Jodi's Epic Tennis Adventure 2.5 - Fedophilia

I've sat through tight Federer matches before. I've been to live Federer matches. But I've never been to and sat through a tight Federer match, and it just about killed me.

On paper, it wasn't that tight. Four sets, with the fourth a very tidy bagel... fine, right? Just a brain fart for a set and then an otherwise fine day at the office... but no. Those of us who were there can tell you an entirely different story.

First of all, tennis gods, what kind of first round draw is Igor 'I took you to five sets at the US Open that one time' Andreev? I know he hasn't exactly been in form lately, but if nothing else, his girlfriend beat Sharapova yesterday. Hello, inspo? And his forehand is an evil beast machine. That's all I'm saying.

I didn't actually have tickets to this match, but was gifted with one by a kindly passerby about halfway through the third set... aka 'most nervewracking set of the year so far (and yes, I know it's only January)'. This was the most topsy-turvy bastard of a set ever, and I had about five heart attacks in it. Andreev was up a break, and then Federer came back, and then he was serving for it, and then Andreev came back, and then Andreev was serving for it, and then it went to a breaker... honestly, I think Federer won this one on will alone.

Though that shouldn't be underestimated. Will. Andreev certainly lost his when he lost the third set - you can bet that if he was two sets to one up, he would not have been taking a bagel in the fourth. I guess that's part of what makes a real champion.

But this wasn't the only match I saw today - so let me expound. It didn't rain today - hurrah! So I spent the majority of my day wandering about the grounds (where every second person was wearing an RF cap - he's a brand name as well as a person now!) and I opened my daily account with a Federer practice and a Nadal practice. My Roland Garros cap is now my most prized possession, as Roger signed it... yes, I am a sad fangirl.

ANYWAY. Tennis. Today's Maria Sharapova Award for most random upset went to Robin Soderling, who managed to lose a match he'd pretty much already won when Marcel Granollers came back from two sets to love down to win it in five. I saw the first set of this match and although it was 7-5 to Soderling, it was far less close than the score suggests. So I really have no idea what happened here. I hope the Yoker isn't injured, because that would be completely crapulent. Better luck at your next Slam, I guess, Robin... and I do believe that is a little Slam called 'Roland Garros'.

Runner up for this weird loss award goes to Juan Carlos Ferrero, who was also two sets up, whom I also saw early in the match, and who managed to lose when winning seemed inevitable. Bizarre. Again, hopefully no injuries for JCF.

I caught the end of Ernests Gulbis's match as well - I know he was the Great Disappointment of 2009, but I just can't quit him. Unfortunately, he didn't provide me with much ammunition here... he lost in straights to Juan Monaco (who bears a resemblance to those old Catholic school pictures of Jesus - if Jesus was totally buff). He smacks the cover off the ball, and when his shots go in, then wow, Ernie... but his shots weren't going in. And this isn't the WTA.

I was also very disappointed in Dominika Cibulkova. She should be able to do better than losing to Vania King. And Mr Tommy 'I beat Andy Murray to win the Hopman Cup' Robredo should not be losing in the first round to Santiago Giraldo. I was not disappointed, however, in Tommy of the Haas variety. I caught the third set of his match against Simon Greul, and I have never noticed what beautiful hands he has at the net before. Absolutely stunning. I'm not sure what section of the draw he is in, but whoever is in it should watch out. He is such a talent... just so unlucky. I confess, I looked at the sky to see when the piano would fall on him.

Someone else who is massively talented - hello, Julie Coin! I've just returned from the night session and I was so, so impressed with her, even if her victory came at the expense of Alicia Molik. She's got a real wheeler-dealer style that appeals to me - similar to Gulbis in that sense, I suppose. She is very aggressive and goes for everything. When she misses, she misses badly, but when she doesn't miss... whoo boy. And she has hands at the net like... like... someone with really good hands at the net.

Simile fail.

Molik will be kicking herself, and rightly so, because she should have won this match. You don't get a set and 5-2 up and get away with not winning a match, really. Coin did start to play with more confidence, but Molik should have squashed her before she really let loose. Nonetheless, Molik could have played a lot worse, and for a comeback, well... I've seen worse.

