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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jan 11, 2005 0:24:11 GMT -5
This will be the thread where I will post my reports from these events.
However since certain circumstances have changed, there will be some things not included this time around unlike the 2004 report.
Here is a DISCLAIMER, unless I say so I want the reports to stay here and as for respective fan forums any information on Gaudio, Nalbandian, Federer can be used over at MTF and in here as well, but anything else just ask.
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Post by Choupi on Jan 11, 2005 2:43:06 GMT -5
Looking forward to your reports...
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Post by freudo on Jan 11, 2005 10:29:14 GMT -5
me 2 I'll be looking for you here. Any chance you'll be doing live on a laptop prbably that's asking waaaaay too much. Have a blast!!!
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Post by The Chloe on Jan 11, 2005 20:09:15 GMT -5
Have fun! Be sure to PM around the unpostable parts ;D
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jan 12, 2005 4:06:00 GMT -5
Ok, this is just a quick one as I only have a short amount of time at the moment.
The organisers did the right thing, by changing the schedule and making the Federer/Gaudio match second for which I was thankful for.
Good advantage of travelling light as I don't have to wait for the luggage, though there was a foible to this and more later.
I got there at the end of the Agassi vs Massu match. I only saw the tiebreaker and Massu seemed to be playing alright, but Agassi is very tough on this surface and doesn't seem to miss a beat when he plays here.
Then onto the match that I wanted to see Federer vs Gaudio. On the whole the match wasn't great, then again being an exhibition that can happen, as they both seemed to be sluggish.
They started trading breaks and Federer was definitely attacking more and coming to the net more than usual which made sense and Gaston was missing a lot of passes, then he decided to vary his shots with a few lobs and changed the speed of shot.
At 5-5 Gaston saved his set point with a forehand winner and then on Federer's next service game, he used the lob when Roger moved forward and he hit a short shot for Gaston to hit a dtl backhand to break serve.
Then he managed to hold his serve to love and Roger was getting slightly annoyed.
Second set Federer starts hitting more touch shots and his game is getting in the groove and Gaston isn't as focused as previously, but Roger has lifted his game especially in the last 2 games.
The 3rd set then they actually started playing some good tennis as they were trying to outdo each other in the finesse stakes. Federer hits this short volley to Gaston's forehand, then all of a sudden he hits a crosscourt winner through his legs and Roger just laughs.
Both are playing well Gaston is hitting good length and Federer is using his forehand very well and knocking off the volley. They are going comfortably on serve and then Gaston at 3-3 threw in a bad game and was punished by that. He served 2 footfaults and one of them was a double, then Federer got a lucky net cord. The last chance he had was at 30-30 on Roger's serve, then he hits a forehand that hits the line.
Roger served it out and Gaston played quite well in patches, and there was plenty of good feelings and mutual respect during the match. Gaston and Roger both signed plenty of autographs as well.
Nalbandian/Henman well this performance you could tell it was David's first match of the year and he will only get better. I am not really sure how Henman played as David made plenty of schoolboy errors, especially in the 1st set and 6-1 was justified.
The second set was better and he had so many break point opportunities, but he refused to take them and when Tim was serving for the match at 5-4, then David decides to serve 3 double faults in his service game just because he is charitable.
Nalbandian will have to improve for sure and Henman now plays Federer in the semis, while Gaston and Nalbandian play tomorrow.
Roddick was efficient in his match and he didn't seem to go that hard and Ljubicic wasn't much chop today and at least in the 2nd set he was semi-competitive, in the 1st set Duckboy didn't have to get out of neutral.
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Post by Choupi on Jan 12, 2005 4:49:54 GMT -5
Thanks for your report George...glad you got there on time. Waiting for the next ones...
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Post by taysbest on Jan 12, 2005 8:06:36 GMT -5
Thanks for the report GWH. Hope you are having fun!
