Australian Open Day 4: Thursday, Jan 16 - Order of Play

[Moxie]

Let me just mention, and without rancor, that, in the US, ESPN has been showing the Federer match, and I'm relegated to watching Nadal on the internet stream. I say this for all the Djokovic fans out there who feel they get short-shrift. Point is, the hierarchy remains consistent: Federer, then Nadal, Djokovic and everyone else. :angel:

No, it depends on the state of the match. Once Fed won the 2nd set, they switched it
to Nadal match on TV and I have to watch Fed on stream now.

True, but Federer will still produce the most ratings so the general point stands.

And the state of the matches was almost identical. I was tracking both. As I said, it's a fairly dispassionate point. Just an observation. When they had an equal choice, and Nadal being #1, they went for Federer. As BS says: he's still the ratings man. I'm pointing it out not for the Djokovic fans who are around now, but the ones who occasionally drop in and act all hard-done by. Rafa still plays 2nd fiddle to Roger. It's the way of the world. So I hope some Djokovic fans can see that being #1 or #2 doesn't necessarily award you a top slot. There is still Roger. Then, after than, you still have to elbow Rafa aside.

 

[Goldenboy]

Let me just mention, and without rancor, that, in the US, ESPN has been showing the Federer match, and I'm relegated to watching Nadal on the internet stream. I say this for all the Djokovic fans out there who feel they get short-shrift. Point is, the hierarchy remains consistent: Federer, then Nadal, Djokovic and everyone else. :angel:

No, it depends on the state of the match. Once Fed won the 2nd set, they switched it
to Nadal match on TV and I have to watch Fed on stream now.

True, but Federer will still produce the most ratings so the general point stands.

And the state of the matches was almost identical. I was tracking both. As I said, it's a fairly dispassionate point. Just an observation. When they had an equal choice, and Nadal being #1, they went for Federer. As BS says: he's still the ratings man. I'm pointing it out not for the Djokovic fans who are around now, but the ones who occasionally drop in and act all hard-done by. Rafa still plays 2nd fiddle to Roger. It's the way of the world. So I hope some Djokovic fans can see that being #1 or #2 doesn't necessarily award you a top slot. There is still Roger. Then, after than, you still have to elbow Rafa aside.

It will be fun to see who gets the night match on Saturday. Rafa-Monfils is the more exciting match (at least in my eyes vs. Federer - Gabashvili/Verdasco) but Roger hasn't played at night yet.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal might actually prefer to play Monfils in the day session. Not that he has a say in that.

 

[Goldenboy]

Rafa looking so much sharper off the baseline now.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

In a few minutes, Rafa and Roger will be out on court playing in Aussie Open, hence on different courts.
;}

I was just about to post saying we have a Fedal second round match and you beat me to it.

GSM: You like a trivia question. Any idea the last time they played at the same time, if ever?

Here is the answer to your trivia question. The last time it happened was in 2008 USO.
Fed was playing Novak in Ashe and at the same time Rafa was playing Murray in Armstrong.

No, I did not know the answer. It was mentioned in a ticker that was running at the
bottom of my live stream of Fed match.

Anyway, the important point is that the last tournament in which this happened was won
by Fed.

 

[Front242]

rafa is 3rd match on, his opponent is ranked in the 500s or something..will he win a game ?.

Haven't watched him before so no idea how his serve is but it's quite possible with a good serve a few games can be won. Hardly be a triple bagel. Might be 6-3 6-2 6-2 or something like that.

Good call on the score, Front Only 1 game out. 6-2 6-4 6-2.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

rafa is 3rd match on, his opponent is ranked in the 500s or something..will he win a game ?.

Haven't watched him before so no idea how his serve is but it's quite possible with a good serve a few games can be won. Hardly be a triple bagel. Might be 6-3 6-2 6-2 or something like that.

Good call on the score, Front Only 1 game out. 6-2 6-4 6-2.

Your warning level should be increased. It is illegal to quote your own post especially
when you want to gloat. :laydownlaughing

 

[Denis]

Does anyone know why play is suspended?

 

[Denis]

I would not be surprised if Monfils turns this into a grueling five-setter, giving Nadal a third walk-over in a row.

 

[Moxie]

Does anyone know why play is suspended?

Seems rain, after all the heat.

 

[Denis]

Does anyone know why play is suspended?

Seems rain, after all the heat.

Ah thanks. Good that the Court arena is also getting a roof next year.

 

[Denis]

Well Monfils is up two sets now. He seems lethargic though. That will not help Saturday.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I would not be surprised if Monfils turns this into a grueling five-setter, giving Nadal a third walk-over in a row.

The first 2 rounds are meant to be walkovers... Unless your name rhymes with Bosol and Barcis.

 

[zalvar]

Oh man, Nadal vs Monfils!! Rematch of two weeks ago.
Gael is scary in slams; he can really get it going with the crowd.

 

[Denis]

Oh man, Nadal vs Monfils!! Rematch of two weeks ago.
Gael is scary in slams; he can really get it going with the crowd.

Well, I don't think you need to be too worried, but it will be a test. The crowd will not be an issue though, Nadal doesn't care less. I've only seen Djokovic able at getting at him.

 

[zalvar]

Oh man, Nadal vs Monfils!! Rematch of two weeks ago.
Gael is scary in slams; he can really get it going with the crowd.

Well, I don't think you need to be too worried, but it will be a test. The crowd will not be an issue though, Nadal doesn't care less. I've only seen Djokovic able at getting at him.

Well, I do hope for a good match, but I want Nadal to win haha. No 5 set marathons! not this early ;P

 

[Denis]

Murray questions, as do I, why the women get a heat time-out, and the men don't?

For real? That is the rule? Equal pay, huh...

I argue all the time for equal pay, for example, but I don't understand who decided that the "dainty" women need a 10-minute break between sets 2-3, whereas for the men, there is none, and they can play up to 5 sets. WTF?? They were even denying the men water during long games. There is something very wrong about how they're handling this extreme heat situation, on so many levels.

There should be no difference in the rules for either gender.

Don't even start me on the on court coaching. Even Mr. Carillo thinks it is sexist.

So another thing they do gender-neutral is the court-schedueling. For instance, tomorrow there are more or less an equal amount of men's and women's matches on the show courts. I have a question on this: why would they do that? Maybe I may be wrong here, but won't you be able to sell more tickets if you just load the show courts with men's matches (for instance, add Robredo v Gasquet)? And it doesn't really matter gender-wise does it? They still get paid the same.

 

[nehmeth]

Just getting up this morning and see that Donald Young outlasted Seppi. I didn't expect him to get past the first round. Does this mean he's actually maturing and beginning to play up to his potential? Not a fan of the young man, but always glad to see him play well.

Checking the other scores it seems to have been a pretty straightforward day for everyone.

DP looks as though he may go down 2 sets to 1 in his match with Agut.

 

[Denis]

Just getting up this morning and see that Donald Young outlasted Seppi. I didn't expect him to get past the first round. Does this mean he's actually maturing and beginning to play up to his potential? Not a fan of the young man, but always glad to see him play well.

Checking the other scores it seems to have been a pretty straightforward day for everyone.

DP might be in trouble though. 1-1 in sets and a break down.

 

[nehmeth]

Saw that. Benoit (Paire) is in a battle with a young Aussie along with the raucous crowd.

Getting to watch Murray for the first time this year. He's winning easily, but with way more errors to winners (so far). He's slapping his forehand a lot, with the usual result of flying out or into the net. Millot (his opponent) is way overmatched, but plays with a lot of flair and is fun to watch.

... and as I write that, he goes up a break on Andy. :cover