This was not the most interesting night session ever. It was full of Australians, and largely, I am not that interested in the major Australian players - not when you have a whole world full of tennis personalities to choose from. The first match up was Hewitt versus some Brazilian called Ricardo Hocevar - you'd be lucky if this made a show court at another Slam, but in Australia, bam! Rod Laver. It was a good match from a Hewitt perspective - he totally whaled on Hocevar, which has got to be good for his confidence. But I really would rather have seen the (still ongoing) Gasquet/Youzhny clash.

Tomorrow's night sesh looks like big fun, however - and I will be there! It opens with Henin and Dementieva and then we have Tomic and Cilic. Fun times!

Close Encounters of the Female Kind

The day of close matches. Seriously, how many nailbiters were there today? Largely, these were on the women's side, and it's a rare day that I prefer women's tennis over men's, but oh! there were some exciting matches today! Dinara Safina and Hsieh Su-Wei was a gun of a match - I'm so glad Dinara pulled that one out, otherwise Russia would have lost the tie! Ana Ivanovic and Roberta Vinci was enthralling - Vinci had match points, but Ivanovic had other ideas... But the real cracker for me was Amelie Mauresmo against Julie Coin. That tiebreaker... I wasn't going for either of them, and I was still biting my nails.

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So maybe Julie Coin isn't just a onetime Ivanovic-beating fluke after all, eh? She may not have triumphed against Mauresmo, but she damn near did - and she has some awesome skills. I was much more impressed with her than I was with, say, Ivanovic. I wasn't keen on Ana at all last night. Looks? Check. Massive groundstrokes? Check. Netplay? Check. Serve? Check, except... seriously, she has the worst balltoss in the entire world. The commentators were discussing it, but I think I should reiterate - BADNESS. It'd go to the right, to the left, over her head... anywhere except where it was meant to go.

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Back to Hopman Cup, and Marat backed it up! I was impressed. Dinara needs to snap back into it - she could so easily have lost her match - but onya, Marat. Unfortunately, they still bite at doubles, but I guess you can't have everything...

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And Ernests couldn't back it up. Which is sad. But he still beat Djokovic - who has pinched some other well-deserving player's wildcard into Sydney. But the flag is still flying for the Stars - Kei Nishikori upset Tomas Berdych. I would love Kei to go deep!

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And Kolya is out of the Australian Open. It's horrible, but I doubt anyone will notice he's gone...

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Today's Results

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Harry Hopman Cup (Perth)

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Germany 2, USA 1

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Sabine Lisicki def. Meghann Shaughnessy, 4-6 6-0 6-4

James Blake def. Nicolas Kiefer, 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (9-7) 4-6

Lisicki/Kiefer def. Shaughnessy/Blake, 6-3 3-6 10-7 (match tiebreaker)

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Russia 2, Chinese Taipei 1

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Dinara Safina def. Hsieh Su-Wei, 4-6 6-2 7-5

Marat Safin def. Lu Yen-Hsun, 7-6 (8-6) 7-5

Hsieh/Lu def. Safina/Safin, 4-6 6-3 10-8 (match tiebreaker)

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Brisbane International (Brisbane)

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Men's Draw

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Jarkko Nieminen, 0-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-5)

Fernando Verdasco def. Mario Ancic, 6-2 6-3

Kei Nishikori def. Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (9-7) 6-3

Radek Stepanek def. Michael Llodra, 7-6 (7-2) 6-3

Paul-Henri Mathieu def. Ernests Gulbis, 6-3 6-4

Florent Serra def. Jurgen Melzer, 6-4 6-3

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Women's Draw

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Ana Ivanovic def. Roberta Vinci, 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-1

Amélie Mauresmo def. Julie Coin, 5-7 6-2 7-6 (13-11)

Sara Errani def. Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 6-3

Olga Govortsova def. Sesil Karatantcheva, 6-0 5-7 7-5

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Chennai Open (Chennai)

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Lukas Dlouhy def. Nikolay Davydenko, walkover

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Qatar Exxonmobil Open (Doha)

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Rafael Nadal def. Karol Beck, 6-1 6-2

