US OPEN DAY 8

I must be still suffering from the earthquake as I had some disastrous selections yesterday. I promise not to be away with the fairies for Day 8.!


Svetlana Kutnetsova Vs Dominika Cibulkova - Kutnetsova is showing much improvement by her improved fitness.


Mardy Fish Vs Novak Djokovic - Novak will get there at the end of the day hits too many balls back for Fish.


Caroline Wozniacki Vs Maria Sharapova - This should be the best of the round! I think Maria will take out the top seed.


Andrea Petkovik Vs Vera Zvonareva - Vera your on a roll!


Jurgen Melzer Vs Roger Federer - Fed always cleans this type of player up at exactly this time of the tournament.


Richard Gasquet Vs Gail Monfils - Battle of the Frenchman ! Will be close Monfils will defend better Gasquet more attacking. Ok Richard I have the money on you !


Kaia Kanepi Vs Yanina Wickmayer - Kanepi is promising Yanina is gritty.


Robert Soderling Vs Albert Montanes - Robert a little more fire power .


FINAL 4TH ROUND SELECTIONS FOR COMPETITION SHOULD BE MADE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST.


I really want to like Andy Murray but why do I always go for his opposition! I guess I find Andy very much in the Hewitt mould. He is always complaining , looking and yelling at his box ...punching his racquet strings .Andy I think if you are too win a grandslam you must block out your support box stop using senseless energy in whining and focus on your job at hand no matter what your  situation is! When you do this I reckon you will win a Slam.

Finally Tennis Australia must be disappointed with the Aussies in general at the US Open.I bet their web site wont be telling the real story. The Men's results are pathetic .The qualifying was a disaster with some of the so called stars of the future not progressing.Carsten Ball was the only Male that won a match in the Main draw.Thank Goodness for Sam Stosur! Sally Peers did come through qualies and won her first round match but Clijsters cleaned her up easily in a lacklustre match 2 nd round. Now Australia did not have one junior girl competing in the Junior Girls draw not even the qualifying!In the boys section Jason Kubler the 6th seed exited to Evan King of the USA who was unseeded.To make matters even worse James Duckworth the 9th seed was also beaten by an unseeded player.Ben Wagland also exited on the first day to completely decimate the Aussie contingent! Now don't you think Tennis Australia you start telling the real story on your player development program and although their have been questions asked ....they need to be answered don't you think? These players have to harden up and so does Tennis Australia!

WIMBLEDON DAY 9

Kvitova,Pironkova,Zvonareva not household names you would expect appearing in a Grand Slam semi final.Serena Williams is the only high ranked seed to appear in the Wimbledon Ladies semi's.Serena was pre tournament favourite and is now virtually unbackable and no doubt will defend her title unless she gets the Venus "shakes".Below are our winners from Day 8 .Ladies Day at Wimbledon!

Today is Men's Quarter Final Day and there are some great matches as we get closer to the Main event.Below are my selections and previews .

MEN'S 

Roger Federer vs Tomas Berdych

Head to Head Federer leads Berdych 8-2.Berdych has struggled so far against less accomplished players than the "King of the grass".Federer has showed in his last two matches why he is the GOAT (greatest of all time.)Berdych is in with an outside chance after all he has nothing to lose and can throw everything he has at Federer.And this is what happens in situations like these players lift their game to above expectations eg Lu against Roddick.Federer should prevail and anything below his best Berdych will take advantage.This year a guy with a Big game serve and solid ground strokes have done very well.

Novak Djokovic vs Yen -Hsun Lu

I am afraid the fairy tale story of the boy who used to catch chickens will be brought to an end by the Djoker, unless the mystery ailments return to haunt Djokovic.You have always got a chance that the Djoker may retire .... on no less than seven matches previous he has yielded.The Djoker will return serve far better than A ROD and should get the job done here.Keep you shirt on Novak.

