AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Melbourne, ATP GRAND SLAM

[Denis]

Bb I can't play these videos, territorially restricted.

 

[Mastoor]

Bernie the Bosnian would rather be in the driver's seat but must be that he lost the license. They now have one more Bosnian playing for Aussie, Omar Jasika. He was unlucky to have Marija Čičak for the referee and she hates when someone swears in Serbian.

 

[Mastoor]

Bb I can't play these videos, territorially restricted.

Move to New Zealand.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Hey BS, do you think Rafa is a contender this year and how do you rate his chances compared to the others? Do you think he'll reach the semis?

I don't think he has a legitimate shot at winning so contender might be pushing it. I would normally say that even a sub par Rafa should at least reach the the QF given the draw, and he's 50/50 against Raonic, but sub-par Rafa can be REALLY sub-par these days so you never quite know. From what little he's played this year, if that's any indication, I think he'll reach the quarter finals. I see the Raonic match being a match where Nadal misses a lot of opportunities due to rust/lack of confidence and a patchy serve, and probably loses a close one, but I'd hardly be shocked if he were to win. I'd give him zero chance against Novak if he makes it that far.

 

[Ricardo]

Rafa isn't ready for Novak or Murray at the moment, he is probably two notches below. Wawrinka and the young guns, Nick and Zrerev probably have much better shot, as they have the weapons to dismantle the two best players in the game. Rafa and Roger are good for the game by participating, but realistically can't expect too much from them......anything beyond the first week is not bad for them. I am seeing it as sort of farewell tour for those two, given the level they've displayed so far. Rafa's shots land short and Fed can't stop shanking every second shot, yeah let's just appreciate the fact that they are still out there.

 

[Moxie]

Both of the above are pretty fair assessments. Rafa might get past Zverev (given what we saw from him 1st round) and Raonic, but agreed he's not ready for Andy or Novak, for sure. Likewise Roger...they could both do with someone else taking out the top 2, or getting them on a bad day. If they make it that far. They've both lost a bit of speed and reaction time, and their auras of invincibility. If it's a farewell tour, I think it has a few years in it, and I think Rafa, especially, could win another Major or 2, but now I don't think they do it without an injection of luck...from the draw, and/or from some obstacles being otherwise bulldozed out of their way. And that presumes they can find some version of their A-games. A+ is gone for both, even on their favorite surfaces.

 

[britbox]

Bb I can't play these videos, territorially restricted.

Ah OK. Can't you play any of the AO ones?

 

[Moxie]

ESPN just played a sweet clip of Rubin talking about how excited he was to play Roger, while he's still in it. Like Bencic being excited to play Serena on the big court. It's sweet, but slightly smacks a bit of what @Ricardo was saying: the first whiff of a "farewell tour."

 

[Mastoor]

JJ played well and reminded of her golden years.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Rafa definitely has a tough draw

Always. It never fails.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Rafa's Black and White day kit is soo subdued compared to Roger and Serena's
Rafa won the toss and elected to serve first? Hmmm

I love this kit. One of the best ever. No loud colors and no prints.

 

[Tennis Fan]

I was hoping he'd get Fed in his quarter for at least one easy match. B-)

I thought that was how the draw worked out, that Rafa and Fed were supposed to meet in the third round. Then I saw Rafa's draw with land mines everywhere and Fed playing qualifiers. What happened?

 

[britbox]

Bb I can't play these videos, territorially restricted.

Hi @Denis, it seems the match highlight videos are restricted to Australia/NZ but other users can see interviews... is that the case for you? I can just source the highlights from another channel if that's the case.

 

[britbox]

No real surprises today... I guess Mischa Zverev taking down Isner would be a marginal upset but nothing jaw dropping.

 

[Moxie]

Rubin acquitted himself well against Roger.

 

[Moxie]

I thought that was how the draw worked out, that Rafa and Fed were supposed to meet in the third round. Then I saw Rafa's draw with land mines everywhere and Fed playing qualifiers. What happened?

What happened was a draw. Nothing to be done about that. They could still meet. If Roger gets through his quarter and Rafa through his...which would be excellent. A long shot, but stranger things have happened.

 

[Denis]

What happened was a draw. Nothing to be done about that. They could still meet. If Roger gets through his quarter and Rafa through his...which would be excellent. A long shot, but stranger things have happened.

Moxie you have lost too much sleep they are in opposite halves, they can only meet in the final. No way Roger is making the final.

 

[Denis]

Hi @Denis, it seems the match highlight videos are restricted to Australia/NZ but other users can see interviews... is that the case for you? I can just source the highlights from another channel if that's the case.

I've been able to see some of the matches on the official app. Condemned to streaming as I cancelled my tv subscription a while ago.

 

[Mastoor]

Did you see discussion between Troicki and Cicak. She took the point for 5-3 lead in the fifth from Troicki even though the challenge showed his ball was in. Anyway after yelling at each other in Serbian for several minutes Troicki won the game again and then next one to win the match.

 

[Mastoor]

I've been able to see some of the matches on the official app. Condemned to streaming as I cancelled
my tv subscription a while ago.

Do you live in UK? They say Eurosport there has some excellent deal, they beat if you don't subscribe.