Roger Federer def. Andreas Seppi, 6-3 6-3

Andy Murray def. Philipp Petzschner, 6-2 6-4

Andy Roddick def. Arnaud Clement, 6-3 7-5

Gael Monfils def. Nicolas Devilder, 7-5 7-6 (7-4)

Philipp Kohlschreiber def. Kristof Vliegen, 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4

Victor Hanescu def. Mikhail Youzhny, 6-2 6-4

Sergiy Stakhovsky def. Alexander Peya, 7-5 6-3

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ASB Classic (Auckland)

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Elena Dementieva def. Marina Erakovic, 6-2 6-3

Caroline Wozniacki def. Jill Craybas, 6-4 7-5

Edina Gallovits def. Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-3 6-3

Ayumi Morita def. Aleksandra Wozniak, 7-5 6-2

Shahar Peer def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 6-3 4-6 6-2

Elena Vesnina def. Nicole Vaidisova, 6-4 6-3

Aravane Rezai def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-2 6-3

Anne Keothavong def. Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-2 6-4

Bella and Miss Monica Make The Cut

I think the organisers of Brisbane have made a very wise decision in allocating their last two wildcards for the women's draw. I am quite excited about it, actually - the wildcards are going to Monica Wejnert and Isabella Holland.

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Neither girls have played a WTA senior event before, but I think they could really go well. Sure, they're both only sixteen, but they've both been so impressive lately. Isabella Holland has been impressive for a while, but Monica Wejnert has really been a standout over the last month. That semi-final of the wildcard playoff when Wejnert defeated Holland could have easily been the final. Sure, Dokic eventually ended up winning the wildcard, but for me, Wejnert/Holland was the real final.

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So do these girls have a chance? In future years, I would not be surprised at all if we were talking a whole lot about Wejnert and Holland. But this year... I would be shocked and awed if they won, but not shocked if they made it a round or two. Both of them are eminently capable of pulling an upset or a couple. I would actually love to see one of them play Ivanovic in the first round. Not only would that give them an idea of where they stand currently against one of the top women in the game, but I think one of them might actually be able to win. Julie Coin, anyone?

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One thing that would be a bit sad is if Wejnert and Holland had to play each other in the first round, but I will be very, very, very happy if one of them makes it to the second round. They may only be sixteen now, but I will not be a bit surprised if these girls are very, very good in the future.

Coin Toss

I believe I said yesterday that Ana Ivanovic was shaky-looking or something to that effect, and would not make the final. I was right. But I had no idea she'd go crashing out to a French nobody in the second round.

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Something is clearly up with Ana. She's had two early Slam exits now since winning the French and becoming #1. I don't whether it's the thumb injury or what - but even if the injury is a factor, it isn't just that. Something is up with Ana Ivanovic. She is not playing like someone of her calibre should.

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I suppose this will mean she loses #1 again - I'm not sure what she did here last year, but it certainly was better than the second round, yesno? So how many have we got in contention to take it this time? Actually, who was in the final last year? Henin, yes - she won - but who did she play? Let me have a look... Henin defeated Kuznetsova. Wow, I have no recollection of that at all! But what it does mean is that Sveta has a hell of a lot of points to defend - one would imagine she would pretty much have to win the title to take #1.

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The real danger is Jelena Jankovic, but really, if she is going to be #1, it would nice if she'd do it by winning the tournament. I know she's reasonably consistent, but can you really be #1 without a Slam? Mathematically you can, sure, but really? It just seems sort of suss to me.

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Sharapova obviously can't take it what with being injured and all... I would dearly love to see Dinara take it, but I think she's too far back in the rankings to even have a shot. Likewise Dementieva. Could Serena do it? I don't know how she went last year. How far behind is she...? Let's look. A long way, really. Possible at the outside, perhaps, but not very likely. She'd have to win the tournament, and even then I don't know if she'd make it. Maths is not my strong suit.