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga vs Andy Murray

This will be a big test for Andy Murray.Tsonga can be a spoiler to higher seeds at this end of the tournament.If he has the adrenalin flowing and playing with emotion he will beat Murray,simply he has a bigger game than the "scot".Now England is out of the world cup football then the British sports public are well an truly on Murray's shoulders.Tsonga to cause the upset here.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

 

Looking at Nadal's previous matches he has struggled against Guy's with a big serve and huge ground strokes!Does this sound like Soderling? Nadal will have to be at his best and must fire early! Do not give Soderling a "sniff".Soderling does not have the fight Nadal has and does crack under tight situations.Soderling only won in five against Ferrer and the Spaniard does not have the class on grass as Nadal.Nadal will have to serve at a high level, he has thrown in some very loose service games in previous matches and can not do so here.One slip can mean the set difference with serve being harder to break on grass.Can Soderling get around on his forehand as much as he can on clay will be the Key.Both Players use this ploy a lot.Nadal has the better back hand and can slice so more variety on this side than Soderling.Nadal is also the better mover of the two.And that just might be the difference in what shapes up as Nadal's most important match do date.Nadal in a tight one.

Just an update on the Junior Wimbledon events also that are being played.Both New Zealand representatives Ben Mclachlan and Sebastian Lavie both went out first round. Australia head the round of 16 with four players still left in the draw.Kubler(AUS) the top seed will be tested by promising British player Oliver Golding.In saying the Aussie boys have done well ,Australia had no girls in the Main draw singles..... disappointing to say the least! All eyes will be on Laura Robson(England) who was a late entry in the juniors can she win her second Junior Wimbledon Title?

MINI WIMBLEDON COMPETITION.

Yesterday we lost Kimmy and the Brown eyed Bomb shell from the competition,and those that must make selection for Men's Matches should do so on this post.

Inside Wimbledon- Serena Not Happy

Earlier this week Serena had been tweeting how she had been practicing her curtsy on the eve of the Queens visit.She said it was the best curtsy ever! You can imagine how she felt when the Daily schedule was released and she found her self on court 2.What the XXXX the Queen of tennis being snubbed by the Queen of England?I tweeted yesterday that Serena would not be happy and pity her poor opponent.So she stepped out on court 2 and "pounded" her opponent 6-0 6-1. She had this to say “I don’t think I should be out there,” the world number one told reporters after booking a last-32 date with Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.

“Naturally I thought, ‘Well, why wasn’t I on Centre or at least No. 1? I guess they wanted to put Roger (Federer) and (world number 21) Sam (Querrey) and everyone else there. I’m over talking about it,” she added abruptly while indicting she was no longer prepared to be quizzed on the topic.She did get some consolation from the reception from the crowd “The only way to console me was… I just saw so many kids, these little girls, these little boys.

“A lot of these people can’t get into the Centre Court … that definitely made up for it, to see fans I wouldn’t normally see.”

Who made up the schedule and how did they come about selecting the players on Center Court.Rafael Nadal had been invited to meet the queen with other players and former players earlier, but as he has a match declined not wanting to break routine!He was expecting her to stay and watch later his match but the queen left after the Murray match and must not be into under pants picking!

I mean even Rodger can feel a little peeved off who in fact was not even on the schedule for Day Four of the championships.And yes Serena has every reason to be unhappy. Watch out opponents!

Wimbledon Day 4

Yesterday two players etched themselves in Tennis History.Neither Man will win the tournament but John Isner and Nicholas Mahut put on a show of courage and determination to be locked at 59-59 in the 5th Set before bad light stopped play.It set a lot of records and had every tennis player and spectator simply in awe of what was happening on court 18.This is the longest tennis match ever played in time and in games, all 163 of them. The fifth set of 118 games is longer than any previous singles match. Mahut served 95 aces. Isner boomed in 98. Both break the record of aces in one match held by Croat Ivo Karlovic.Federer had this to say "I've been following this as closely as I could. I walked on court at about 11‑all in the fifth, and they're still going. This is absolutely amazing. In a way, I wish I was them, in some ways I wish I wasn't them. This is a very special match. I hope somehow this is going to end. They'll be fresh again tomorrow if they have to come back."Nadal also was glued to the match as no doubt every player left in the locker room watched as history unfolded.Venus Williams had this to say "It's amazing. It's a marathon - longer than a marathon. I don't think I'd move - if you moved, you lose your seat! Around the grounds, there has to be a buzz around that this match is going so far."Tennis is a unique sport and this match will be remembered for a long long time.Records are made to be broken however this match may stand a life time!



