Get your strings tightened and your balls polished - gearing up for Aussie Open

[JuanPotatoTwo]

Happy New Year tennis folks (and others of course, if there are any) :)

Getting very very excited to see Pot back in action, feel like a hyperactive child rather than a middle aged woman. He didn't make it to Brisbane so wasn't counting on Sydney but he's there. Look:

www.facebook.com/245291448857687/photos/a.519072434812919.1073741828.245291448857687/784944874892339/?type=1&theater

He did- I was actually awake for some of it- but couldn't watch it properly.

Seemed pretty comfortable.
Plays Berdych next- that might be trickier.

Yes, Berdych's style of flat, deep shots doesn't always suit Rafa. Remember the unexpected defeats by Soderling in the French Open & Rosol at Wimby? Berdych has a similar game to them.

Rafa seems to be playing himself into the tournament, though, so hopefully he'll be OK.

I believe!

Week one over already!

oh dear- Ferrer is losing against Nishikori. I know he has come back from 2 sets down before- but don't think today is his day.

And I do wish the AO mobile app would update the players pictures- some are very old, and Anderson's looked like a serial killer!

Ferrer is out :( but Stan is through.
1 set each for Lopez and raonic but raonic running away with the third it looks like.

I don't really mind who wins out of Raonic and Lopez- though Raonic has a better chance against Djok, i think. Although Djok is looking very good indeed. Muller might spring a surprise, but it's unlikely.

Stan plays Nish next- so I'm hoping Stan wins that one. Must say, Stan is doing better than I expected, since he hasn't really played well since last year's AO. Maybe he just likes Australia

I would like to see Lopez win especially after somehow getting that 4th set, he must have nerves of steel to have got that shot in court.
But agree and think the title is Djokovic s unless someone does something extraordinary.
Am very happy for Stan, he really needed a half decent result here I think and he's got that whether he goes on now or not. Would love for him to win if Rafa doesn't. (Don't tell ds I said that )

Novak looking pretty comfortable a break up in the first

I had to go out- so didn't see the beginning of the Djok match- he's just having a medical time out. His hand looks sore.

Stan definitely needed a good run here, to avoid the nagging feeling that last year was a fluke. it must have felt good to beat Garcia-Lopez, after being beaten by him in the first round at RG, too.

I heard a bit of an interview with Djok the other day- I'm not a huge fan, but he was very sweet talking about being a husband an a father.

WTF was Venus wearing earlier? It looked like the kind of thing my granny would wear to do the cleaning.

Took me ages to write that- the phone rang

Clearly, he is no longer having a medical timeout!

Raahh
I agree re Venus outfit, quite liked her hair but the dress was not flattering.
This match is quite flat at the moment I think, both playing just ok and the crowd is so quiet. Very different form yesterday. Thi?k if muller can get a grip on a set maybe it'll liven up.

2nd set Djokovic

Well, that went as expected.

Rafa on early tomorrow, so unlikely to see any of it live.

The Kyrios/Murray match will be interesting. I have to say, I'm not sure I like Kyrios- he is only just on the right side of self-belief/arrogance equation, imo. Probably because he is so young. It's great for the game to have someone his age doing well, though.

The crowd are going to be like a third player though- and Murray doesn't always respond well when the crowd are overtly partisan. And Aussie crowds are louder than any

The winner plays Nadal or Berdych Not sure Rafa will want to meet Kyrios.

I've just read that when Rafa beats Berdych tomorrow it will be his 18th consecutive win over the same opponent. Which is a record.

No pressure.

VAMOS !!

You're feeling very positive, Raahh!

I am .

I just hope Rafa is too- after all, he had an 11-0 record against Stan, and look how that turned out!

I think he'll be fine. Berdych's game is very predictable, a bit one-dimensional, and Rafa obviously knows it very well. Stan has a few more tricks up his sleeve and is a less predictable opponent.

See, I'm feeling positive too!

yay!

I hope I wake up to a positive result

I'd like to see Berdych win for a change it probably won't happen though but he's been playing really well and would be good for him to break the Rafa duck so to speak.

(Runs away and hides from Raah)

P.s. Shame Lopez lost today....such lovely shorts....

I didn't see the shorts, but I do like Deliciano

Hi Drama. Arf at "Deliciano".

Loving that Venus won. She's such a class act.

Anyway, as you were.

Happy to oblige Drama Deliciano

Oooh, thank you purple

Hi Hester!

So much for me being positive.

Well done to Berdych though- is Murray going to regret losing Dani Vallverdu to him?

Not much to excite me in a Berdych/Nishikori match up, though. I suppose Berdych has the edge.

Half asleep- Berdych could meet Murray next- which given the coaching situation is a far more interesting prospect!