Australian Open 2012 Day 13 - Women Final and Men's double final.

Azarenka v Shaparova....not sure I know who is Azarenka but I 'll support her. I was surprised she was the bookies favourite.

Then We have the Men's double between Fine Tuning versus Talent.

I will be playing tennis by then but I woudl have supported Paes and Stepanek who I am sure surprised a few seeds to get to the final.

I will support Paes Stepanek. Less difficult decision though. Who shrieks less loud out of the two. Maria's I know well. Have not watched Women's for a long while. But must admire her tenacity. Ok, will be neutral then. If I actually switch on telly, will decide on the quality of visual and aural display.

Tenez wrote:Azarenka v Shaparova....not sure I know who is Azarenka but I 'll support her. I was surprised she was the bookies favourite.

Then We have the Men's double between Fine Tuning versus Talent.

I will be playing tennis by then but I woudl have supported Paes and Stepanek who I am sure surprised a few seeds to get to the final.

Bryans got extremely lucky... Lindstedt-Tecau had a lead of 5-2 in 3rd set tie-break with 2 points on their own serve... Choked horribly to lose 7-5... Tecau is a mug doubles player...

Gonna root for Paes-Stepa here...

And would support Azarenka as lesser of the two evils...

Looking keenly for a match of variety and guile in the women's final.

Isn't it time we had a prize money discussion?

I did not know that spur. Good info!

Mano...I am also 100% behind Talent in the double!

Extremely nervous start from Azarenka... pressure of a GS Final....

spuranik wrote:Extremely nervous start from Azarenka... pressure of a GS Final....

Yep...Now she is on the board...hopefully she'll settle down.

There' s Sharapova sister umpiring today!

Azarenka looking great in those shorts.......

Wormen's final is played with more guts than the mens semi.

We men shoudl be ashamed of ourselves!

You think loads of angry faces means guts?

Well they hit harder and go for they shots!

Guts in the face of being unable to serve I suppose.

The guys in Sharapova's box look like 2 hit men!

Tenez,

I know where you are coming from, but there is a reason why it looks that way.

They cannot run down every ball like the men do (top 4) and they also commit a lot of unforced errors so the points are relatively short...

I think the longest rally of Kvitova-Sharapova match was about 14 shots!!

Tenez wrote:Wormen's final is played with more guts than the mens semi.

We men shoudl be ashamed of ourselves!

Very true, nobody can deny these two ladies go for their shot!

I think Murray is the Wozniaky equivalent for the ATP......

Pova's game is way too limited these days.

Azarenka and Kvitova will have 1 slam each, that'll be the main rivalry of the women's tour.

spuranik wrote:Tenez,

I know where you are coming from, but there is a reason why it looks that way.

They cannot run down every ball like the men do (top 4) and they also commit a lot of unforced errors so the points are relatively short...

Indeedy! The question is : Is teh womens game ahead of teh mens or teh other way around? I used to think the womens game was behind but now I am not so sure. Tey went through this phase of running each other down right and left...but now they are trying to get out of that. Whereas the men's game is fully into it.

Just started watching the match and am surprised to here Sharapova copying the grunt of Azarenka for tone, although that last point I could hear an ARRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHH trying to break free.

They play on a bigger court (relative to size & speed) though. The mens game would benefit from another six inches all round, to compensate for the equipment.

can we not talk about the grunting for 10 min?

bogbrush wrote:They play on a bigger court (relative to size & speed) though. The mens game would benefit from another six inches all round, to compensate for the equipment.

That was the title of a thread I wrote last year.

Looking one sided. Azarenka has won 9 of the last 10 games. Not sure if there is time to turn it around.

Sharapova's serving stats are almost as bad as Murrays

Can Sharapova bounce back?

Nope.

Tenez wrote:

bogbrush wrote:They play on a bigger court (relative to size & speed) though. The mens game would benefit from another six inches all round, to compensate for the equipment.

That was the title of a thread I wrote last year.

Didn't see it. I nearly made it an article. The idea deserves discussion. Be my guest.......

Azarenka won the WTA tournament, the Apia International Sydney, the week before the Australian Open, defeating, Stefanie Voegele, Jelena Jankovic and Marion Bartoli in straight sets, then defeating Agnieszka Radwańska and Li Na in the semi final and final respectively. She was a good bet for the Australian Open.

Sharapova is having all her limitations stripped bare today. A complete hammering.

Kvitova won the WTA championship beating Azarenka.

I would have loved to have a go at her.....

I like Azarenka's leg movement, bending down to reach the ball. Sharapova rather lacks this movement.

Bagel coming.

Accomplished after match speeches from both players.

New WTA rankings
1 Azarenka
2 Kvitova
3 Sharapova
4 Wozniacki
5 Stosur

Nore Staat wrote:Accomplished after match speeches from both players.

Best thing Maria did all day.

Good to have a #1 player with at least a GS in her resume.

Extremely satisfying result in doubles as well... Unseeded pairing oof Lea-Stepa win in straight sets 7-6 6-3...

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Good to have a #1 player with at least a GS in her resume.

In any other sport winning a first major title would have a player around 5th/6th. It just shows how poor the top women are playing..

spuranik wrote:Extremely satisfying result in doubles as well... Unseeded pairing oof Lea-Stepa win in straight sets 7-6 6-3...

Yep - Youpee. I like those 2 players!