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Post by Brinyi on Jan 27, 2012 11:08:52 GMT -5
Rod Laver Arena
1:00 PM
Junior Girls' Singles - Finals
Taylor Townsend(USA)[14] vs. Yulia Putintseva(RUS)[4]
Junior Boys' Singles - Finals
Luke Saville(AUS)[1] vs. Filip Peliwo(CAN)
Not Before:7:30 PM
Women's Singles - Finals
Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[3] vs. Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]
Men's Doubles - Finals
Bob Bryan(USA)[1] /
Mike Bryan(USA)[1] vs. Leander Paes(IND) /
Radek Stepanek(CZE)
Good luck to Donnster Friend TT, F.Peliwo, Sexxander and whatever.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 27, 2012 11:39:01 GMT -5
Good luck to Twin Porn. No real hopes and dreams about the rest.
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Post by janie on Jan 27, 2012 13:33:44 GMT -5
As nasty as she is, I'm still rooting for Aza**, just because she's new at this level, and I'm desperate for new elite-level players on the Tour. And she took out the Saint, and that counts for a lot.
Now if only she could actually win, we'd have 2 new kids on the block that will have to be taken very seriously. Of course we all know from horrible experience that her just reaching the final means ZERO about her future prospects, so she really does have to win to open up that pleasing prospect for jaded tennis fans.
**(By "rooting for her", I only mean theoretically, because I won't be watching. I can't bear watching Maria with all her little ways and mannerisms. And because, like most of us "not important" sports fans [in Maria's view, because pro sports would be so much better without pesky fans], I can't take the soundtrack from both.)
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 27, 2012 13:53:22 GMT -5
I'm hoping Putintseva wins. Hingis is working with her and I've heard good things about her.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 27, 2012 14:05:12 GMT -5
Azarenka's game tells me all I need to know about her "elite-level" prospects.
The advantage of tomorrow is that one of them will have to lose, and hopefully in a manner that scars them for a long time, but...I really, really don't want to see Azarenka as Slam champion. I don't like Sharapova, but you can't deny her game or her attitude.
I'm curious about Putintseva, I hope she makes it on to the Tour swiftly, and then I guess I'll see whether I can stand her or not.
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Post by Grarliner on Jan 27, 2012 14:19:04 GMT -5
Recent first time Slam final winners ...
Kvitova, Schiavone, Kuznetsova, Myskina ...
It doesn't happen that much, though. What's the success rate? More like 20% or 30%?
It often means a very good player, though. Serena won her first. Hingis did. Seles did (against Graf!). Davenport did. Arantxa did. Sharapova rather famously did.
Most players need at least two finals to breakthrough. Stosur and Li last year converted chance #2. Justine needed 2. Amelie needed 2 but obviously that isn't the entire story there. Pierce needed 2.
But I'm focusing on Maria's part in this. I think she needs the win more. A loss would really hurt.
Besides all of that, can anybody think of a player who deserves another Slam more than Maria? I don't care for her. I'm not a fan. But I appreciate her heart and her determination. She could have Kournikova'd us. But she loves tennis unlike every other WTA player. It's been a long four years to get back to this stage. Remember two years back when she went out to Kirilenko in round one? Remember last year when she lost to Greta Arn in the warm-up and then Petko in round four? If she wins tonight, expect an emotional celebration that we haven't seen from her very often.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 27, 2012 22:55:07 GMT -5
I'm hoping Maria starts gyrating and dry humping the court if she wins, like she has sometimes before. With real tears this time. My favourite Maria celebration up till now is after her win over Petkovic in the Miami semifinal.  |
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 3:39:49 GMT -5
When I woke up and checked the time, my first reaction was disappointment that I hadn't slept through this match and would therefore have to watch it  |
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 3:40:19 GMT -5
(I was out doing tequila shots five hours ago. How has waking up happened? Stoopid body clock.)
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 3:47:21 GMT -5
Two Azza DFs and she's broken immediately. More of that please. Let's have this done in less than an hour.
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Post by The Chloe on Jan 28, 2012 3:48:30 GMT -5
When I woke up and checked the time, my first reaction was disappointment that I hadn't slept through this match and would therefore have to watch it This was the correct reaction. I checked the aus site now and was disappointed to find that as it's the second last day of the tournament, there isn't anything else tennis-wise for me to watch. So, I'm going to watch movies instead. |
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 4:03:16 GMT -5
Ma$ha led 2-0, 30-0. And has now lost 10 points in a row.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 4:20:07 GMT -5
"Maria moved to Florida at nine...didn't see her mum for two years..."
