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[broadbat]

Now lead 3-1 in second set.

[dextrous]

yuki wins set 1..6-4

[broadbat]

Now lead 4-1.

[broadbat]

Running away 5-1.

[broadbat]

Whooosh into the final 6-4,6-1.

[dextrous]

[SF] Sania Mirza (IND)/ Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE)/ Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) 64 61!!

congrats..reason to stay up this weekend

[poondu]

Nadal into final after epic win

AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Venue: Melbourne Park Date: 19 January-1 February

By Piers Newbery

Rafael Nadal
Nadal is trying to win his first Australian Open title

Rafael Nadal will meet Roger Federer in the Australian Open final after the world number one battled past fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on Friday.

Nadal won a magnificent match 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 to reach his first final in Melbourne.

Verdasco's extra power looked capable of causing an upset throughout as he fired an incredible 95 winners.

But Nadal made the crucial breakthrough in game 10 of the fifth set to seal a dramatic win in five hours 14 minutes.

Nadal, 22, and Federer will meet on Sunday for the 19th time and seventh in Grand Slams finals, with the Spaniard leading 12-6 overall and 4-2 in major finals.

However, it will be the first time they have played each other in Melbourne and on hard courts in a Grand Slam final.

The last time they met was in the epic Wimbledon final last July that Nadal won in five sets.

Verdasco, 25, may have started the second semi-final in Melbourne without a win in six previous meetings with Nadal, but he has been a different player in Australia.

   
606: DEBATE
And it was the less heralded of the two Spaniards who earned the first break point in game three, dominating the ensuing rally only to waste all his hard work by hammering a smash over the baseline.

He had another half-chance at 0-30 up in game 10 but Nadal battled through and earned his first break points - also set points - in the following game.

But Verdasco displayed the same poise on big points as in previous victories over Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, saving the first with a huge serve and the second with an unreturnable backhand.

It came down to a tie-break and, after recovering an early mini-break, Verdasco got a huge slice of luck with a net cord at 5-4 before converting his first set point with a forehand volley.

The pattern of the match continued into the second set, with Verdasco's extra pace seemingly giving him the edge until Nadal stepped up a gear.

The top seed earned four more break points in a titanic game eight but Verdasco again got out of trouble with two fabulous serves and two forehand winners, before the pressure finally told in game 10.

A stunning forehand winner down the line produced break point number five of the set for Nadal, and Verdasco made his first major error by firing a forehand over the baseline.

The world number one looked ready to assume total control with a break early in the third set, edging another gripping game with a pinpoint forehand arrowed down the line.

But within moments Verdasco had broken back to love with some blistering winners and the contest was well and truly back on.

Nadal moved ahead again at 4-2, and again Verdacso responded immediately with a backhand winner to get back on serve.

Another tie-break was required and Nadal took the initiative as Verdasco started to make errors, the top seed sealing it with a superb forehand winner followed by an ace.

With the match over three-and-a-half hours old, Verdasco twice called for the trainer early in the fourth set and had treatment on his left calf.

But he showed no let-up in a desperately tight set that saw neither player force a break point as they headed for a third tie-break, which a rejuvenated Verdasco completely dominated with more explosive forehand winners.

The chances came thick and fast in the decider for Nadal, with five break points going begging in the first eight games as Verdasco hung on superbly with some great serving and one incredible forehand winner.

But after letting a 0-30 lead slip at 4-4, Verdasco finally cracked when serving to stay in the match.

Nadal moved to three match points when his opponent double-faulted and, after saving two, Verdasco incredibly double-faulted again to end the longest men's singles match in Australian Open history.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7858463.stm

[ramshorns]

Good to see Raffa pull this off.  If he wins Sunday he himself will stake his claim as an all-time great.  But something tells me Roger on a surface like this will pull this one off and get the record.

[keep-it-cool]

Wow ..another mouth watering final!

[vincent]

Great match. I enjoyed every moment of it. Both of them have very similar styles and hence the grid lock. At the end however sadly it was not Nadal who won the match but Verdasco who gave it away - just a couple of meoments of lapse in concentration while serving and the match of over 5 hours of gone.

[gouravk]

WOW WHAT A MONUMENTAL MATCH ! this guy verdasco almost hit a 100 winners !!!!! 

[broadbat]

Most one sided final on the cards?
Serena whips Safina 6-0 first set.

[broadbat]

Serena 4-1 up in second set.

[broadbat]

All over. 6-0, 6-3.
Serena is the CHAMP.

