Tag Archive: Australia Open

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 10: Murray To Face Raonic

   January 27, 2016 11:27 am Comments Off on Australian Open Day 10: Murray To Face Raonic

   Andy Murray’s on-court tantrums don’t always work in his favour – often quite the reverse. But it was a different story during his gutsy victory over David Ferrer in their Australian Open quarter-final, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-3.

   If ever there was a sportsman who needed to release some tension and frustration, it was the British number one. His personal circumstances have been exceptional of late.

   COMPLEX

   A good moan against the imperfections of the world were precisely what the doctor ordered for this complex character. And now Murray must try to focus on Milos Raonic and their big semi-final.

   Of course, Murray tantrums haven’t always been worth their while – and for some time he toned them down. Under Ivan Lendl, the British number one would rarely go into meltdown mode, because he knew how deeply unimpressed his granite-faced coach would be.

   Superior self-control led to extraordinary success. US Open triumph, Olympic glory and then the biggest tennis prize of all – Wimbledon.

   Yet when Murray and Lendl split, the volatile Scot seemed to feel he could behave almost as he wanted on court. He was running his own show, after all. And, despite her own inner calm, little appeared to change when Amelie Mauresmo took over the coaching role.

   THRIVED

   Last year’s Davis Cup brought a different dynamic. Murray wasn’t up against the best of the best as he led Great Britain to glory – and he was rarely threatened with defeat in the singles rubbers. He thrived on the extra responsibility and his behaviour hardly ever let him down.

   At the Slams, however, Murray has received plenty of criticism for his histrionics over the years, not least because they seem so counter-productive.

   Not so against Ferrer, after a tough few days by anyone’s standards. Murray’s father-in-law, Nigel Sears, collapsed at the Australian Open and was rushed to hospital. Andy only found out when he finished his own match – and wouldn’t have continued at the tournament had Sears remained seriously ill.

   Murray must also have been deeply concerned about the impact Nigel’s collapse might have had on his heavily-pregnant wife Kim, Sears’ daughter.

   And if the baby were to arrive early, Murray still appears determined to cut short his increasingly promising Australian Open campaign and return to Britain.

   It won’t have escaped Murray’s notice that his arch-rival Novak Djokovic hasn’t quite been firing on all cylinders so far in Melbourne and looks more beatable than usual. Could outside factors still deny Andy the opportunity to take Novak down, just when the Serb might be there for the taking at last, should he get past the evergreen Roger Federer?

   Murray’s mind must still be in a whirl. His life is so complicated right now. So many uncontrollables. So much tension.

   So when Murray lost his temper against Ferrer, his reactions weren’t just forgivable – the release was almost a necessary part of his psychological and emotional survival at the tournament.

   SWEAR

   He appeared to yell at a photographer for being too visible, swear loudly at himself for losing the second set when he had worked so hard to remain in contention, and show open disgust at the decision to close the roof when he was 3-1 ahead in the third – even though he admitted later that the indoor conditions helped him to return better.

   None of these reactions could have been too pleasant to be around at the time, and there is no attempt here to condone that kind of behaviour in general.

   But if Andy Murray ever has any right to scream at the world in sheer frustration, it is probably now. And if a tantrum is ever to do him any good, it is also now.

   That release of tension should now clear the way for a fascinating semi-final against Milos Raonic – as long as Kim doesn’t go into labour, of course.

   Raonic, a 33-1 shot at the start of the tournament, defeated Gael Monfils, the great entertainer, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

   Playing better than ever since teaming up with new coach Carlos Moya, Raonic will provide formidable resistance to Murray’s dream of reaching another Melbourne final.

   And yet Murray will start favourite, due to his renowned skill at taking down big servers. It will be fascinating to watch the drama unfold.

   How cool is Johanna Konta? And not just for reaching her own Australian Open semi-final! When journalists were still trying to make an issue of her nationality and stir up a tug-o’-war between Britain and Australia, Konta cleverly diffused the tension while giving the media a soundbite they simply couldn’t resist.

   After her brilliant 6-4, 6-1 victory over Zhang Shuai, the 24-year-old Konta said: ‘Actually I’m a tri-citizen. I’ve got a Hungarian passport as well. Just add that into the mix, guys. I mean, I’m pretty much the female version of Jason Bourne.’

   She’ll need some of Bourne’s incredible powers if she is to negotiate her semi-final against German sensation Angelique Kerber, who pulled off a shock first win against Victoria Azarenka, 6-3, 7-5.

   Azarenka had been in such impressive form that she was widely tipped to give Serena Williams a run for her money in Melbourne. Instead the Belarusian found herself 0-4 down in the first set and then couldn’t hold her second-set lead against Kerber’s victorious comeback.

   Kerber’s explosive consistency must make her favourite against Konta – but don’t rule out the battling Brit just yet.

   Do you think Murray can win the Australian Open? Are you enjoying the Grand Slam as much as we are? Let us know your thoughts over on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

   Don’t forget, you can watch Murray in all his glory yourself this June by getting your hands on 2016 Wimbledon Tickets here!