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But what we haven't talked about is the underdog that did the upsetting, and that is very remiss of me. How about Julie Coin? What a great victory for her! Everyone was really disappointed here in Australia when she beat Casey Dellacqua in the first round, but now she's beaten Ivanovic, perhaps poor Casey will be forgiven a bit. She (back on Coin now) is ranked something like #188 in the world, and I think this is her first Slam tournament. How's that for your first memories of Slam tennis? A victory over Dellacqua, ranked, what about 150 places higher than her? is good enough, but to beat the #1 player in the world...? That's something special.

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I'm not going to go on to predict that Julie Coin will be the next #1 or anything, or even that she'll be top 10, but I would love to see her go a few rounds here. As long as they're not playing Federer, I love a good underdog. I don't think she could pull an Edmondson or anything, but maybe she could be a second Carla Suarez Navarro. Eventually she would run into Safina and there she would swiftly be terminated, but I'd like to see her make at least another round. Just to prove that yes, she can back it up.

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Look at me, talking about women's tennis when there is all this men's tennis as well! No major upsets there today - although Rafa is still playing! Though I don't think he's going to pull an Ana - he's 5-0 up in the first set right now. Actually, he could be more, but I can't tell - the US Open website is being all crap and non-accessible. Bastards. But still, it looks like Rafa took my advice about getting off the court quickly to heart. This one doesn't look like it'll go three hours. (Hell, it doesn't look like it'll go one hour at this rate.) Maybe he and Federer are having a competition for the number of bagels served up... though look! A game! Ryler de Heart won a whole game! I guess that set will just be a breadstick then. (Just.)

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And I do believe I said yesterday that the match between del Potro and Bellucci would be one to watch, and although del Potro would win, Bellucci would challenge him. I was right. I am just so good. Yay me.

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Today's Results

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US Open (Flushing Meadows)

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Men's Draw

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James Blake def. Steve Darcis, 4-6 6-3 1-0 retired
Rafael Nadal def. Ryler de Heart, 6-1 6-2 6-4

Mardy Fish def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, 6-2 3-6 6-2 6-4
Gael Monfils def. Evgeny Korolev, 6-2 6-3 3-6 6-4
Stanislas Wawrinka def. Wayne Odesnik, 6-4 7-6 (8-6) 6-2
Sam Querrey def. Nicolas Devilder, 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 4-6 6-3
Andy Murray def. Michael Llodra, 6-4 1-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7)
Ivo Karlovic def. Florent Serra, 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-2
Flavio Cipolla def. Yen-hsun Lu, 6-1 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4
Gilles Simon def. Jose Acasuso, 6-4 6-1 6-4
David Ferrer def. Andreas Beck, 4-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-5)
Jurgen Melzer def. Jiri Vanek, 6-0 6-2 6-2
David Nalbandian def. Andrey Golubev, 6-2 6-4 6-2
Juan Martin del Potro def. Thomaz Bellucci, 4-6 6-1 7-5 6-3
Viktor Troicki def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 2-6 6-3 6-4 3-0 retired
Kei Nishikori def. Roko Karanusic, 6-1 7-5 retired
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Women's Draw
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Julie Coin def. Ana Ivanovic, 6-3 4-6 6-3
Dinara Safina def. Roberta Vinci, 6-4 6-3
Serena Williams def. Elenade los Rios, 6-1 6-1
Venus Williams def. Rossana de los Rios, 6-0 6-3
Amelie Mauresmo def. Kaia Kanepi, 2-6 6-4 6-0
Alize Cornet def. Bethanie Mattek, 7-6 (7-5) 6-1
Alona Bondarenko def. Sabine Lisicki, 6-4 1-6 6-4
Timea Bacsinszky def. Yung-Jan Chan, 6-3 6-2
Tathiana Garbin def. Agnes Szavay, 5-7 6-2 6-3
Severine Bremond def. Nicole Vaidisova, 7-5 6-3
Nadia Petrova def. Hsieh Su-wei, 6-4 6-2
Dominika Cibulkova def. Ioana Raluca Olaru, 6-2 6-2
Flavia Pennetta def. Shuai Peng, 6-2 6-7 (8-10) 6-1
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Mariana Duque Marino, 6-0 7-6 (7-3)
Anna-Lena Groenefeld def. Jessica Moore, 6-1 6-3
Ai Sugiyama def. Olga Govortsova, 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1