Sloane looking sharp early leading the always dangerous Shaui Zhang, up a set and 2-3. Stephens has not won a match since the US Open final.
Looking forward to some big matches today: Tsitsipas vs Shapovalov, Sock vs Sugita, Nadal vs Estrella, Isner vs Ebden, Anderson vs Edmund, Cuevas vs Youzhny, Ostapenko vs Schiavone who I thought was supposed to retire last year after her final appearance at the Rome Open where she was controversially not given a wildcard.
Dimitrov vs. Novak.
Venus vs Bencic is the most interesting first rounder today.
Also, Harrison vs Sela, Goerges vs Kenin, Dolgopolov vs Haider Maurer.
Duke Carnoustie · January 14, 2018 at 9:41 pm
Scoop how about the South American showdown between five-letter last names Jarry and Mayer.
Ryan Harrison is on the ropes vs. Sela and a crowd of Israelis. Bellis and Bertens in a tight first set.
Joe Blow · January 14, 2018 at 11:31 pm
Amazing that the organizers of the Aus Open didn’t move Quaker matches indoors, and made them finish on the Sunday before opening day.
Word is they didn’t want to upset the top players that had court time booked for the 3 courts with roofs.
Hierarchy on the tours run the show. Players playing quailed have no juice with TD’s
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 12:07 am
I guess I was (sadly) correct that this current group of Americans don’t prepare well for the Aussie Open. Only Harrison through so far, although he acted like an a–hole as usual.
I like the fight of Tsitsipas in this third set vs. Shapo.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 2:08 am
Coco, Venus, Anderson, Tsitsipas already out.
Probably a few glad to see CoCo gone.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 2:13 am
Oh yes, Stephens and Bellis gone as well.
Duke – it’s not only the US men who don’t seem to prepare well.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 2:31 am
Taylor Townsend gone as well for US although that’s not really a surprise.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 2:35 am
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/15/novak-djokovic-sparks-fears-of-players-revolt-over-pay-after-meeting
Oh dear – here we go again. How much money do these people want ?
Michael in UK · January 15, 2018 at 3:02 am
Once again Stosur fails to get through first round AO.
Rublev beats Ferrer, but it takes 5 sets and 2 tie breaks.
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 3:22 am
OK I admit I was wrong to defend Jack Sock. Definitely not a player who has what it takes to win a Slam. How about those ridiculous drop shots? He’s just a guy who didn’t want to be there and didn’t put in the work.
Good riddance and see you in Indian Wells.
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 3:30 am
Stosur losing in Australia was the most predictable thing ever. I attended one of her matches there one year and it was such a nervous atmosphere. I feel for her but at least she is a Grand Slam champion – something Jack Sock won’t be able to say!
How insane is it tomorrow that Novak won’t be on either of the two big courts. Wawrinka-Berankis and Berdych-De Minaur somehow both on Hisense.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 3:39 am
Stosur is can also-ran these days. No surprise when she loses. Her GS is long ago. She should be looking for a life beyond tournaments.
Hartt · January 15, 2018 at 7:08 am
As you can imagine, I was very excited at how well Shapo played. Hope he can bring that level to the Tsonga match, which could be a real test.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 7:55 am
I’m seriously underwhelmed by Sloane Stephens’ sulky and ungracious behaviour after her match. She really doesn’t appear to care. And she seems totally unaware of the hole she’s digging for herself. As everyone is keen to point out, she hasn’t won a match since the US Open and without some big change in her attitude I can’t see her winning any in the future.
Chazz · January 15, 2018 at 8:36 am
Duke, I didn’t see any of the match but sadly I’m not surprised Sock lost again to Sugita. What about the drop shots? He was hitting amazing drop shots late last year. Was he just throwing them in at bad times?
Shapo looked awesome against Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas with the cold handshake. He beat Tsonga in straight sets at the US Open, hopefully he does it again.
