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THIS WEEK IN TENNIS: WEEK ONE OF 2016 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

1/23/2016

1 Comment

 
The 2016 Australian Open began under the cloud of a BBC/Buzzfeed report alleging match-fixing in tennis. The chaos surrounding the story was matched on court by a slew of upsets, particularly in the women's draw. By the completion of the second round, only 14 of the 32 seeded women remained in the draw. The men's seeds experienced a less turbulent time of it in Melbourne, with only seven failing to advance to the third round. Week one will also be remembered for the final match of Lleyton Hewitt's career. The long-time Aussie stalwart lost to David Ferrer in the second round, in his 20th appearance at the Australian Open. 
Embed from Getty Images


​WTA


UPSETS​
Round One

Zhang Shuai d. (2) S. Halep 6-4 6-3
J. Konta d. (8) V. Williams 6-4 6-2
Y. Putintseva d. (16) C. Wozniacki 1-6 7-6 6-4
M. Gasparyan d. (17) S. Errani 1-6 7-5 6-1
E. Kulichkova d. (22) A. Petkovic 7-5 6-4
Q. Wang d. (24) S. Stephens 6-3 6-3 
K. Pliskova d. (25) S. Stosur 6-4 7-6
L. Davis d. (26) A. Pavlyuchenkova 1-6 6-3 6-4
D. Kasatkina d. (27) A. Schmiedlova 6-3 6-3
J. Larsson d. (29) I. Begu 6-3 6-2 
P. Cetkovska d. (30) S. Lisicki 6-4 6-4 
V. Lepchenko d. (31) L. Tsurenko 6-7 6-2 6-3 
B. Strycova d. (32) C. Garcia 6-2 6-4  ​
​Round Two 

D. Gavrilova d. (6) P. Kvitova 
A. Beck d. (11) T. Bacsinszky 6-2 6-3 
N. Osaka d. (18) E. Svitolina 6-4 6-4 
L. Siegemund d. (19) J. Jankovic 3-6 7-6 6-4 
K. Bondarenko d. (23) S. Kuznetsova 6-1 7-5 

Round Three


B. Strycova d. (3) G. Muguruza 6-3 6-2
(21) E. Makarova d. (9) K. Pliskova 6-3 6-2
A. Friedsam d. (13) R. Vinci 0-6 6-4 6-4
D. Gavrilova d. (28) K. Mladenovic 6-4 4-6 11-9

​Check out who's left in the WOMEN'S DRAW
​

​SPOTLIGHT

Zhang Shuai 

The Chinese player, ranked as high as #30 in 2014, scored one of the biggest upsets of the first week when she dismissed #2 seed Simona Halep in straight sets. Compounding the loss for Halep was the fact that Zhang had failed to advance past the first round of a Slam in each of her previous 14 attempts, and lost in qualifying at Slams a further 13 times. Yet, the world #133 summoned her best tennis, and finds herself in the fourth round, where she will play Madison Keys on Monday. 


Naomi Osaka

In just her third attempt at qualifying for a Grand Slam main draw, Osaka made it all the way to the third round before losing to a resurgent Victoria Azarenka. She will leave Melbourne with yet another career high ranking, having announced herself as a player to watch for the 2016 season and beyond. Osaka beat Donna Vekic in the first round and then #18 seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets two days later. 

OTHER STANDOUTS
​
  • Daria Gavrilova - Into her first-ever fourth round at a Slam after taking out Hradecka, Kvitova, and Mladenovic. A new career high awaits her at tournament's end, cracking the top 30 should she win two more matches.
  • Victoria Azarenka - She's making minced meat of her opponents so far, dropping only five games in three matches. Kerber is a potential quarterfinal opponent.
  • Serena Williams - The world #1's form through three matches has been a revelation: she's yet to drop a set while turning back Giorgi, Hsieh, and Kasatkina with aplomb. The path to a 22nd Slam title gets harder with Sharapova, Radwanksa, and Azarenka her likely opponents in the final three rounds.


​PRESS

​
​Q. Off topic, a lot of Europeans learn how to speak English and not very many Americans learn to speak another language. You have. How has learning French helped you? What do you advise for other players and other people?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It's amazing how you meet a 14 or 13 year old and they are speaking three languages. You're, like, How is that possible?
That was really encouraging for me when I first came on tour to really focus and to really try to get fluent and to really try to get really good at French.
So it worked out. One of my dreams was to give my speech in French. I'm working on English now. (Laughter.) 


