Weeks 3-4 - Australian Open (men's)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 3-4 - Australian Open (men's)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Hadn't realised that the Aussie lot had done this:

"In the past, some players have chosen not to fly to Australia for the qualifying event because the costs of travel and accommodation outweighed the likely rewards.

But Australian Open organisers, who want to spread the wealth, have given every player in the main draw and qualifying an extra A$1,500 to help out this year."

Seemingly, quite a few of the players hadn't known either because it wasn't part of prize money but just an expenses cheque that arrived out the blue (for many) before the tournament started. Lots of appreciative comments from the lower ranked players!

Nice touch from the Aussies

steven · Tennis legend

The AO started doing this last year, when it was a last minute decision and therefore a surprise to the players. Do the reports you've read about this come from last year or this year? Of course, it might well still have been a surprise to those who weren't in contention this year and had only looked at the pure prize money figures, so didn't realise.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

steven wrote:
The AO started doing this last year, when it was a last minute decision and therefore a surprise to the players. Do the reports you've read about this come from last year or this year? Of course, it might well still have been a surprise to those who weren't in contention this year and had only looked at the pure prize money figures, so didn't realise.

Didn't realise that, even nicer of them!

But it's definitely this year's article - it's all about Stephane Robert pre his andy match ! It certainly implies that it's a new thing (not that it really matters, just glad they thought of it) and,yes, the players quoted might just not have realised).

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/tramlines/youth-hostels-grand-slam-payday-meet-andy-murray-141110098.html

steven · Tennis legend

A very impressive 1st set from Muzz then a decent 2nd set but he has made a bit of a mess of finishing it off in the 3rd - he has had 2 match points, dfing on one of them, but Robert is now enjoying himself - 6-1 6-2 *5-6

steven · Tennis legend

Hard to believe it, but after getting another couple of match points in the tiebreak, he's allowed Robert to win a set

6-1 6-2 6-7(6)

steven · Tennis legend

L16: (4) Andy Murray WR 4 beat (LL) Stéphane Robert (FRA) WR 119 (CH 61 in 2010) by 6-1 6-2 6-7(6) 6-2

Andy's 20th slam win in a row against the French takes him into his 18th slam QF, which means he now ties John Newcombe for 15th place in the Open Era 'most men's slam QFs reached' list.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well done, Andy. Only saw the last set but well in control. Nice to see Robert enjoying himself though.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

What on earth happened there? I could understand him dropping a set if the rest of the match had been close, but 61 62 and 62

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Wow, SmugFed's back.

Spectator · All-time great

Very nice performance by Mr Federer. So the matches that the tournament organisers and general public were hoping for are on ....

-- Edited by Spectator on Monday 20th of January 2014 11:14:15 AM

RJA · Hall of fame

Spectator wrote:
Very nice performance by Mr Federer. So the matches that the tournament organisers and general public were hoping for are on ....

It was a good performance from Federer but Tsonga was woeful. If Andy was fully fit I would have him as red hot favourite against Federer but it is hard to know quite what level Andy is at.

indiana · Tennis legend

As Steven said, this is Andy's 18th Grand Slam quarter final. It is also a 12th in a row from these he has competed in ( i.e. excluding last year's French Open ).

His record in the previous 17 is won 13, lost 4. In his 13 semi finals it is won 7, lost 6. And in 7 finals it is won 2, lost 5.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

RJA wrote:
Spectator wrote:
Very nice performance by Mr Federer. So the matches that the tournament organisers and general public were hoping for are on ....
It was a good performance from Federer but Tsonga was woeful. If Andy was fully fit I would have him as red hot favourite against Federer but it is hard to know quite what level Andy is at.

Interesting to hear that Tsonga wasn't on song as it were. the way the R5LSX commies were talking about it, it was like it was the old Fed was back, and defeated an on form Tsonga.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Looks like Andy's got the night match. Nice to not have to wake up too early