaker to give Nadal a 6-1 lead, and the Spaniard eventually clinched the set on his last opportunity of five set points.

“Please win the point, that’s all,” Nadal recalled when asked what he was telling himself. “I was very, very nervous at that moment. Losing four set points in a row is tough, especially when you play the toughest in history.”

Watch Nadal vs Federer Australian Open Online Live Free Streaming - Day 11 January 26th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:00 +0000

Watch Australian Open Online Live Free Streaming - Day 11 January 26th 2012

Enjoy great tennis from Day 8 at the 2012 Australian Open ... Watch live streaming on AustralianOpen.com which will be offering free live streaming content for the qualifying round and on demand content.

Also, check out ESPN and other free live streaming possibilities for the 2011 Australian Open

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Australian Open Day 11 Order of Play Thursday January 26th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:22:00 +0000

Australian Open Day 11 Order of Play Thursday January 26th 2012

Rod Laver Arena

11:00 AM
Men's Doubles - Semifinals
Bob Bryan(USA)[1] /Mike Bryan(USA)[1] vs. Robert Lindstedt(SWE)[7] /Horia Tecau(ROU)[7]

Not Before:1:30 PM
Women's Singles - Semifinals
Kim Clijsters(BEL)[11] vs. Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[3]

Women's Singles - Semifinals
Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4] vs. Petra Kvitova(CZE)[2]

Rod Laver Arena

7:30 PM
Men's Singles - Semifinals
Roger Federer(SUI)[3] vs. Rafael Nadal(ESP)[2]

Exhibition Doubles - Semifinals
Martina Navratilova(USA) /Goran Ivanisevic(CRO) vs. Martina Hingis(SUI) /Pat Cash(AUS)

Margaret Court Arena

11:00 AM
Junior Boys' Singles - Quarterfinals
Luke Saville(AUS)[1] vs. Kyle Edmund(GBR)[7]

Not Before:1:00 PM
Men's Doubles - Semifinals
Leander Paes(IND) /Radek Stepanek(CZE) vs. Max Mirnyi(BLR)[2] /Daniel Nestor(CAN)[2]

Legends' Doubles
Pat Cash(AUS) /Goran Ivanisevic(CRO) vs. Jacco Eltingh(NED) /Paul Haarhuis(NED)

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals
Bethanie Mattek-Sands(USA)[8] /Horia Tecau(ROU)[8] vs. Jarmila Gajdosova(AUS) /Bruno Soares(BRA)

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals
Lisa Raymond(USA)[4] /Rohan Bopanna(IND)[4] vs. Elena Vesnina(RUS)[5] /Leander Paes(IND)[5]

Show Court 2

11:00 AM
Men's Wheelchair Singles - Semifinals
Maikel Scheffers(NED)[1] vs. Stefan Olsson(SWE)

Women's Wheelchair Singles - Semifinals
Esther Vergeer(NED)[1] vs. Sabine Ellerbrock(GER)

Men's Wheelchair Doubles - Semifinals
Ben Weekes(AUS) /Stefan Olsson(SWE) vs. Ronald Vink(NED)[2] /Robin Ammerlaan(NED)[2]

Women's Wheelchair Doubles - Semifinals
Esther Vergeer(NED)[1] /Sharon Walraven(NED)[1] vs. Sabine Ellerbrock(GER) /Yui Kamiji(JPN)

Legends' Doubles
Wayne Ferreira(RSA) /Yevgeny Kafelnikov(RUS) vs. Todd Woodbridge(AUS) /Mark Woodforde(AUS)

Show Court 3

11:00 AM
Junior Boys' Singles - Quarterfinals
Kaichi Uchida(JPN)[4] vs. Adam Pavlasek(CZE)[10]

Junior Girls' Singles - Quarterfinals
Irina Khromacheva(RUS)[1] vs. Krista Hardebeck(USA)

Junior Boys' Singles - Quarterfinals
Mackenzie McDonald(USA) vs. Robin Stanek(CZE)

Junior Boys' Doubles - Semifinals
Andrew Harris(AUS)[4] /Nick Kyrgios(AUS)[4] vs. Liam Broady(GBR)[6] /Joshua Ward-Hibbert(GBR)[6]

