Weeks 3/4 - Australian Open - Melbourne, Australia - Hard

Vandenburg · Futures level

Weeks 3/4 - Australian Open - Melbourne, Australia - Hard

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Just got home after a long 3 day business trip the UK. Did I miss anything smile

Not to be for Kyle in the end but I know first hand that Busta is a quality player.

As for Dan, what can I say - Wow. Keep it rocking Evo. And a word as always for Hilts who has taken over the mantle of the late (and sorely missed) Julien Hoferlein and kept Evo on the path to stardom. Only thing missing now is a shirt sponsor.

PS. Did someone mention Djokovic ?

RJA · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
As for Dan, what can I say - Wow. Keep it rocking Evo. And a word as always for Hilts who has taken over the mantle of the late (and sorely missed) Julien Hoferlein and kept Evo on the path to stardom. Only thing missing now is a shirt sponsor.

It just adds to the tragedy of Julien's death that he didn't live long enough to see Evo's recent success. The two seemed to have a genuinely friendly working relationship and I am sure he would have taken great pleasure in how Evo's career has finally blossomed.

Vandenburg · Futures level

The scheduling of the AO is becoming rather stupid. The men's matches that everyone is interested in, are not until 3rd in the running order, there is not a single men's R3 game starting at 00 tonight, this is simply stupid. Instead we have to put up with silly female matches. Why on earth is this, is it because the women cannot handle the midday heat, so have to be over and done with by the morning, I mean this is plausible considering they cannot handle 5 sets.

The sad truth is that, deep down the WTA knows that even a subs standard male match with karlovic on an outside court would draw attention than the female match on centre.

Etienne · Club Coach

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Jan · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
PS. Did someone mention Djokovic ?

Who?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Well, whaddya know? Denis the Menace strikes again, downing Carreño in another five-setter (6-4 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-2 in three hours & 27 minutes)! biggrin He's having the tournament of his life!

thejester · Satellite level

Yes, really pleased for Istomin who is playing a blinder in Oz. I'm sure nobody will be underestimating him after his exploits in the last week!

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

For once, I won't be too upset if my occasional insomnia rears its head. Dan is on at 16.30 local which I think is 05.30 Uk time (I am usually wrong about times, isn't arithmetic sooo hard!)

Dan is keeping busy this spring. According to MTF, He is playing Monpellier, Memphis, Delray Beach, Dubai. Immediately after Dubai there is Indian Wells and Miami, it is inconceivable he will miss those. That is a load of tennis without a break, especially on the back of the last couple of weeks! Perhaps his logic is that he will rest and recuperate somewhat during the clay c ourt season. At least we will all have plenty to watch and talk about. I might have to subscribe to Tennis TV (http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/video/watch-live) I think £10 per month or £75 per year is excellent value.

Spectator · All-time great

AO scheduling is dire. Can't quite believe that they are throwing Gasquet and Dimitrov into a match that starts at midnight. That's just wrong. Istomin (next round opponent) is probably already asleep!

RJA · Hall of fame

Spectator wrote:
AO scheduling is dire. Can't quite believe that they are throwing Gasquet and Dimitrov into a match that starts at midnight. That's just wrong. Istomin (next round opponent) is probably already asleep!

In fairness to the organisers it really shouldn't have started this late but the day session overran because Cibulkova v Makarova last nearly 3 hours and Nadal v Zverev went to 5 sets. Then the women's match that opened the night session went to 3 sets resulting in this late start for Gasquet and Dimitrov. Such things are always a possibility if you have a separate night session as you can't move a match to another court without screwing over the people who have paid top dollar to watch the night session.

the addict · Tennis legend

Regular tweet from @AustralianOpen - #sleepisfortheweak !

Spectator · All-time great

I follow ... and it was a rough scheduling day. Looking at all the matches, the only one that promised to be (and was) relatively quick was the Serena Williams/Nicole Gibbs match, which they duly put on before Nadal/Zverev. Konta/Wozniacki was quick, but that couldn't be a foregone conclusion - and the only other match that might have looked likely was Vesnina/Brady. That would have made sense as the other match for scheduling purposes, but probably wouldn't have been so popular with ticketholders.

But still. Neither Gasquet nor Dimitrov is a player I particularly favour - but I do feel for them. And think that a system that generally does this to at least one match a year needs some rethinking.

RJA · Hall of fame

Spectator wrote:
I follow ... and it was a rough scheduling day. Looking at all the matches, the only one that promised to be (and was) relatively quick was the Serena Williams/Nicole Gibbs match, which they duly put on before Nadal/Zverev. Konta/Wozniacki was quick, but that couldn't be a foregone conclusion - and the only other match that might have looked likely was Vesnina/Brady. That would have made sense as the other match for scheduling purposes, but probably wouldn't have been so popular with ticketholders.

But still. Neither Gasquet nor Dimitrov is a player I particularly favour - but I do feel for them. And think that a system that generally does this to at least one match a year needs some rethinking.

Well how else do you do it? It is always a risk as long as you have night sessions. It could just as easily happen tomorrow. Kerber v Vandeweghe is the last match on RLA and it would hardly be a huge shock if Federer v Nishikori went to 5 sets leaving a very late start for the women's match. Meanwhile Muguruza v Cristea play the final match on MGA, not before 4PM (in reality probably more like 5PM).

The reality is that two sold out sessions a day on RLA is what brings the money in and so there is simply no way that they won't continue to do it.

-- Edited by RJA on Saturday 21st of January 2017 05:22:21 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Of the 16 left, there are 4 who are completely unseeded, and 1 seeded outside of the top 16.

2 Brits
2 Swiss
2 French
2 Spaniards
1 German
1 Japanese
1 Italian
1 Canadian
1 Austrian
1 Belgian
1 Bulgarian
1 Uzbekistani

No Americans ! No Aussies....

None under the age of 21
Only 1 under the age of 25
8 are aged 25-29
7 aged 30+, of which 1 is 35+

I make Evo to be the 5th youngstest.