Aus Open Qualifying list

steven · Tennis legend

Aus Open Qualifying list

Count Zero · Tennis legend

he's 6th match, so probably early tomorrow morning for us.

the match stats seem to be messing around, but i remember looking at the stats between SdC and Lug earlier today. the match seemed closer by the stats than the score suggest. Lug actually got more BP chances but just couldn't convert them. seemed like quite a few breaks overall tho.

If boggo can keep his serve tight and cut out silly errors he must have a good chance. i'd have preferred if alex would have got a whole day off, but at least a late match may mean it cooler.

Drew · Jan 14, 2009

Come on Boggo keep it up !!!

Count Zero · Tennis legend

An expert from the times by OEM, with the bit relevant to our qualifiers pasted below:

Whether the British No1 will be joined by only one of his compatriots among the final 128 in the main event was the more immediate concern of John Lloyd, the Great Britain Davis Cup captain, seven weeks from the home tie against Ukraine. Alex Bogdanovic squeaked a victory over Mikhail Kukushkin, of Kazakhstan, to return to the fore, especially after Josh Goodall - next in line if deserving causes were the judgment on which teams are chosen - and James Ward were beaten in the first round of the qualifying event.

Both could point to defining moments, Ward damaging ankle ligaments during the first of two sets against Gianluca Naso, of Italy, that could have gone his way even though he could not lift off to serve; Goodall because Pavol Cervanak, his Slovakian opponent, produced a couple of outrageous returns in the final game of a three-set victory, the flourish of which was a magnificent running forehand pass. Alexander Slabinksy, the fourth contender, won a mere four games against Alexandre Kudryavtsev, of Russia

so at least we get explanation on Ward some some on Josh, shame no real details on Boggo other than squeaked, which i guess means it was close, nor on Slabba. i hope Ward's injury isnt too serious, i assume not cause if he felt it was he should have pulled out.

full article
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article5518642.ece

steven · Tennis legend

A fuller report from Stuart Fraser on AM.com re men's QR1:

James Ward WR 281 lost to Gianluca Naso (ITA) WR 232 (CH 230, 1/2009) by 5 & 4

This was the first match of the day on Court 15 and thankfully got underway in fairly cool but breezy conditions compared to the 39 degrees that was forecast. The first set was fairly even although James was struggling with his serve at times due to the wind and threw in quite a few double faults. Serving to stay in the set at 5-6, James was on the wrong end of a net cord at deuce and went on to lose the set. He then took an injury timeout due to a problem with either his ankle or foot and this meant his movement was slightly hampered in the second set which he lost 6-4.

Josh Goodall WR 204 lost to Pavol Cervenak (SVK) WR 300 (CH 256, 5/2007) by 7-6(5) 3-6 6-4

This was a good match in which both players were evenly matched. Josh did well to come back and win the second set after losing the first. The third set was very close with Josh getting himself out of some sticky situations with some huge first serves. Unfortunately though, with Josh serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Cervenak produced an unbelievable return and a very fortunate net cord and he went on to win the game and the match. Goodall could not have been more unlucky in that last game and had a look of disbelief on his face as he went to shake hands with Cervenak at the net.

Alex Bogdanovic WR 184 beat (q24) Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) WR 149 (CH 131 5/2008) by 6-2 4-6 6-4

The first set of this started pretty much as the first set of the Goodall match ended. Boggo took the first set comfortably but then lost the second. Despite this, Boggo was clearly the better player and fully deserved the win.

Alex Slabinsky WR 334 lost to Alexandre Kudryavtsev (RUS) WR 218 (CH 177, 7/2008) by 4 & 0

It was around 7pm when this match got underway and it was actually fairly chilly. Slabinsky struggled to get to grips with his serve at the start but eventually settled. It was too late though to prevent the loss of the first set. Alex then seemed to lose focus in the second and was unfortunately on the wrong end of a bagel.

John Lloyd watched all of the Goodall match, although from his position he could also see over to the Boggo match. When the Goodall match finished, Boggo was halfway through the last set of his and Lloyd watched that from courtside which coincided with Boggo playing well to win the match.

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Sounds like Wardy was very unfortunate, I hope he's ok. Josh too, though it could be argued that given the ranking difference, he maybe should have put Cervenak away before it got to the stage where one big shot and a lucky net cord could decide the match ... easier said than done though.

It's great to see a report from OEM that covers QR1 and mentions Glasgow (can't imagine us seeing that in any other newspaper!) but hard to believe that if it was Josh who'd beaten a seed and Boggo who'd lost to a player ranked about 100 places below him, at least one of those facts wouldn't have been mentioned to put the results in context. confuse

As for Chris Eaton, I hope the hard work he says he's been doing pays off and he can push on this year, but much as I imagine he could get a singles win against the Ukraine on a fast court and with the crowd behind him, so could some of those ranked above him, and they have much better claims on a place at the moment. (not that the article contradicts this, I hasten to add)

-- Edited by steven at 05:10, 2009-01-15

steven · Tennis legend

For anyone waking up and wondering, there are still two full matches to go before Boggo gets on court, unless they switch the court assignments around.

john · Top national player

6-4 3-5*

So looks like a full set to go, then another full match. Could be a couple of hours away yet still

steven · Tennis legend

Yes, that's right - it's the furthest behind of all the courts, the only other one still on its 4th match is Court 10 where Silva and Manasieva are 8-8 in the 3rd!

Karatantcheva has gone an early break up in the 5th on Boggo's court, so perhaps 20 minutes more for that match and then an hour or two for the next one before Boggo gets on.

Alternatively, if they decide to switch the court assignments around, Kindlmann is a set up against Brands in the last match on Court 12, so that court is likely to be available first.

steven · Tennis legend

Silva ended up beating Manasieva 14-12 in the 3rd, so Alex's court isn't the furthest behind any more! Klepac is already a set and a break up in the match before his.