Australian Open 2014 (13 Jan - 26 Jan).

[Master Splinter]

Wawrinka wins 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7!!!!!!

Amazing. Fat Stan :bow: :bow:.

Two awful volleys from Djokovic at the end to hand Stan the win.

[Master Splinter]

My predictions :haha:.

Maccy's predictions still on :bow:.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Definite shame, it means that Nadal will win the title at a canter. Dimitrov in the quarters, Federer in the semis and Berdych in the final.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wow, well done to Stan. He probably deserves it going so close to beating Nole last year.

Nole appointing Becker. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Radwanska took out Azarenka 6-1 5-7 6-0. :haha:

Nadal beat Dimitrov 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (9-7) 6-2. Nadal has a massive blister on the palm of his hand. :sick:

Cibulkova beat Halep 6-3 6-0.

Old Man Feed vs Muzza is on next, which I'll miss. :banghead:

Unless it's a five set epic.

[Master Splinter]

Radwanska was amazing today. She should have won it in two sets really, but some of her defensive play was Muzza-esque and she just got into Azarenka's head I think. Would be great if she won the title, although Li Na probably deserves one too.

How does Nadal play with that awlful blister?!

[Master Splinter]

Federer takes the first set 6-3.

He seems to be carrying on his form from the Tsonga match so far. Murray not really into the match yet though.

[Master Splinter]

Two poor Murray forehands hand Federer the break and he leads 3-2 in the second set.

[Master Splinter]

Murray struggling to hit two good shots in a row. Pubbing up all his half-chances. Doesn't bode well for him at the moment.

[Master Splinter]

Federer takes the second set 6-4.

Murray had decent chances there again to make an impression on Feed's serve, but he's playing without any conviction. Still no break points for him. 2/2 conversion for Federer. Efficient Federer is back. Possibly.

[Master Splinter]

Murray saves three break points to hold in the first game of the third set.

Efficient Feed :rose:.

[Master Splinter]

Murray saves another break point to just about hold.

2-1.

The :rose: will surely be out for him soon.

[Master Splinter]

Federer breaks to lead 5-4 and will serve for the match!

Muzza :rose:.

[Master Splinter]

Murray earns his first break points and finally breaks to level at 5-5!

The comeback is on.

[Master Splinter]

Into a third set tie break.

Federer has won 7/8 tie breaks against Murray.

[Master Splinter]

Murray takes the tie break 8-6!

Federer had two match points as well.

Great determination, grit, spirit and determination from Muzza.

[Master Splinter]

You'd still back Federer though. Murray is playing much better now, but he's still not playing on his own terms.

[Master Splinter]

Murray survives six break points in an almost 20-minute long game to somehow hold serve.

1-1 in the fourth.

[Master Splinter]

Murray saves another break point to hold.

3-3.

[Master Splinter]

Three horrible Murray errors give Federer three more break chances. He takes the third and will serve for the match again.

5-3.

[Master Splinter]

Federer wins 6-3 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-3.

Murray threw away all his hard work with that horrific game but Federer was the deserved winner.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fed. :bow:

I am not going to be missing the Nadal semi final which isn't encouraging given Fed just won two big matches I missed!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You can miss it if you want, bit of a foregone conclusion Federer hasn't beaten Nadal in a grand slam in almost seven years, and Nadal's head to head record against Federer in Grand Slams is 8-2 (a scoreline we can all feel uncomfortable with).
You can drag up how Wawrinka never beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam before yesterday but Wawrinka's style of play is conducive to being able to beat Djokovic, Federer's style of play plays into Nadal's hands, if Federer tries to serve volley like he did against Murray he will be annhilated (which i think he will be anyway).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'm not going to write this one off just yet, if only because Feed should be a bit more secure on his backhand - in theory being able to take it higher with a bigger racquet but it's still going to come down to his mental state I feel.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BBC Two are showing Fedal on Friday. :popcorn:

They can't be arsed showing Wawrinka - Berdych though.

Also, on Fedal. 30 slam wins between them. :haha: :wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Li Na took out Bouchard 6-2 6-4. :(

Cibulkova annihilated Radwanska 6-1 6-2. :blink:

Berdych - Stan is on now. Still on serve in the first set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Stan!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Berdych misses the smash and Stan breaks! Serving for the first set now. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Stan takes the first set 6-3! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tie-break time in the second set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just the five set points for Berdych. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Berdych takes the second set 7-6 (7-1)!