Court 5

11:00 AM
Quad Wheelchair Singles
David Wagner(USA)[1] vs. Andrew Lapthorne(GBR)

Women's Wheelchair Singles - Semifinals
Marjolein Buis(NED) vs. Aniek Van Koot(NED)[2]

Men's Wheelchair Doubles - Semifinals
Stephane Houdet(FRA)[1] /Nicolas Peifer(FRA)[1] vs. Satoshi Saida(JPN) /Maikel Scheffers(NED)

Court 6

11:00 AM
Junior Boys' Singles - Quarterfinals
Joshua Ward-Hibbert(GBR) vs. Filip Peliwo(CAN)

Junior Girls' Singles - Quarterfinals
Barbora Krejcikova(CZE) vs. Yulia Putintseva(RUS)[4]

Junior Boys' Doubles - Semifinals
Adam Pavlasek(CZE) /Filip Veger(CRO) vs. Alexandre Favrot(FRA) /Quentin Halys(FRA)

Junior Girls' Doubles - Semifinals
Irina Khromacheva(RUS)[1] /Danka Kovinic(MNE)[1] vs. Ilka Csoregi(ROU)[3] /Elizaveta Kulichkova(RUS)[3]

Court 7

11:00 AM
Quad Wheelchair Singles
Noam Gershony(ISR) vs. Peter Norfolk(GBR)[2]

Men's Wheelchair Singles - Semifinals
Nicolas Peifer(FRA) vs. Stephane Houdet(FRA)[2]

Quad Wheelchair Doubles - Finals
Andrew Lapthorne(GBR)[1] /Peter Norfolk(GBR)[1] vs. David Wagner(USA)[2] /Noam Gershony(ISR)[2]

Women's Wheelchair Doubles - Semifinals
Annick Sevenans(BEL) /Daniela Di Toro(AUS) vs. Aniek Van Koot(NED)[2] /Marjolein Buis(NED)[2]

Court 8

11:00 AM
Junior Girls' Singles - Quarterfinals
Taylor Townsend(USA)[14] vs. Sabina Sharipova(UZB)[12]

Junior Girls' Singles - Quarterfinals
Risa Ozaki(JPN) vs. Eugenie Bouchard(CAN)[2]

Junior Girls' Doubles - Semifinals
Gabrielle Andrews(USA) /Taylor Townsend(USA) vs. Rutuja Bhosale(IND) /Aldila Sutjiadi(INA)

Djokovic vs Murray at Australian Open semis

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:47:00 +0000

Djokovic vs Murray at Australian Open semis

Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-1 to set up an Australian Open semi-final against Andy Murray.

"He looks fit," said Djokovic of Murray. "He's been playing well. He's definitely, I think, very motivated to win his first Grand Slam [title]. He's been proving to himself and to the rest of the people that the Australian Open is probably his best Grand Slam. But, on the other hand, I have been playing quite well here in the last couple years. We have to expect a great match. [The] tournament cannot ask for better matchups in semi-finals."

Djokovic broke Ferrer's serve in the fifth game and maintained the lead to clinch the opener on his second set point opportunity.

The Serbian took a 2-0 lead in the second set, but Ferrer won the next three games when Djokovic was bothered by hamstring pain.

"Luckily for me it wasn't something that stayed there for long time," said Djokovic. "It was just a sudden pain. But, look, you could expect before coming into this match that it [was] going to be very physical. David makes you run, makes you play an extra shot, makes you earn your points."

Djokovic broke serve in the 11th game at 30/40, when Ferrer hit a forehand into the net. Ferrer bounced back immediately when Djokovic hit a forehand long at 15/40 in the next game. Ferrer won the first two points of the tie-break and opened up a 4-2 lead, before he made two forehand errors. Djokovic grew in confidence and fired two successive forehand winners to wrap up the 76-minute set.

In the third set, Djokovic raised his game by wearing down Ferrer in lengthy baseline rallies to lead 3-0. He broke Ferrer's serve for a second time at 1-4, 30/40, when Djokovic hit a forehand winner down the line. Minutes later, Djokovic held serve to seal the win.

He hit 35 winners and three aces, converting five of his 12 break point opportunities for victory in two hours and 44 minutes.

