Australian Open, Melbourne, WTA GRAND SLAM

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

I'm inclined to Pliskova...a lot of people like Martina are talking her up. I'll never count Serena out, of course. And a lot of people mentioned Kasatkina as a dark horse. I'm not really up on the depth of the women's game, but that hasn't kept me from making draw picks.

I ended up picking Pliskova as my draw challenge winner.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

Order of Play - Monday on the Showcourts.

ROD LAVER ARENA

4-Simona Halep (Romania) v Shelby Rogers (U.S.)

Kateryna Kozlova (Ukraine) v 13-Venus Williams (U.S.)

1-Andy Murray (Britain) v Illya Marchenko (Ukraine)

Evening

1-Angelique Kerber (Germany) v Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine)

Jurgen Melzer (Austria) v 17-Roger Federer (Switzerland)

MARGARET COURT ARENA

Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) v 7-Garbine Muguruza (Spain)

27-Bernard Tomic (Australia) v Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil)

Coco Vandeweghe (U.S.) v 15-Roberta Vinci (Italy)

Evening

4-Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) v Martin Klizan (Slovakia)

Louisa Chirico (U.S.) v Eugenie Bouchard (Canada)

Hisense Arena

Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) v 5-Kei Nishikori (Japan)

Ashleigh Barty (Australia) v Annika Beck (Germany)

Mariana Duque-Marino (Colombia) v 8-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)

Evening

Gastao Elias (Portugal) v 14-Nick Kyrgios (Australia)

 

[teddytennisfan]

WELCOME BACK AO !!

and particularly -- the ROGER FEDERER.

that's a year worth of absence -- and it's been bizarre not seeing him.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

Any seeds packing their bags today?

I give Coco a shot at taking down Vinci.

 

[Tenfan63]

Halep just went home. My draw challenge is messed up now

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For the second year in a row Simona Halep 4th seed loses in the first rd at the AO to Shelby Rogers 63 61,who blew her off the court.

Garbine has had the trainer out twice,problem with her upper thigh injury she sustained at Brisbane

 

[britbox]

Wow. I saw Halep was a set down, but that second set must have taken about 5 minutes!!

 

[Moxie]

Any seeds packing their bags today?

I give Coco a shot at taking down Vinci.

I couldn't decide about that one, and went Vinci. I also thought about picking against Halep, given form, but lost my nerve. And Muguruza could be hampered by that thigh. She'll mess up my draw if she loses. Besides just being disappointed for her. I keep holding out hope for her.

 

[britbox]

Halep just went home. My draw challenge is messed up now

I had Halep to win that too... but I don't think I had her going too far in the Challenge. Will have to check.

 

[Moxie]

I couldn't decide about that one, and went Vinci. I also thought about picking against Halep, given form, but lost my nerve. And Muguruza could be hampered by that thigh. She'll mess up my draw if she loses. Besides just being disappointed for her. I keep holding out hope for her.

Rogers was brutal. She had like 1000 winners.

 

[Moxie]

For the second year in a row Simona Halep 4th seed loses in the first rd at the AO to Shelby Rogers 63 61,who blew her off the court.

Garbine has had the trainer out twice,problem with her upper thigh injury she sustained at Brisbane

Garbiñe got through...whew! I hope that thigh isn't a big problem.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Garbiñe got through...whew! I hope that thigh isn't a big problem.

Good to see Garbine 'tough it out',this year I hope she can be more consistent.After winning RG last year she went AWOL,too talented to let that happen.

 

[Moxie]

Good to see Garbine 'tough it out',this year I hope she can be more consistent.After winning RG last year she went AWOL,too talented to let that happen.

I really want to see her as a consistent force...not one of those who gets a Major and then flounders. I think she's got the ambition, the power and the game. Let's hope she can keep her focus and her health.

 

[britbox]

Jankovic has taken out Siegemund - another seed gone. Not a big shock though.

 

[britbox]

Kiki Bertens has gone too.

 

[Moxie]

Venus worked hard for it, but nice win. Her 23rd year on the tour. Respect!

 

[britbox]

Shelby Rogers d. Simona Halep 6/3 6/1



Halep Press Conference