Clay Time!

I love clay season it means spring time after watching hardcourts since forever and the tease of summer for us Northern hemisphere folks during the Australian swing the clay seems like a shock to the senses. The colors are deeper with the contrast of the red clay and white lines, the destination locations of Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and Paris, the ball bounces higher, the shots are more creative, the sliding.

This week the ladies are on the clay of Barcelona 2010 Roland Garros Champion Schiavone and 2011 Stuttgart Champion Goerges as the top seeds. While the men are in Casablanca Top Seed is Mayer and 2 seed is Dolgopolov and Houston Fish and Isner are the top seeds and their results this week could see them swapping spots as the top American.

(There is also the E-Books [Caro Open] that is on indoor hard courts this week with Woz, JJ, Robson, Kerber and Barthel in the field. )
It's the little things that make it more fun....
The views...

Clay being tossed around.

Sliding

Although I am not looking forward to this fiasco. 

The first winner of the clay season was Serena Williams won on the green clay of Charleston last weekend. 

Desert Delight

Ana Ivanovic won this battle of former number ones, golfer WAGs and ohh yeah thats right never mind. 

Ohh pretty Pablo Andujar you fought hard. Well done.

Yeah Vika we know your number one and 21-0 on the season.

That face means Daddy must have just hit an error. 

Guess whose back....

Rafa is back after his February hibernating.

Ohh Thomaz Bellucci it's not your game it you brain. 

This episode did not have the ending that The O.C wanted but he fought hard to take the second set after facing match points and being breaker bageled in the first set.  

What I noticed Day 6

• Maria Kirlenko retired to Petra Kvitova after calling the down 0-5 in the first set she then only played two more games. Through the seven games played Petra had 23 winners and 2 errors to say that she was zoning is a understatement. 
• Maria Sharapova defeated Angelique Kerber in straights sets with this clearly being the most hard fought match so far for the Russian. She said she was aware of Kerber's experience on big courts after making it the the semifinals of the US Open last year. I laughed realizing how obserd it was that the semifinal match was actually on Grandstand. 
• Sabine Lisicki came back from a shaky start to defeat Svetlana Kuznetsova in 3 sets. She was very happy to have reached the second week of the Australian Open for the first time.
• It was Nicholas Mahut's birthday he won two games of Novak Djokovic. 
• Andy Murray and Michael Llodra played a fun match there was, smiling, joking, hitting flying forehands. Murray advanced in straight sets. 
• Gael Monfils....I don't know what to say about this. It was something kinda comparable to a train wreck. 
• Serena texts Venus about boys and tennis. She also defeated Greta Arn in straight sets to set up a fourth round meeting with Makarova who seems to be the Pironkova of the Australian Open. 

What I am watching Day 6

Day 6 is upon us which means we are almost half way through the tournement. Today also brings the start of Olympic Qualifying for the USWNT Soccer team you can watch that here at 10:30 EST. Now on to the tennis.


Rod Laver Arena 11 AM (7 PM est) 
  Match 1: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Maria Kirilenko(RUS)[27] vs. Petra Kvitova(CZE)[2]
 
  Match 2: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Angelique Kerber(GER)[30]vs. Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]

 7 PM (3 AM est)

 Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Greta Arn(HUN) vs.Serena Williams(USA)[12]

Hisense Arena 11 AM

  Match 2: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Vania King(USA)vs.  Ana Ivanovic(SRB)[21]

  Match 3: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Sabine Lisicki(GER)[14]vs.  Svetlana Kuznetsova(RUS)[18]

7 PM

  Men's Singles - 3rd Round: Andy Murray(GBR)[4]vs. Michael Llodra(FRA)

