AO Quarter Finals: Serena and Azarenka- Eye of the Tigers

(c) Associated Press photographs

I'm knackered after the final women's 1/4 match. As ever, Serena Williams shows you can never say never by winning 5 games on the bounce in the 2nd set from 0-4 down and eventually taking the match 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

The prognosis midway in the 2nd set was easy: Vika all the way. She hit with authority, confidence, commitment, and Serena was an uneasy passenger in for a very bumpy ride. In her on court interview, Williams admitted: "[during that time] I thought if I lose here and at doubles, I can probably catch a flight home on Friday"

Azarenka was a revelation. For the majority of the match, she looked like the winner. She would surely have been my pick to go onto win if she succeeded here, so imperious was her form.

But to be an 11-time Slam winner - and a damn tenacious one at that - takes some spirit and inner calm. Man, did this come to the rescue like Old Faithful in the nick of time.

For all my waxing lyrical on the magical come back of Serena, it's impossible to dismiss Victoria's play and mental fortitude today. She really didn't do much wrong- her game plan, pace and length of shots were all outstanding. The difference, I thought, was in the impact of their serves. Serena's first serve stats were 50% against 77% for Vika, yet was only winning 57% off her first serve compared to 67% for Serena. Added to that, Williams routinely started ripping return winners from her serve with embarrassing ease. Her down the line shots were taken so early Vika barely moved. BLAPS.

Serena racked up 57 winners and 14 aces; a mere 3 of which came from the first set. These are some schizophrenic stats. http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/stats/day15/2501ms.html

Vika really did a superb job at hemming Serena into corners and making life out there thoroughly unpleasant. She did everything; which is why I also feel for her with this loss. I also think it could be a benchmark moment for her- if she needed motivation to improve the weaker areas of her game (serves), this was it. If she needed proof that pretty much all other areas of her game stacks up against the best player on the tour, the same match should give her that confidence.

All in all, exciting and enjoyable stuff. There is always something a little special when you see a 'passing of the guard' moment; this bore convincing hallmarks. So that moment didn't turn out to be now? This match is a sign that Victoria Azarenka could be the heir aparent to Serena Williams.

Only the Queen ain't for bowing just yet...

AO Quarter Finals: Na Li does a Houdini into Semi's

I'm choosing to focus on the positives from the Venus Williams- Na Li with this post. Here goes.

Battler Li fought back from a set down, a seeming body transplant (with a 12-year old once-a-year recreational player, so woeful was the hitting) and some 57 unforced errors to overcome a lumbering Williams to take it 2-6, 7-6, 7-5. This is a huge deal for Chinese tennis, with two women ("pocket rocket" Jie Zheng) into the semi's of a slam for the first time. Go China.

So that's the positive- the symbolic result. The actual match? Do.Not.Get.Me.Started


Suffice to say, this was no match- in prospect or reality- to compare to any of the men's 1/4 duals. Like vintage turkey tennis, it limped, wheezed and spluttered itself across the finish line, by which time, it really did not matter who won. The tiring pattern of continual breaks of serve (each others) and umpteenth errors gave the match an unnaturally long feel with only splatters of tennis fitting of a 1/4. We had so many 2nd serves I began to assume some new rule had banned the use of a first.

A little like 'Nam, or Iraq for modern reference, it was a relief to just get the hell out of there.

Higher hopes for the Serena Williams- Victoria Azarenka match. Already we're off to a bright start: Vika broke Serena's serve, up 1-0 and currently at deuce.

(c) WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images

AO Quarter Finals: Rafa Knees Out in Oz

Ugh. It's been over 10 hours since the Nadal vs Murray quarter final, since Murray led 6-3, 7-6, 3-0 in a thrilling dual. And still Nadal's early withdrawal still occupies my thoughts. It's those pesky knees again, children.

As a tennis fan and a rank n file obsessive, I felt the tear between common sense and emotional sense to proceedings on Rod Laver.
1) Murray deserves due credit. Most news sources from Espn, The Herald and Times Online concur that the standard of play and shot making was consistently incredible. From both, in fact. The boy earned his Semi's place and should feel confident about getting to that final and 'taking' his first GS title: Muzza isn't in a mood to wait any longer.

But, most nagging, is the emotional response:
2) Rafito, noooo!! (I won't miss that unfortunate Nike orange top paired with the gold-check shorts though. Confused.com. Please change. Block bright colours and dynamic prints welcome; just not together!)

After consuming my fair share of post press conferences, and various opinions, concern was quick to follow:
3) What's really wrong with Rafa and how will this impact on the season(s) to come? 

In his press conference, Nadal explained he was experiencing pain from late on in the second set. Knowing he couldn't mount a come back, i.e. go to 5 sets, and remembering the ill effects of playing through pain that started from the ATP Rotterdam event last year, the prudent thing was to retire:


Q. Could you let us know what the condition is, what the latest story is with the knee. It's very unusual for you to stop during a match.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, well, is not a lot of history because was during the match. Was in the end of the second set in one drop. And I feeled similar thing to what I had last year.
And, yes, after that I can't go down after that, no? So was impossible to win the match. When I have the chance to play, I never retired. Anyway, like I know I going to lose like I did in Rotterdam like last year. I say sorry to Andy for that.
I felt pain still there without no one minimum chance to do nothing, the same time is hard for me be five more games there without try nothing, no? So I don't know if I still playing can go worst or something. So I said, well, no repeat the same mistake like I had last year. I go to the limit, but not cross the limit, no?


We have to hope the prognosis is no worse, so Rafa is back in the mix for the season. But also that Team Nadal is pro-actively finding ways to lighten Rafa's load in training and his play - whether they choose to openly acknowledge it or not.

The standard response when asked about such changes has been prickly:


Q. Are there any changes you're going to make to your training style or your playing style?
RAFAEL NADAL: Don't start, guys, with these questions right now. I think is not the right moment. I think I changed the style to play. If you see my matches 2005 or 2004, 2006, I run a lot compared to now, no?


On one hand, Rafa is right- that old message to take a more aggressive approach is clearly kicking in. He's not running around following the dictates of an opponents play as much.

But there remains big questions about 'what else' he can do to lighten his load, to shorten points, to save a little for the moments when needed, in the hope his body can endure the 11-month tour season. Only he and his team can answer that.

My own question is this: does Rafa believe he can only play in the manner he does to have the confidence to compete at the highest level? He might not know. History so far has shown us that Nadal continually improves- he's a whole lot more than a gutsy big armed road runner.
An athlete at the height of any sporting discipline will understand exactly what, why and how they perform as they do. They also possess more control. Because of this, they are in the rarefied position of being able to adapt to injury and age, utilising their experience, fitness and calm in key moments to compete like winners...in a modified way.

With some careful tweaking, practice and belief, Nadal too can find a way to adjust to his new reality, and possibly gain a new edge.


(c) Lucas Dawson/Getty Images (top) and PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images (above)