DAY 5 REVIEW AND ACE'S DAY 6 PICKS

by Karen 

Well we are counting down to the end of the first week and the beginning of the second week.  There have been some scarey times from some of the top players on the women's side but our top 4 seeds are still in the tournament gearing themselves up for what could possibly be a blockbuster semifinal day for the ladies. 

However, before we get to that point, we have the third round of Day 6 action and Ace's picks are below:-

Jankovic vs Nara - Jankovic

Diyas vs Halep - Halep

Suarez Navarro vs Cibulkova - Suarez Navarro

Cornet vs Sharapova - Sharapova

Radwanska vs Pavlyuchenkova - Radwanska

Muguruza vs Wozniacki - Muguruza (match of the day)

Stephens vs Svitolina - Stephens

Meusburger vs Azarenka

Yesterday for about a set and a half Lucie Safarova showed us why for years many of us pegged her as a Grand Slam champion in the making.  For about a set and a half Lucie Safarova showed us why for years we have given up thinking that she is a Grand Slam champion.  The Spin thought she had a chance against Li for the simple reason that Li had been playing dismal tennis through the first 2 rounds.  Her forehand and her serve were a bit off and in my view it was only because she faced opponents who were inexperienced why she was making it through as comfortable as she was.  

If Li wants to be known as more than a 1 Slam wonder and perennial finalist she will have to step up her game and not place so much reliance from the hand gestures in the stands. 

Many people were shocked when I picked Ivanovic over Stosur in last night's marquee match but Ivanovic has been playing great tennis since the latter part of last year so I was not shocked at the result this morning.  However, someone needs to point out to Ivanovic that playing and beating Venus, a player well past her prime, ranked at the lower end of the scale, is a far cry from playing her sister, the current World No. 1 Serena.  In addition, the experience of beating one sister in no way prepares you for playing or even beating the other sister.  It takes a special kind of player to accomplish that and I doubt that Ivanovic is that special player.  That being said, I do hope she goes out there and gives her best effort because after all, who does not love an upset. 

Ace has picked the Muguruza v Wozniacki as his match of the day.  I am going to go on a limb and pick the Radwanska/Pavlyuchenkova match as my match of the day.  I am still reminded of the final played by these two in Seoul at the end of the 2013 season. 

There are some really intriguing matches on tonight and I am glad that tomorrow is not a work day as I will be burning the midnight oil watching these matches and I hope everyone else will be as well. 

Remember to vote as to who you think is doing the best under their new coaching arrangements. 

DAY 4 REVIEW AND DAY 5 PICKS

by Karen 

"Heat is not a curve.  It is an opportunity to separate yourself" Andre Agassi, 8 time Grand Slam champion, 4 of which were won at the Australian Open. 

Day 4 saw the return of the heat narrative.  I understand that it has been unbearably hot in Melbourne but to hear the players and the media on site talk about it, you would think that the heat in Melbourne caught everyone by surprise.  A quick search of Google turned up lots of articles before the tournament got underway that there would be record temperatures at the beginning of the tournament.  Perhaps the tournament did not do enough to inform the players, who apparently, do not even bother to check to see what the weather would be like, but apparently wait on the tournament officials to provide this information, but I digress.  Suffice it to say that there were lots of melting players in Melbourne and play was eventually suspended to allow for cooler temperatures before play resumed.

However, before that, in an encounter reminiscent of her 2007 campaign, No. 3 seed, Maria Sharapova went up against Karin Knapp of Italy and the only thing that was left to happen was for both players to melt into the court.  Credit to Sharapova for staying focused (you know what, I can’t even say it).  Well done to Sharapova for reaching the fourth round. Karin Knapp will live to fight another day.

Varvara Lepchenko of the US led 4-0 in her match against Simona Halep in the first  set and served for the set at 5-1.  She would eventually close it out at 6-4 and then would win 1 game in a 3 set loss.  She took a MTO due to heat illness.  Her opponent by the way looked as fresh as a daisy (just saying).

Carla Suarez-Navarro and Galino Voskoboeva also played a 3 setter, as did Alize Cornet and Camila Giorgi.  Navarro looked as if she ahd been through the ringer as did Cornet.  Both losers, Giorgi and Voskoboeva were understandably disappointed.  It did not help that poor Voskoboeva had to go to a doping test shortly after her match. Oh the horror.

