Post by jimm on Jan 27, 2009 0:23:19 GMT
January 27, 2009
Australian Open: QF Preview
MELBOURNE, Australia - The first two singles quarterfinals are to be played at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. Three of the four players in action have been to the last four of a Grand Slam before, but never at the Australian Open; the other combatant is striving to get past the quarters for the first time at a major.
Rod Laver
(7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs. (16) Marion Bartoli (FRA) - Zvonareva leads 6-1
Zvonareva's mastery of this rivalry is surprising, given both are clever baseliners with an iron will to win. Although just a few weeks separate the two 24-year-olds in age, the Russian was already in the Top 20 when she registered her first three wins during 2003-04, while Bartoli was yet to crack the Top 50. The Frenchwoman then notched a win in the final at Auckland in 2006, at a time when Zvonareva was suffering a two-year rankings slump. More relevant, perhaps, are the three wins Zvonareva scored last year, when both were firmly ensconced in the Top 20: Zvonareva won a three-setter at Charleston, and more recently, two indoor hardcourt matches for the loss of just three games.
However, Bartoli worked hard on her conditioning over the Christmas break, and the results were very evident in her blistering defeat of Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round. Moreover, after her run to the finals at Wimbledon in 2007, she truly believes she belongs in the latter stages of a Grand Slam. Zvonareva, whose only previous appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal was at Roland Garros in 2003, is gunning for her first semi at one of the majors. Her great run to the final of the Sony Ericsson Championships reminded that she is long overdue. This match is a perfectly winnable opportunity for both, but perhaps Zvonareva's greater comfort at the net will give her the edge.
(3) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) - Safina leads 1-0
You've got to hand it to Safina: while the 22-year-old Russian has been full of self-criticism during her press conferences - apparently she's not playing aggressively enough - she nonetheless keeps on winning against tough opposition, which is more than can be said for some of her peers. But after the early departure of Jankovic she's now in the driver's seat to win a first Grand Slam title and assume the No.1 ranking next week, so the pressure is mounting. In this context, unexpected quarterfinalist Dokic will pose an intriguing psychological challenge, on top of the fact that she has been playing superb tennis as well.
Safina will notice that her opponent's level of power has stood the test of time brilliantly since they last met in 2003; tonight Dokic's serve will need to be resilient, and she'll need to display the same patience that helped in key moments against Kleybanova, Wozniacki and Chakvetadze.
It will help that this is her fourth night-time match on Rod Laver Arena, so she is accustomed to the conditions, and once again she'll be able to rely on the raucous support of the home crowd. Beating one of the hottest players of the past six months may be a bridge too far for the 25-year-old Australian at this stage, but it's not out of the question. Cliché or not, she really has nothing to lose.
Come Lil Marion!!!! This is now!!! Strut yer stuff!!!!
Australian Open: QF Preview
MELBOURNE, Australia - The first two singles quarterfinals are to be played at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. Three of the four players in action have been to the last four of a Grand Slam before, but never at the Australian Open; the other combatant is striving to get past the quarters for the first time at a major.
Rod Laver
(7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs. (16) Marion Bartoli (FRA) - Zvonareva leads 6-1
Zvonareva's mastery of this rivalry is surprising, given both are clever baseliners with an iron will to win. Although just a few weeks separate the two 24-year-olds in age, the Russian was already in the Top 20 when she registered her first three wins during 2003-04, while Bartoli was yet to crack the Top 50. The Frenchwoman then notched a win in the final at Auckland in 2006, at a time when Zvonareva was suffering a two-year rankings slump. More relevant, perhaps, are the three wins Zvonareva scored last year, when both were firmly ensconced in the Top 20: Zvonareva won a three-setter at Charleston, and more recently, two indoor hardcourt matches for the loss of just three games.
However, Bartoli worked hard on her conditioning over the Christmas break, and the results were very evident in her blistering defeat of Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round. Moreover, after her run to the finals at Wimbledon in 2007, she truly believes she belongs in the latter stages of a Grand Slam. Zvonareva, whose only previous appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal was at Roland Garros in 2003, is gunning for her first semi at one of the majors. Her great run to the final of the Sony Ericsson Championships reminded that she is long overdue. This match is a perfectly winnable opportunity for both, but perhaps Zvonareva's greater comfort at the net will give her the edge.
(3) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) - Safina leads 1-0
You've got to hand it to Safina: while the 22-year-old Russian has been full of self-criticism during her press conferences - apparently she's not playing aggressively enough - she nonetheless keeps on winning against tough opposition, which is more than can be said for some of her peers. But after the early departure of Jankovic she's now in the driver's seat to win a first Grand Slam title and assume the No.1 ranking next week, so the pressure is mounting. In this context, unexpected quarterfinalist Dokic will pose an intriguing psychological challenge, on top of the fact that she has been playing superb tennis as well.
Safina will notice that her opponent's level of power has stood the test of time brilliantly since they last met in 2003; tonight Dokic's serve will need to be resilient, and she'll need to display the same patience that helped in key moments against Kleybanova, Wozniacki and Chakvetadze.
It will help that this is her fourth night-time match on Rod Laver Arena, so she is accustomed to the conditions, and once again she'll be able to rely on the raucous support of the home crowd. Beating one of the hottest players of the past six months may be a bridge too far for the 25-year-old Australian at this stage, but it's not out of the question. Cliché or not, she really has nothing to lose.
Come Lil Marion!!!! This is now!!! Strut yer stuff!!!!