Topic: 2013 Aussie Open: Your Guide to 1R, 2R (ATP and WTA)

[Babblelot]

Okay, folks, my take on 1R match-ups is completely different than those I've already read on T4U (cough, cough). Trashing "all other" is inherent to a fanbase that consists almost entirely of  fanboys who are only willing to and/or capable of discuss(ing) the semifinals and finals.   And you were just thinking, "Golly, it's awful quiet on the eve of the AO..."

First, the ATP

In a match that wreaks of last year's Isner-Mahut Wimbledon 1R do-over, the ITF powers that be have paired Ryan "The Tantrumator(TM)(c)" Harrison with Santiago Giraldo. Better luck this time, cry baby!

Harrison v. Giraldo - see above

Troicki v. Stepanek - could be quite entertaining if BOTH of these guys show up

Malisse v. Andujar - Malisse is playing well right now

Goffin v. Verdasco - lots of upside to this match-up

Ramos v. Baghdatis - Ramos caught my eye last year, watch for an upset

Bennetteau v. Dimitrov -

Hewitt v. Tipsarevic - Hewitt won't see week 2, but round 2 isn't out of the question as he's fit for the first time in a long while and playing well

Monfils v. Dolgopolov - Dumb and Dumber in either order, but could prove highly entertaining

Tsonga v. Llodra - Tsonga chose (or injured?) not to play any warm-up tourneys. I don't think he's as good as he thinks he is. Proved last year he doesn't like to fight in the heat down under losing to a hobbled Nishikori.

Haas v. Neimenen - retro match. Neimenen's crafty play could make this entertaining


WTA

Wozniacki v. Lisicki - Hello!

Suarez-Navarro v. Errani - this is the sight of Suarez's upset of Venus Williams and first QF appearance

Oudin v. Robson - IMO would be a HUGE win for either, but my pick is Robson

Schiavone v. Kvitova - can Fran stick around long enough for Kvitova to implode? Not likely, but...

Vandeweghe v. Cirstea - can Cirstea back up her first time seeded at a slam against the young American with big weapons?

Medina Garrigues v. Bartoli - Medina is always a tough out


Notables that involve Babblelot's interests

Almagro v. Johnson - Vamos Nico, my guy!! Johnson is on my list of newcomers to watch

Paire v. Federer - Paire is on my list of newcomers to watch

[Alex]

Nole/Murray final, or Murray/Fed semis. sorry bud couldn't help it  . I'll try to be serious tho 

[Babblelot]

Nole/Murray final, or Murray/Fed semis. sorry bud couldn't help it  . I'll try to be serious tho 

Well, I refrained from saying, "and you know who you are," but... you know who you are    not to single you out, my friend.

[Freak3yman84]

My "big" prediction is as follows:

Goffin def. Verdasco
Not really an upset, but what makes this a bold prediction is that I think Goffin will reach QFs.

Other than that, Tipsy to def. Hewitt and reach SFs.

Book both of those.

[Babblelot]

My "big" prediction is as follows:

Goffin def. Verdasco
Not really an upset, but what makes this a bold prediction is that I think Goffin will reach QFs.

Other than that, Tipsy to def. Hewitt and reach SFs.

Book both of those.

Not much for 1R upsets, but those QF and SF runs are

[Babblelot]

Okay, so after a few days of belly-aching from people who aren't going to tune in until next week, let's see how I did. 

First, the ATP

Harrison def. Giraldo 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4  I watched this, it was pretty tight. I'll give it an "OK" but not 2 thumbs up.

Troicki l. Stepanek 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5

Malisse def. Andujar 6-3, 6-1, 6-2  too easy by my guy! Malisse!

Goffin l. Verdasco 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6 

Ramos l. Baghdatis 7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6   

Bennetteau def. Dimitrov 6-4, 6-2, 6-4  this one gets the because I had indicated that it was THE Match of 1R

Hewitt l. Tipsarevic 6-7, 5-7, 3-6 - might have been fun had Hewitt not lost the 2nd set after grabbing a 2 break lead...

Monfils def. Dolgopolov 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3  probably worth the price of admission

Tsonga def. Llodra 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 Tsonga came to Melbourne 15 lbs lighter. Good to see the commitment

Haas l. Neimenen 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-8   Great match! but a microcosm of Tommy's career as he, once again, wrestles defeat from the jaws of victory.


