Tag Archive: AusOpen

1. Cilic Ends Edmund Dream, Halep Wins Classic And Meets Wozniacki In Final

   January 25, 2018 11:24 am Comments Off on Cilic Ends Edmund Dream, Halep Wins Classic And Meets Wozniacki In Final

   Marin Cilic ended Kyle Edmund’s Aussie Open dream, with a little help from the Brit’s aching body, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

   Edmund limped at times and struggled for the kind of consistently agile movement that helped him get this far. Maybe Marin would have beaten him anyway.

   Cilic paid tribute to Kyle like this: ‘He is playing great tennis and he has improved a lot in the last couple of years. The five-set matches this tournament definitely left a few scars on his body.’

   There was no shame in the way it unfolded for the underdog. And Edmund can reflect upon his amazing run and the way it finished with his head held high.

   Cilic, you will recall, made the Wimbledon final only last year. He was US Open champion in 2014. The man is class.

   ARGUING

   Edmund is still learning his craft as he joins the elite. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman tried everything. He even emulated Roger Federer by arguing with the umpire to get himself fired up.

   Edmund remonstrated and even demanded to see the referee when Cilic was awarded one point by Hawkeye. The scores were level in the fifth game of the second set.

   The ball was originally called out, distracting Edmund from his return, the Brit argued. Then, when Hawkeye ruled the serve in, Cilic was given the point.

   ETERNITY

   ‘Get the referee, I’m not having it,’ said Edmund, insisting the point be replayed.

   The umpire said he couldn’t do that, but the referee arrived anyway, only to back his official.

   In truth, Edmund was already in trouble. He had been broken twice in the first, losing it clearly, despite having two early break points himself.

   SLUGGED

   Then he went off with the trainer for what seemed like an eternity, and you wondered whether he would even be able to continue.

   He did, and slugged it out with Cilic all the way through that feisty second set, showing admirable passion and finding some success. But the Croat had more experience and a technical edge to go with it on the night.

   Edmund took Cilic all the way to a tie-break. But some of his returns couldn’t find their target during some of the biggest moments. And it could be argued that he unwittingly played into his opponent’s hands during others, as he went down 4-7 in the breaker.

   FASCINATING

   But these are areas “Kedders” can learn from, as he continues to develop. He has Grand Slam semi-final experience now, he can only get better, he is only just 23 and he has done superbly.

   The whole of Britain can be proud of a player who will now challenge Andy Murray for top spot back home – and set Wimbledon alight with a new and fascinating domestic rivalry.

   Meanwhile, Simona Halep showed why she is world number one by defeating a woman who used to hold that distinction, Angelique Kerber.

   DRAMATIC

   The final set was truly dramatic – and Halep had to save two match points before she won through 9-7 to reach the final.

   There she will play the in-form Caroline Wozniacki, yet another former world number one, who, like Halep, has never won a Grand Slam.

   So the women’s trophy will have a brand new owner, and no one can say that Halep and Wozniacki don’t deserve another tilt at the meaningful silverware after all their spectacular exploits over the years.

   RHYTHM

   Halep hit the ground running against Kerber, knowing she couldn’t afford another slow start. Instead, it was the German who was caught cold, finding herself 0-5 down in the blink of an eye.

   By the time she started playing in that first set it was too late, and Kerber eventually succumbed 3-6.

   She had found enough rhythm to go into the next clashes with more confidence, though, and took the second set 6-4.

   FLAPPING

   That was when the true battle of wills commenced. And no one who witnessed it will forget what followed in a hurry.

   Either woman could have closed out. Neither woman allowed it to happen, not for a very long time at least.

   Kerber saved two match points while serving to stay in the match at 4-5 in the third. Then she fought her way to the brink of victory – one you might have expected, given Halep’s penchant for flapping under severe pressure in massive matches.

   TENACITY

   But Halep, who lost the French Open final to Ostapenko having led, and was two points from beating Jo Konta at Wimbledon, dug in with extra tenacity this time – and wasn’t to be denied.

   She saved two match points as Kerber served at 6-5. Then she lasted the longest, as both women gasped for air and searched for reserves of energy that was barely there.

