Serena and Venus are both seeded 1 and 2 in Auckland. When was the last time they were both seeded 1, 2 repsectively at a tournament? And I assume Serena is only competing to get match fit for the AO?
The Tennis Thread (Part 31)
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Originally Posted by tartan-belle:
“Nadal's hair looks cute.”
“Nadal's hair looks cute.”
The scoreboard nearly takes up the whole screen.
Same to you JC and everyone else. Hopefully a healthy 2017 for all our favourites as well and a quick return for all the absentees. 
Originally Posted by tartan-belle:
“That head to head must be getting quite embarrassing for plain old Milos....”
“That head to head must be getting quite embarrassing for plain old Milos....”
Seems so long ago that I was in Barcelona watching Milos beat Andy in straight sets.
Happy new year to all my fellow tennis fans, hopefully no matter which players you like we all get to see a bit of success for our favourites.
Errani - McHale about to start on tv here, virtually no one in attendance but at least proper tennis is back again.
Originally Posted by detroitcity:
“Errani - McHale about to start on tv here, virtually no one in attendance but at least proper tennis is back again.”
“Errani - McHale about to start on tv here, virtually no one in attendance but at least proper tennis is back again.
”
A win for Christina.
Genie starts the new season with a 1st round loss. The slump continues.
Originally Posted by CLL Dodge:
“A win for Christina.
Genie starts the new season with a 1st round loss. The slump continues.”
“A win for Christina.
Genie starts the new season with a 1st round loss. The slump continues.”
it's not a slump, it's her career now.
and the New year cheer didn't last long from me.
The first ace of 2017 goes to Errani... be afraid. 
The updated list of mess that happened in 2016 to reflect on.
The updated list of mess that happened in 2016 to reflect on.
Jo Konta is first up at 3am in Shenzhen (BT Sport 3). Brisbane starts at 1am on BT Sport 1.
Shame Jo lost her doubles match, but I would assume her singles will be a lot better.
Shame Jo lost her doubles match, but I would assume her singles will be a lot better.
Hopman cup started today too with delayed coverage on Eurosport. The USA and Spain won the first two round robins today.
Tomorrow the Swiss will play team GB in the second match. Can Dan Evans and our Hev spoil Roger Federer's return to competitive tennis?
Tomorrow the Swiss will play team GB in the second match. Can Dan Evans and our Hev spoil Roger Federer's return to competitive tennis?
Originally Posted by MARTYM8:
“Hopman cup started today too with delayed coverage on Eurosport.
Tomorrow the Swiss will play team GB in the second match. Can Dan Evans and our Hev spoil Roger Federer's return to competitive tennis?”
“Hopman cup started today too with delayed coverage on Eurosport.
Tomorrow the Swiss will play team GB in the second match. Can Dan Evans and our Hev spoil Roger Federer's return to competitive tennis?”
I thought this mornings coverage of AUS v ESP was live?
Originally Posted by dduk:
“I thought this mornings coverage of AUS v ESP was live?”
“I thought this mornings coverage of AUS v ESP was live?”
Yes - sorry. The GB match is on live from 10am on Eurosport 1. They also have Doha and ATP Brisbane coverage too.
Originally Posted by MissAyrshire:
“Andy has been awarded a knighthood in the new year's honours list”
“Andy has been awarded a knighthood in the new year's honours list”
Originally Posted by smude:
“Fantastic news. Well deserved.
Maybe he was distracted playing Goffin knowing the news was coming out.”
“Fantastic news. Well deserved.
Maybe he was distracted playing Goffin knowing the news was coming out.”
It is indeed but some thought ought to have been given to awarding an honour to Jamie Murray given his success in 2016 in the Australian and US Open tennis tournaments.
Originally Posted by TelevisionUser:
“It is indeed but some thought ought to have been given to awarding an honour to Jamie Murray given his success in 2016 in the Australian and US Open tennis tournaments.”
“It is indeed but some thought ought to have been given to awarding an honour to Jamie Murray given his success in 2016 in the Australian and US Open tennis tournaments.”
He was awarded an OBE last year.
Originally Posted by anyonefortennis:
“He was awarded an OBE last year.”
“He was awarded an OBE last year.”
Yep and there's usually a set number of years they have to wait before an upgrade.