WTA

Vandeweghe l. Cirstea 4-6, 2-6

Medina Garrigues l. Bartoli 2-6, 4-6

Wozniacki def. Lisicki 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 

Suarez-Navarro def. Errani 6-4, 6-4 I watched this, it gets an "OK" because these two worked hard, but not 2 thumbs

Oudin l. Robson 2-6, 3-6 

Schiavone l. Kvitova 4-6, 6-2, 2-6 


Notables that involve Babblelot's interests

Almagro def. Johnson 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2    This was on here because of Johnson, my newcomer to watch  not because of my guy! Almagro. Great match! 

Still to come:
Paire def. Federer  6-2, 6-4, 6-1  Looked like Benoit was going to settle in in the 2nd set   

UPSHOT: When you go to a slam, go during the first week, and don't buy tickets in the big house where the tennis is god awful. (No wonder you fanboys are bored to tears!) Instead, follow me to the better action on the outer courts, and I'll send you home a happy camper. On just Day 1 you would have already seen four 5-setters!! 

[Babblelot]

I picked 7 matches that went the distance, 5 men and 2 women.

Best of 2R

ATP

Lopez v. Stepanek - retro match featuring 2 attacking players

Baker v. Querrey - shapes up to be a good All-American showdown

Dewarman v. Janowicz - both guys are intriguing but I'm not sold on either.

Chardy v. Granollers

Seppi v. Istomin


Notables that involve Babblelot's interests

Malisse v. Verdasco - Malisse looked sharp and Verdasco looked very streaky. Fernando should win if he can keep his head together like he did yesterday. Overall, really good showing from Verdasco yesterday.

WTA

Madison Keys v. Tamira Paszek - watch this one because the 17 y/o American Madison Keys is Brad Gilbert's can't miss phenom whom he predicts will win multiple slams and reach #1 by 2015. I watched her last night for the first time and it became apparent to me that Gilbert has never seen her play. What a mess!

Makarova v. Foretz Gacon

Lepchenko v. Vesnina Vesnina won her first title in Sydney, let's see if she can continue. Lepchenko is tough.

Putintseva v. Suarez Navarro

Robson v. Kvitova

[euroka1]

UPSHOT: When you go to a slam, go during the first week, and don't buy tickets in the big house where the tennis is god awful. (No wonder you fanboys are bored to tears!) Instead, follow me to the better action on the outer courts, and I'll send you home a happy camper. On just Day 1 you would have already seen four 5-setters!! 

 
Not always. Two night matches at the AO in 2011, 5 setters I believe, that went on into the small hours are still burned into memory.  First there was Hewitt - Nalbandian which was exceedingly close (the crowd went wild )  and left both players fit for nothing else and there was the amazing Federer-Simon encounter when Simon, playing astonishingly well, nearly took Fed out in the early rounds (the crowd was stunned  ). It was also chance to see a recuperating Del Potro, who is still coming back and maybe will do better this time.

Then, as now, I like to feel free to wander if I don't like what is on offer.

[Babblelot]

UPSHOT: When you go to a slam, go during the first week, and don't buy tickets in the big house where the tennis is god awful. (No wonder you fanboys are bored to tears!) Instead, follow me to the better action on the outer courts, and I'll send you home a happy camper. On just Day 1 you would have already seen four 5-setters!! 

Then, as now, I like to feel free to wander if I don't like what is on offer.

Of course! And that only supports what I've been saying for years. 

I would have left many of the matches (Bennetteau-Dimitrov, Malissee-Andujar, and more to come), watched others in their entirety (Almagro-Johnson for sure), and still joined others in progress. My point is as it ever was: you just can't do that in the second week (honestly, after the first Friday!).

[Alex]

My "big" prediction is as follows:

Goffin def. Verdasco
Not really an upset, but what makes this a bold prediction is that I think Goffin will reach QFs.

Other than that, Tipsy to def. Hewitt and reach SFs.