Today will see another scorcher of a day and Spin’s Picks are below:-

Serena Williams v Daniela Hantuchova

Samantha Stosur v Ana Ivanovic 

Jie Zheng v Casey Dellacqua

Eugenie Bouchard v Lauren Davis

Na Li v Lucie Safarova

Ekaterina Makarova v Monica Niculescu

Angelique Kerber v Alison Riske

Flavia Pennetta v Mona Barthel

Thoughts on Day 5 matches. 

The world No. 1 has been conserving energy through the first two rounds but look for her to show her dominant self against an opponent against whom she has an 8-1 record. She will be looking to send a message to the rest of the field as the second week of this tournament looms. 

Ana Ivanovic and Sam Stosur. It depends on who wants it more. I think Ivanovic is hungry for a second Grand Slam and she will be feeling very confident, especially after having won a title for which she did not have to receive a wild card and beating Venus Williams in a 3 set match. 

Casey Dellaqua will be trying to be one of 2 Australian women into the second week.  I don't think Jie will allow that to happen.  

In a battle of the juniors, I expect Bouchard to come good.  Look for the upset even though the head to head is so skewed.  Makarova may have some issues with Nicolescu but nothing to make her have a headache.  Riske for the upset and Pennetta over Barthel, but I would not be shocked if Mona finally makes good and gets to the second week. 

DAY 3 REVIEW AND ACE'S DAY 4 PICKS

by Karen 

I was surprised when so many tennis fans were shocked when Monica Nicolescu took out Sabine Lisicki in 3 tough sets last night. Lisicki's tweet, which was later deleted, about being beaten by the heat just shows the over inflated ego of Ms. Lisicki.  

Serena Williams continued her march towards the next round by taking out Vesna Dolonc in what I can only describe as a half hearted match.  I mentioned on  Twitter that the top 4 women seem to be playing with much ennui.  There is no spring in their step or even any emotion on the court through the first 2 rounds.  I am hopeful that as all 4 women progress through the rounds, we will see a lot more fire, rather than ice not only flowing through their games but in their on court demeanour as well.  It could very well be that they are tempering their emotions as a result of playing in what has been described as hellish heat. 

Overnight results certainly seem to have gone to plan with Stosur and Dellaqua flying the home flag high in their respective matches.  Genie Bouchard overcame a very dangerous opponent in Razzano and Keys fell flat to Zheng Jie, a semifinalist here a few years ago. 

Day 4 OOP sees the return of Sharapova and Jankovic and dark horses Stephens, Halep and Wozniacki. Ace's picks are below 

Jankovic vs Morita - Jankovic

Nara vs Rybarikova - Rybarikova

Erakovic vs Diyas - Erakovic

Lepchenko vs Halep - Halep

Suarez Navarro vs Voskoboeva - Suarez Navarro

Voegele vs Cibulkova - Voegele

Cornet vs Giorgi - Cornet (match of the day)

Knapp vs Sharapova - Sharapova

Radwanska vs Govortsova - Radwanska

Minella vs Pavlyuchenkova - Pavlyuchenkova

Muguruza vs Schmiedlova - Muguruza

McHale vs Wozniacki - Wozniacki

Stephens vs Tomljanovic - Stephens

Rogowska vs Svitolina - Svitolina

Jovanovski vs Meusburger - Jovanovski

Zahlavova Strycova vs Azarenka - Azarenka

Sharapova starts proceeding on Day 4 and I am reminded of her match in 2007 against Camille Pin when Sharapova almost melted in the heat of Melbourne.   It has been 6 years since that match.  Pin has since retired and Sharapova is a lot fitter.  Temperatures are forecast to be in the 100+ F range again today. 

This and That

I read a recent interview where Sloane Stephens indicated that she was checking her phone during her match and knew what the temperature was.  Call me cynical and correct me if I am wrong but I thought bringing electronic devices on court during a match was forbidden.  I seem to recall Bethanie Mattek-Sands was prevented from using Google Glass during matches.  I can't see why a player should not also be prevented from bringing a phone, especially a smart phone on court. The possibilities of said player receiving coaching advice is to my mind very apparent.  I am surprised that none of the journalists on site pointed out that fact in their reports. 

