Archive for January, 2007

By now you already know that Roger Federer defeated Fernando Gonzalez to win the 2007 Australian Open men’s final (7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4) and his tenth Grand Slam title.

If you’d like to read more about the Australian Open, visit tennisweek.com or USTA for exclusive interviews with Australian Open Champions. Here’s an interesting take on the Serena vs. Maria final, too.

Let’s gear up for tomorrow’s Aussie Open men’s finals match by examining the tournament matches played so far. Below we list the statistics on Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez and their opponents and scores to date in this year’s Aussie Open. I would love to see Gonzalez speedy enough to slow down the FedExpress to at least a competitive level of play. Since Fernando’s performance inspired Serena’s game yesterday, perhaps he’s learned a few tricks by watching HER tapes backstage.

MR. ROGER FEDERER
Age: 25
Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
Height: 6′1″ or 185 centimeters
Weight: 177 pounds or 80 kilograms
Career Titles: 45
Career Prize Money: $28,576,458
Current World Ranking: 1
Australian Open Draw: 1

First Round: Bjorn Phau (Germany) 7-5, 6-0, 6-4
Second Round: Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
Third Round: Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-3, 6-3, 7-6
Fourth Round: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-2, 7-5, 6-3
Quarterfinals: Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-3, 7-6, 7-5
Semifinals: Andy Roddick (USA) 6-4, 6-0, 6-2

MR. FERNANDO GONZALEZ
Age: 26
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
Height: 6′ or 183 centimeters
Weight: 180 pounds or 81 kilograms
Career Titles: 7
Career Prize Money: $4,728,990
Current World Ranking: 9
Australian Open Draw: 10

First Round: Evgeny Korolev (Russia) 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2
Second Round: Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 4-0 (retired)
Third Round: Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
Fourth Round: James Blake (USA) 7-5, 6-4, 7-6
Quarterfinals: Rafael Nadal (Spain) 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
Semifinals: Tommy Haas (Germany) 6-1, 6-3, 6-1

It’s official, Serena Williams has defeated Maria Sharapova in a mere 63 minutes to win her third Australian Open singles title and eighth Grand Slam. Final score, 6-1, 6-2. To say that Serena spanked Sharapova would be a severe understatement. Sharapova could neither serve nor return the ball, Williams could do nothing but, therein lies the rub. Serena severely punished her opponent throughout the match, maintaining total control despite suffering a blow from the ball in the first set. Okay, time for me to begin reviewing those Gonzalez tapes.

Williams is up 2-0 in the second and possibly decisive set in the 2007 Australian Open women’s final. She just served at 122 mph, the fastest serve clocked during the championship. Though Williams did double fault at deuce in the last game, she is playing close to flawless, choreographing Sharapova’s every step for her. C’mon, MS, move those feet!!

We’re seeing big hitting on one side of the net anyway. Sharapova is literally running to keep up. Except for the shot where Maria actually hit Serena with the ball in the stomach… and the momentum shifted, albeit temporarily. Sharapova managed to win only a game in the first set, ending it 6-1.

Underdog Serena Williams is thoroughly dominating Maria Sharapova in the first set (3-0) winning the last game 40-love. Williams’s opening serve was 155 kmh, Sharapova’s was 181 kmh. Williams had the first ace, clocked at 197 kmh. Each of these women is on a 13 match win streak, one won’t make it to 14… Maria, get in that game, girl!!

As part of the excitement leading up to tonight’s 2007 Australian Open women’s finals match, let’s review the ladies’ stats thus far. Below we list the facts on both Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, as well as their opponents and scores so far in the tournament. If the opponent’s name appears in green you can link to a quick review of that particular match.

And now… in the first corner… 59 kilograms of Russia’s finest, we have…

MISS MARIA SHARAPOVA
Age: 19
Birthplace: Nyagan, Siberia
Height: 6′2″ or 1.88 meters
Weight: 130 pounds or 59 kilograms
Career Titles: 15
Current World Ranking: 2
Australian Open Draw: First seed

First Round: Camille Pin (France) 6-3, 4-6, 9-7
Second Round: Anastassia Rodionova (Russia) 6-0, 6-3
Third Round: Tathiana Garbin (Italy) 6-3, 6-1
Fourth Round: Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 7-5, 6-4
Quarterfinals: Anna Chakvetadze (Russia) 7-6, 7-5
Semifinals: Kim Clijsters (Belgium) 6-4, 6-2

And in the opposing corner… weighing in at 61 kilograms… from the United States of America…

MISS SERENA WILLIAMS
Age: 25
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan
Height: 5′10″ or 1.75 meters
Weight: 135 pounds or 61 kilograms
Career titles: 26
Current World Ranking: 81
Australian Open Draw: Unseeded

First Round: Mara Santangelo (Italy) 6-2 6-1
Second Round: Anne Kremer (Luxembourg) 7-6 6-2
Third Round: Nadia Petrova (Russia) 1-6 7-5 6-3
Fourth Round: Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-3 6-2
Quarterfinals: Shahar Peer (Israel) 3-6 6-2 8-6
Semifinals: Nicole Vaidisova (Czechoslovakia) 7-6 6-4

Fernando Gonzalez of Chile makes his first appearance in a Grand Slam final in this year’s Australian Open. On Sunday, this Olympic gold medalist takes on defending champion Roger Federer for the title. He swept by German Tommy Haas with ease in the semis, beating him in straight sets in just over 90 minutes (6-1, 6-3, 6-1).

Though seeded tenth, Gonzalez has a full bag of tricks and has played some of the more sublime tennis in this tournament to date. He faced Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, prevailing against the second seed also in straight sets (6-2, 6-4, 6-3). In the fourth round, Gonzalez beat fifth seed James Blake in straight sets yet again (7-5, 6-4, 7-6).

Get ready for the biggest match of Gonzalez’ life on Sunday. Keep in mind, however, the FedExpress took just 83 minutes to dispose of his most recent victim and holds a 9-0 career win-loss record over Gonzalez. Here’s hoping for a competitive Australian Open men’s final and may the best man win.

Attention, tennis fans! Tomorrow night Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams compete to win the year’s first Grand Slam victory, the Australian Open, in what looks to be one killer match.

One half of the draw worked out, Sharapova is the number one seed and expected to win her bracket. Sharapova demolished Clijsters (6-4, 6-2) to gain her spot in the finals. If she wins tomorrow evening, this will be her first Australian Open championship.

The other half of the draw couldn’t be further from predictions; Williams was not only unseeded entering the tournament, she was ranked 81st in the world. She is the first unseeded woman to make the Aussie Open finals in eight years. If Williams wins, she will be the first unseeded player to win the women’s singles at the Australian Open since 1978. Williams wore the crown here in both 2003 and 2005.

Is it just me or was watching the Federer/Roddick semifinal match akin to reading a Shakespearean tragedy? We all knew the outcome, it was simply a matter of time. Even the commentators during the match showed extreme bias, nearly groaning aloud on Roddick’s behalf at points. Federer hardly seemed to break a sweat, dispatching Roddick in three easy sets (6-4, 6-0, 6-2). The Australian Open championship final will feature Federer against either Tommy Haas of Germany or Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.