Coco losing so early was surprising, she had a couple point penalties for profanties and delaying.
It was great to see Bencic come back from her wrist surgery and beat Venus.
I guess Nadal doesn’t have a nagging injury. What a dominating win.
I thought Harrison and Sela were going to get into a fist fight. That was tense.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 8:54 am
Jarry has been a slow progression but last year he elevated his ranking, big Chilean out of the Delpo Anderson mold, good mover who works hard on his fitness.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 8:56 am
Bettina Bunge posted on Facebook that she saw Coco shout “F*** off you f****** bit**” to Babos. Cuckoo Coco is a certified hot head.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 8:58 am
Rublev is becoming a monster. Ferrer came in very good form. Schwartman won a five setter marathon.
Chazz · January 15, 2018 at 9:00 am
How could we forget about Nishioka’s first match back from acl injury a year ago – epic 5 set win over Kohlschreiber.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 9:01 am
Somebody down there doesn’t like Djokovic. Outrageous court mis-designation of the decade. We’re talking about six time champion. Maybe it’s payback over the player revolt over pay issue?
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 9:01 am
Stosue is probably one of those players who is happy with all the money she’s earned. Just going through the motions now. Lost the hunger.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 9:06 am
Sock is lost in love… “It wasn’t those airplanes that killed Kong…it was Beauty that killed the beast.”
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 9:10 am
Ruud d. Halys 6-3, 3-6, 6-7, 7-5, 11-9. Ruud’s dad was probably the last Norwegian in the main draw of a GS (2001). Ruud has finally solved his hard court issues. He had a terrible record on HC last year and won most all of his matches on clay. Now he’s winning on hard court this year. Training with Carrena Busta in Spain in the winter has helped I guess. Big big win for Ruud. Will play Schwartman next, who survived Lajovic in five.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 9:11 am
Scoop- I remember Bettina well – what’s she doing these days ?
If Coco really did say that why wasn’t she defaulted ? Or didn’t the umpire hear her ? CoCo needs serious shrinkage.
My feeling is that Stosur reached a certain level with her talent and then didn’t develop. Probably not so much the money.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 9:21 am
Nishioka d. Kohlschreiber 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, 1-6, 6-2. Big win for lefty Nishioka who had not played after Miami after tearing his ACL vs Sock in Miami. He came back the first week of this year on a Challenger where he lost to Brayden Schnur (ATP 220) on the first round in SS. Looks like Nishioka could pick up where he left off, beating the likes of berdych and forcing Nadal to a tiebreak in Acapulco.
Hartt · January 15, 2018 at 9:29 am
Catherine, as I understand it, CoCo received a point penalty for her language, after having had a warning for delay of play. But it does seem a light penalty for directing that kind of obscenity to her opponent.
And she railed at the ump because she was not ready to play after waiting for a banana to be delivered to the court. She went on and on. I did not see her match because she is one player I avoid even watching, but there are videos of these incidents.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 9:33 am
Catherine, she does not play much. She takes care of her cats in Coral Gables, she loves cats. Visits her mom who lives nearby, and her dad has alzheimers. Also monitors her investments. She follows tennis pretty closely and likes Kyrgios. She loved Djokovic till she had a bad encounter with him the day before the final in Miami two years ago vs Rafa, on the practice court while Serena was in the final. She said Djokovic was very rude to his own team and he did not reply to her saying Hi to him. She was so turned off by what she saw she no longer likes Djokovic and she was a huge admirer of his before that incident.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 10:55 am
Re CoCo – if I were Pat Cash I think I’d be heading for the door. And closing it firmly behind me.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 11:03 am
Facing Coco: my daughter played her in the juniors in San Diego Coco would go bat shit crazy & scream “You Suck! over & over & it was directed towards herself! not my daughter. & this was just practicing. She was coached by Guy Fritz, Taylors dad & her family took hundreds of lessons & She never paid so their family just stiffed him..I have no respect for her.