What I noticed: Day 4

• Serena won in straight sets. She played well but seemed annoyed with herself or the sun, or the universe. Who knows. She told Stubbs in the post match interview that she wouldn't make a good ballerina with wobbly ankles. 
• Andy Murray is hitting his forehand harder than I remember. But I miss the muttering and monologuing. The winning however I do like. 
• Domi Cibulkova dress is always so short. It's like she is trying to make herself seem taller by showing more leg. 
• David Ferrer won in 5-sets after losing the first. If that surprises you. It shouldn't. 
• Ana Ivanovic won in straight sets. Her serve and forehand were looking good. 
• Maria Sharapova played crisply and has lost two games in her journey to the third round. She also talked doubles at the Olympics and the apocalypse in her presser. 
• Petra Kvitova was crusing against Carla Suarez Navarro then she wasn't dropping the second set and going down an early break in the third before rebounding to advance. 
• Nicholas Mahut advance to the third round which is totally awesome. 
• Sabine Lisicki had a much easier advancement to the third round then she did to the second. Defeating Peer in straight sets. 
• Andy Roddick won the first set. He injured his leg early in the second set took a time out to get it looked at or taped up. He lost the second and third sets even trying to bravely come back at the end of the third set in which he lost when a double net cord drippled over to give Lleyton the set. Then Andy retired. Get better soon Andy! 

Things I Noticed: Day 2

• Petra started off a bit shakey losing the first two games of her match. She then went on to win the next 12 games.
• It occurred to me that Novak's kits since he switched to Sergio Tacchini he very rarely is not in Serbian colors. To Davis Cup-ish for me. He won in straight sets. 
• I cannot stand the tweener. The need to stop.
• Stosur got knocked out in the first round by Cristea in straight sets. Ending Sam's Australian summer of tennis with only a single victory. I am thinking she will enjoy returning to the Northern Hemisphere. 
• The ESPN montages are just about my favorite part of their coverage of the Slams. 
• Ryan Harrison but up a good showing taking the first set from Andy Murray before eventually losing in four sets. Hope Ryan uses it as a spring board for a good season. 
• Andy Roddick won in straight sets. Brooklyn's dress was lovely. 
• Ana Ivanovic played a soild match for to advance to the second round. 
• Lleyton Hewitt had a dramatic fourth set to come back from 1-5 to win the match. He fell to the court on his back when he won it was and endearing reaction. He has a throw match with Roddick in the second round. 
• Maria Sharapova sailed through the first round 6-0 6-1 against Dulko the single game she lost was a game where she hit 3 double faults in a row.
• Serena won. She beat Pazek and the bugs late into the night on Rod Laver. 
• Nicholas Mahut won his first round match. 

What I am Watching: Day 2

Day 2 has the bottom half of the Women's draw and the top half of the Men's draw take the court.

Rod Laver Arena 11 AM (7 PM est)

  Match 1: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Vera Dushevina(RUS) vs.  Petra Kvitova(CZE)[2]

 Match 3: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Samantha Stosur(AUS)[6] vs.  Sorana Cirstea(ROU)

Rod Laver Arena 7 PM (3 AM est)
  Men's Singles - 1st Round : Cedrik-Marcel Stebe(GER) vs.  Lleyton Hewitt(AUS)
 
  Women's Singles - 1st Round: Tamira Paszek(AUT) vs.  Serena Williams(USA)[12]

Hisense Arena 11 AM

 Match 2:  Women's Singles - 1st Round : Gisela Dulko(ARG) vs.  Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]

 

 Match 3: Men's Singles - 1st Round : Andy Murray(GBR)[4] vs.  Ryan Harrison(USA)

 

 Match 4:  Men's Singles - 1st Round: Robin Haase(NED) vs.  Andy Roddick(USA)[15]

 

Margret Court Arena 11 AM

Match 1: Men's Singles - 1st Round : Rui Machado(POR) vs.  David Ferrer(ESP)[5]

Show Court 2 11 AM

 Match 1: Men's Singles - 1st Round: Andreas Seppi(ITA) vs.  Richard Gasquet(FRA)[17]

 

 Match 4:  Women's Singles - 1st Round: Lourdes Dominguez Lino(ESP) vs.  Ana Ivanovic(SRB)[21]

 

 Show Court 3 11 AM

 Match 1: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Sabine Lisicki(GER)[14] vs.  Stefanie Voegele(SUI)