DAY 3 PICKS AND DAY 2 REVIEW

by Karen 

The word out of the Australian Open on Day 2 was that it was hot.  There were complaints from players as well as the ever present defending fans.  The Spin's advice, shut up and play.  

I have to confess that I barely watched any of the Day 2 action.  I glimpsed Simona Halep doing her thing against a player I had never heard of, Piter and it was great to see Halep, winner of 6 titles in 2013, running away with her match with a scoreline of 0 and 1. 

Jelena Jankovic, one of the Dark Horses in this tournament took care of her opponent with a very impressive scoreline as did Caroline Wozniacki who dealt with what could have been a very tricky opponent in Lourdes Dominguqez-Lino.  

The No. 3 seed, Maria Sharapova had a bit of a struggle in the second set against Bethanie Mattek-Sands but pulled away in the dying moments of the match with a score line of 3 and 4. 

Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Elina Svitlonia.  I don't know whether to call this a loss or just Sveta being Sveta. Either way Sveta is out of the tournament. 

Victoria Azarenka battled the heat, her opponent and her wayward strokes to gut out a straight set match on Rod Laver Arena against Johanna Larsson.  Larsson served for the first set on 2 occassions but was unable to do the deed.  However, this match led me to consider the reason why a 2 time defending champion continues to get such shitty court assignments, or rather why does it seem as if her matches get scheduled either during the early in the day sessions or late at night.  Meilen Tu get on that STAT. 

Below are today's Day 3 matches with Spin's Picks

Serena Williams  v Vesna Dolonc
Karolina Pliskova v Daniela Hantuchova 

Samantha Stosur v Tsvetana Pironkova
Annika Beck  v Ana Ivanovic 

Jie Zheng v Madison Keys
Casey Dellacqua v Kirsten Flipkens 

Eugenie Bouchard v Virginie Razzano
Lauren Davis v Julia Goerges 

Na Li v Belinda Bencic
Lucie Hradecka v Lucie Safarova 

Ekaterina Makarova v Irina Falconi
Monica Niculescu v Sabine Lisicki 

Angelique Kerber v Alla Kudrayvtseva
Yanina Wickmayer v Alison Riske 

Flavia Pennetta v Monica Puig
Mona Barthel v Luksika Kumkhum 

OH MY GOD IT IS HOT

by Karen

As many of you who read this blog know I am a Caribbean girl. Born and bred on the lovely island of Jamaica.  I am used to the heat. As a child I played lots of sports. Dandy shandy, baseball, cricket, etc.  I could not wait until summer because then I got to go to the country and swim in the river, walk the sugar cane plantation owned by my grandparents and hide under the cellar away from chores just to read the thousands of books that my aunt, a teacher kept under there.

When I got to high school, I played netball, swam, played hockey and football.  I was basically an outdoor type of girl.  As I got older, I took up tennis.  Loved the sport and even though I never made it beyond Level 5 in my local league, I enjoyed playing, whether rain or shine. When I moved to the Cayman Islands 12 years ago, I joined a club and started playing in a Mixed League.   There were times when my opponents in league tennis who were much better and fitter than I was would schedule matches for Saturday or Sunday mornings at 11:00 when the sun was high in the sky.  At those times, I really hated my opponent and wished that they had sun stroke, but I sucked it up and played, and win or lose I would give my best effort.

I recently watched an NFL game where both teams were playing in blizzard type conditions.  At one point, they could not even see the replay of the game because the snow was coming down so hard.  I have seen many pro athletes develop their games in conditions that were inhumane to say the least. From players in war torn Cameroon to women from the Middle East competing in long dresses or with their whole bodies covered in order to compete with their fellow professionals from all over the world.

Professional tennis players though are in a class of their own when it comes to playing through adversity.  From complaining about lighting, to the type of balls used, to whether someone is standing up way in the stands before they can serve, to removing bugs from the service line before they can hit a serve, professional tennis players come across as childish, petulant and full of their own sense of importance.