Who do ye reckon may be first time slam champs this year, if we crown any? Obviously far more likely to happen on the WTA, only three of the last ten years we didn't crown a new champ, and with Maria, Vika & Petra all sidelined it only increases the likelihood. Radwanska and Halep seem most the obvious candidates, but I can't help think the slam boat will forever pass them by. Especially so in the case of Halep, who admitted recently she's not yet "mentally ready" to win a slam 
Looking at the field Pliskova and Cibulkova are the ones that jump out at me, although with Pliskova it remains to be seen whether the US Open was a flash in the pan and she'll return to her usual early exits. Seeing how Cibulkova stepped up and won Singapore, albeit with a 3-2 record, you've got to think that Serena is the only one she'll have to actively fear in Melbourne. Looking at the rest of the field, I can't see the likes of Keys or Konta winning a slam, at least not this year, and it's difficult to see who else may do it. Obviously though, if someone were to get a Bartoli-esque draw nothing can be ruled out.
Much more difficult to see it happening on the ATP side, the only first time slam champs inside the last ten years aside from Djokovic and Murray have been Del Potro, Wawrinka and Cilic. I'd be surprised if it happens this year too, it's difficult to see the slams going to people other than Djokovic and Murray. Perhaps the most obvious candidate is Raonic, but so far he's only really been a factor at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and even there he'd probably have to beat one or two of Djokovic and Murray, which is difficult to see transpiring. There's always Nishikori, of course, but I suspect he'll sooner shatter like glass/spontaneously combust/evaporate before he'll get the slam breakthrough. Probably still too soon to consider the likes of Thiem, Pouille and Zverev as contenders, and with Kyrgios, who even knows where his head is at. Can't see anyone else making the breakthrough really, I imagine it's too late for the likes of Berdych and Tsonga. So all in all, I don't think we'll have any new slam champs on the ATP side this year. You never know though!
Looking at the field Pliskova and Cibulkova are the ones that jump out at me, although with Pliskova it remains to be seen whether the US Open was a flash in the pan and she'll return to her usual early exits. Seeing how Cibulkova stepped up and won Singapore, albeit with a 3-2 record, you've got to think that Serena is the only one she'll have to actively fear in Melbourne. Looking at the rest of the field, I can't see the likes of Keys or Konta winning a slam, at least not this year, and it's difficult to see who else may do it. Obviously though, if someone were to get a Bartoli-esque draw nothing can be ruled out.Much more difficult to see it happening on the ATP side, the only first time slam champs inside the last ten years aside from Djokovic and Murray have been Del Potro, Wawrinka and Cilic. I'd be surprised if it happens this year too, it's difficult to see the slams going to people other than Djokovic and Murray. Perhaps the most obvious candidate is Raonic, but so far he's only really been a factor at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and even there he'd probably have to beat one or two of Djokovic and Murray, which is difficult to see transpiring. There's always Nishikori, of course, but I suspect he'll sooner shatter like glass/spontaneously combust/evaporate before he'll get the slam breakthrough. Probably still too soon to consider the likes of Thiem, Pouille and Zverev as contenders, and with Kyrgios, who even knows where his head is at. Can't see anyone else making the breakthrough really, I imagine it's too late for the likes of Berdych and Tsonga. So all in all, I don't think we'll have any new slam champs on the ATP side this year. You never know though!
Very easy win for Konta in China.
In the Brisbane battle of single slam winners Garbine edged out Sam Stosur.
In the Brisbane battle of single slam winners Garbine edged out Sam Stosur.
Federer eased into his start to the season defeating Dan Evans. A lot of net play from the GOAT but Evans never seemed to threaten him at all.
The noise from the rain in Brisbane. The roof is leaking onto the court it's so heavy. The crowd is getting drenched.
Watching ES Player at the moment. Interesting that Novak is practicing with the guru guy who is obviously become a part of his team.
Originally Posted by smude:
“Watching ES Player at the moment. Interesting that Novak is practicing with the guru guy who is obviously become a part of his team.”
“Watching ES Player at the moment. Interesting that Novak is practicing with the guru guy who is obviously become a part of his team.”
Andy is playing doubles with some Polish player in about 10 minutes on the ES player.
Andys doubles match on ES 2 now. Or should I say SurAndy.
Looks like Aga was made to work in Shenzhen, came through in 3 sets. Watson is currently battling away against Bencic in Perth, 1 set each, currently into a deciding set.
What does everyone think of this new quick scoring in the mixed doubles in Perth?
What does everyone think of this new quick scoring in the mixed doubles in Perth?
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