2016 Aussie Open

[bksballer89]

i use channels 701-707 on directv

I miss Direct TV for that reason

 

[cezero]

i love how passionate the aussie's are about their players outside the top 10

the whole nation watches them

we'll never have that kind of passion about tennis in the us, sadly

 

[Smart]

I'm surprised that no one is mentioning Fritz-Sock as an intriguing first round match. IMO, that's the most interesting by a significant margin.

 

[cezero]

i'm somewhat interested in sock against another american, even though the guy has 2 total pro matches ever.

as a tennis fan, i find these much more interesting:

1) a hewitt match against a countryman in his last major
2) a match between another American (Isner) and a guy with a big game who has been in the top 15 in the world.
3) a match between 2 of the biggest showmen in tennis over the past decade, both of whom have made deep runs at the aussie open (tsonga/baghdatis)

but maybe the sock match will end up being a barn burner. that would be great.

 

[bksballer89]

Sloan is about to go down in straights.

 

[cezero]

Serena through, and with the day off tomorrow, she gets to have nice cool weather for the rest of her first week.

 

[bksballer89]

Stephens down to a qualifier in straight sets

 

[bksballer89]

This Chung guy hanging with Novak. Broke him right back to get back on serve

 

[Smart]

i'm somewhat interested in sock against another american, even though the guy has 2 total pro matches ever.

He's also won three Challengers since October and is 23-4 in those matches in that span. And that was after he rolled to the US Open Junior Title to finish last year as the top ranked junior.

He has a huge serve and forehand. He is more mentally there than a Tiafoe or most juniors really, and his parents are both ex-pros who have prepared him for this. Only issues are backhand and fitness.

I think Fritz likely finishes this year in the top 50, and is probably only 2-3 years away from being a top 10 player. I think Sock will spend the next few years in the 8-20 range, but I think movement and endurance issue will keep him from ever winning a slam. The big question in Fritz-Sock is whether Fritz can play his game while absorbing Sock's pace of strokes. There aren't many players in the Juniors or Challengers who can hit like Sock and certainly not with his consistency.

 

[Smart]

This Chung guy hanging with Novak. Broke him right back to get back on serve

The only thing Chung is missing is the killer instinct to put away short balls. All of his strokes are top 50 level besides maybe the second serve. He falls into the early-career Murray trap of not hitting the ball from side to side enough, but he is the real deal.

He was a dominant junior and slam runner-up and all signs point to him having a very, very productive career.

 

[bksballer89]

Wozniacki sucks

 

[bksballer89]

Who do you guys think was a part of match fixing?

 

[cezero]

i wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot of match fixing going on

anyway, venus is looking horrible.

 

[bksballer89]

i wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot of match fixing going on

anyway, venus is looking horrible.

Very. Will be shocked if this match is not done in the next 10-15 mintues.

 

[cezero]

Nadal/Verdasco coming up.

i'm betting the heat will give Nadal the edge. verdasco isn't getting any younger.

plus, spaniards tend to uniformly bow down to rafa.

hope it's decent for a set.

 

[bksballer89]

Verdasco was up love-40 at 4 all in the first. Failed all 3X now were back at 40 all.

Crucial game for Verdasco IMO

 

[cezero]

Verdasco had 0-40 at 4-4 in the first set.

If he had broken, he could've served for the set. But he didn't. Bummer.

 

[bksballer89]

Verdasco had 0-40 at 4-4 in the first set.

If he had broken, he could've served for the set. But he didn't. Bummer.

Not shocked at all. If Verdasco doesn't win this set, Rafa will make quick work of him in the following 2 sets

 

[bksballer89]

tiebreak

 

[bksballer89]

Good action right now.

Gulbis/Chardy 8-9 in the 5th.

Nadal/Verdasco playing a good 1st set tiebreak.