These men and women are playing a sport that is hardly even recognised as a sport by other professional athletes.  From having their racquets strung by a professional stringer, to having a trainer come on court to massage their bodies, these athletes are doing everything in their power to alienate what little fans they still have who pay attention to the sport.

The latest complaint from the gallery is the never ending discussion about the heat in Australia.  It is Australia.  It is hot because it is summer.  The same thing happens every single year at every single Major.  At the Australian Open it is about the heat, French Open, when are we going to get lights for night tennis, at Wimbledon, is the grass slow or fast and will it rain and at the US Open, when will we get a roof and is there a tropical storm or hurricane on the way.

Tennis fans and the players need to let it go and try and enjoy the tennis. Sit back and relax. Watch someone adapt their game to the conditions and to what the man or woman is doing on the other side of the net.  Yes it is hot but this is what you trained for.  This is what you should have prepared yourself for while you were soaking up all that exhibition money and having  a great old time in what passes for the off season.  How about using that ice towel and ice vest to cool down. Drink more fluids.  Stay focused.  Ignore the heat.  It is hard, but you can do it.  

I love this sport.  I really do, but I am beginning to become mroe and more disillusioned by the players who play the sport.

For once, can we just shut up and play

DAY 1 REVIEW - CARNAGE

by Karen 

Oh Venus. Battled for almost 15 minutes to level the second set at 4-4.  Up 40-15 to move ahead 5-4. Double faults, 3 in a row.  Lost serve.  Up 3-0 in the decisive set.  Would go on to lose the next 6 games.  I understand that Venus was beside herself after this loss.  She wanted this win.  She had been playing really well in her lead up tournament, battling back from 5-1 down in the second set against Ivanovic in the final to force a third set.  

As most readers know Venus is a personal favourite of this site.  We have been, and will continue to support Venus no matter the results.  However, from a personal point of view, this loss hurts.  Many are those who say that Venus' game has remained the same.  I disagree.  She is attacking the net more in an effort to shorten points and she is playing with way more topspin which gives her a greater margin for error on her shots.  

The fact of the matter is that Venus had many chances to win this match but credit to her opponent, Makarova, she came good on the big points.  Next up for Venus is doubles with her sister Serena.  Here is hoping that she is way more successful.  

Day 1 saw some upsets on the women's side with Sara Errani (7) going down to Julia Georges in straight sets.  Petra Kvitova (6) going out to No. 88 Kumkhum and Roberta Vinci (12) going out to Zheng Jie. In what can be considered a mild upset, No. 23 seed Elena Vesnina went out in straight sets to Alison Riske. 

Ace's Day 2 Picks 

Jankovic vs Doi - Jankovic

Kichenko vs Morita - Morita

Nara vs Peng - Peng

Petkovic vs Rybarikova - Petkovic

Cirstea vs Erakovic - Cirstea

Diyas vs Siniakova - Siniakova

Tsurenko vs Lepchenko - Tsurenko

Piter vs Halep - Halep

Suarez Navarro vs King - King

Voskoboeva vs Begu - Voskoboeva

Mladenovic vs Voegele - Voegele

Schiavone vs Cibulkova - Cibulkova

Cornet vs Hercog - Cornet

Giorgi vs Sanders - Giorgi

Ormaechea vs Knapp - Knapp

Mattek-Sands vs Sharapova - Sharapova

Radwanska vs Putintseva - Radwanska

Govortsova vs Duan - Duan

Witthoeft vs Minella - Witthoeft

Pereira vs Pavlyuchenkova - Pavlyuchenkova

Kanepi vs Muguruza - Kanepi (match of the day)

Babos vs Schmiedlova - Babos

McHale vs Chan - McHale

Dominguez Lino vs Wozniacki - Wozniacki

Stephens vs Shvedova - Stephens

Majeric vs Tomljanovic - Tomljanovic

Rogowska vs Duque-Marino - Rogowska

Svitolina vs Kuznetsova - Kuznetsova

Jovanovski vs Cepelova - Jovanovski

Scheepers vs Meusburger - Scheepers

Hsieh vs Zahlavova Strycova - Zahlavova Strycova

Larsson vs Azarenka - Azarenka

Spin's Upset Specials

Schiavone vs Cibulkova -Schiavone 

Radwanska vs Putintseva - Putintseva

Stephens vs Shvedova - Shvedova ((match of the day)

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2014 - LET THE DRAMA BEGIN

The dawn of a new Grand Slam brings it with all kinds of anticipation and questions.  As much as tennis fans suffer some amount of burn out by the end of the season ending championships, much like the players do, we all look forward to the start of the season and what that holds for our favourite players.  It also helps that lots of tennis fans, especially those who reside in countries where winter is wreaking havoc, seeing sunshine, even if it is only through their tv sets must bring some amount of cheer. 