Match Selections Day 4.

MEN

As proven yesterday outside the top seeds matches are very hard to pick.

Fognini (ITA) v Russell (USA)- This could be close , I would like to see Fognini carry on from his great win First Round.FOGNINI

Beck (GER) v Benneteau (FRA)-Another Match that could go either way! Will go for the German.BECK

Seppi (ITA) v Kamke (GER)- This section shows anyone can get through, Kamke is a lucky loser so Seppi on paper should win.Lets throw caution to the wind and go with KAMKE

Dolgopolov (UKR) v Tsonga (FRA)- Tsonga should get this one.TSONGA

Malisse (BEL) v Reister (GER)- Malisse likes the grass so its MALISSE for me

Dodig (CRO) v Querrey (USA)- On his way for a Murray Showdown.QUERREY

Simon (FRA) v Marchenko (UKR)- Simon in another close fought match SIMON

Nieminen (FIN) v Murray (GBR)- I would think Murray for sure unless playing under the watchfull eye of the Queen scares him.MURRAY

Soderling (SWE) v Granollers (ESP)- Soderling for sure. A real contender! SODERLING

Fischer (AUT) v Bellucci (BRA)- Fischer another qualifier ha had a win over Bellucci, will stay with the seed here BELLUCCI another match that could go either way!

Lacko (SVK) v Chardy (FRA)- What with these match ups! so close Lacko just.

Serra (FRA) v Ferrer (ESP)- way too many clay courters still in the draw Ferrer just.

Youzhny (RUS) v Mathieu (FRA)- Youzhny again wil be close.YOUZHNY

Petzschner (GER) v Kubot (POL)- Should be the German! PETZSCHNER

de Bakker (NED) v THE WINNER OF YOU KNOW WHO!!!!

Haase (NED) v Nadal (ESP)- Rafa Vamos!

LADIES

S Williams (USA) v Chakvetadze (RUS) - Serena must be so pissed off not to get Center Court and the Queen ......watch out the Russian. SERENA

Morita (JPN) v Cibulkova (SVK)- Sayornara.......CIBULKOVA

Hantuchova (SVK) v Zahlavova Stryc (CZE)- stryc

Olaru (ROU) v Sharapova (RUS)-Maria is looking good!.SHARAPOVA


Li (CHN) v Nara (JPN)- Li will get this one!

Rodionova (AUS) v Kuznetsova (RUS)- Rodionava has the worst court manners especially to the opponents. Teach her a lesson KUTZNETSOVA

Errani (ITA) v Parra Santonja (ESP) - You would think ERRANI

Brianti (ITA) v A Radwanska (POL)- Surely the 7th seed will get the money RADWANSKA


Wozniacki (DEN) v Chang (TPE) - Wozniaki gets the Queen! Hopefully she will get the win.....Poor Serena WOZNIACKI

Vinci (ITA) v Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) - This could go either way,the russian leads 2-1 head to head so I think its time the Italian won again. VINCI

Zheng (CHN) v Kvitova (CZE) - ZHENG

Jovanovski (SRB) v Azarenka (BLR)- Not much to say AZARENKA


Pennetta (ITA) v Niculescu (ROU)- PENNETTA looks a good bet here.