Q. One of the top players in the world; won two Grand Slams. What are your...
NAOMI OSAKA: (Laughter.) I never feel pressure from playing someone that's supposed to be like better than me, sort of. I'm just going to go in there happy and hopefully try to pull off an upset.

Q. You said after the match when you first saw the draw and saw you were playing Venus you were hoping just to be out there for an hour. What do you think of her age and coming back at her age and having the great year she had last year?
JOHANNA KONTA: I think it would be silly to look at Venus' age and somehow consider that as a reflection of her level. I think it's irrelevant how old she is because she's such a champion with so much experience and so much knowledge about the game.
Even if she's playing with one leg out there, you've got to really take care of things on your own, because, yeah, no, she's an incredible player. I have all the respect for her in the world. Yeah, I was just very, really enjoying my time out there.


Q. Venus has been fined for not attending press yesterday. Is there a reason she didn't come?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. If you want to, you can ask her. Yeah, I don't know. I wasn't here. In fact, I was watching Telenovela. I'm coming apart, though. Do we have any more questions?

Q. Your biography will come out next year. Have you started to think about it and talked to people about helping you writing the book?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I have started writing the book.
Q. By yourself?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I'm working with a writer, and I'm writing myself. Yeah, I think that's one of the reasons it will take a little bit longer because I want to write a lot of it myself. I'm working with Rich Cohen, who is a tremendous writer. He's kind of a fly-on-the-wall guy, very discreet, incredible writing.
I was in New York working with him for a little bit after Fed Cup. He came up in my off-season to work together a little bit. So, yeah, I have started. Going to take my time. Not going to talk about it much just because I want the book to do the talking. But I'm really excited about it.
I've always loved to write. Something that's been a passion of mine from a young age. I'll also be sharing some of my journals as a young girl.


Q. How much on your mind was the fact you never won a match before at a Grand Slam in the main draw?
ZHANG SHUAI: Actually I already forget how many time because so many time before everybody tell me this is 10 time. Next time for sure you win. But already, like, I don't know how many time already. So doesn't matter.
I just try my best, yeah.


Q. How do you think you're going to be remembered as a tennis player?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, hopefully not from my Australian Open results (smiling).
I've had a really good career. I've achieved a lot of things. You know, winning a Grand Slam was my dream from when I was eight or nine years old, and I've been able to do that. There's been a lot of good in my career.
But I'd obviously like to do better here at the Open.


​Q. What happened today?
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I would say it's a pretty shitty start to the season. It wasn't a pretty first set but I got it done and really should have closed it off in two.

You know, I let her back into the match, and it was basically my own fault that I'm not here as the winner.


Q. How does it feel to be one of the last of your generation? There's Federer and not many else - and Venus.
SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, there's a few of us. I'm waiting on Roger, waiting on his next move (smiling).

Q. Your profile will be growing. Are people starting to recognize you or are you having to slip around Coles?
DARIA GAVRILOVA: I went to the gym today just to have a bit of a stretch. The person recognized, and I was like, Oh, cool.

Q. Talk on the tour has been about your form. Do you think on the back of these couple of matches that you are "the" player or one of "the" players to beat?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Irrelevant. Sorry. I mean, I know I always answer the same way, but it's really how I feel. You know, the talk is just opinions. It's not facts. I say that you always have to go out there and you have to prove yourself and you have to play and you have to win, you know, to keep those opinions the same way.

Q. Some players prefer to try and take a break to make sure an injury is gone. Do you think you're going to need to do that at any point or you're confident the injury's behind you?
SIMONA HALEP: I did. I had a break when I felt pain at this Achilles after Singapore, and before, as well. But now was like came straightaway after I arrived in Brisbane. When I went off of the plane I felt the pain and I couldn't walk anymore.
I'm okay. I don't believe that I need break, but I will take few days I need mentally, and then I will start working hard again because is just a tournament and I have many more ahead.