[broadbat]

Bhupathi/Knowles win first set.

[ramshorns]

Good to see Serena win another one.  The best female tennis player ever.  At her best and when really is not really bored she could have beaten any player in history perhaps with the exception of Seles before her stabbing and that would have been quite a match-up.

[gouravk]

not quite the most one sided final. graf had beaten sanchez 60 62 in 1994.

in 1987 graf had beaten zvereva 60 60 in roland garros

anyway who cares ? the real final starts in 19 hours time !!!

[dhruvdeepak]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

[dextrous]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

[ramshorns]

Federered...Fedexed....
 

[dhruvdeepak]

WHAT A GAME

WHAT A CHAMPION

WHAT A PAIR OF HEROES


WHAT A RUSH

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ramshorns]

Good to see Nadal put Federer in his right place.  A dancer who dances to his tunes.  3 straight Finals now he made sure he gasped him out.  Rafa you are the man.

[keep-it-cool]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

It is not so much about what she has achieved in absolute terms ...she obviously has done better than any Indian woman tenis player or even most male players ... but there was too much hype (maybe not created by her) & in that sense she was over rated at one point.

Saina Nehwal does not get the same hype even today that Sania got when she was near the top 50!

[dextrous]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

It is not so much about what she has achieved in absolute terms ...she obviously has done better than any Indian woman tenis player or even most male players ... but there was too much hype (maybe not created by her) & in that sense she was over rated at one point.

Saina Nehwal does not get the same hype even today that Sania got when she was near the top 50!

Well, sorry, but that "hype" argument does not cut it. Maybe to the casual tennis fan in India it seemed like she would become #1 or win a grand slam but at no point did any serious fan ever think that she had THAT potential. She's good enough to be top-25 and that's it. But there's a certain amount of disdain some fans have when talking about her performances and anger that she got publicity (not you, i dont know your views at all) as if cricketers like yuvraj, kaif, etc. who've achieved far less in relative terms don't get all the media and more.

[pieterSAN]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

It is not so much about what she has achieved in absolute terms ...she obviously has done better than any Indian woman tenis player or even most male players ... but there was too much hype (maybe not created by her) & in that sense she was over rated at one point.

Saina Nehwal does not get the same hype even today that Sania got when she was near the top 50!

Well, sorry, but that "hype" argument does not cut it. Maybe to the casual tennis fan in India it seemed like she would become #1 or win a grand slam but at no point did any serious fan ever think that she had THAT potential. She's good enough to be top-25 and that's it. But there's a certain amount of disdain some fans have when talking about her performances and anger that she got publicity (not you, i dont know your views at all) as if cricketers like yuvraj, kaif, etc. who've achieved far less in relative terms don't get all the media and more.

There was a lot of hype around for that was undeserved. It was clear from the very beginning that she had too many problems in her game to give her a shot to beat top fifty players consistently and please anyone outside the top fifty is piss poor in women's tennis. In fact I should probably say top thirty not fifty.

On the other hand she deserves high praise the success she has in doubles - but that is a different animal altogether. As a singles player she is ordinary.

[dextrous]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

It is not so much about what she has achieved in absolute terms ...she obviously has done better than any Indian woman tenis player or even most male players ... but there was too much hype (maybe not created by her) & in that sense she was over rated at one point.

Saina Nehwal does not get the same hype even today that Sania got when she was near the top 50!

Well, sorry, but that "hype" argument does not cut it. Maybe to the casual tennis fan in India it seemed like she would become #1 or win a grand slam but at no point did any serious fan ever think that she had THAT potential. She's good enough to be top-25 and that's it. But there's a certain amount of disdain some fans have when talking about her performances and anger that she got publicity (not you, i dont know your views at all) as if cricketers like yuvraj, kaif, etc. who've achieved far less in relative terms don't get all the media and more.

There was a lot of hype around for that was undeserved. It was clear from the very beginning that she had too many problems in her game to give her a shot to beat top fifty players consistently and please anyone outside the top fifty is piss poor in women's tennis. In fact I should probably say top thirty not fifty.

On the other hand she deserves high praise the success she has in doubles - but that is a different animal altogether. As a singles player she is ordinary.

I would certainly not call her ordinary. She'll easily be back in top-35. Only reason she's not there is because she was injured. So, no, she's not Sachin, but she sure is at least Gambhir, if not Laxman/Ganguly.