"I think I was hitting the ball really well from the baseline," said Djokovic. "He had his times in the match where he was playing really well. I think my serve could have been a little bit better. But, overall, it was a great performance."

"I played a good game," said Ferrer. "I had my chance in the second set, in the tie-break maybe at 4-5. But when I lost the second set, he played better than me. I am happy with my game."

Source ATP

Murray into Australian Open semifinals after win over Nishikori

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:28:00 +0000

Murray into Australian Open semifinals after win over Nishikori

Andy Murray beat Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6- 1 for a place in the semi-finals at the Australian Open.

Murray will next play Novak Djokovic, who beat David Ferrer.

"I was just a little bit more solid today and probably had a little bit more in the tank than he did," said Murray. "He played three long matches. With the way that he plays, he needs to play a lot of long rallies. That was to my advantage today.

"I was hitting the ball better today. I could have served better, that's for sure. I'll need to serve better in the next match. But I was returning good, hitting the ball clean from the back of the court [and] moved forward well."

Murray broke Nishikori in the second game of the match and saved two break points in the following game to get off to a 3-0 start. He came under pressure at 4-2, falling to 0/40, but won five straight points to maintain his lead.

The second set began with three consecutive breaks, with Murray again seizing the early advantage. The Scott broke Nishikori again in the final game of the set.

Murray hit 36 winners and four aces. He won 21 of his 25 approached to the net and dropped eight points on first serve. Nishikori committed 39 unforced errors and could only convert two of 10 break point opportunities.

"Of course I wanted to win today," said Nishikori, who had made history by becoming the first Japanese man to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals in the Open Era. "I was really excited before the match and even yesterday. But I wasn't good enough physically, mentally, [and] even tennis. He's really improving I think his serve now... and he has great defence. It's not easy to play against him."

Source ATP

Federer-Nadal rivalry plays out in unfamiliar territory

noreply@blogger.com (WTA and ATP Tennis Blogs) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Federer-Nadal rivalry plays out in unfamiliar territory

One of the great rivalries of modern tennis will be played out in the unfamiliar surroundings of the semi-finals at the Australian Open on Thursday.

Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, who have won 26 grand slam titles between them, are used to meeting in the finals of the four majors where Nadal holds a 6-2 record over his Swiss rival. Their only grand slam semi-final showdown was at the 2005 French Open which Nadal won.

“We have been on opposite sides of the draw many times,” Federer said. “I didn’t even play (Andy) Murray last year because we were ranked I guess three and four, so we always ran into Novak (Djokovic) or I basically always ran into Novak.

“I guess it’s a nice changeup… but I think it’s good for tennis that it changes up a bit.”

The pair last met at the Australian Open in 2009 when Nadal won an epic five-set battle that reduced Federer to tears on Rod Laver Arena and the Spaniard said the match would be special no matter what ranking each man held in the world.

“We talk about a player who won 16 grand slams and I have won 10 and we played a lot of matches between each other, all (were) very important for our careers,” Nadal said.

“Every match is different, and I know I will be on court playing against probably the best (player) of history.

“So obviously my only chance to win is play aggressive, play very well, and to play to a limit. That’s what I gonna try.”

Both of the women’s semi-finals will also be played on Thursday with fourth seed Maria Sharapova looking to avenge her Wimbledon final defeat to second seed Petra Kvitova. The Russian was full of praise for her young Czech opponent.

“It will certainly be tough. I’ve lost to her the last couple of times, obviously the big one in Wimbledon where she played really well,” Sharapova said.

“I think she’s the one to beat right now, playing the best tennis in her career.

“Coming off of so many wins last year, I’m looking forward to the matchup. I don’t like losing so many times in a row. So I’ll certainly be going out there and trying to play my best.”

Champion Kim Clijsters, who has said 2012 will be her last year on tour, will be looking to advance to her ninth grand slam final when she meets third seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

“Tough player, tough match. She’s playing extremely well, playing with a lot of confidence,” Clijsters said.

“She takes a lot more initiative, hits a lot down the middle of the court, deep, hard.

“She’s improved a lot on her fitness and her movement, which was definitely a weakness in the past… so she’s becoming a more and more complete player.”

Article from Reuters