For some of us who live in warmer countries, just seeing our favourite players in their new tennis kits on the beautiful courts in Australia is enough to make us open a bottle of Red Stripe beer, turn off the cell phones, put our feet up and think #SleepIsForTheWeak

The women's draw has been made and it is as balanced as you could ever want a draw to be.  There will never be a dull moment Down Under for the ladies as every day will feature some great match ups from not only the Big 3 in women's tennis, but for those who make up the rest of the draw. 

Ace believes that the winner come from the top half of the draw and his quarter final and onwards picks are below:

Q1: S Williams vs Bouchard

Q2: Li vs Kvitova

Q3: Petkovic vs Sharapova

Q4: Wozniacki vs Azarenka

S1: S Williams vs Li

S2: Sharapova vs Azarenka

F: S Williams vs Sharapova

W: S Williams

Ace has made some bold predictions with the various quarters and it will be interesting to see how Ace's picks pan out over the next few weeks

As is the norm, Spin will be giving her picks on each day of play followed up by a review of the best match of the day. 

Tennis fans will be getting a good look at what the new hires have brought to the games of some of our favourite players and Spin readers can vote to see which player has gained the most from her recent coaching hire.  

Day 1 OOP and Spin's Picks 

Serena Williams (USA) [1] v Ashleigh Barty (AUS) - Williams

Vesna Dolonc (SRB) v Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) - Dolonc

Pauline Parmentier (FRA) v Karolina Pliskova (CZE) - Pliskova

Heather Watson (GBR) v Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) [31] - Hantuchova

Samantha Stosur (AUS) [17] v Klara Zakopalova (CZE) - Stosur

Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) - Pironkova

Annika Beck (GER) v Petra Martic (CRO) - Beck 

Kiki Bertens (NED) v Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [14] - Ivanovic

Roberta Vinci (ITA) [12] v Jie Zheng (CHN) - Zheng

P.Mayr-Achleitner (AUT) v Madison Keys (USA) - Keys 

Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Vera Zvonareva (RUS) - Dellacqua

Laura Robson (GBR) v Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) [18] - Flipkens

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) [30] v Hao Chen Tang (CHN) - Bouchard

Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) v Virginie Razzano (FRA) - Razzano 

Sachia Vickery (USA) Lauren Davis (USA) - Davis

Julia Goerges (GER) v Sara Errani (ITA) [7] - Errani

Na Li (CHN) [4] v Ana Konjuh (CRO) - Li 

Belinda Bencic (SUI) v Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) - Krumm

Donna Vekic (CRO) v Lucie Hradecka (CZE) - Vekic

Julia Glushko (ISR) v Lucie Safarova (CZE) [26] - Safarova

Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) [22] v Venus Williams (USA) - Williams

A.Medina Garrigues (ESP) v Irina Falconi (USA) - Falconi

Shahar Peer (ISR) v Monica Niculescu (ROU) - Niculescu

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) v Sabine Lisicki (GER) [15] - Lisicki

Angelique Kerber (GER) [9] v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) - Kerber

Caroline Garcia (FRA) v Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) - Garcia

Dinah Pfizenmaier (GER) v Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) - Pfizenmaier

Alison Riske (USA) v Elena Vesnina (RUS) [23] - Riske

Flavia Pennetta (ITA) [28] v Alexandra Cadantu (ROU) - Pennetta

Monica Puig (PUR) v Ana Tatishvili (GEO) - Puig

Shuai Zhang (CHN) v Mona Barthel (GER)- Zhang

Luksika Kumkhum (THA) v Petra Kvitova (CZE) [6] - Kvitova

Let the carnage begin