At the @AustralianOpen with 4 of my biggest fans. #giggle pic.twitter.com/D5T1iySR1Y

— judy murray (@judmoo) January 17, 2016

Kiki!!!!! Thank you so much! You deserved to win https://t.co/XZJwhsaU0D

— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) January 22, 2016

Its a second round for us! #AustralianOpen PS:Guys and i really think you should know already which one is which□!□ pic.twitter.com/cAXt221V7P

— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) January 19, 2016

Thank you for all your nice tweets and words of encouragement. The crowd was amazing tonight! So grateful for all my fans around the word!

— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) January 23, 2016

PARTING THOUGHT

Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka have dominated headlines in the early rounds. Should they both make it to the final, the meeting would represent a resumption of a match-up that once promised to feature heavily on tour, before Azarenka was beset by injury in 2014. While Serena owns a lopsided head-to-head against the two-time Australian Open champion, their meetings became increasingly competitive prior to Azarenka's plummet down the rankings. The pair met in six finals between the 2012 U.S. Open and 2014 Brisbane International: Williams won four times, including consecutive U.S. Open finals. This Australian Open could be the (re)start of something special, particularly for those who insist on Williams needing to have a rival on tour. 

​
ON THE WEB

WTA Injury Report - Australian Open
"Calmer Daria Gavrilova Discovers a Fine Balance"
​Zhang Shuai: A Dream Run from the Abyss
"Rising Star Johanna Konta Striking A Blow for British Tennis" 
Heather Watson's Partnership with Judy Murray Not Permanent
​"Ash Barty Left Tennis for Pro Cricket; Will She Ever Return?"
From the SI Vault: Profile of the Williams Sisters from the '98 Australian Open
"Osaka's Star on the Rise"
ICYM the drama surrounding Night 6 at the Australian Open
​
​
Embed from Getty Images


​ATP


UPSETS
​
Round One

F. Verdasco d. (5) R. Nadal 7-6 4-6 3-6 7-6 6-2
​R. Ram d. (11) K. Anderson 7-6 6-7 6-3 3-0 ret.
N. Rubin d. (17) B. Paire 7-6 7-6 7-6 
G. Muller d. (20) F. Fognini 7-6 7-6 6-7 7-6 
F. Delbonis d. (22) I. Karlovic 7-6 6-4 2-1 ret.​
Round Two 

L. Rosol d. (25) J. Sock 7-6 7-6 6-3
A. Kuznetsov d. (30) J. Chardy 6-4 7-6 7-6
​
​Check out who's left in the MEN'S DRAW

​
SPOTLIGHT

​Lleyton Hewitt bid farewell to the ATP Tour after a second round loss to David Ferrer this week. His prospects for a deep run in the tournament always hinged on a kind placement in the draw. An opening match against countryman James Duckworth allowed the home crowd to experience one final night-time win for Hewitt in Rod Laver Arena. The hard reality for Hewitt is he was never able to deliver at his home Slam: only once in 20 tries did he make the quarterfinals (then was beaten by Marat Safin in the 2005 final). Long a ceremonial player at Slams, Hewitt became a fan favourite toward the end of his career, re-branded from his early years. His on-court aggression and missteps were forgotten in favour of the warrior who never gave up. Regardless of how you feel about Hewitt, he cut a large figure on the ATP Tour, and his contributions to the game over the last two decades will endure.
​



WATCH: A film crew followed Hewitt for the past 12 months. This is the final product: "Lleyton Hewitt: The Final Tour"

OTHER STANDOUTS
  • John Isner - The top American reaches the fourth round at a major for only the sixth time in his career, and will face David Ferrer for a spot in his second Slam quarterfinal.
  • David Ferrer - The world #8 had the unenviable task of defeating Lleyton Hewitt in his final match on tour. Were it not for a fourth round loss in Melbourne last year, Ferrer would be aiming for a sixth consecutive Australian Open quarterfinal. 
  • Tomas Berdych - Still in search of a maiden Slam title, Berdych looks in good form in Australia. The good news: he weathered the Kyrgios storm in the third round with poise. The bad news: a title run will likely have to go through Federer, Djokovic and Murray/Wawrinka. 
​
PRESS
​
Q. Any update on your coaching situation? What's your plan there going forward this year?
NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, I haven't really thought too much about it. I'm not really looking. I am but I'm not. I think I'm pretty content at the moment.

