Australian Open 2023 [Women] - Grand Slam

[MargaretMcAleer]

Hope Vekic can beat Fruhvirtova and reach her second slam QF. She's on a roll here, but so is the young Czech. Should be an interesting match.

Donna is playing good tennis at present, I feel her experience may get her over the line in this match up.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

There was a reason why I predicted that Fruhvirtova would make a slam semifinal and make the WTA Finals this year. I truly believe she may be the most talented player since Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati (in the early 90s). I just hope that circumstances don't get in the way, and we get to see Fruhvirtova's full potential.

 

[tented]

Pegula / Garcia final?

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Pegula / Garcia final?

A Rybakina/Fruhvirtova final would be so much better. I'd rather see that than two 29-year-olds who haven't previously won a slam.

 

[tented]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sabalenka (5) vs Bencic (12) H2H 1 all......this should be a 'popcorn match'
Garcia (4) vs Linnette H2H Garcia 1-0
Pliskova (3) vs Zhang (23) H2H Pliskova 1-0
Vekic v Fruhvirtova First meeting

 

[Vince Evert]

methinks it's time to make the australian, french and U S Opens blanketed best-of-three because of
the way tennis is played these days and the toll it brings on future matches.
Tennis players shouldnt be out there competing beyond 11pm.

Good write up here on yahoo online...

Australian Open organisers are once again copping it from fans after Victoria Azarenka's match against Zhu Lin finished after 2am on Monday. Organisers have been feeling the heat from tennis fans and commentators alike after a number of matches stretched well beyond midnight throughout the opening week of the Melbourne Park grand slam.

Andy Murray's win over Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round went for five hours and 45 minutes and finished at 4.05am, sparking anger around the tennis world. And while it wasn't as bad on Sunday night, many were still left fuming that Azarenka and Zhu were forced to play so late.

The women's match was scheduled second on Rod Laver Arena after Stefanos Tsitsipas' blockbuster clash with Jannik Sinner. Tsitsipas eventually prevailed in a five-set battle that went well past four hours, meaning Azarenka and Lin didn't get on court until around 11.30pm.

The women's match then went to three sets and finished at 2.17am on Monday. "It was two hours and 40 minutes of complete pressure," the 33-year-old Azarenka said after the win, which sets up a clash with Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.

Asked what time she would get to bed, Azarenka replied: "I don't even know what time it is. Probably I'll be up till 6am, then mask on and sleep during the day."

'What a joke': Tennis fans left fuming over 'ridiculous' move

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has become the latest victim of the fiasco. Read more here.

au.yahoo.com

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

methinks it's time to make the australian, french and U S Opens blanketed best-of-three because of
the way tennis is played these days and the toll it brings on future matches.
Tennis players shouldnt be out there competing beyond 11pm.

Good write up here on yahoo online...

Australian Open organisers are once again copping it from fans after Victoria Azarenka's match against Zhu Lin finished after 2am on Monday. Organisers have been feeling the heat from tennis fans and commentators alike after a number of matches stretched well beyond midnight throughout the opening week of the Melbourne Park grand slam.

Andy Murray's win over Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round went for five hours and 45 minutes and finished at 4.05am, sparking anger around the tennis world. And while it wasn't as bad on Sunday night, many were still left fuming that Azarenka and Zhu were forced to play so late.

The women's match was scheduled second on Rod Laver Arena after Stefanos Tsitsipas' blockbuster clash with Jannik Sinner. Tsitsipas eventually prevailed in a five-set battle that went well past four hours, meaning Azarenka and Lin didn't get on court until around 11.30pm.

The women's match then went to three sets and finished at 2.17am on Monday. "It was two hours and 40 minutes of complete pressure," the 33-year-old Azarenka said after the win, which sets up a clash with Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.

Asked what time she would get to bed, Azarenka replied: "I don't even know what time it is. Probably I'll be up till 6am, then mask on and sleep during the day."

'What a joke': Tennis fans left fuming over 'ridiculous' move

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has become the latest victim of the fiasco. Read more here.

au.yahoo.com

Vince,

Craig Tiley has come out and said if the majority players speak out, regarding these late night matches going overtime, Tennis Australia would look at say rescheduling for the future at the AO
I was live at the AO, in 2008, for a 3rd match between Hewitt and Baghdatis started before Midnight and finished around 4.30am? that was insane., quite frankly it should have been rescheduled for the next day

 

[tossip]

Sabalenka (5) vs Bencic (12) H2H 1 all......this should be a 'popcorn match'
Garcia (4) vs Linnette H2H Garcia 1-0
Pliskova (3) vs Zhang (23) H2H Pliskova 1-0
Vekic v Fruhvirtova First meeting

Bencic is very steady and doesn't make a lot of errors.Saba can be error prone,and lose matches she is supposed to win.I want Saba to win but Bencic is really thirsty for a big title.The start of this match is very important for Saba,she better not have a faulty start or the match would be over in a hurry.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Bencic is very steady and doesn't make a lot of errors.Saba can be error prone,and lose matches she is supposed to win.I want Saba to win but Bencic is really thirsty for a big title.The start of this match is very important for Saba,she better not have a faulty start or the match would be over in a hurry.

Good news is Saba is serving well at the AO this year, not like she did last year at the AO, still sometimes in pressure moments Saba can fail....Bencic has been playing well, maybe it is the new coach, Tursnov, she won the Adelaide tournament 2, where she routed Kasatkina 60 62. BTW as far as I am concered Daria is not a Top 10 player, and lucky she is still there, she needs a serve to start off with.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

It doesn't really matter who wins the Sabalenka-Bencic match. Both are well known major quarterfinal and semi chokers. The winner probably won't win the next match.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

One thing Bencic does well, she absorbs pace and redirects well
Tight battle between these 2, 5 all 1st set
Sabalenka with good aggressive returns breaks Bencic and wins the 1st set 75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sabalenka with big bhands with control mind you is giving Bencic more than she can handle, Bencic should try to body serve her more,?
Sabalenka returning well and she breaks Bencic and leads 3-1 2nd set, Saba holds with ease leads 4-1

 

[Moxie]

Sabalenka cracks me up! She seemed in early trouble when I looked at the stats, then she wins the first. Bencic, I'm sorry, but she's a bit "Swiss." (Not talking about Federer, but the general impression that the Swiss are a bit boring.) While her tennis is boring, her mouth is salty. But she's in big trouble. Go, Aryna!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba is just on the 'zone in this match' returning,serving her bhand is on fire,not much Bencic can do about it
Saba has not lost a set so far in this tournament, Saba is playing with controlled aggression, I know that is new territory for her
Saba was down love 30 on her serve, adjusted well and holds
Saba 5-2 2nd set, won the 1st set 75

 

[Moxie]

What a shot there from Sabalenka! Big hold there.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

What a shot there from Sabalenka! Big hold there.

The one that she made outside the tram line? shot of the match so far

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Bencic if you are going to Body Serve do it with pace please, Saba just returned that with ease?

 

[Moxie]

Sabalenka arrives MP playing big-girl tennis. But Bencic saves one. OH, but not the second. Great win from Sabalenka.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A impressive match all round from Saba too good for Bencic today 75 62 she has not dropped a set and is into the QFs
Well done Saba!