Australian Open Day 1: Monday, Jan 13 - Order of Play

[tented]

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Click here for the Day 1 Order of Play

(All matches, on all courts, are listed in order to give you a feel for when everything will begin and end.)

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Please use this thread to discuss Day 1 action.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Serena plays young Barty on the first day.
Nice!

Klara plays Sam, these 2 just played in Hobart, Samantha came out on the losing end.
Interesting!

 

[Hoergren]

As always - it's nice to see the virtual standings before it all starts - I think - so here it is:

1 Serena Williams 12760
2 Victoria Azarenka 6151
3 Maria Sharapova 5176
4 Agnieszka Radwanska 4970
5 Petra Kvitova 4735
6 Na Li 4570
7 Sara Errani 4430
8 Jelena Jankovic 4070
9 Angelique Kerber 3790
10 Simona Halep 3330
11 Caroline Wozniacki 3240
12 Roberta Vinci 3010
13 Sabine Lisicki 2910

So Caroline has to end higher than Halep to remain in top 10.

 

[colleen66]

Serena plays young Barty on the first day.
Nice!

Klara plays Sam, these 2 just played in Hobart, Samantha came out on the losing end.
Interesting!

Very interested about the Klara and Stosur match. Sam did not play well in Hobart at all. She seemed tight and the slice back hand let her down repeatedly. With the added pressure of playing in front of the home crowd, she must be very careful not to be eliminated in the first round by a very crafty veteran.

I am also worried about Venus in her first round. Markarova can give anyone a hard time, although her game has been off since her wrist injury. However at the AO she just seems to be a giant beater and Venus is inconsistent these days. Good luck to both Sam (although she is not my favorite player, I feel bad when she loses early at her home slam) and Venus.

 

[rugged]

Serena plays young Barty on the first day.
Nice!

Klara plays Sam, these 2 just played in Hobart, Samantha came out on the losing end.
Interesting!

Very interested about the Klara and Stosur match. Sam did not play well in Hobart at all. She seemed tight and the slice back hand let her down repeatedly. With the added pressure of playing in front of the home crowd, she must be very careful not to be eliminated in the first round by a very crafty veteran.

I am also worried about Venus in her first round. Markarova can give anyone a hard time, although her game has been off since her wrist injury. However at the AO she just seems to be a giant beater and Venus is inconsistent these days. Good luck to both Sam (although she is not my favorite player, I feel bad when she loses early at her home slam) and Venus.

Yeah, I am interested to see what Stosur does as well. She seems to let the pressure get to her. If she can manage this match, after losing to this player just last week, it might give her some confidence. I am concerned about Venus as well; however, having a 2-0 H2H should give her confidence. And the fact that she just played in a final. Good luck V!

 

[Front242]

I'm thinking Makarova will knock Venus Williams out in the first round. Might actually be a decent double for Venus and Stosur to both lose in the first round, which is quite likely.

 

[Moxie]

It's really hard to know how to pick Venus these days. I hope she hangs in there, but as you say, Front, could be a tough first round.

 

[kskate2]

I think Venus will come through Makarova, but Slammin Sammy will really be up against it and Zako will take her out.

 

[Front242]

Both dodgy anyway for first rounds for sure.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

The main draw has officially begun, scoreboard here:
http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/scores/index.html

ESPN2 is broadcasting TV coverage. Live stream available at:
watchespn.com

Or here:
http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/video/live.html

Venus vs. Ekaterina along with a host of other matches are on.

 

[Front242]

Good to see Venus playing well again but still think she'll lose this one.

 

[Front242]

Then again, maybe she won't. Best set of tennis I've seen from Venus in years. Shows how much her back was clearly hampering her last year. Her serve is great today.

 

[colleen66]

Great playing by Venus! Her set point was a great play for both players. Hopefully she can close out Markarova in straights.

 

[kskate2]

Venus takes the opener 6-2 on a sweet BHDTL on SP.

 

[Front242]

Fantastic winner by Makarova there.

 

[kskate2]

Robson in trouble. Flip is up a set and 3-0 in the 2nd.

 

[Front242]

Robson in trouble. Flip is up a set and 3-0 in the 2nd.

That was always gonna happen. Flipkens was pretty heavy favourite there.

 

[kskate2]

I don't think Laura is healthy. Probably came because she didn't want to miss a major.

 

[Front242]

No idea why Makarova didn't go down the line there.

 

[Front242]

I don't think Laura is healthy. Probably came because she didn't want to miss a major.

Is she still serving tons of double faults like last year? Haven't watched her in ages to be honest.