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Post by aussiestagman on Jan 12, 2005 9:10:19 GMT -5
did somebody say live on a laptop?
briny and i will be at the first day of oz open quallies later today [in our imaginations, anyway]
should be a lot of dancing, cheering, and snogging
i'm especially looking forward to seeing milagros again on court 20 and lina k on 16, after a quick win to the thai girl on court13
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Post by freudo on Jan 12, 2005 9:21:59 GMT -5
thanks GW...I knew you'd deliver...have fun again today so Gaudio is first 2005 to take a set off Roj (in exo) of course, but it will be a trivia question by the end of the year woohoo Aussitag and Briny off to the races today...will try to catch some
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Rosie
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Post by Rosie on Jan 12, 2005 10:01:36 GMT -5
Thanks George I have "borrowed" your piece about David for our Forum on MTF as you said it was OK - thanks. Have fun - and don't do anything I wouldn't do in Melbourne!
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 12, 2005 11:22:27 GMT -5
Thanks... too bad it's a meaningless exhibition, I think points should be at stake for reporting that good. ;D
Ljubicic? Huh?
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Post by Lee on Jan 12, 2005 11:41:11 GMT -5
Thanks GWH! Have fun today/tomorrow in Kooyong. Hi Rosie
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Rosie
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Post by Rosie on Jan 12, 2005 12:48:53 GMT -5
Hi Lee
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 12, 2005 14:01:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the report, GWH! Good to hear you're seeing good tennis right from the start. Do you know what happened to Srichaphan, why Ljubicic was playing instead? Welcome, Rosie!
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Post by Ilhame on Jan 12, 2005 15:59:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the report Nils! If/When you see Marat can you ask him if he is considering asking for the remaining WC for Rotterdam? Don't forget to make a pic or two if him for me Rosie made it over here as well!
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Post by taysbest on Jan 12, 2005 17:00:43 GMT -5
Hi Rosey!!!!
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Post by Partridge In A Pear Tree on Jan 12, 2005 17:02:32 GMT -5
Vielen Dank, ChikadeeChineseChickenLickinChina!!! ;D
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Post by Partridge In A Pear Tree on Jan 12, 2005 17:04:40 GMT -5
Hi, Rosie! 'tis me, Mrs. B! ;D
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jan 12, 2005 18:00:56 GMT -5
Thanks... too bad it's a meaningless exhibition, I think points should be at stake for reporting that good. ;D Ljubicic? Huh? I saw Ivan wandering around and then I didn't find out to later that he was playing instead of Srichaphan who has a wrist problem or that was the reason given for him not playing though he was there signing autographs.
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 12, 2005 19:27:27 GMT -5
I saw Ivan wandering around and then I didn't find out to later that he was playing instead of Srichaphan who has a wrist problem or that was the reason given for him not playing though he was there signing autographs. Thanks CCCC, gladhe is not playing because he has a bad habit of playing through injuries instead of resting them.
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 12, 2005 21:56:56 GMT -5
I saw Ivan wandering around and then I didn't find out to later that he was playing instead of Srichaphan who has a wrist problem or that was the reason given for him not playing though he was there signing autographs. Thanks for the info GWH. When I saw the photo captions last night I was wondering if someone had made a gigantic mistake...
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Post by Lee on Jan 13, 2005 1:19:15 GMT -5
I saw Ivan wandering around and then I didn't find out to later that he was playing instead of Srichaphan who has a wrist problem or that was the reason given for him not playing though he was there signing autographs. Have you seen Schúttler wandering around? He played an exhibition match vs Enqvist.
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Rosie
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Post by Rosie on Jan 13, 2005 1:51:39 GMT -5
And GWH - you know what I'm going to ask..........have you seen "my" David wandering around? And a big to everyone here that has given me such a warm welcome here!
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jan 13, 2005 7:15:24 GMT -5
Thanks CCCC, gladhe is not playing because he has a bad habit of playing through injuries instead of resting them. He was around the qualies this afternoon with a bandage on his wrist. He seemed to be in fairly good mood.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jan 13, 2005 7:39:13 GMT -5
This will have to be done in two parts as it will take too long and the first day of the qualies might have to wait.
