2012 Tennis Thread

[Lungzyn]

New year and Tennis starts straight away, there has even been an exhibition tournament completed that was completed on new years eve in Abu Dhabi, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Tennis Champisonship.
It is a small, invitation only event that Djokovic won by beating Monfils 6-2 4-6 6-2, Federer 6-2 6-1 and Ferrer 6-2 6-1, so his troubles at the end of 2011 might be behind him.
It is still an exo however, no official matches. Federer didn't really look like he was applying himself that much as he only had one competitive set the whole tournament (lost 6-1 7-5 to Nadal) and there was some clowning around in the Djokovic/Monfils match. Overall though, Djokovic did seem rather determined, perhaps to get back to winning ways even if it was an exo.



Some news is that Fed's racquet has a new paintjob, Nadal's racquet is heavier and Djokovic wants to be more aggressive this year and volley at the net more often.

Tournaments this week are Doha, Chennai and Brisbane on the ATP / Brisbane and Auckland on the WTA. There is also some Hopman Cup going on.

Australian Open in a couple of weeks :hatsoff:

 

[RavinFlamer]

Spain won the davis cup yay!

I hate how Monfils keeps getting beat, he's my favorite player. (gotta wait for french for him to have a Chance)

Tsonga or ferrer have good Chance at ausy I think. Or maybe murray actually might win a slam??

 

[RavinFlamer]

Who is your favorite player and what axe (racquet ) do you use?

Btw added you as friend. Fellow tennis players unite!

 

[Lungzyn]

Hi, I probably like Dolgopolov most lately when he is playing well with that unorthodox style. Liked seeing him do great in Australia, winning a doubles Masters title @ Indian Wells and first singles title @ Umag. Too bad he has some health issues, but being ranked 15 in the world isn't bad at all!
I just have a rec racquet - Prince AirO Shadow, used to have some Wilson model...Only got a small club to go to which is not at its peak, been playing more Top Spin 4 than real tennis in the past year Always enjoy being on court nevertheless

 

[Patrick_S]

From womens tennis the news are that Maria Sharapova still is having some trouble with her ankle and has pulled out of Brisbane, but she should be ok for the Australian Open. I think 2012 will be dominated by Petra Kvitova (at least the grand slams) and Victoria Azarenka. Caroline Wozniacki seriously need to change her style of play if she´s ever gonna win a grand slam, i doubt she will though and she will probably continue to lose to every big hitting player that plays really well against her.

 

[RavinFlamer]

From womens tennis the news are that Maria Sharapova still is having some trouble with her ankle and has pulled out of Brisbane, but she should be ok for the Australian Open. I think 2012 will be dominated by Petra Kvitova (at least the grand slams) and Victoria Azarenka. Caroline Wozniacki seriously need to change her style of play if she´s ever gonna win a grand slam, i doubt she will though and she will probably continue to lose to every big hitting player that plays really well against her.

Maria Sharapova's second serve percentage....enough said.

 

[Lungzyn]

Great quality official ATP stream for Doha - http://www.atpworldtour.com/Media/DohaStream.aspx

Big names rolling out with Tsonga playing right now, Nadal in the next match followed by Federer and ending with Monfils

 

[Lungzyn]

Federer pulled out of Doha with a back injury...but Stefan Edberg was there to play an exhibition with Tsonga!



I think Edberg ended up winning 7-5. Still got a good S&V game going there.
Nadal and Monfils playing the other semi right now.

 

[Smallville22]

Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams pull out of Brisbane with injures, and Daniela Hantuchova is in the Final against Kaia Kanepi.
Kim and Serena should be fit to play in Australian Open.

 

[Lungzyn]

Doha - Tsonga won here against Monfils, 7-5 6-3. Both looking good for the AO.



Chennai - Raonic won his second career title against Tipsarevic, 6-7 7-6 7-6! Along with beating Almagro in the SF, that is two consecutive top 10 victories. Not to mention his massive serve was really locked in, he served 35 aces in the final against 1 double fault and he had quite a few 120mph second serves.
First time since Federer in Halle (2008) that someone won a tournament without getting broken once.



Kanepi won the Premier Brisbane title 6-2 6-1 and Zheng Jie won in Auckland after a title drought lasting since 2006 after Pennetta eventually retired hurt.