   Eventually, on her fourth match point in total, Halep sent a shot deep enough for Kerber to be left distraught. ‘I’m shaking right now, I’m really emotional,’ said a triumphant Halep.

   ELATED

   And Caroline Wozniack was equally elated after defeating Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), to ensure we’ll have a new champion. ‘That finals feeling!’ she tweeted. ‘It means so much to me.’

   Should be a great showpiece!

   Edmund might be out of the Austrailian Open but let’s look forward to seeing him at Wimbledon! Get your Wimbledon tickets here

2. Australian Open Day 1: Kyle Edmund Thrives Among Early Upsets

   January 15, 2018 12:47 pm Comments Off on Australian Open Day 1: Kyle Edmund Thrives Among Early Upsets

   Britain’s Kyle Edmund clenched his fist in triumph at the Australian Open, still gritting his teeth, just as he had done at key moments all match long.

   You needed a certain nerve to come from behind twice and pull off this impressive result.

   Edmund showed that he is developing a psychological strength to go with his natural power. And now the only way is up.

   As he looked for approval from the stands, Edmund needn’t have worried. The world now knows that the British have another star in the making. And Melbourne expressed its generous appreciation for the younger man, who simply wouldn’t give up.

   SHOCKS

   At 23, Kyle showed there is still a strong interest for the Brits without Andy Murray centre stage at a Grand Slam, as he notched the biggest win of his career.

   He beat the eleventh seed Kevin Anderson, who was a finalist at the US Open, the other hard-court Slam, and was therefore considered a contender here at the Australian Open.

   Meanwhile, the Americans suffered most on a day of shocks. Venus Williams, CoCo Vandeweghe, Sloane Stephens, John Isner and Jack Sock all went out in the first round.

   VIOLATION

   True to form, Rafael Nadal and home favourite Nick Kyrgios raced through their opening matches, conserving precious energy for the tougher times ahead.

   Not that Kyrgios was relaxed in any way – he picked up a typical code violation, despite his dominance.

   Nadal defeated Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 with an ominous level of self-assurance. ‘I don’t know how many years I’ll be able to play here, so I want to enjoy every moment,’ the Spaniard said, showing that he is on a charm offensive too at the Australian Open.

   The controversial Kyrgios didn’t find his opponent too tricky, as he saw off Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in 87 minutes. He had more trouble with the crowd and the umpire, arguing with both after he was distracted by spectator noise while serving.

   THRILLER

   For Edmund, by contrast, it was all about staying with the man on the other side of the net. He became involved in a draining thriller – but the crowd loved it.

   The underdog had to show a stubborn streak to come back, as the match initially appeared to be following the form book. With improving fitness and agility now added to that power-game, Edmund could be going places.

   Eventually, the British number two prevailed to win 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. That reversed the result of their last five-setter at the French Open – and showed that Edmund has worked hard on his physical conditioning.

   A delighted Kyle said: ‘This type of result makes all the training feel worth it. It feels really good.’

   PROGRESSION

   And it feels equally good for British tennis fans to know they have a big-time player beyond Murray.

   All the signs point to Murray’s return in good time for Wimbledon 2018, of course. And he will still be one of the main attractions at Wimbledon 2018.

   But the Brits might be treated to double the pleasure this year if Edmund continues at this rate of progression.

   UNDERCOOKED

   There was no such breakthrough for Jack Sock at the Australian Open. The talented American became the surprise victim of Japan’s Yuichi Sugita, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3.

   Fifth-seeded Venus, last year’s finalist, lost 3-6, 5-7 to Belinda Bencic. Meanwhile, Zhang Shuai beat Stephens 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2, meaning the US Open winner hasn’t tasted victory since Flushing Meadows.

   Timea Babos beat Vandeweghe 7-6 (4), 6-2, while Isner admitted to being “undercooked” after Matthew Ebden beat him 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

   But Day One of the Australian Open belonged to Edmund most of all. In Murray’s absence, the Brit’s timing couldn’t have been sweeter.