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 11:04 am
Scoop – thanks for info re Bettina. I remember her as a good player but a lightweight in the sense that she never really looked like making a breakthrough, injuries etc. Popular with fans.
The story about Bettina and Djokovic reminds of a wise saying: ‘never meet your idols’.
Kerber now ranked 16, with green arrow. Better than 21 with a red arrow. It’s like the old Billboard 🙂
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 11:39 am
I watched some of that Nishioka match. I don’t even think he playd all that well but he is slowly finding his form.
Did anyone see anything else on Harrison’s yelling? Was he just mad at Sela’s fans?
Surprised how much Venus struggled with her serve. She was outplayed in the parts I saw.
How empty was that Svitolina match? That’s for someone who could win the title and she’s obviously beautiful too. That surprised me.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Catherine; Yes, she was very very disenchanted by what she saw and experienced from Djokovic the first time they met. From total love and respect to total disgust. I am very lucky to have had thrilling very positive experiences in meeting my idols. The first times I’ve met Roberto Duran, Jimmy Connors, Paul Holmgren, Bobby Clarke were all very positive, engaging, unforgettable experiences. Frankly, I am still shocked about Bettina’s nightmare meeting Djokovic but it really happened. Another tennis club owner in Los Angeles told me he had a bad experience meeting John McEnroe, whom he really admired. Said simply, “I loved watching him play but I wish I never met him.”
catherine · January 15, 2018 at 12:04 pm
What do you mean ‘how empty’ ? Svitolina, ranked No 4, was playing an opponent ranked 279 so I wouldn’t have expected fireworks.
I’m sure Elina was just pleased to get though something so routine and into the next round. A day at the office. Can’t see her ‘beauty’ has anything to do with it.
Venus was pretty poor in Sydney. Wasn’t surprised she went out.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Harrison was clearly triggered by something, maybe the Israeli fans provoked him. We saw how the Israeli fans overly provoked Chakvetadze in that Fed Cup match about eight years ago in Israel. They really pissed off the normally stoic Anna into a fire breathing dragon who was screaming literally screaming COME ON! after every point. And fistpumping and staring down the fans. I never saw a player as pissed off as Chakvetadze that day and it triggered her to play great tennis maybe her best tennis ever. She got into a purple zone. So I would not be surprised if Sela’s supporters provoked Harrison yesterday because he looked and sounded a lot more intense than he normally gets. Good win for Harrison and tough loss for Sela.
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 12:11 pm
What in the name of whatever happened to Lucas Pouille? Bemelmans is a good player but I found that shocking. Tommy Haas should be fired immediately.
Chazz · January 15, 2018 at 12:22 pm
I heard Pouille has lost in the 1st round the last 5 years at the AO.
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Wow that is correct – Pouille is 0-5 all-time at Melbourne. He is 16-11 at the other Slams.
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Pouille in L’Equipe:
Are you cursed at the Australian Open where you never won a game?
Pouille: I don’t know if I’m cursed. In any case it is sure that it is not the tournament where I succeed the most. This will be a qustion for next year, for me it’s over. I’m not going to tell you that I’m happy, that it was a decent match for a first of the year. That would be wrong. We must continue, it does not stop there, it does not matter. The year is not over. I will return as soon as possible to France and retrain to prepare for the indoor tournaments in February.
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Here’s a question I pose. Which group will be stronger by the end of the year, U.S. men or Australian men? It’s very similar in that neither has a true Slam contender. On the U.S. side, the top guys are Sock, Isner, Querrey, Johnson and Harrison. Oz has Kyrgios, Ebden, Thompson, Millman and de Minaur.
I believe Millman’s injury history has hurt his ranking and he is a better player than where he is. De Minuar is a rising star. Thmpson looks like he is poised for a breakthrough.
Right now, the Americans have accomplished more. But could this change by the end of the year?