I went and saw the first match between Gaudio and Nalbandian and for the 1st set it was quite a good match. David seemed to be more serious about it, but he needed to be after his first match against Henman.
Gaston started serving and had his footfaultitis again, but he started off well with 2 big backhand winners. The thing I noticed from the first 3 games was the clear improvement from yesterday, even though it was fucking hot already at 11am and of course I was out in the sun frying away, but managing to keep cool enough.
The first break for Nalle was for 2-3. It was funny Gaston hits a bad dropshot, Nalle hits a worse reply, but then he settles down and is moving well and being aggressive and showing he is better on this surface than Gaston. Gaston misses a gimmy to make it to duece.
The next service game had a very cool moment as Nalle gets back to duece with some good play, he hits a top drop volley that is backspinning towards the net, Gaston makes it and but David puts it away and then they end up on the same side of the net and shake hands.
Gaston is serving/volleying more than usual and that is usually a sign in itself ;D. He was volleying well and hitting some good winners, but I was impressed with Nalle's forehand and he was getting some very good angles and Gaston's volleying was very good in these stages, though he managed to blow easy chances at the wrong moments.
One very funny moment was a 1st serve from Gaston it was such a fault it missed the court and it went 6 rows back before bouncing, you can only laugh at such stuff like that, and then he lost serve.
Nalle is continuing on and playing very well and Gaston seemed a bit disinterested, he didn't tank at all, but a bit disinterested. He didn't hold a serve in the second set and Nalle was focused and wasn't going to let him off the hook.
It was a good and fun first set, but the 2nd one was a combination of Nalle's consistency and a bit of disinterest from Gaston, but it was good to see them play.
The right man won and the result was fair enough maybe the 1st set could have been 6-4 or 7-5 as it was fairly close, but I always felt David was in control.
Afterwards I went for a wander in the shade as it was very warm for sure and I couldn't be bothered about Roddick and Agassi, then I see Agassi walking towards me. He couldn't be bothered and it was an alleged hip problem. He has had enough practice and is probably ready to play.
I went down to the qualies afterward and I will do a combined Day 1/2 report and maybe do it later.
I saw Seppi, Baghdatis, Ryderstedt, Prpic, Marc Lopez, and Ancic training.
Since the men's doesn't start until noon at the earliest I will have it already before the start of play tomorrow.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jan 13, 2005 7:42:41 GMT -5
Have you seen Schúttler wandering around? He played an exhibition match vs Enqvist. Yes, I warned him about gay Colombians, but seriously I haven't seen him yet. Tomorrow I should see some more players.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Jan 13, 2005 7:45:44 GMT -5
And GWH - you know what I'm going to ask..........have you seen "my" David wandering around? And a big to everyone here that has given me such a warm welcome here! They are good people here mostly. Actually not I have seen Eduardo a few times, but no David as of yet. He wasn't too happy after the Henman match and I didn't see him after the Gaston match either, had to get a drink.
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Rosie
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Post by Rosie on Jan 13, 2005 8:04:06 GMT -5
They are good people here mostly. Actually not I have seen Eduardo a few times, but no David as of yet. He wasn't too happy after the Henman match and I didn't see him after the Gaston match either, had to get a drink. Thanks GWH - so who was unhappy after the Henman match - David or Eduardo - or both By the way - one final question for you.....is Javier there (David's brother) - we were wondering whether he had come with David as usual or stayed at home to look after their Mother. Thanks for all your reports by the way - they are greatly appreciated and make me feel so guity about my lack of reports when I am "on Tour" - I promise I'll try and do better this year! Of course I'm sorry that it had to be Gaston who lost - but I'm thrilled that David won his first match of the season and seemed to be playing better. Look forward to the next instalment.
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Post by freudo on Jan 13, 2005 8:20:47 GMT -5
you's a busy guy, GW...but no report on the short Andy vs Andre? I'm greedy, want to picture everything Have another great day!!!
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Post by Francine on Jan 13, 2005 8:31:58 GMT -5
Yes, I warned him about gay Colombians but seriously, thank you very mucho. I want to watch tennis in the Australian sun as well *jealous*
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