Q. With the match fixing report that came out, what do you think about tennis tournaments having gambling companies as a sponsor?
STAN WAWRINKA: About gambling sponsoring tournaments, maybe you have to see the big picture. I'm sure corruption and problem for gambling website or gambling company, it's not good.
Probably if they sponsor a sport, they are going to try everything to make sure there is no corruption. That can be maybe something good for the tennis also. Maybe the gambling company can come to the tennis and make sure there is no corruption, because they lose a lot of money when there is problem.
For the tennis, it's not good to have some corruption. But for the gambling company neither.
So I think it can be only positive.


Q. What do you think about tennis tournaments having sponsorships with gambling companies?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I'm not really pro that, I don't think. I think it's a little bit hypocritical, really. You know, because I don't believe the players are allowed to be sponsored by betting companies but then the tournaments are.
I don't really understand how it all works. I think it's a bit strange.


Q. Federer made some comments about you missing out on the top 10 the last couple years. Does that motivate you or bother you?
BERNARD TOMIC: Yeah, well, he has his predictions. I think he's also far away from Djokovic as well if he wants to say that. If he believes I'm very far away from the top 10, I also believe my prediction that he's nowhere near Novak's tennis right now.
It also motivates me. I'm working for that. When I'm playing well, I'm a top-eight player in the world. My ranking has to get there. I'm going to work every day this year getting to the top 10. It's not just getting to the top 10. I'm going to get there. It's about staying there for a while. It's about being consistent.
These guys that have been there the last five, six years on the tour, you have Berdych, Ferrer, Nishikori that have been there for a while, they're consistent. They're there for four or five years. That's what I want to become, and possibly be even better after I get there.





Q. The story is connecting this match with changing odds that have been discussed in the previous couple of days. I just wondered if you had any response to that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: My response is that there's always going to be, especially these days when there is a lot of speculations, this is now the main story in tennis, in sports world, there's going to be a lot of allegations, so...
I have nothing more to say. I said everything I needed to say two days ago. You know, until somebody comes out with the real proof and evidence, it's only a speculation for me.

​
Q. What is your coaching situation at the moment?
BERNARD TOMIC: To be honest, my dad is helping me as much as he can. We're communicating as much as we can, which is a great thing. He's putting the time aside to help my sister, which is good for her.
But honestly, you know, haven't had anyone coach me for the last year. My good friend, James, that lives in Miami helped out. We had such a good relationship last year. I don't believe too much in the coaching point of view. I believe if you want to get there, you get there.
All these players have coaches and stuff, and it's a good thing to have, but I'm different. I prefer to focus on my game, work hard.
You have to put hours on the court if you have a coach or not. If you want it yourself, you'll get it. I think last year's period of having a good year, my best year, I didn't have a coach. I had a friend there and my father was helping me as much as he can. I achieved what I achieved.
Obviously now I have to work hard on my fitness. It's the most important key to my tennis.


Q. If you got wind of someone you knew was offered or fixing matches, would you tell the authorities straightaway?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, well, I guess so. It's important that person, how he's been approached. He needs to feel he's been supported by the tour, or whatever the governing body is, that there's a place he can go and speak about it. It's uncomfortable, not a fun thing. It's not like, Oh, I've just been approached, it's all cool, and we don't talk about it.
I think it's really important that you get supported and get also told how to manage that. So, yes, I guess I would encourage that person to go and say something, otherwise I would say something or I would encourage us to go together or whatever. I would be very helpful in this situation because it's a very tricky situation to be in
.
Q. Was it a little frustrating? This great career but you're known for this incredible loss.
FERNANDO VERDASCO: Still now they come to me telling me like how good I play seven years ago. I'm like, you know, I didn't play again after that? Even last night they told me at the hotel. I'm like, I play against him tomorrow again.
So, yeah, many times they came to me and tell me about that match. But, you know, I'm just happy of how I play today. That was long time ago. Now I will try to enjoy this victory, you know, with my team, have a nice dinner, and then tomorrow also for one day.
After that, start thinking about the next game, no? Is a big difference. There was semifinals; now is first round. It's just the beginning of the tournament. You know, hopefully, like I said, after the match I will keep it up playing like today and hopefully do a good tournament.


Q. What do you think you would have done differently? Do you have any regrets regarding your own game through this match?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. The match is a tough lose for me obviously. Obviously is tough, especially because is not like last year that I arrived here playing bad and feeling myself not ready for it.
This year was a completely different story. I have been playing and practicing great and working so much. You know, is tough when you work so much and arrives a very important event and you're going out too early.
Is tough, but at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it. Was not my day. Let's keep going. That's the only thing.