 

 Match 4: Men's Singles - 1st Round: Gilles Simon(FRA)[12] vs.  Danai Udomchoke(THA)

 

Non Watchable matches of interest from 11 AM:

Court 5: Match 3:   Women's Singles - 1st Round: Sloane Stephens(USA) vs.  Silvia Soler-Espinosa(ESP)

Court 7: Match 4:  Men's Singles - 1st Round: Julien Benneteau(FRA) vs.  Karol Beck(SVK)

On Site: Sydney

Chel you can follow her on twitter and tumblr went to Sydney qualifying on Sunday here is a recap of her day:

I was surprised by the number of people in attendance at the tennis centre for qualies, nice to know I wasn't the only one who'd rather spend a hot summer's day at the tennis than at the beach.

Before I head towards the match courts, a quick peek at  the practice courts first.

Of course, quick is a relative term. I ended up spending 2 hours there, most of it at the court where Andrea Petkovic was practicing with Feliciano Lopez.  It was... Eye candy for all. I'm not ashamed to admit I was the only person there taking pics on my phone and immediately uploading to twitter. isn't that every fan's duty? I wouldn't want my card revoked hehe.

More pictures here

It got incredibly hot towards noon so I sought some shade... And found Ana Ivanovic practicing with Jelena Dokic. Ana was not happy with her toss, Jelena was all focus. Sat on the shade next to Ana's mum, she was all smiles when people came and went, taking pics of Ana.

After some lunch by the far match courts, I went to Mahut's match. It was horrid. Nicolas lost in straight sets. Next up, Kiri! I had my fingers crossed for her, she barely scraped by with the win in her first qualifying match. A couple of bad line calls had Kiri protesting "are you joking??!" and smacking a ball out of the court in disgust. No warning though. I guess the ump didn't want any more drama. After the meltdown, it was all downhill, towardsa a bagel in the second. Ouch. Bye kiri. I'll see you in Melbourne!

Sam Stosur was practicing on centre court with Peng Shuai when I went there to seek some shade. Cameras everywhere Sam goes. Comes with being Australia's darling. We wuv you, Sammy!

Went for another peek at the practice courts cos I haven't seen (or heard! LOL) Vika all day. No blonde Belarussian princess in sight. Sadz. I had a sneaking suspicion that she was on to my sta-- um, observation at a polite distance plans, practicing really early in the morning. I was right, I heard people discussing she practiced early. Boo.

Passing Shots

• Stosur meets Schiavone on Australian soil for the second time since their French Open final in the first round of Sydney. 
• The WTA number one ranking is a stake in Sydney. 
• Kaia Kanepi tops off her stellar week with the title in Brisbane.
• Raonic advances to the final in Chennai.  
• The organizer of the 1980 Winter Olympics dies.  
• Tsonga defeats Monfils in a foggy Doha final. 
• The Czech Republic wins Hopman Cup Final over France. 
• Zheng Jie won the delayed by rain then forced indoors by more rain Auckland final over Penetta when Flavia retired down a break in the third set. 
• Ivanovic lost to Safarova in the first round of Sydney. 
• Sabine Lisicki withdraws from Sydney. 
• Madrid's bid for the 2020 Olympics gain support from the Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities. 

Highlight Reel

Andy Murray came back from a set down to defeat Mikhail Kukushkin 5-7 6-3 6-2 in the first round of  Brisbane.

Andrea Petkovic defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-6 6-0 in the second round of Brisbane.

Kim Clijsters defeated Ana Ivanovic in 3-sets 6-1 1-6 6-3 in the second round of Brisbane. 

Nadal got his season off to a winning start in Doha with a 6-3 6-7 6-2.

Highlight Reel: Brisbane

Serena wins her first match since the US Open Final 6-2 6-3. 

Ana Ivanovic starts her season with a 6-3 6-3 victory. Has a second round meeting with Kin Clijsters.

Stosur debuts her new kit in a 6-2 6-3 victory

Petkovic debuts a new move after her 7-6 (3) 1-6 6-3 victory.