[pieterSAN]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

It is not so much about what she has achieved in absolute terms ...she obviously has done better than any Indian woman tenis player or even most male players ... but there was too much hype (maybe not created by her) & in that sense she was over rated at one point.

Saina Nehwal does not get the same hype even today that Sania got when she was near the top 50!

Well, sorry, but that "hype" argument does not cut it. Maybe to the casual tennis fan in India it seemed like she would become #1 or win a grand slam but at no point did any serious fan ever think that she had THAT potential. She's good enough to be top-25 and that's it. But there's a certain amount of disdain some fans have when talking about her performances and anger that she got publicity (not you, i dont know your views at all) as if cricketers like yuvraj, kaif, etc. who've achieved far less in relative terms don't get all the media and more.

There was a lot of hype around for that was undeserved. It was clear from the very beginning that she had too many problems in her game to give her a shot to beat top fifty players consistently and please anyone outside the top fifty is piss poor in women's tennis. In fact I should probably say top thirty not fifty.

On the other hand she deserves high praise the success she has in doubles - but that is a different animal altogether. As a singles player she is ordinary.

I would certainly not call her ordinary. She'll easily be back in top-35. Only reason she's not there is because she was injured. So, no, she's not Sachin, but she sure is at least Gambhir, if not Laxman/Ganguly.

Okay she is above-average then. Let's not compare with Gambhir who I hold in high regard. 

[keep-it-cool]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

It is not so much about what she has achieved in absolute terms ...she obviously has done better than any Indian woman tenis player or even most male players ... but there was too much hype (maybe not created by her) & in that sense she was over rated at one point.

Saina Nehwal does not get the same hype even today that Sania got when she was near the top 50!

Well, sorry, but that "hype" argument does not cut it. Maybe to the casual tennis fan in India it seemed like she would become #1 or win a grand slam but at no point did any serious fan ever think that she had THAT potential. She's good enough to be top-25 and that's it. But there's a certain amount of disdain some fans have when talking about her performances and anger that she got publicity (not you, i dont know your views at all) as if cricketers like yuvraj, kaif, etc. who've achieved far less in relative terms don't get all the media and more.

Well, I remember Bhupathi saying that Sania is good enough to be a top 10 player ..and he is no casual fan ...in fact, his company manages her affairs, doesnt it?

[dextrous]

mirza/bhupathi up 6-3 4-1 in the final.

and before talk begins again of how ordinary/average mirza is....just watch her play in the semi-final. she destroyed dlouhy/whoever on her own.

they won..people who criticize her have never held a racquet in their hands or somehow that she hasnt "achieved" as if being ranked in top-30 is some sort of a consolation prize when in reality it is a tremendous achievement even if she doesnt win a single match after this (which she will)

It is not so much about what she has achieved in absolute terms ...she obviously has done better than any Indian woman tenis player or even most male players ... but there was too much hype (maybe not created by her) & in that sense she was over rated at one point.

Saina Nehwal does not get the same hype even today that Sania got when she was near the top 50!

Well, sorry, but that "hype" argument does not cut it. Maybe to the casual tennis fan in India it seemed like she would become #1 or win a grand slam but at no point did any serious fan ever think that she had THAT potential. She's good enough to be top-25 and that's it. But there's a certain amount of disdain some fans have when talking about her performances and anger that she got publicity (not you, i dont know your views at all) as if cricketers like yuvraj, kaif, etc. who've achieved far less in relative terms don't get all the media and more.

Well, I remember Bhupathi saying that Sania is good enough to be a top 10 player ..and he is no casual fan ...in fact, his company manages her affairs, doesnt it?

his company does...why do you think he's promoting her?!

[gouravk]

it all boils down to perspective. had sania been american or russian no one would have given her a second look. but for a country like india who has not produced any womans player of any kind before her achievement is a big deal as it rightly should be. even if she does not win another singles match she will be a legend in indian tennis becoz of her pioneering role.

[dextrous]

it all boils down to perspective. had sania been american or russian no one would have given her a second look. but for a country like india who has not produced any womans player of any kind before her achievement is a big deal as it rightly should be. even if she does not win another singles match she will be a legend in indian tennis becoz of her pioneering role.

unless im mistaken, she would have been a top-3 american behind serena, venus..unless theres another american on top

[LosingNow]

unless im mistaken, she would have been a top-3 american behind serena, venus..unless theres another american on top

So who is on top of whom here

[gouravk]

yeah .. but in america you dont really count unless you win a grand slam title do you ?