Q. When you look back at the last year and a half or so, with some perspective now, do you see where you started to lose momentum or something might have started to go wrong?
GRIGOR DIMITROV: I think every season you learn a lot about yourself, I think, and of course a lot about the game, followed by everything else.
But I think, you know, obviously 2014 was an amazing year for me. But in a little bit of way I was just riding the wave. I was getting points after points, playing well all the tournaments, getting easier draw I think throughout the whole time. So that makes a bit of a difference.
Then, yeah, 2015 was just a rough season. I had problems with the racquets, you know, switching back and forth, changing the team. All that's a big factor, I think. It takes a little bit out of you. Your focus shifting a little bit. Next thing you know, you find yourself in a very tough spot. I think that's what happened with me.
But I can only learn from it.




1 last practice with the great man @rogerfederer on #RLA @AustralianOpen #Mates pic.twitter.com/OUnkqF0VjI

— Lleyton Hewitt (@lleytonhewitt) January 15, 2016

I would like to thank my friend @ThiemDomi for the act of fairplay he made this morning. You're such a good man !

— David Goffin (@David__Goffin) January 22, 2016

I'm already working hard to get back on the court again soon #recovery #physiotherapy #rehabilitation

— Kevin Anderson (@kevinanderson18) January 20, 2016

Thank you for your hospitality Australia. I will do everything in my power to come back stronger physically and mentally and ready to fight.

— Noah Rubin (@Noahrubin33) January 20, 2016

You were the guy to watch when I was growing up, an idol for every tennis player. All the best @lleytonhewitt □□ pic.twitter.com/tys2JdQi73

— Jack Sock (@JackSock) January 21, 2016

​PARTING THOUGHT


Rafael Nadal was one of the major casualties of the first week in Melbourne. His first round loss to Fernando Verdasco marked the second time the two played a five set-match in Melbourne, the other being the 2009 semifinal won by Nadal. This first round loss for Nadal comes after the world #5 had seemingly made progress toward regaining some of his best form, which eluded him for much of the 2015 season. He began the year healthy, and with a finals appearance in Doha, it appeared he was capable of a deep run in Melbourne. Patrick Mouratoglou, coach of Serena Williams, gave an interview to Carole Bouchard for Sports Illustrated, in which he offered some enlightening insights into what this loss means for Nadal and his career going forward. As Mouratoglou suggests, ​Nadal is a step slower. But is his loss of foot speed reversible? Is it due to a lack of confidence or, more worryingly, the effects of a decade's worth of physically taxing tennis? The upcoming clay season will reveal much about where Nadal is headed in the near future: can he improve his footwork and confidence as he attempts to find a way back to the highest level of men's tennis?

ON THE WEB

"Tennis Season Opens to Accusations of Match Fixing"
"In Their Own Words: Players' Reactions to Allegations of Match Fixing"
Paradorn Srichaphan fails to earn a place on the Asian Golf Tour
​"Andy Murray Doesn't Engender Roger Federer-like Worship, but Maybe he Should"
​
Boris Becker speaks to Rolling Stone 
"How Lleyton Hewitt Changed the Sport of Tennis"
​
"Lleyton Hewitt Ends Aptly: Sprinting, Cursing, With a Few Tears"
"Operating on a Shoestring, Ireland Struggles to Develop First Rate Players"
​
Tennis "leaders" may be forced to answer questions in British parliament over match-fixing row.
​
Jon Wertheim'sinterview with Scott Ferguson on match-fixing scandal.
"Tennis is Getting What it Deserves with Latest Match-Fixing Scandal"
​"First Round Defeat Raises More Questions for Rafael Nadal"​
"Why Betting Data Alone Can't Identify Match Fixers in Tennis"

​PODCASTS


​The Body Serve - "Mid Aussie Open Chat: Scandal, Upsets & Your Least Favorite Commies"
Beyond the Baseline - ATP'S Chris Kermode on match-fixing reports 
No Challenges Remaining - Five new "daily episodes" from the Australian Open, Episode 141 a-e.
The Tennis Podcast - Lots of Hewitt content over two new episodes. 
1 Comment
Taya P link
5/1/2021 10:06:47 pm

Hi, thanks for posting this.

Reply



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