Book both of those.

ouch, it didn't work out. wish you were right. I expected so much more from Goffin. grr, so disappointed 

your other prediction was spot on but Tipsy will find a way to f.uck it up soon or later 

[euroka1]

UPSHOT: When you go to a slam, go during the first week, and don't buy tickets in the big house where the tennis is god awful. (No wonder you fanboys are bored to tears!) Instead, follow me to the better action on the outer courts, and I'll send you home a happy camper. On just Day 1 you would have already seen four 5-setters!! 

Then, as now, I like to feel free to wander if I don't like what is on offer.

Of course! And that only supports what I've been saying for years. 

I would have left many of the matches (Bennetteau-Dimitrov, Malissee-Andujar, and more to come), watched others in their entirety (Almagro-Johnson for sure), and still joined others in progress. My point is as it ever was: you just can't do that in the second week (honestly, after the first Friday!).

I'll agree there. Chris Taylor and I did just that in the first week. In the second week, the only match I remember in any detail was the semi between Federer and Djokovic which really was white hot. The final, Djokovic - Murray was a real let down. I now wish I'd been at the AO for 2012 in that second week when the final really was something to see.

[Babblelot]

UPSHOT: When you go to a slam, go during the first week, and don't buy tickets in the big house where the tennis is god awful. (No wonder you fanboys are bored to tears!) Instead, follow me to the better action on the outer courts, and I'll send you home a happy camper. On just Day 1 you would have already seen four 5-setters!! 

Then, as now, I like to feel free to wander if I don't like what is on offer.

Of course! And that only supports what I've been saying for years. 

I would have left many of the matches (Bennetteau-Dimitrov, Malissee-Andujar, and more to come), watched others in their entirety (Almagro-Johnson for sure), and still joined others in progress. My point is as it ever was: you just can't do that in the second week (honestly, after the first Friday!).

I'll agree there. Chris Taylor and I did just that in the first week. In the second week, the only match I really remember was the semi between Federer and Djokovic which really was white hot. The final, Djokovic - Murray was a real let down. I now wish I'd been at the AO for 2012 in that second week when the final really was something to see.

The other reason I like the outer courts is that I like to sit right down on top of the courts. I spend a lot of cash money during my trips, but not on my seats, because the tennis is better on the outer courts during week 1. All travel and other expenses taken into consideration, I only have one arm and one leg remaining when I get to a slam, and I'm not going to give them up for good seats in the big house. (At the USO, GA will still get you a really good seat during week 1. It's not like that in Paris, and I've never been to AO or W).

Do you care about your proximity to the court? Do you pay a premium for it?

Finally, by the late stages of the tournament, all matches are being televised. You really don't miss any of the action like you do in week 1.

[euroka1]

Do you care about your proximity to the court? Do you pay a premium for it?

Yes, and it is worth it for the great matches. But not for Haase-Murray tonight, for example, at least so far.

For Cincy and the local Washington Citi tourament I'm happy with the cheaper seats because I am likely to wander a lot more.

[Babblelot]

Do you care about your proximity to the court? Do you pay a premium for it?

Yes, and it is worth it for the great matches. But not for Haase-Murray tonight, for example, at least so far.

For Cincy and the local Washington Citi tourament I'm happy with the cheaper seats because I am likely to wander a lot more.

[Babblelot]

Whilst y'all were talking about how boring the early rounds are and placing bets that sacrificial lambs were going to take 8, 9, or 10 games off the Big 3 you missed a lot of good tennis. In all, I picked 11 matches that went the distance in 1R and 2R: 7 mens and 4 womens. 

Best of 2R

ATP

Lopez l. Stepanek 2-6, 2-6, 4-6

Baker l. Querrey 6-7, 1-1 ret.

Dewarman l. Janowicz 7-6, 6-3, 1-6, 0-6, 5-7 

Chardy def. Granollers 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2

Seppi def. Istomin 7-6, 5-7, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 


Notables that involve Babblelot's interests

Malisse l. Verdasco 1-6, 3-6, 2-6 my guy! Malisse got abused!! OUCH!

WTA

Madison Keys def. Tamira Paszek 6-2, 6-1    I did not see that coming based on Madison's 1R performance.

Makarova def. Foretz Gacon 6-3, 6-3 will keep waiting for Fortez Gacon

Lepchenko l. Vesnina 4-6, 2-6

Putintseva l. Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-7, 2-6    Carla is 3G (grind, guts, and grace)

Robson def. Kvitova 2-6, 6-3, 11-9