Australian Open 2013: Match Thread 2

[User 774433]

First topic message reminder :

Australian Open 2013:

Information: The Australian Open is a major tennis tournament held annually over the last fortnight of January in Melbourne, Australia. First held in 1905, the tournament is chronologically the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events of the year – the other three being the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. It features men's and women's singles; men's, women's, and mixed doubles and junior's championships; as well as wheelchair, legends and exhibition events. Since 1988 the tournament has been played on hard courts at Melbourne Park.
The Australian Open typically has very high attendance, second only to the US Open. It was also the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat with its two primary courts, Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, equipped with retractable roofs.

Day by Day Match Reports: http://www.sportpulse.net/category/tennis

v2 Preview: https://www.606v2.com/t39437-australian-open-2013-the-contenders#1785084

Dates: January 14 - January 27

Draw: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/ms/index.html

Schedule: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/index.html

AO Rankings Points Tracker: https://www.606v2.com/t39351-points-tracker-ao-2013


Ready? Play.

Amritia3ee

[VTR]

Bit harsh lkv2! He fought back from 4-1 in this set. Fluffed it a bit at the end but wouldn't have even got to a tiebreak 12 months ago.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Murray's serve has really dipped in this set and Federer cashing in, looks like into a fifth we'll go.

[CaledonianCraig]

Looks set for a fifth set. Federer double break at 5-2 up.

[Guest]

unbelievably poor behaviour from the crowd, constantly shouting out when Murray's about to serve, IDIOTS!

They have been idiots all tournament shouting during points in most matches.

[CaledonianCraig]

Four set points for Fed.

[Chydremion]

Federer raping murray's second serve now

[Jahu]

2:2 in sets, what a match this is getting. Well done to both.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Federer the tie break God. Karlovic eat your heart out.

[CaledonianCraig]

Federer hangs tough and takes the tie-break comfortably dispelling this age factor myth I would say.

[Mad for Chelsea]

desperately poor TB from Murray, pushy second serves and UEs all over the place. Into a fifth we go, can Murray dig deep and remember all the good things he's done for most of the match?

[Chydremion]

Murray having same problem as at Wimbledon. First sets serves amazingly, then after some time his toss goes more over the place and he starts to mis first serves because of that.

[invisiblecoolers]

Heart attack set, so much oscillations.

[JuliusHMarx]

Well, just b0llocks

It's all about belief now from Murray. Mental strength. We know Fed's got it - time for Murray to show it too.

[Guest]

What a brilliant game from Fed to break back.

Some of those returns in that game and the BH down the line were EPIC.

[CaledonianCraig]

If Murray loses this match he will really kick himself. Federer's serve has improved whilst Andy's has dipped that was key. Nothing wrong with Andy's mentality though as he has showed much more toughness. Here we go.....

[Guest]

Bit harsh lkv2! He fought back from 4-1 in this set. Fluffed it a bit at the end but wouldn't have even got to a tiebreak 12 months ago.

Not really. If you want to sit at the top table, you need to close out matches like these. Going by the live feed in 2 TB's he has played this match passive and junk tennis. Needs to lay off that and be more aggressive. When Fed's was broke at 4-2 I am sure TB was best outcome given how the first one went.

I am hoping Murray can see this out in the 5th.

[CaledonianCraig]

What a brilliant game from Fed to break back.

Some of those returns in that game and the BH down the line were EPIC.

And you said he was cooked too eh?

[Guest]

Djokovic must be chuffed.

I don't mind who wins this now.

Some patchy play but also some brilliant stuff from both guys.

[Jahu]

So this is the REAL final then, as any final with Djoko is a joke.

[Mad for Chelsea]

good solid hold from Murray, needed that

[daraghj82]

what a game, 2-2

[JuliusHMarx]

FFS - the BBC have replaced Bargain Hunt with the useless bloody tennis!

[Mad for Chelsea]

first blood to Murray in the fifth, a poor game from Federer.

[CaledonianCraig]

FFS - the BBC have replaced Bargain Hunt with the useless bloody tennis!

Awww what a shame. Hawkeye will be upset.

[JuliusHMarx]

Surely from here.....

[Chydremion]

Federer now dead on his feet.

[Guest]

Surely from here.....

[Mad for Chelsea]

the drop shot really hasn't worked for Federer at all today, another pretty limp effort there and Murray has the 3-0 lead.

[CaledonianCraig]

Keep it solid now Andy. I can't help feeling (maybe with a huge slice of bias) that Andy really deserves this win.

[Duty281]

This is great from Murray, what guts and determination to hold Federer off after he levelled it at 2-2. Mentally, Murray is far superior than what he was at Wimbledon 2012. Keep going Andy, 3-0 and nearly in his third consecutive Grand Slam final!

[CaledonianCraig]

This is great from Murray, what guts and determination to hold Federer off after he levelled it at 2-2. Mentally, Murray is far superior than what he was at Wimbledon 2012. Keep going Andy, 3-0 and nearly in his third consecutive Grand Slam final!

Spot on.

[bogbrush]

Federer now dead on his feet.

It's just too much; combination of 5 setter in last round, 31/2, excellent opponent and unfriendly conditions is too much.

Probably better to lose (not really!) as going to a final with the mighty wall after this run to the final would be crippling.

[CaledonianCraig]

Federer now dead on his feet.

It's just too much; combination of 5 setter in last round, 31/2, excellent opponent and unfriendly conditions is too much.

