The Australian Open is rapidly becoming a who's who and a parade of new records for top players. Federer has won his 50th match at Melbourne Park, Lleyton Hewitt is ready to take on the Fed, the Williams sisters are both in (with Sam Stosur as casualty), and Nikolay Davydenko is looking like a serious contender for the title after his 12th win in a row, a demolition of Juan Monaco. Here's a look back, and a look forward!
Where the Ball will Fall: Match Win Predictions
Day 7
Maria Kirilenko(RUS) vs. Dinara Safina(RUS)[2] : Safina remembers her narrow loss last year and is hungry - odds are $1.41 in favour of Kirilenko's $3.39
Andy Roddick(USA)[7] vs. Fernando Gonzalez(CHI)[11] : Roddick is tipped to win this one - odds are $1.43 for Roddick compared to $3.238 for Gonzalez
Andy Murray(GBR)[5] vs. John Isner(USA)[33]: The previous win stats for both of these big guns look great, but Murray is by far the favorite - paid at $1.16 compared to Isner's $7.02
Court Out: Random Aus Open News
Day 6
Lleyton Hewitt is confident, or at least looking forward to playing Federer today. "It's not gonna be easy against 'Rodge'. It's not going to be easy. I'll be ready come Monday... You're not gonna play your best tennis day in and day out. You play for those moments, to play against the best players, Roger is that. This is what motivates you. If you can't get up for these matches, you shouldn't be playing the game", Hewitt said.
Bernard Tomic's hit out at Open organizers for making him play at 2am has been validated by a sleep specialist, who says that a 17 year old would have been much more affected by the sleep loss than any older opponent. Open organizers had previously said Tomic's reaction to being put on Rod Laver arena was 'churlish'; the expert opinion has backed up the 17 year old's claims.
Quotes of the Day
"I don't want to say I'm playing the best tennis of my life, because I haven't had to so far........[It] depends how you're being pushed and how the opponent is playing ... Obviously you'll elevate your game gradually as the opponents get harder." Says Roger Federer.
Twitter Sez…
--- thewritecliche home alone cos my family has gone to the Australian Open.
--- golfjerk Australian Open fans make fun of Tiger Woods - News - FOX Sports ... http://bit.ly/6jhyJG
--- SportingDude Kim Clijsters Still an Inspiration Despite Australian Open Loss - Tonic: The GuardianKim Clijsters Still an Inspir... http://bit.ly/7z6xz3