Stan. :doh:

1-1.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan did take the third set 7-6 (7-3) though! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Berdych moves so well for a big man apparently.

Football clichés moving in on other sports.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Awlsome crosscourt forehand from Stan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

"You don't need the help of gravity anymore". Mats Wilander.

:wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bloody hell Stan. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan is serving to stay in the fourth set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not really the time for a double fault Stan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Now Stan serving to force a third tie-break, in a row. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Stan does so. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Berdych. :haha:

Stan with the mini-break after Berdych flubs at the net.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Berdych double faults in the tie-breaker again, did two in the third set. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three match points for Stan! Dump the Argentina colours Berdych.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan double faults. :doh:

Two remaining.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan beats Berdych 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) to make his first Slam final!! :bow:

All Swiss final. :pray:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

That'd be one for the neutrals...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Blatter. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

Radwanska :doh:. Her best chance of a Slam and she flops monumentally.

Come on Li Na :bow:.

Stan :bow: :bow:. Hope he wins it, but he probably has a 5% chance.

If Nadal's hand wasn't dead, I think he'd kill Feed again. Feed is looking as fit as ever though so he could take advantage of a hampered Nadal. Probably a five-setter.

[fakeyank]

Nadal will spank the Fed in straight sets.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BBC's programme is on now.

Castle and Lloyd in the studio and doing commentary presumably.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Errani/Vinci win the Women's doubles! Fed - Nadal should be on court in 15 minutes I guess.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And they are indeed on court now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's time.

Come on Old Man Feed. :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

End the match now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a return from Nadal. Fed still holds serve though, 0-1.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nice backhand from Feed, on his serve.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Very good work at the net from Fed after Nadal fluked one earlier in the point.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Awlsome work at the net from Fed again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a return from Fed. :haha:

Deuce on Nadal's serve.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal holds, 2-2.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal drops his racquet.

:rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Nadal. :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One break point remaining. Eek.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce. Come on Feed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Woeful miss up the line from Nadal's backhand.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fed holds on. :bow:

Leads 3-4.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a rally. Nadal holds, 4-4.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fed had to stave off another break point but did hold. Nadal serving to stay in the first set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And he does so. 5-5.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal again serving to stay in the first set and force a tie-break.

Bit of a pub team affair so far.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal holds. It's tie-break time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal leads 5-1 at the changeover. :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

5-4 now, Nadal can serve it out.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two set points for Nadal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal takes the first set 7-6 (7-4). :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a weird point with Fed winning at the net. 1-1 in the second set, Nadal took a MTO to sort out his blisters before that game.

Nadal to serve.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fed having to save break points again. :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal calling himself a dickhead. :unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three break points saved in that game. 2-2.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal finally breaks and leads 4-2 in the second set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal takes the second set 6-3. :sick:

[Özim]

Federer hasn't beaten Nadal in 7 years. Looks like that's set to continue.

[Özim]

Nadal breaks Federer in the 3rd, looks like this match is over.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fed finally has break points. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fed breaks back, 2-2. :lol:

[Özim]

Federer breaks back, poor game by Nadal there.

[Özim]

Just heard a new saying "You give him an inch he takes a foot"

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal breaks again. :sick:

[Özim]

Awful just awful from Federer, two really bad errors, if you play like that you deserve to lose.

[Özim]

Again awful point to finish on by Federer, he's just missing simple shots, hitting the odd good winner but overall just not good enough.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal wins 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-3. Fuck this.

[Özim]

Matchpoint.

[Özim]

Disappointing by Federer once again.

[Marc Overmars]

Nadal will end up with more slam wins than Federer won't he?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Looking like it. Power always wins.

[fakeyank]

Nadal will spank the Fed in straight sets.

:gp:

[Master Splinter]

Fakeyank :bow:.

[Master Splinter]

Looking like it. Power always wins.

Well, and all the other attributes he has.

Surely you can bring yourself to admit the guy is just an incredible sportsman? And he's winning Slams with his non-favoured, blistered hand! Just a freak of the highest order.