Zakopalova (CZE) v Rezai (FRA)- REZAI

Dulgheru (ROU) v Oprandi (ITA) - DULGHERU

Gallovits (ROU) v Kanepi (EST)- gallovits

MINI WIMBLEDON COMPETION
Those that went through to the third round from yesterdays round

The Eye- Hewitt
Willy - Monfils
LuLu- Petrova
Thirsty- Jankovic
Kimmy- Zvonareva

Others are pending matches tonight. Unfortunatley we lost Broz yesterday with the choice of Molik!!!

So well done to those that are through and selections for 3rd round will be due from tomorrow.

Below is a little tongue in cheek picture on the eve of the Queen visiting Wimbledon.

Wimbledon Draw - How it shapes up

The draw has come out and how does it shape up for the Main Contenders.

THE MEN - FIRST QUARTER

Rodger Federer sits on top in this section and has a pretty good draw.The next-highest seed is Davydenko, who's coming back from a long layoff and has never done much at Wimbledon.Tomas Berdych is also in this section and looks the player that could test Federer.He hasn't had a lot of matches on the Grass so how will that effect him.The other player with some grass court form is Janko Tipsarevic.

SECOND QUARTER

This section is really loaded.Andy Roddick sits in this side of the draw and is seeded to meet Novak Djokovic .Is his form as good as last year. I don't think so!His serve will carry him along but one slip and he's gone.Players he has to watch are Philipp Kohlschreiber and Marin Cilic .Djoker has a minefield ready to explode on him ,Lleyton Hewitt being one.He has to get through his first match against Olivier Rochus who has had a recent win over him.

THIRD QUARTER

Andy Murray could not have wished for a better draw,unless the pressure gets to him he really has a great opportunity to win this section.His main test is Sam Querrey winner of Queens and this will shape up as his key match should they meet.And on the other side, the top two seeds are Verdasco and Tsonga, neither of whom are very good at the majors.Look for a few upsets in this section.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Other hot section has Number two seed Rafael Nadal who opens his campaign against a young Japanese player who is being talked about in some circles as a young player to watch Kei Nishikori . If seeds go according to plan he will meet Robin Soderling in the final round of this section, and that could be a different story on the grass rather than the red clay.Other players to watch out for are Gulbis ,Youzhny .

I'm predicting lots of close matches this year and plenty of upsets!

THE WOMEN - FIRST QUARTER.

Whilst most of the leading players have chose to play warm up events prior to Wimbledon,defending champion Serena Williams has not.One day this is going to bite them on the xxx and this championship could be it.Maria Sharapova is in her section but can she get back the consistency to test Serena or in fact win her rounds before they meet.Serena has Larcher de Brito, a solid hitter , in the first round, and, potentially, Andrea Petkovic in the second. Post Sharapova, Serena might see Li Na, Svetlana Kuznetsova, or Wimbledon adept Aggie Radwanska in the quarters.

SECOND QUARTER

Sam Stosur, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Zheng Jie are the name players.Look for a Wimbledon flop from Stosur.Reading a recent press release on her chances for Wimbledon she says she will be happy to reach the quarters.I bet Serena doesn't come out and say she is happy to make the quarters ...these players are in it to win it.

THIRD QUARTER

Its a shame Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin could meet in the third round.Jelena Jankovic is seeded 4th but I mean she has as much chance of winning Wimbledon as me. I'm thinking the winner of Henin and Clijsters will come through.

FOURTH QUARTER

Francesca Schiavone AND Venus Williams seeded to meet in this Quarter,Im tipping one of these players wont be there.Falling by the wayside will be Schiavone.Wonder what Venus has in store fashion wise for Wimbledon.....bet it will be something special..UGH!Other players to watch out for Safina, Kleybanova, Szavay, Kudryavtseva ...did i say Safina!!! I meant to say watch which round she exits.!

You can check full draws HERE

What you say about my Fashion Sense!

As expected the Fed Express won yesterday whilst Venus Williams will just be left to concentrate on the doubles as she lost to Petrova.Tsonga lasted one set and retired,I mean why come out if you are injured play a set call the trainer and then default.Whats with these latest French Players seem to get injured way to much.Soderling I would say after watching him last match is definitely a Contender after some of his Facial expressions showing his fire.He plays Federer next and that wont go all Feds way.Here is a piece from Soderling's interview after beating Cilic.

