Australian Open - Day Two

Day two of the Australia Open and Tsvetana Pironkova  beat Heather Watson in straight sets. This would have been bitterly disappointing for Heather after winning Hobart at the weekend she was expecting to do well. 

This was sadly not meant to be and Heather looked like she had zero energy or the strength to chase the balls. In her press conference she blamed her loss on "women problems". Hopefully Heather will find a better way to manage these "women problems" or her career will be very short. 

Venus Williams had a good straight sets win and was particularly impressive on serve and Venus never looked like she was going to lose the match. This in stark contrast to last year were she would have scrapped into the second round. 

Serena Williams had a very good straight sets win and in this match Serena showed her grit and ability that were missing at the Hopman Cup. This is really Serena title to lose and it all depends on how motivated she is for 19th title. 

Agnieszka Radwanska had a good straight sets win against Kumi Nara and Agnieszka's ability to chase down those loss balls helped to win her this match. 

In the men's draw Novak Djokovic had a reasonably comfortable first round win and against Aliz Bedene. 

Stanislas Wawrinka also won his first match reasonably comfortably and as defending champion there would presume to retain the title and losing early would be a disaster for his ranking.

Gael Monfils had a thrilling five set match and came through it make the second round. He was playing against a player that I had never heard off and his name was Lucas Pouille. 

Gael did well to come back and I am hoping the energy he spent on winning this match does not affect him too much in the next round. 

Day eleven - US Open

Day eleven at the US Open and there two  men's quarter finals matches. Marin Cilic beat Tomas Berdych in three sets. This was big win for Marin and takes him  closer to being in the final. 

Roger Federer beat Gaels Monfils in five sets and it has been while since Roger has come back from two sets to love down to win a match. 

It was brilliant come back for Roger and only time will tell if the energy he expanded will hurt him in the later rounds. 

 

For Gaels he threw away a two sets to love lead away and it might haunt him in years to come. 

Day nine - US Open

Day nine at the US Open Shuai Peng beat Belinda Bencic in straight sets and this ended the good run that Belina had made. 

However this run that Belinda has been excellent for career and I am sure it will motivate her to work harder to get the top of the game. 

Caroline Wozniacki beat Sara Errani in straight sets and it was a very  uncomfortable for Sara and quite an embarrassing scoreline. 

In the men's draw Roger Federer beat Roberto Baustista Agut in straight sets and it was a fairly routine win for Roger against player that I have never heard off.

Like I said in my previous blog I think Roger has been a beneficiary of favourable draw and this may help him make it to at least the final. 

The surprise result of the day was Gael Monfils beating tournament favourite Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets. It was three very close sets with Gael winning the key points and the match. 

Australian Open - Day Six

Day six at the Australian Open and Victoria Azarenka hammered Yvonne Meusburger in straight sets. 

It was a very routine win for Victoria who played well but didn't have to over extend herself to win the match. Next she plays Sloane Stephen and this match could be a very good match. 

Maria Sharapova beat Alize Cornet in straight sets. But Maria was made to work considerably harder in the second set.

In the men's draw, Rafael Nadal beat Gael Monfils in straight sets. It was the kind of game where Rafael was in completely in control and never any worry about him losing.

Andy Murray beat Feliciano Lopez in straight sets it was a comfortable victory and nothing like the mini drama he had in previous match.