A story I haven't heard enough over the past 8 years, commentators.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 4:31:12 GMT -5
Azza takes the first set. Since she settled down it's been her all the way, apart from the intermittent Sharapova winner - Sharapova just can't get past her solidity and to her credit Vika has also been pretty resourceful with net play, angles and crucially making Ma$ha move - def not just turbo-grinding out there.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 4:35:48 GMT -5
wow Sharapova was taking such care that she didn't fuck up that putaway and Vika still guessed right and got it past her. Up a set and a break now.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 4:47:17 GMT -5
Minus Vika's shaky start the score is 6-1, 3-0. Ma$ha not making any impact on the match at all. Errors now.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 4:53:29 GMT -5
Azarenka has lost from a set and 4-0 up at the AO before but Ma$ha is definitely no Silliams.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 4:58:37 GMT -5
BAGEL?
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 5:05:14 GMT -5
BAGEL
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Post by GoDom on Jan 28, 2012 5:05:22 GMT -5
Congrats!! azza!!  There is no real reason for Azza not to win this tournament, except choking. |
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 5:07:51 GMT -5
Gotta give it to her, how many others come out in their first Slam final and play as flawlessly an executed match as that? Even Kvitova had dodgy moments in the Wim second set.
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Post by Lady on Jan 28, 2012 5:32:33 GMT -5
Wow, I woke up in time for the last game only! What a result! And my only thought before seeing the scoreline was "Please, tell me that Azza showed up at least" . Very impressive performance!
Considering how consistant she is apart from her retirements, she could hold that #1 ranking for w hile.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jan 28, 2012 5:51:04 GMT -5
Well done Azza! I used to think she'd never win a Slam, but she did improve lot, and it's always good to see a player have major success because she's got better and not because everyone else got worse.
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Post by janie on Jan 28, 2012 6:57:14 GMT -5
Wow!! What a shocker! Never in a million years would I have guessed it would end so lopsidedly. And this: ... Vika has also been pretty resourceful with net play, angles and crucially making Ma$ha move - def not just turbo-grinding out there.  All this from Generation Suck! Impressive, Vika. |
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Post by janie on Jan 28, 2012 6:59:59 GMT -5
Just wondering, from those who saw the match, what happened to Maria's much-vaunted ROS in this match?
I wonder also if Chris Evert was commentating, and if so, when (or if!) she noticed that her horse was not even in the race?
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2012 7:11:01 GMT -5
Well, I don't mean that Azarenka suddenly transformed into an attractive or creative variety player, let's not go overboard. Basic game, executed flawlessly. Did what she had to do.
Obviously I'm annoyed that #1 has bypassed Petra just when it seemed like it was going to fall into her lap, but OTOH I'm pleased she'll have to fight for it now. She won the Slam before she learned to be top-level consistent - but that's happening now. But it wasn't quick enough to get there before someone who learned to be top-level consistent - and then won a Slam, and who has that consistency inbuilt in her game.
I'm wondering whether this could possibly restore some relevancy to #1, now that we have that battle for it (and you know that Sharapova wants to get there for the first time post-surgery, too). Two players who haven't given in to Slamism yet, but can still win Slams, battling for #1. It's better for the sport when #1 matters.
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Post by janie on Jan 28, 2012 7:33:00 GMT -5
And Leander Paes completed a career Slam! This has been a pretty good AO all around, starting with Serena losing early. And yeah, the #1 thing suddenly gets interesting. I don't mind at all that Kvitty has to wait, but I do want her to get there soon and stay there long. Meanwhile, I'd forgotten all about Stosur! Maybe she'll come to life again, too, and get in the picture, once she gets away from the crippling effects of home court advantage.  |
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 28, 2012 8:11:24 GMT -5
This result and scoreline were never in doubt. I called it.
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Post by janie on Jan 28, 2012 8:19:33 GMT -5
Poor Ali! First Andy getting so close, and now this. But at least you got to see Martina Hingis in the trophy ceremony, right? If not, there are pics waiting for you at Teen Forum.
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Post by Old Hag on Jan 28, 2012 10:49:17 GMT -5
Bagel? What happened to FIGHTING WARRIOR MA$HA. I don't know, I'm so not even watching the replay.
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All this from Generation Suck! Impressive, Vika. 