Some tournaments on now like Auckland (mens) and Sydney.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Looking forward to the Aussie coming up. I think outside the US my favorite tournament.

 

[Lungzyn]

AO starts coverage in just under 14 hours!
Order of play - http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/index.html
The Azarenka howl up against Heather Watson first @ Rod Laver, with Fed and Wozniacki finishing the night session.
Delpo playing @ Hisense in the morning.
Soderling is still out but will be back on tour near the end of January, I think it might be a similar situation for Venus.

In the lead up tournaments...

Ferrer wins Auckland for a third time and defends his 2011 win, 6-3 6-4 over Olivier Rochus



Jarkko Nieminen beat Julien Benneteau 6-2 7-5 in Sydney on Sunday after there was rain on Saturday



Qualifier Mona Barthel won in Hobart, 6-1 6-2 over Wickmayer. Didn't look bad in Auckland either, another rising German WTA'er?

 

[Lungzyn]

All the five setters today...
Dolgopolov def. Kamke final set 8-6, second fiver in a row
Isner def. Nalbandian final set 10-8, John looked dead on his feet
Almagro def. Dimitrov final set 6-0

Top guys Fed (walkover) and Nadal (straight sets) through.
Fish got beat in straights by Falla though. That guy always seems to be popping up in upsets.

Been a lot of beatdowns on the womens side the first 3 days, only big name out is Stosur I think. Curse of being the last WTA slam winner again.
Azarenka is up, they said the crowd was already making fun of her wail. Also assured us that an Azarenka/Sharapova matchup could only happen in the final

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

At least Isner got through. Querrey looked good first set but all down hill from there. Maybe Tomic makes a run but Dolgopolov is very good. That is an interesting match. Roddick has a tough one next against "C'mon!" Hewitt.

All the five setters today...
Dolgopolov def. Kamke final set 8-6, second fiver in a row
Isner def. Nalbandian final set 10-8, John looked dead on his feet
Almagro def. Dimitrov final set 6-0

Top guys Fed (walkover) and Nadal (straight sets) through.
Fish got beat in straights by Falla though. That guy always seems to be popping up in upsets.

Been a lot of beatdowns on the womens side the first 3 days, only big name out is Stosur I think. Curse of being the last WTA slam winner again.
Azarenka is up, they said the crowd was already making fun of her wail. Also assured us that an Azarenka/Sharapova matchup could only happen in the final

:1orglaugh I love the Aussies.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

The crowd is really giving Azarenka the bizness. I can't say I recall that at an event. :1orglaugh

Azarenka does have a smashing body though. :drool2:

Baghdatis just smashed three rackets on the side of the court while he was sitting down. LOLMAO. :1orglaugh

 

[Patrick_S]

The crowd is really giving Azarenka the bizness. I can't say I recall that at an event. :1orglaugh

Then you should watch Argentina´s home matches in the Davis Cup. It´s unreal how unsportsmanlike the crowds are there.

Having seen most of the favourites in their first matches i will have to pick Azarenka for the title (if she doesn´t injure herself, as she often does), with Serena Williams as second favourite.

 

[Thomas O'Malley]

A little proud to be Belgian again, thanks to Clijsters. Go, Kim, go...
She hasn't got an easy way to the final though. But she seems fitter then ever, only hope that her left hip holds it till the final.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

A-Rod goes out to Hewitt with injury. Two of my favorite players of all time. I wish Leyton all the best now although him winning another major, including this, his favorite, at this time in his life is slim to none. Not a ton of upsets come to mind on the men's at this point.

 

[Lungzyn]

More tough 5-setters for the men...Tomic got past Dolgo, I think I've seen enough slice backhands to last until Wimbledon. Tomic seems so pushy and passive even though he has the ability to hit hard, it can get annoying watching him bunt back 60mph serves. Dolgo hit twice as many winners (80-41). Got Fed next so his road will probably end there.
Isner couldn't repeat another 5-setter, he eventually fell to Lopez. Still earning the marathon man reputation anyway.
Kohlschreiber through to 4R in straights, like seeing that.

On the womens side...Pretty much all blowouts again, not much to see there. Where's something like Kuznetsova/Schiavone from last year, at least something competitive. Greta Arn over Cibulkova from the second round was probably the best (Go Greta!) but she is stuck with Serena next round.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Saw the last couple sets Isner. Shame.