Andrew Miller · January 15, 2018 at 1:04 pm
US men > Aussie men, as Kyrgios dislikes the sport and it’s hard to put up big results when you hate the sport.
Sock seems run down from last year. I’m not counting him out or counting on him.
Unless proven otherwise there are only a few American men that can make it deep at slam; their names are Sam and Querrey!
Andrew Miller · January 15, 2018 at 1:06 pm
I like Harrison chances too. He enjoys the five sets..DY also when he stays with it. I’ve thought another USA man beyond Querrey can make a slam qf. Johnson, Harrison, and DY are capable of this.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Duke, looks like Kyrgios and Deminaur are going to have big years. Thompson has struggled the last six months. Ebden and Millman are ?s. For USA, Sock is a major ? and looks right now like he will have a substandard year. Isner and Johnson seem to be fading. Querrey? We never know with Sam. Harrison looks good and could become the top American by summer or end of year. Young, Tiafoe, Opelka, Paul, Fritz, Kozlov, Mmoh are all capable of making gains but they are also capable of going the other way. Mckenzie McDonald won his match yesterday. But no credit given, all the media are whining about how bad a day it was for American tennis. Double Macs scored a good win. Saw him at US Open last year and Challengers on live stream and he was cracking the serve. Tennys Sandgren is another hopeful but he has struggled to establish consistency in ATP main tour and GSs.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 1:21 pm
Andrew, Kyrgios loves the sport, that’s why he’s where he is now. It’s a myth and smokescreen charade that he plays with the media and fans, that he hates tennis. All players in the pro ranks in the top 200 love tennis, they survived through all the struggle and adversity to make it to the top 200. They love it. What they hate is losing. Kyrgios hates losing. And he hates the pressure and expectations to win. But Kyrgios loves the sport and loves playing. Of this I have no doubt.
Chazz · January 15, 2018 at 1:36 pm
I think a Kyrgios-Shapo R3 matchup is what every tennis fan deserves. I hate that they have to meet so early but that should be an incredible match if it happens. The winner of that would then likely get Dimitrov. I wish all those guys could be in the QF.
Doogie · January 15, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Sock winning a 1000 event was the greatest fluke since Roberto Carretero.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 2:13 pm
Doogie, I think Harel Levy and Andrei Pavel also had runs to Masters finals.
Doogie · January 15, 2018 at 2:22 pm
@scoop:
Bit frustration is speaking out of me: I like Sock and his potential but instead of taking his chances now (field is wide open this year) and putting in more work – nothing will change.
He will have good seedings 2018 but I doubt he will ever change his work attitude. He is making nice money but he just lacks this extra hunger!
He gets injured all the time because his body is not fit enough.
Duke Carnoustie · January 15, 2018 at 2:29 pm
I have to apologize to Sock and all the U.S. players because Lucas Pouille clearly does not how to prepare for this event. 0-5 for a player of this caliber? Someone who has survived Nadal in Flushing Meadow, a two-time Slam quarterfinalist with big potential? I am still stunned.
Any pro tennis players out there reading this, take this advice: whatever Lucas Pouille does to get ready for the AO, do the opposite. In fact stay as far away from him as possible on that continent.
Meanwhile, my over under on games won by DY today is 8. I think Novak will use this court snub as motivation to win this.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2018 at 2:30 pm
He could be happy and content with a Wimbledon and US Open title, Olympic gold and bronze medal and a Masters 1000 title, and a top ten ranking. He could have exceeded all his hopes and dreams already.
Andrew Miller · January 15, 2018 at 8:21 pm
Sock surpassed all expectations. One slam first rd loss isn’t a year. We’ve forgotten this because of the domination of the big four and their high standards.
Tennis fortunes go up and down all the time. Take the top ten rankings. The big four plus Wawrinka stay put for the most part and other players drop in and out of the top ten. That’s a real pattern. The strange thing is the big four having so much staying power.