Q. If I understand you correctly, are you saying that basically the difference between last year and this year and maybe between a top 20 player and a top 3 or 4 player, 5 player, is that you learn how to win without playing at your best level, that is, knowing how to win without being at your top level?
ROBIN SODERLING: Yeah, I'd like to think so. If you look at all the top guys, they're not playing the best tennis every week. Maybe you have three or four, maybe five matches in a year where you feel like you play really, really well.
The other 50 matches you still have to win, and then all the top guys, they win a lot of matches against good players without playing the best tennis. I think that's the biggest difference between a guy ranked in the top 10 and the guy ranked in the top 30, 40.

Q. You've cracked that secret. Can you tell us how it's done? Can you give us just one example of knowing how to win when you're not...
ROBIN SODERLING: Of course, winning a lot of matches against good players gives you confidence. I think this year and also last year I won a lot of matches against really good players, so my confidence is good.
You know, in matches like this, it's very often it's a couple of points here and there which decides the match. And then the guy who has the best confidence wins the match and the points most of the time.

This is very much a valid point that every time you go onto the court you cant play your best tennis and players that learn how to win matches when they are not playing their best are the ones that come though.A lesson for all you junior players out there.

Other winners Justine Henin,Tomas Berdych ..who sent Andy Murray back across the channel where he can prepare for "Murray Mania" ...Francesca Schiavone,Elena Dementieva and Caroline Wozniacki.

The Roland Garros Diaries

Just a post with a few behind the scenes goings on at the French Open. I have too much time on my hands lately with the wet weather in South Canterbury and hence the above picture is a spoof on the American Hit TV Series the Vampire Diaries.Can you guess the above tennis players all no doubt will be playing a major role in the Finale of Roland Garros( Rafa,Fed ,Justine).

Serena when asked about Fed Cup and her country

Q. And your thinking on Fed Cup? Is that a matter of scheduling? Do you feel that you have any responsibility to the country in terms of getting into the championships? What are your thoughts on that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my only responsibility is my two dogs. So I have to make sure they're okay and that I can afford to take care of them. That's the only real responsibility I have.

Interesting response but not surprising.

What is Andy Murray's Favorite Surface

Q. Although you've said consistently that you think the French is the Grand Slam where you've got the least chance of winning, are you sort of actually quietly enjoying this championship and the ups and downs of how you've got this far and relishing the prospect of the second week here?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I enjoy it as a tournament. I always loved to play on clay when I was younger. I've said it many times it's my favorite surface to play on, even though my results haven't been as good.
You know, I feel like I can play well on clay, play very well on clay. It just takes me a bit more time to get used to the surface again. You know, I love the tournament. It's probably the hardest physically to win, you know, because obviously a lot of long rallies, long points, and long matches.
Yeah, I enjoy coming here, and it's very different to me than at the other Slams where, you know, I'm a lot more sure of myself there just because I know how to move well and how to play properly on those courts.

Early in the week talk was that the Roland Garros courts where playing as fast as they have for 20 years.John Isner and then Todd Woodbridge telling the Tennis Channel yesterday that this was the fastest the surface has played in 20 years of his experience.Didn't help Isner!

Federer makes an appearance in the Nike football world cup commercial.Here is the commercial.