He is the GOAT and Federer is his BITCH IMO TBH IMO.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not really. Same way I wouldn't expect you to dissect the whys and wherefores about someone being a 'incredible sportsman' if they were to be beating Arsenal.

I'm partisan and I just don't like Nadal's game, so looking for objectivity is not likely to arise here.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Women's final on now.

Li Na up a break on Cibulkova.

Overend is commentating on BBC Two. :unsure: I thought he had abandoned tennis? Perhaps it was just on radio.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Cibulkova!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two double faults in a row to give the break back. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cibulkova completely flukes one.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Li Na!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cibulkova puts it in to the net and so Li Na breaks. Serving for the first set now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Break point for Cibulkova! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Li Na mishits one to send Cibulkova wide and then a easy shot the other way. Deuce.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Li Na messes up set point.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Adv. Cibulkova!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cibulkova does break and it's tie-break time!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three set points for Li Na!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Li Na takes the first set 7-6 (7-3)! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Li Na leads 3-0 in the second set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not quite so competitive. Cibulkova serving to avoid a bagel and go out the Championship.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cibulkova flukes one to avoid facing three Championship points.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two Championship points!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One remaining.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Li Na wins 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 to win the Australian Open and with it wins her second Slam! :bow:

Cibulkova did Czechoslovakia proud and saved tennis by taking out Sugarpova.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Li Na thanks her agent for making her rich. :lol:

[Master Splinter]

Li Na :bow: :bow:.

China-dominated ATP/WTA rankings in 2025 :cloud9:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Men's final on soon.

Stan. :pray:

Although to win three sets against somebody he has never won one against? :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

John Lloyd talks about Magnus Norman coaching Soderling in 2009 and now he is coaching Stan....Sue Barker repeats that fact back to John Lloyd 20 minutes later. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And it begins.

Come on Stan. :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Four slams in a year. Thanks Castle.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan giving it some.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a backhand from Stan down the line reaching a low ball.

He lead 1-2, Nadal to serve.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rancid dropshot from Nadal. Djokovic took him over there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And a double fault from Nadal. :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brilliant movement from Stan! Two break points!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan breaks and leads 3-1 in the first set!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan putting the hammer down on his first serves. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan holds, leads 1-4. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan's backhand. :cloud9:

Stunning.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Break point for Stan!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce. Good serve from Nadal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal flukes one to send Stan out wide and holds. 2-4 he trails.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How doesn't Nadal get dehydrated? :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal getting hit off the court a la Tsonga in 2008 here.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Worst forehand drive of all time from Stan. :haha:

Think that landed near the roof.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal serving to stay in the first set, 2-5.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan serving for his first ever set against Nadal. Eek.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three break points for Nadal. :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two remaining. Stan's first serve gone bye bye.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One remaining.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce. All break points saved on second serves! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Set point for Stan! :faint:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan finally takes his first set against Nadal and takes it 6-3! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a rally!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three break points for Stan! :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Time violation for Nadal. Early in the set too.

Stan breaks to love and leads 1-0 in the second set. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Serve and volley from Stan to hold and lead 0-2 in the second set. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

MTO for Nadal. :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan giving the umpire some.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Injured back for Nadal I think Stan was told.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan runs to the back of the court Nadal style. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal finally blesses us with his presence and enters court with boos. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan holds to love. Nadal might need another MTO.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think Nadal's heart has been broken.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal double faulting.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Stan.

Finish him!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan breaks again and leads 4-1 in the second set.

No way will Nadal retire; it's a Slam final.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal finding a friend in the net.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal serving to stay in the second set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two set points for Stan! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One remaining.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce.

Stan. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Third set point!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sent out wide so deuce again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal holds on, Stan to serve it out.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two more set points for the Pride of Switzerland.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And Stan takes the second set 6-2! :bow:

Nadal carrying on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Nadal. :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal breaks and leads 2-0 in the third set.

Stan. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan on the board in the third set. Get your head back in Stan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a crosscourt backhand from Stan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan serving to stay in the third set at 2-5. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan holds, Nadal to serve it out. :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Stan! Come on you idiot.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan wastes them. Just get it back in court!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan beasts his way to saving set point. Eek.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal takes the third set 6-3. :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan back to his ballbashing and two break points. :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce. Again two dreadful returns.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal holds, 1-1.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal trailing 2-3 in the fourth set and to serve.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Stan again. Please take them!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan with a brilliant forehand down the line to break and lead 4-2 in the fourth set!

