THINNING OF THE HEARD BEGINS IN MELBOURNE.
As we get ready for third round action to start Down Under tonight, there have been plenty of early exits for American players…including Mardy Fish (losing in 3-sets Wednesday to Columbian Alejandro Falla – even with Falla cramping badly), Sam Querry’s gone – losing to Tomic, Donald Young also got beat on Wednesday. Thursday’s round-two losses came from Jamie Hampton, Ryan Sweeting (after losing in doubles Wednesday), and Sloane Stephens.
Then Roddick tweeked a hamstring against Hewitt and retired after the third set, trailing 2-sets-to-1. So with the exception of John Isner, Serena Williams and Christina McHale, the Americans are done in singles play at this year’s tournament.
A lot of big names thorugh the Round-3 after play on Thursday: Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Petra Kvitova, Andy Murray, Vera Zvonareva, Gael Monfils, David Ferrer, and the surging Milos Raonic…
Friday play (tonight for us) includes a Nadal match on Rod Laver Arena, followed by Federer vs. the very entertraining and hard serving Ivo Karlovic.
Isner, who survived a 5-setter with David Nalbandian plays the dangerous Feliciano Lopez late afternoon on Hisense. Prior to that match, Azarenka and Wozniacki look to make it into the Round of 16 on the same court.
There’s the Christina McHale vs. Jelena Jankovic match, the Bryans face a second round battle against Aussies Lleyton Hewitt and Peter Luczak, plus some first round Mixed Doubles matches…Super early “Friday Morning” matches for us include Clijsters, del Potro, Tomic vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov and Na Li
SOME OTHER ENTERTAINING CRAP FROM THE OPEN:
Always a crowd pleaser…great video of a pissed-off Marcos Baghdatis on a change over during his second round loss to Stan Wawrinka. After this implosion, he came back to win the third set, only to lose the match in four.