Probably better to lose (not really!) as going to a final with the mighty wall after this run to the final would be crippling.

Well sorry but how did he steel himself to win the fourth set? Besides let us not forget this is his first tournie of the season, he has had a smooth and relatively short matches to get him here so if he can't compete under those circumstances then when will he?

[Mad for Chelsea]

Murray's BH has certainly been firing better today, what a beauty that was

[CaledonianCraig]

I do concede he has slowed down here though. However, can you honestly say BB - hand on heart that Federer deserves to win this match looking at all the stats?

[bogbrush]

Federer now dead on his feet.

It's just too much; combination of 5 setter in last round, 31/2, excellent opponent and unfriendly conditions is too much.

Probably better to lose (not really!) as going to a final with the mighty wall after this run to the final would be crippling.

Well sorry but how did he steel himself to win the fourth set? Besides let us not forget this is his first tournie of the season, he has had a smooth and relatively short matches to get him here so if he can't compete under those circumstances then when will he?

Well I guess wijnning 17 of these things and battling for God knows how many years means you're as determined and stubborn as all sh1t.

As for first tournie, well what happened three weeks ago really is irrelevent; more important is that he's played a tough match Wednesday, playing a tougher one now, it's slow out there, and he's not quite the chicken he once was. It's not controversial really, is it?

[Guest]

Federer now dead on his feet.

It's just too much; combination of 5 setter in last round, 31/2, excellent opponent and unfriendly conditions is too much.

Probably better to lose (not really!) as going to a final with the mighty wall after this run to the final would be crippling.

Well sorry but how did he steel himself to win the fourth set? Besides let us not forget this is his first tournie of the season, he has had a smooth and relatively short matches to get him here so if he can't compete under those circumstances then when will he?

From what I have read, Federer upped the aggression and Murray went back to powderpuff passive stuff. I don't think the Tsonga match has had any bearing on this result. I think the concern is how long would potentially 3 5 set matches stay in his legs as the season wears on.

[Danny_1982]

I don't think conditions are a factor. The commentators are saying there is virtually no wind.

This is not over.... This is Federer we're talking about.

[CaledonianCraig]

Something Fed fans always boast of is the winners hit as display of talent/aggression and here Murray has hit more winners than Federer.

[bogbrush]

I do concede he has slowed down here though. However, can you honestly say BB - hand on heart that Federer deserves to win this match looking at all the stats?

Oh no, I don't. I knew after two games he couldn't win it, as soon as I saw the pace of the ball off his racquet I knew he was cooked. I'm not really sure how he's dragged it out this far to be honest, mainly stubborness I suspect.

[CaledonianCraig]

Federer now dead on his feet.

It's just too much; combination of 5 setter in last round, 31/2, excellent opponent and unfriendly conditions is too much.

Probably better to lose (not really!) as going to a final with the mighty wall after this run to the final would be crippling.

Well sorry but how did he steel himself to win the fourth set? Besides let us not forget this is his first tournie of the season, he has had a smooth and relatively short matches to get him here so if he can't compete under those circumstances then when will he?

Well I guess wijnning 17 of these things and battling for God knows how many years means you're as determined and stubborn as all sh1t.

As for first tournie, well what happened three weeks ago really is irrelevent; more important is that he's played a tough match Wednesday, playing a tougher one now, it's slow out there, and he's not quite the chicken he once was. It's not controversial really, is it?

No I suppose not. Been a high quality match though. Certainly the most competitive they have played in a slam.

[lydian]

Yep, that 4th set comeback ironically finished off Federer. On these really slow courts he's done we'll to push Murray as hard as he has but his ground strokes have lacked potency all night, his FH in particular seems underpowered without angle.

I steadfastedly stick to the point that he should have changed his equipment, that racquet he plays with is too small and heavy to hang in these long ralleys. It has zero margin for error and he needs that more these days.

All that said, Murray has served as well as he could today and that's helped him enormously. Not over yet but you feel Federer is spent right now...can he push once again?

[CAS]

Federer hasn't been a net too much today, Murray seems to have taken his confidence on the play

[lydian]

Yep BB as soon as I saw 20c and wind I knew it wasn't going to be Feds night, slower conditions are obviously going to suit Murray.

[bogbrush]

Yep, that 4th set comeback ironically finished off Federer. On these really slow courts he's done we'll to push Murray as hard as he has but his ground strokes have lacked potency all night, his FH in particular seems underpowered without angle.

I steadfastedly stick to the point that he should have changed his equipment, that racquet he plays with is too small and heavy to hang in these long ralleys. It has zero margin for error and he needs that more these days.

All that said, Murray has served as well as he could today and that's helped him enormously. Not over yet but you feel Federer is spent right now...can he push once again?

email Annacone would you?

[CAS]

I think Murray will win it here at 5-2

[Josiah Maiestas]

Federer is burned out from all the night matches and toughest draw ever. Schedule has killed his chances.

[lydian]

Lol BB...I'm sure Paul has said as much but you know how STUBBORN old Rodge is...

Looks bad here 0-30...he's cooked.

[VTR]

I think Murray will win it here at 5-2

I give up on BBC live scores - they just showed 4-3 to Murray! Have corrected it now, useless muppets.

[bogbrush]

Good luck Murray in the final though, he can definitely do it although I think conditions are important. He needs is cool and if possible blowy, he is the best of all at adapting to these ciscumstances. It helped in the USO I believe, critically.

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