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

[tented]

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Click here for the Day 4 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 4 action.

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I've added TV schedules for live coverage in the US, Canada, the UK, continental Europe, and Australia.

 

[Front242]

Sharapova's favourite film: Scream

 

[Moxie]

Controversy already about the timing of the scream. Knapp complained and even Maria apologized, when she thought she'd won the point. She should have been called by the umpire.

 

[golds girl]

I was multi-tasking when this happened. Was it similar to when Serena yelled 'come on' at the Open vs. Stosur? If so, then yes I agree she should have been docked a point or given a warning at least.

 

[Front242]

Controversy already about the timing of the scream. Knapp complained and even Maria apologized, when she thought she'd won the point. She should have been called by the umpire.

Only heard about it as I was upstairs when it happened but seems that some umpires are more chicken$h1t than others. Matosevic was unfairly treated yesterday too when the umpire docked him a point for going to get water eventhough his opponent was allowed to sup away on water no problem.

 

[rugged]

Controversy already about the timing of the scream. Knapp complained and even Maria apologized, when she thought she'd won the point. She should have been called by the umpire.

I caught it. Even the commentators felt Pova should have lost the point.

 

[rugged]

The link below is to a must read article about Serena: "The widespread impact of Serena Williams aura..." by John Werthiem.

The paragraph I love: "But no one here has as much aura as Serena WIlliams. Her face is on every conceivable piece of promotional material. The video feed in the players' lounge shows her arrival at the complex each morning. Her entourage - her agent, coach, her trainer, her hitting partners -- are better known and better recognized than most players in the draw. When she walks the halls, guards look up, hoping their eye contact is reciproacted. Her name is the first line of the draw."

I have to say that I have seen Serena play in Washington, DC, (team tennis), Paris (RG) and Miami. And I have seen a lot of the other big names. But there is something incredible in the air when Serena walks on to the court. And when she is up to serve, and she clocks that aces the reaction is priceless. It is as if everyone in the stadium turns to the person next to them to say: WOW! did you see that.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20140115/serena-williams-australian-open-mailbag/index.html

 

[special700]

I was multi-tasking when this happened. Was it similar to when Serena yelled 'come on' at the Open vs. Stosur? If so, then yes I agree she should have been docked a point or given a warning at least.

Yes my sister just told me about it and she said that "Martina said she should have been penalize for it because they penalized Serena, and why not Maria."

 

[Moxie]

Lepchenko has been treated for the heat. Watching two trainers rubbing her with ice bags. The spectators have abdicated, too. Martina is asking what does it take before the tournament decides it's too dangerous? It's starting to feel gruesome to watch them endure this for our entertainment. If there is a heat rule, when does it kick in?

 

[kskate2]

Lepchenko has been treated for the heat. Watching two trainers rubbing her with ice bags. The spectators have abdicated, too. Martina is asking what does it take before the tournament decides it's too dangerous? It's starting to feel gruesome to watch them endure this for our entertainment. If there is a heat rule, when does it kick in?

There is a heat rule, but they changed it this year. The old rule dealt more with an actual temperature being reached. Now they say it's at the umpire discretion. I don't think they will close the roof during these early rounds. They had players out there Tues and Wed in the heat. They aren't going to close the roof now. They should have done it on the first hot day, but they didn't. They will keep monitoring it, but won't close the roof in order to keep it fair for everyone.

 

[sk310]

The domination of Maria Sharapova conti...oh wait um uhhh.

 

[sk310]

Wow it's really annoying to hear Patrick Mcenroe say it's mind over matter with the heat. That is an idiotic statement. Hearing the temperatures that it is on court it is NOT mind over matter.

 

[kskate2]

Maria has found herself in a little trouble. Pushed into a 3rd set by Knapp due to a plethora of UE's. Now the heat will wreak havoc w/ play in the final set.

 

[Moxie]

Lepchenko has been treated for the heat. Watching two trainers rubbing her with ice bags. The spectators have abdicated, too. Martina is asking what does it take before the tournament decides it's too dangerous? It's starting to feel gruesome to watch them endure this for our entertainment. If there is a heat rule, when does it kick in?

There is a heat rule, but they changed it this year. The old rule dealt more with an actual temperature being reached. Now they say it's at the umpire discretion. I don't think they will close the roof during these early rounds. They had players out there Tues and Wed in the heat. They aren't going to close the roof now. They should have done it on the first hot day, but they didn't. They will keep monitoring it, but won't close the roof in order to keep it fair for everyone.

Yeah, I've heard that. I don't get making it a question of discretion, because no umpire has as yet decided to stop play, despite 120C+ temps on court. And they're resisting closing the roof on show courts in order to make it fair for all players. I will also say this, which I mentioned on the ATP forum: women get a 10 minute break between sets 2 and 3, whereas there is no specific additional break for men, even though they ALWAYS play 3 and up to 5. Don't women find that insulting? After all, this isn't the 1890s, and they're not playing in corsets. I agree with the longer breaks, but why none for the men. It's as condescending as the on-court coaching is infantilizing.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Is this how Maria going to play?
She needs to serve better than this to have a chance to make it into next week.

 

[kskate2]

Is this how Maria going to play?
She needs to serve better than this to have a chance to make it into next week.

Apparently so. No way she makes it past Sloane, JJ or Vika w/ this game.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

3 match points wasted by Maria or saved by Karin, however you want to look at it.

Alize does a great come from behind and takes Camilla out of here.

Ooops, Maria now facing a break point!

 

[kskate2]

Oh my. A net cord and we are on serve at 5-5

 

[golds girl]

I feel like Maria is just bashing balls trying to get off court....more so than usual. I guess I wouldn't blame her with 107 degrees

 

[kskate2]

6-6. We're heading for extra innings on Laver