3. Li Na – Coach Saved My Marriage

   January 17, 2014 10:36 am Comments Off on Li Na – Coach Saved My Marriage

   ‘Coach Saved My Marriage,’ claims Li Na

   She looks Chinese, her accent is Chinese, she is Chinese. It’s just that every word which dances out of Li Na’s mouth could have been spoken by a thoroughly modern woman from the west.
   Regular visitors to this website will know what we think about Li Na, the wonderful contribution she makes to East-West relations just by being herself; the positive power in her beautiful smile.

   That interview in Melbourne

   In Melbourne, she has proved her worth yet again, after surviving a match point against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.  Do you know another famous Chinese who would open with such wit and irony, then follow up with quite such arresting honesty about her personal life on camera?
   I am referring to Li Na’s on-court interview, conducted just seconds after she had prevailed in a sporting war against a talented adversary.
   More about the match in a moment, but this time the interview lingers most vividly in the memory.
   ‘Yes I didn’t think it was warm enough, so I made sure we played three sets,’ said Li Na with a typically amusing piece of analysis, later offset by the further suffering in the extreme heat of some less durable male competitors in sweltering Melbourne.
   Yet Li Na had already made us smile by insisting that she spoke to the world from a shady spot, out of the piercing Melbourne sun. Why face more rays than she had to, right?
   When asked about her ‘new’ coach Carlos Rodriguez (we all know he isn’t exactly new any more, but never mind), her response was startling in its simplicity.
   ‘He saved my marriage,’ she announced, perhaps only half-joking, for she has hinted at this before. ‘Husband is husband, coach is coach.’  She was of course referring to the previously-complicated situation that saw Jiang Shan coach her, win her heart and infuriate her all at the same time.

   Tennis with Dennis

   At least with the arrival on the scene of coach Rodriguez last year, Li Na’s relationship with Jiang Shan – or “Dennis” as he is known to westerners – broke free of some of the more aggravating tennis technicalities.
   They still hit together – only fair after he had chosen the name “Dennis” for no other reason than it rhymes with “Tennis.”  But he isn’t exactly calling the shots any more – if he ever was.
   And when they are away from the courts, they don’t need to talk tennis any more at all.
   ‘It’s much better,’ she confirmed, though she pointed out that “Dennis” is still some way short of becoming a house-husband.
   ‘He doesn’t cook…but he can pay for me (to eat out).’
   Coming from one of the best-paid sportswomen in the world, it sounded even more amusing, and provided a fitting conclusion to an interview full of feminine strength and humour.
   On reflection, her entire approach had been so western. More western, in fact, than many westerners dare to be. And yet Li Na had already seized the moment to pay public tribute to her army of Asian fans.
   There are plenty of those fans visible in Melbourne, and literally tens of millions of them back home in China. How many around the world?

   Why we all love Li Na

   Everyone loves Li Na, and few outside the Czech Republic would have been disappointed to see last season’s beaten finalist win through to the next round.
   She deserved her victory, though it had looked unlikely when she lost the first set 1-6 and faced match point in the second.
   With typical courage, Li Na hit back to win the second-set tie-break. She took the decisive third 6-3.
   If she is to make a genuine assault on the Australian Open title this year, and add to her French Open success of 2011,  she is going to have to work on the consistency of her serve, though. It got her into serious trouble at times against the equally-erratic Safarova.
   Plenty for Carlos Rodriguez, Justine Henin’s old coach, to work on this weekend, then – but if he has already saved Li Na’s marriage, that is a pretty good foundation for further influence.

   8 Years Together

   Meanwhile the fact that Li Na and her “Darling Dennis” can celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary later this month – whatever her fate in Melbourne – is surely significant.
   A happy, positive Li Na is a woman we will all continue to love, whatever our origins in this small and fractious world.
   In her own inimitable way she has a knack of bringing us all together. She breaks down barriers, she reminds us of our similarities.
   Unlike some in China, she isn’t afraid to show her feelings and discuss the imperfections we all encounter in life. She is a cultural miracle. And yet again, she has shown East and West how to connect.
   Give the woman a Nobel Peace Prize, I say. And a comedy award while we’re at it.
   
   Mark Ryan, The Mail On Sunday
   
   Don’t forget, if you want to see Li Na and the other stars at Wimbledon this year, click on the following link and you can guarantee yourself a superb seat to watch the big tennis personalities at the greatest Slam of them all.

   Wimbledon 2014