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

:( not the result I wanted but berdych played well.
I can't really warm to him but don't dislike anything about his game it just seems a bit flat sometimes.
Am team Kyrgios this morning but doubt he can win, the pressure must be awful.

Sorry Raah and fellow Rafa fans but I think it's great for Berdych! (And for tennis makes a change.....)

Hope Murray can win today....but will be tricky playing against the crowd.

Sad faces Rafa fans

Not great news to wake up to. Still looking forward to the Sunday morning final, its tradition, with a big Sunday breakfast. But its starting to lose its edge. Over to Djokovic now for me.

Can anyone tell me the UK start time for the final please ?

Given the lack of matches Rafa's had, I agree with him, getting to the quarters is a good thing.

So sad not to see Rafa or Roger, but I guess we are going to have to get used to it.

I reckon Kyrios will beat Murray, and I think there could be more upsets to come.

All credit to Berdych, scoreline looks like he played really well.

Also looking forward to actually seeing some tennis Sunday morning.

wait

I think its on from about 8am.

Wait BBC are doing the womens' final on Saturday - 8..0am & the mens' on SUnday, same time.

Looking forward to seeing some tennis

Will Novak also get knocked out? Don't think so, but would love to see two 'new' men in the final.

Hope all you Rafa fans have or choc for consolation.

Thanks Mrs

Thanks Mags . Sounds great Wish the BBC had all the matches though. So much better than Eurosport.

Can I remind you that bbc coverage inevitably means commentary by Andrew Castle....whereas Eurosport has Mats Wilander.

DH just commented (and he's not a massive tennis fan) that when a big name goes out Rafa/roger to a lower ranked opponent it's always about how the big name didn't play so well. Not about how well the other guy played. Now the talk is all about Rafa and not Tomas! It's happening right now on 5live extra!

I'll be sticking with Eurosport
You're right purple, I don't like it either. I saw some of the match its true Rafa didn't really turn up, he looked tired and had some kind of leg thing. But none of that should detract from berdych who played as well as I've seen him play. He didn't wobble as he so after does so all credit to him. It would be interesting to hear opinions on the effect his new coaching structure is having but no one seems to be discussing that, which is annoying.
It's about the best man on the day that why it's so much fun to watch.

Hi purple

AC is a cross we have to bear, unfortunately.

I agree re the commentators, but I feel opponents of the top players HAVE to play well to beat the likes of Rafa, Novak etc.

Todays scoreline shows Rafa was outplayed today.

Us 'proper' tennis fans tune out and go onto the next match when commentators start analysing, you can't listen to it because it does get so incredibly frustrating !

I adore Rafa but am not so blinkered that I cannot appreciate fantastic play from all the other players !

Morning Mama

Ahh, but you can't say Rafa looks tired or possibly had a problem, all the non-Rafa fans just appear and start slagging him off and saying you are making excuses.

Berdych V Murray could be very interesting...

Unfortunately didn't get to see any of match so can't comment but agree with your comment Mama about best player on day and agree tennis is exciting because of that and because you can have several match points and still lose a match. Also agree with Mrs Vamos too!

Murrays done well to get first set but Kyrios playing some good points. Actually get to watch this as not working today although have to take cat to vet in a bit! Has claw stuck in one of her pads...

Ouch, purple. Poor Cat.

I'm keeping an eye on the match using the au open site.

Don't have Eurosport.

When I'm at work I like the bbc sport text commentary. You get commentary as well so fills out the detail bit more www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/tennis/30540389. Nick has upped his game a bit...

Having said that Murray just won his game to love and nick served double fault. Also like tennis on the radio but it's only on 5live sports extra.

oh dear!

So much for my 'of course Rafa will win' attitude last night . But well played Berdych.

I'm blaming Rafa's pink shirt (and those silly glittery shorts). I think I'm remembering correctly that last time he wore pink in a grand slam, at the French Open (2009) he went out early as well, in the fourth round to Soderling.

See Drama you are blaming Rafa .....were those shorts glittery? Will have to check them out again

A glittery pink stripe down the sides, purple. I've already given them a good checking over

Yay"....now that Muzza has won. Lets hope courier doesn't ask too many stupid questions!

You might like this drama men's shorts including a lovely pic of Boris and Stefan in their heyday and very short shorts!

Murray won ?

I wonder if we might get the Berdych V Murray semi shown Friday then ?

BBC are mainly showing repeats of everything. It has been done before.

Ooh, that's exciting !

at purple!

Yay, Murray won

I doubt it Mrs V expect they've only paid for finals. But I'll be at work Friday morning so won't get to see anyway .

Glad you're enjoying my links drama!