Archive for January, 2010
Federation day fireworks in Melbourne, near the tennis
“This is going to be the greatest Scottish victory since we beat the English at Bannockburn,” a Scotsman was telling me before the Australian Open final commenced.
When was that, sir?
“Why, 1314,” he answered, as though it were yesterday.
Andy Murray, the great bright hope of Scotland and Britain, hopes he doesn’t have to wait that long to win a tennis major and acclaim as his land’s most prominent victor since the Scots of Bannockburn. continue reading »
January 31 2010 | Australian Open | 6 Comments »
Sandridge Bridge
After a wonderful drive from Sydney to Melbourne, we covered the Australian Open, visited with dear friends we’ve made in Melbourne over the years, saw many public sculptures, visited the Shrine of Remembrance, discovered a gorgeous and evocative memorial, the Springthorpe Memorial in Boroondara Cemetery, enjoyed the whimsical sculptures on the Sandridge Bridge and the Angel of Melbourne on the banks of the Yarra River…… continue reading »
January 30 2010 | Photos | No Comments »
Shrine of Remembrance seen from the Battle of Lone Pine (6-9 Aug 1915) tree propagated from seeds brought from Gallipoli
Crazy.
Crazier and crazier it got. If this was a prevue of major title bouts in another endless New Year in tennis, get ready for high wackiness – beauty, bizarre and bumbling. But that may keep it as exciting and exasperating as the female end of the Australian Open Saturday night.
It was Sister Serena’s ball game, as it figured to be – her fifth term as champ, receiving the trophy from the only woman to exceed that number, Aussie Margaret Court, a winner 11 times between 1960 and 1973. continue reading »
January 30 2010 | Australian Open | 2 Comments »
Margaret Court and Bud celebrating the 40th anniversary of her 1970 Grand Slam
How about a party, mate? Aussies love a high-spirited get together, and the chance to throw one. What better reason than to hail the chief collector of important tennis championships?
That would be Margaret Court, the No. 1 guest at a celebratory Melbourne Park luncheon on the day of the female final, an occasion she graced many times.
You might say she crawled into tennis anonymously, yet departed upright, draped in headlines and stardust and all the right stuff that could flow from a racket. continue reading »
January 29 2010 | Grand Slam | No Comments »
A beautiful gum tree at the Royal Botanic Gardens
How many millions of Chinese were tuned in to their fellow citizens, Na Li and Jie Zheng, Tuesday? Good question. Safe to say more than any tennis audience ever, American or otherwise.
This was an historic afternoon for Chinese tennis, long a nothing subject. Na and Jie were the first two Chinese women to crash the singles semifinals of a major, the Australian Open, and they were on live TV in their home towns, Wuhan and Cheng Du respectively, as well as the rest of their vast country. continue reading »
January 28 2010 | Australian Open | No Comments »
Court Seven at the Oz Open ... the city nearby
Reporters were scuffling about to discover when, if ever, the Sisters were both beaten on the same day. Venus was out of the Aussie Open, having blown leads while losing to the Chinese Li Na after a strong start, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. Hard to believe.
Serena, the reigning champ, sporting more bandages than a first aid station, was falling apart against Viktoria Azarenka, down a set and 0-4. The presumed Sisterly semis was not to be. So when was the last time they took a double hit in a major? Go back six years to the French quarter-finals when Venus was downed by the champ-to-be, Anastasia Myskina, and Serena fell to Jennifer Capriati. continue reading »
January 27 2010 | Australian Open | No Comments »
Australian Open 2010
The reign of Rafa I is over.
It was a night of fireworks in Melbourne – in the sky and on the tennis court below as Rafa Nadal lost his crown. The reign from Spain startlingly fell on the plain called Rod Laver Arena as Nadal dethroned Roger Federer a year ago in 5 thrilling sets.
But there was no 1-2 rematch. Nadal was ushered out in the quarter-finals by a brilliant Scottish upstart, Andy Murray. As I have said before, Nadal, though only 23, just ain’t the same guy who owned Paris, won Wimbledon and leaped past Federer to No. 1. continue reading »
January 26 2010 | Australian Open | 2 Comments »
Fitzroy Gardens' Fairy Tree created in 1931 by Ola Cohy. It seems to have been restored this past year.
Long John Isner has bashed a deep forehand along the sideline which ought to save a critical break point. It’s way out of Andy Murray’s reach.
Or is it?
Murray takes off from his right sideline and sprints frantically along the baseline, stretching in the direction of the ball, elongates his arm like Plastic Man, swings – bang! – drives a backhand past Isner. continue reading »
January 24 2010 | Australian Open | 4 Comments »
Gum tree in the MCG park, on my way home from the tennis. A small rainbow after rains!
Insomniacs were rejoicing. For a while, anyway, when they thought they’d have something choice to occupy themselves during another sleepless night in Melbourne.
The local paragon, Lleyton Hewitt, was scheduled to battle the burly Cypriote Marcos Bagdahtis Saturday evening in a third rounder of the Australian Open. That was a perfect match-up for the insomniacs – the I Folk ? – who could recall the historic, unending clash of Hewitt and Baghdatis in 2008, also a third rounder. continue reading »
January 23 2010 | Australian Open | No Comments »
Entrance to Fitzroy Gardens
Ever been in a shooting gallery? Andy Roddick and Feliciano Lopez must have felt as though they’d stumbled into one Friday afternoon. And they were in the line of fire.
“Anything you can ace, I can ace better,” was their theme as they began bashing balls at each with the intent to kill off a rival, and enter the fourth round of the Australian Open. continue reading »
January 22 2010 | Australian Open | 2 Comments »
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