Australian Open Day 1: Monday, January 19

[Vince Evert]

No that was Robin Sodering.

The H2H also suggests that Nadal will be playing Youzhny on the Russian's preferred surface.

 

[herios]

Thumbs down to the organizers!!!

Troicki vs Vesely in the first day? Really?
They could have used one more day of rest after they just finished their events yesterday, plus Jiri played 8 matches in a row in Auckland!

 

[Vince Evert]

Troicki can request for his OR match to be changed to Tuesday. He has every right to and I'm sure the AO tournament director would grant it.

 

[tented]

Let's examine Nadal's H2H vs Youzhny-

2014 Rome Masters R16 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-7(4) 6-2 6-1
2013 Madrid Masters R16 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-2 6-3
2012 Doha QF Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-4 6-4
2010 US Open SF Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-2 6-3 6-4
2008 Chennai F Hard Youzhny d. Nadal 6-0 6-1
2008 Wimbledon R16 Grass Nadal d. Youzhny 6-3 6-3 6-1
2007 Paris Masters QF Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-4 6-2
2007 Wimbledon R16 Grass Nadal d. Youzhny 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2
2007 Rome Masters R16 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-2 6-2
2007 Dubai QF Hard Youzhny d Nadal 7-6(5) 6-3
2006 US Open QF Hard Youzhny d. Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6(5) 6-1
2005 Rome Masters R64 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-0 6-2
2005 Australian Open R64 Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-1 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3
2005 Doha R32 Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-3 7-6(3)
2004 Dubai QF Hard Youzhny d. Nadal 6-2 1-6 6-1

15 matches over 11 years and Nadal won 11 of those. A telling stat is the 4 of Youzhny's wins
was on Hardcourts. On those stats Nadal fans have every right to be nervous. Bring it on Mikhail :laydownlaughing

Youzhny annoyed Rafa at some stage early on, I can't remember how, but it was something like how Berdy did - then neither of them hardly took scraps off the Nadal table since. It tells us more that Youzhny is currently facing Rafa in the first round, and not later, than anything about Rafa's comeback and lack of match fitness...

Exactly. The "telling stat" is that Youzhny hasn't beaten Nadal in 7 years, and only once in their last 9 encounters.

Also, let's examine Youzhny's 2014:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Mikhail-Youzhny.aspx?t=pa&y=2014&m=s&e=0#

- Win/loss: 18/23

- In 24 tournaments, he got past the quarterfinals once.

- In 13 of them, he lost his first match.

- In 5, he lost after his second match.

Oh, and in 2015, in Doha, he lost in straight sets in the first round.

 

[Vince Evert]

Yes I took all that into consideration mate. What we need to remember is that Nadal has had little tennis since Wimbly and therefore could be vulnerable as will be playing a player whose beaten him before and on HC, the Russian's preferred surface.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzj1WnqS3MM[/video]

 

[Riotbeard]

Just figured out Rafa-Youzhny is set to start at 10 p.m. eastern time, so I will actually get to watch it!

 

[Front242]

It's on at 3am here so I'll miss it. Depending on how Youzhny plays it may be good but his form is complete crud these days so probably a routine easy win for Nadal.

Murray - Bhambri (?!) Never heard of him. But imagine it'll be a tame affair.

Brown v Dimitrov is potentially the most entertaining imo.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Just figured out Rafa-Youzhny is set to start at 10 p.m. eastern time, so I will actually get to watch it!

I too will be watching it from a diametrically opposite vantage point to that of yours.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It's on at 3am here so I'll miss it. Depending on how Youzhny plays it may be good but his form is complete crud these days so probably a routine easy win for Nadal.

Murray - Bhambri (?!) Never heard of him. But imagine it'll be a tame affair.

Bhambri is a fairly young Indian Chap. He is usually not ranked high enough to even get
a direct entry in most slams. He either just made the cut off or qualified. It should be easy
straight sets win for Andy.

 

[ftan]

Yea bhambhri is an indian player and he came thru the qualies. .
Should be easy for andy..
I can actually watch rafa vs youzny as it starts 7 pm here (pacific time) roger's match is a different story though..midnight grrr

 

[Riotbeard]

When did Goffin sneak up so high in the rankings? I completely missed this.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Coric up a break on Chardy and Grigor closes out the first set with a great DTL backhand pass on Brown.

 

[Riotbeard]

Coric up a break on Chardy and Grigor closes out the first set with a great DTL backhand pass on Brown.

Just switched to Coric. Brown is either exciting or all day errors. Today is the latter. Coric looks real legit.

 

[kskate2]

Dimi is rolling over Brown up 2 sets and a break now 3-2.

 

[Carol]

Let's examine Nadal's H2H vs Youzhny-

2014 Rome Masters R16 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-7(4) 6-2 6-1
2013 Madrid Masters R16 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-2 6-3
2012 Doha QF Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-4 6-4
2010 US Open SF Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-2 6-3 6-4
2008 Chennai F Hard Youzhny d. Nadal 6-0 6-1
2008 Wimbledon R16 Grass Nadal d. Youzhny 6-3 6-3 6-1
2007 Paris Masters QF Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-4 6-2
2007 Wimbledon R16 Grass Nadal d. Youzhny 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2
2007 Rome Masters R16 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-2 6-2
2007 Dubai QF Hard Youzhny d Nadal 7-6(5) 6-3
2006 US Open QF Hard Youzhny d. Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6(5) 6-1
2005 Rome Masters R64 Clay Nadal d. Youzhny 6-0 6-2
2005 Australian Open R64 Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-1 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3
2005 Doha R32 Hard Nadal d. Youzhny 6-3 7-6(3)
2004 Dubai QF Hard Youzhny d. Nadal 6-2 1-6 6-1

15 matches over 11 years and Nadal won 11 of those. A telling stat is the 4 of Youzhny's wins
was on Hardcourts. On those stats Nadal fans have every right to be nervous. Bring it on Mikhail :laydownlaughing

LOL, I think if Rafa would go through the second week you will be more nervous than his fans :laydownlaughing

 

[Vince Evert]

Carol35. It's all fun. It's not like Nadal hasn't lost in the first round of a GS before. Hahahahaha...

 

[Vince Evert]

Roger Federer - Tennis Champion and Ambassador. The Epitome of how the game should be played. clap:clap

 

[Carol]

Carol35. It's all fun. It's not like Nadal hasn't lost in the first round of a GS before. Hahahahaha...

Who laughs last laughs best :laydownlaughing

 

[Vince Evert]

I'll be laughing and thinking of you (and all the Nadal fans) on the umpires final call of GAME SET MATCH & CHAMPIONSHIP ROGER FEDERER. LOL