USO 12: Practice Videos

I was on the US Open grounds on Wednesday and Thursday checking out some practices here are the short little videos. Sorry for the quality but this is the best my camera can do. 

Serena practicing on Wednesday. 

Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka practicing on Grandstand Wednesday. 

Laura Robson practicing on Thursday. 

Kim Clijsters practicing on Grandstand Thursday.

Vika Azerenka on Armstrong Thursday.

Maria Sharapova does overheads on Armstrong Thursday. She was practicing with Dani Hantuchova

And then there were four.

vs.

Vika Azerenka will take on Kim Clijsters. Vika is in her second Slam semi and Kim is in her first Slam semifinal since she won this title a year ago.  They play not before 1:30 PM (9:30 PM est) on Rod Laver Arena. 

vs.

Petra Kvitova will face Maria Sharapova in the semifinal following Azerenka & Clijsters in a rematch of last years Wimbledon final. 

Bring it Ladies! 

Fourthly....

Mostly all the quarterfinals are set and while the first week had a few minor upsets. They saved all the drama for the fourth round.

Serena Out.

In one of the worst serving performances by Serena in recent memory with six double faults and being broken five times her movement was clearly hampered. Makarova is now in her first Slam quarterfinal she held her nerve and played an amazing match going for her shots especially down the line. I am disappointed Serena lost but thinking that a year ago she was in a cast and ten months ago she had a life threatening medical condition that she still has to keep under control it is remarkable that she is playing tennis again and I appreciate that she will be able to play in a few weeks for Fed Cup.

Boo Berds
I will let the videos do the talking and let you decide for yourselves. I think its part of the game that you do. Fake it even but to just not do it after you ended up winning the match just makes you look like a bad winner.

The Rematch

The fourth round meeting of Kim Clijsters and Li Na was a repeat of the 2011 final in Melbourne. After breaks being traded for the first half of the first set the drama really started when Kim rolled over on her left ankle. Li then broke to take the first set and broke early in the second. Kim then broke back and the set climaxed in a tiebreaker down four match points at 5-6 in the breaker Kim pulled out a drop shot lob combo that had Li frozen like a tennis version of the terra cotta soliders. In the third set Kim quickly went up two breaks and even though she got broken serving for the match on her first attempt she closed it out in her next service game. It was a great display of heart and fight from Kim in what is expected to be her final Australian Open.

Controlled Aggression: Sharapova vs. Lisicki 

Maria got out of the gates fast going up 3-0 with two breaks in the first set against but then in a blitzkrieg of winners to win six straight games to take the first set. Maria fight won her the match as well as Sabine's inability to convert on the big points. But both ladies have a lot to take from this match and both improved their Australian Open performances from a year ago.

Kei Nishikori upset Tsonga in five sets to become the first Japanesse man to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals in 80 years. 

Thanks Lleyton for you fighting spirt and determination hope you have a healthy season. You are inspiring. 

What I noticed: Day 5

• Vika Azerenka had a tougher time today with Mona Barthel. But still came through in straights. She needs to work on her challenging skills though she ran out in the second set, this made her kinda angry. The crowd booed her reaction to the match.
• Rafa played Lucas Lacko it was a good match after a kinda flat first set over all. In the third set Laver had a visitor as bird sat on court as Rafa was about to serve, the ball kid had to shoo it off court, it was cute.  
• Julia Goerges defeated Oprandi in a comeback three set victory to reach the second week of a Slam for the first time. 
• Christina McHale had one more break point then JJ but that didn't matter as she only converted one in the 6-2 6-0 loss. 
• Roger Federer lobbed Dr. Ivo. That's really all you need to know.
• The post match interviews on Laver after the Nadal and Federer matches
• Feli Lopez out lasted John Isner in 5-settter. It was an up and down kinda match especially the second set where Feli had a break advantage but went on to lose the set in a tiebreaker. He plays Rafa next. 
• Kim Clijsters sported a black kit, it looked fierce. She played a solid match to move through to the second week. 

What I am watching: Day 5

Day 5 has a slightly front and  back loaded OOP. Here's what I plan to watch.


Rod Laver Arena 11:00 AM (7pm est)
 Men's Singles - 3rd Round : Lukas Lacko(SVK) vs. Rafael Nadal(ESP)[2]


Hisense Arena 11 AM
 Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[3] vs. Mona Barthel(GER)
 Match 3: Men's Singles - 3rd Round: John Isner(USA)[16] vs.  Feliciano Lopez(ESP)[18]

Hisense Arena 7 PM (3 AM est)

 Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Kim Clijsters(BEL)[11]vs.  Daniela Hantuchova(SVK)[20]
 


Margaret Court Arena 11 AM
 POSSIBLE MOVE TO ROD LAVER ARENA
 Not Before: 3 PM
  Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Christina McHale(USA) vs.  Jelena Jankovic(SRB)[13]


Show Court 3 11 AM
March 2- Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Romina Oprandi(ITA) vs.  Julia Goerges(GER)[22]

Doubles:

Court 6- Not Before: 3:30 PM-- Women's Doubles - 2nd Round: Vania King(USA)[3] /Yaroslava Shvedova(KAZ)[3] vs. Bojana Bobusic(AUS) /Sacha Jones(AUS)



Court 18- Not Before:2:30 PM--
Men's Doubles - 2nd Round: Marc Lopez(ESP) /David Marrero(ESP) vs.  Michael Llodra(FRA)[3] /Nenad Zimonjic(SRB)[3]
 Match 2-Women's Doubles - 2nd Round: Julia Goerges(GER) /Kaia Kanepi(EST) vs.  Svetlana Kuznetsova(RUS) /Vera Zvonareva(RUS)

AO Kids Day: When Forehands Attack

Rafa Nadal and Sam Stosur took on the defending Australian Open Champions Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic for Kids Day Saturday in mixed doubles. The highlight of the match was during one rally Rafa pegged Novak with a shot in which he in own his dramatic way fell down and was helped up by Kim. Rafa's responce with a cheeky smirk "that was for the six finals of 2011". Everyone laughed.

Sam looked to be on cloud nine partnered up with Rafa even though he was a bit late coming straight from practice. 

At the end of it all it seemed as if a good time was had by all.

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.