Come on!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three break points for Nadal. FFS.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal breaks to love.

Stan. WTF?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two more break points for Stan!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stanislas Wawrinka breaks again and will serve for the Championship! COME ON!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stan to serve it out, 15-0.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

30-0. Nearly there. :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three Championship points!!!!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland beats Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 to win the Australian Open and his first Slam title! :bow: :bow: :bow:

Nadal. :lol:

Maybe injured but even so...oh dear. :haha:

Switzerland has two Slam Champions. :faint:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Presentation time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Thomas Oh. :haha:

Brilliant name.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nice speech Nadal.

Time for the Champ. :bow:

[Heisenberg]

Shame it wasn't Federer in the semi-final just now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Stan. :bow:

Tennis lives.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Well done Stan. :bow:

Tennis lives.

I think watching Nadal lose is the thing I enjoy most about Tennis, I think if Djokovic had not bottled it in the fifth set at Roland Garros last year I'd have enjoyed that more than Murray winning at flushing meadows and Wimbledon. I think my favourite tennis moment in the last ten years was when Soderling beat Nadal in the French open fourth round in 2009.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The Soderling win was crazy. Then the next day Fed nearly messes it up against Haas - down two sets along with nearing being broken in the third, if he missed a crosscourt forehand. :yikes:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Thomas Oh. :haha:

Brilliant name.
I honestly thought his name was Mr Tomato.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:haha:

[Heisenberg]

The Soderling win was crazy. Then the next day Fed nearly messes it up against Haas - down two sets along with nearing being broken in the third, if he missed a crosscourt forehand. :yikes:

That tournament was crazy. Not just the Haas game (and I remember that forehand, my jaw dropped!) but I think Del Potro also took him to 5 sets. Federer's best chance ever to get the French Open and he kept making us worry...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's right, he was 2-1 down to Del Potro then for some reason DelPo capitulated.

Djokovic getting straight setted by Kohlschreiber. :wacko:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

2009 was a strange year in the grand slams in general, first Nadal beats Federer in a five set thriller in the AO which everyone thought represented a changing of the guard. Then there was the crazy French open and Federers tears at finally winning at Roland Garros. Then Wimbledon where he was outplayed for most of the match by Andy Roddick who only had his serve broken once in the five set encounter and had Federer On the ropes in the second set tie break. Than the US open where Del Potro got his revenge for the French open semi finals in a match Federer had a mental meltdown where he should have won easily having been the better player for four out of five sets.
Only 2012 matched that for sheer drama

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Would love to see Djokovic win at Roland Garros, but i think Nadal will his ninth title there....unless there is a repeat of 2009 that is. I think mentally Djokovic has found it difficult besting his rival, he should have won the fifth set at Roland Garros and the third set at Flushing meadows in their last two encounters. Plus I think Becker is a poor choice of coach, Becker and Djokovic are two completely different types of player unlike Lendl and Murray .
Wimbledon is a three way competition, four way if Federer carries on his good form and avoids Nadal in the draw, US Open will be between the big three.

[Munchies]

Wasn't following this tournament, but turned on the tv for the final and was expecting Federer in the final :lol:

That being said, congrats Stan

[Master Splinter]

Stan :bow:.

Mauresmo backed up her never-would-have-won-if-the-opponent-wasn't-dead Aussie Open victory over Henin by winning Wimbledon. I'm not sure if Wawrinka will ever do it. Would be a shame if this hangs over him, but these situations are just horrible for both players.


Stan up to third in the rankings :bow:.

Muzza down to sixth :lol:.

Federer is eighth. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The Big 8. :bow:

I don't think this should look too badly on Stan, he was after all a set and a break up on Nadal before he really had that injury, so at the very least he would have been competitive. And Nadal could always have just not got injured, plus, Stan did get through Djokovic too.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Nadal wasn't fit for the entire tournament otherwise Wawrinka would not have been able to hit double the amount of winners that Nadal managed in that first set or so. I think the back injury was just a result of not being fully fit in the first place.
Nadal got to the final because he hadn't played any genuine counter punchers in the draw leading to the final, when he is not fit you can tell he doesn't move around the court as much as he would do usually.