You may have picked up Nadal is wearing a watch for the first time whilst playing. Its a Richard Mille watch designed specifically for Nadal, with materials used in space exploration. Mille says there are 50 for sale—at a price of about $425,000.Nadal never before has worn a watch while competing.Wonder what the sponsorship deal is ,,,,,I will order 4 :)

Day 3 French Open Tennis Picks

Not bad with the Ladies picks yesterday but average with the Men's.Match of the day was Andy Murray coming from 2 sets down against Gasquet.Murray is very like Hewitt with his berating of his supporters box when things are not going well.I picked around 21 Ladies winners yesterday but Men's wise did not fare so good with only around 17.A few seeds exited the Men's draw yesterday ...guys you would think would do a little better on Clay made their exit among those Robredo and Lopez.
Well here goes with today's pick again my selections are in bold.
Ladies Singles

Justine Henin(BEL)[22]vs Tsvetana Pironkova(BUL)
Marion Bartoli(FRA)[13] v Maria Elena Camerin(ITA)
Dinara Safina(RUS)[9] vs. Kimiko Date Krumm(JPN)
Maria Sharapova(RUS)[12] vs. Ksenia Pervak(RUS)
Alize Cornet(FRA) vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova(RUS)[29]
Sandra Zahlavova(CZE) vs. Yanina Wickmayer(BEL)[16]
Daniela Hantuchova(SVK)[23] vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn(THA)
Ayumi Morita(JPN) vs. Kirsten Flipkens(BEL)
Mariana Duque Marino(COL) vs. Sybille Bammer(AUT)
Katie O'brien(GBR) vs. Jill Craybas(USA)
Jarmila Groth(AUS) vs. Yung-Jan Chan(TPE)
Klara Zakopalova(CZE) vs. Katarina Srebotnik(SLO)
Anastasia Pivovarova(RUS) vs. Ioana Raluca Olaru(ROU)
Shahar Peer(ISR)[18] vs. Nuria Llagostera Vives(ESP)
Vania King(USA) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands(USA)
Jie Zheng(CHN)[25] vs. Ekaterina Bychkova(RUS)
Shenay Perry(USA) vs. Olivia Sanchez(FRA)
Anastasia Rodionova(AUS) vs. Ekaterina Makarova(RUS)
Olga Govortsova(BLR) vs. Carla Suarez Navarro(ESP)
Alberta Brianti(ITA) vs. Vera Zvonareva(RUS)[21]

Mens Singles
Andy Roddick(USA)[6] vs. Jarkko Nieminen(FIN) * going for an upset here, just know that Roddick will go out early maybe not this early but is a hard forst round match up.
Lleyton Hewitt(AUS)[28] vs. Jeremy Chardy(FRA) *not looking great for the Aussie Battler , probably will go out first round but can't bring myself to go against him.
Fernando Verdasco(ESP)[7] vs. Igor Kunitsyn(RUS)
Gianni Mina(FRA) vs. Rafael Nadal(ESP)[2]
Mischa Zverev(GER) vs. Nicolas Mahut(FRA)
Juan Carlos Ferrero(ESP)[16] vs. Pablo Cuevas(URU)
Robby Ginepri(USA) vs. Sam Querrey(USA)[18]
David Guez(FRA) vs. David Ferrer(ESP)[9]
Jurgen Melzer(AUT)[22] vs. Dudi Sela(ISR)
Marc Gicquel(FRA) vs. Pere Riba(ESP)
Santiago Ventura(ESP) vs. Andreas Seppi(ITA)
Eduardo Schwank(ARG) vs. Blaz Kavcic(SLO)
Karol Beck(SVK) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber(GER)[30]
Denis Istomin(UZB) vs. Benjamin Becker(GER)
Grega Zemlja(SLO) vs. Juan Monaco(ARG)[26]
Florent Serra(FRA) vs. Michael Russell(USA)
Teimuraz Gabashvili(RUS) vs. Daniel Koellerer(AUT)
Horacio Zeballos(ARG) vs. Martin Fischer(AUT)
Potito Starace(ITA) vs. Illya Marchenko(UKR)
Xavier Malisse(BEL) vs. Simon Greul(GER)

Well that's it for Day 3 a few good match ups and of course Rafa on court finally.

The French Open Tennis

The premier Clay court event starts next week,The men's winner will come from the below list which makes up the top 20 clay courters for the past year.
1 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) ...My tip for the title
2 1 Roger Federer (SUI) ........will be hard to beat
3 11 David Ferrer (ESP) .......a threat except for the top 2 seeds
4 7 Robin Soderling (SWE) ......last years finalist and I think has had his moment in the sun
5 9 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) ....flashy and cant go all the way in a grandslam
6 18 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) ...past winner no threat to the top seeds
7 6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) out with injury
8 14 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) hasnt has the best year so far
9 30 Juan Monaco (ARG) ....a pretender
10 37 Victor Hanescu (ROU) ....a pretender
11 22 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) ....good recent form
12 28 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) ....a pretender
13 24 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) ....wont win it
14 27 Ernests Gulbis (LAT) ....a wild card and has great form ...may have discovered how to win.
15 5 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) injured
16 38 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) ..... pretender
17 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) ...... average form hasnt done much since his service action changed
18 4 Andy Murray (GBR) ....setting for wimbledon no doubt ...a little beyond him here in Paris
19 34 Albert Montanes (ESP) ..... pretender
20 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) ......contender but will struggle with tough matches and longer rally's

The first number is Clay court ranking and the second is ATP ranking.I havnt even rated Andy Roddick , in fact where is Andy Roddick?I think he will be good for a couple of rounds at best and then re-group for Wimbledon.Here is a couple of names to watch out for with major rises in ATP rankings, Thiemo de Bakker (NED) from 76 to 50 and a player thats been around for a while Juan Ignacio Chela 82 to 48 and Santiago Giraldo (COL) 83 to 55.

The Long Road Home is Near the End, Federer Vs Murray Australian Open Men's Final 2010

The battle grounds are drawn ,The hopes of the British rest on the shoulders of a young Scot Andy Murray ,its been written countless times Murray will be a Grandslam Champion, the moment is near.........and the British Amarda( the press) has arrived in Melbourne to record this momentous event.But hold on a sec ,in his way is a legend perhaps the best player ever to pick up a tennis racket and Roger Federer will not just let the Murray destiny just happen.If it does we know to well Murray has truly arrived and he can conquer the highest mountain winning a Slam title. Murray had this to say when asked if he could win,"Have to wait and see, you know. I think, you know, if I play my best, I think I got a good chance against anyone. And then, you know, at the top of any sport, it can come down to, you know, a few points here or there, sometimes a little bit of luck. You have to wait and see. But if I play my best, I think I got a chance against anyone."

And Federer speaks about the pressure for both players

"look, he's in his second Grand Slam final now. I think the first one's always a bit tougher than the second one. But now that he didn't win the first one, I think doesn't help, you know, for the second one around.

Plus he's playing, you know, me, who's won many Grand Slams prior to that, been able to win here three times so I know what it takes and how to do it, which is definitely an advantage.

I don't feel like the pressure's really on me having to do it again, because I did it before. I think he really needs it more than I do, you know. So I think the pressure's big on him.

But we'll see how he's gonna handle it. It's not going to be easy for him, that's for sure."

Murray knows to well defeat will mean he has to read the British tabloids the next day and that provides also extra pressure.My thoughts on the match ,it will be tough Federer will have to be at his very best to win and if he is his game will be too good for the Murray game at his best.Also in one corner we have the very Animated support Box of Murray led by "Punch n Judy" Murray's Mum......and the more conservative support crew of Federer with his wife Mirka at the helm.

And a change of tack this from the Sunday News reports Tennis New Zealand is heading into deeper crisis with the prospect of a vote of no confidence in the board looming.

Sunday News understands a number of clubs and regions are so sick of the way the sport it being run that they're using Tennis NZ's proposal for a dramatic increase in membership affiliation fees as a way to vent their anger.Read the full story here

Talk about Ostrich and head in the sand syndrome,every body knows Tennis in this country is on the ropes Onny Parun has been telling us for the past few years.Sadly this generation of young tennis players will be lost because of ........running the game ,actually I'm at a lost for words and it would be inappropriate to use the word Idiots, if anyone else has a better word please leave it in the comments section.