Australian Open 2012- Quick Highlights and Updates

Written by: Staff on 27th January 2012

Australian Open 2012- Quick Highlights and Updates

epa03079515 Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball during his men's semi final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 26 January 2012. Nadal won in four sets. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

Singles – Semifinal: (2) R Nadal def. (3) R Federer 6-7(5-7) 6-2 7-6(7-5) 6-4

By all the evidence, Rafael Nadal still has his jinx on Roger Federer. Federer started well and then started to slip. In the third set, his forehand was just barely missing. It cost him the set, and although it was thrilling, the result felt pretty inevitable after that.

Federer defends his points, but his #3 ranking remains in danger. If Andy Murray can win the Australian Open, then Federer will fall to #4. Any other outcome and Federer is #3.

Rafael Nadal is #2 no matter what. But he will go into the final fairly well rested — and, if he can win it, he may well have a chance to pass Novak Djokovic some time this spring. He is, potentially at least, laying a foundation. And Federer, so far this year, isn’t.

Doubles – Semifinal: (1) Bryan/Bryan def. (7) Lindstedt/Tecau 4-6 6-3 7-6(7-5)

Are the Bryans missing the old days of five set matches or something? They can’t seem to play an easy match for their lives around here, and faced a match point in the third set. But they hung on to keep alive their hopes for another Slam — and, of course, to keep the contest for #1 hot.

Doubles – Semifinal: Paes/Stepanek def. (2) Mirnyi/Nestor 2-6 6-4 6-4

Did we say the Bryans kept the contest for #1 hot? They did their part — but Mirnyi/Nestor, who played later, didn’t do theirs. It’s over; the Bryans will keep the top spots, with Mirnyi/Nestor co-#3.

The real surprise is Leander Paes, though. Playing with a new partner, he’s back in the Melbourne final (meaning, incidentally, that three of last year’s finalists are back; only Mahesh Bhupathi didn’t make it). That means that Paes will keep the #7 ranking, as the list below shows:

1..(1) Bryan…………..9120

3..(3) Mirnyi………….8310

3..(3) Nestor………….8310

5..(5) Llodra………….7320

5..(6) Zimonjic………..7320

7..(7) Paes……………5215

8.(13) Tecau…………..5020

9..(9) Qureshi…………4720

10.(16) Lindstedt……….4620

Radek Stepanek came in at #91, with nothing to defend, and he has now increased his points by almost 150%. But even a title would leave him still stuck around #20. Still, we’d guess he’d like to have the trophy….

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinal: (5) Vesnina/Paes def. (4) Raymond/Bopanna 6-2 6-2

Finally the Mixed Doubles nailed a result — Vesnina/Paes were our #2 seeds. And they are now the top seeds in the field under no matter how you slice it. It will be interesting to see how Vesnina handles the nerves. She didn’t do so well in ordinary doubles. At least she doesn’t have to face her partner Sania Mirza until the final.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinal: (8) Mattek-Sands/Tecau def. Gajdosova/Soares 4-6 6-1 13-11 (Match TB)

Mixed rankings would actually have put Gajdosova/Soares a little ahead of Mattek-Sands/Tecau (although neither team would have been seeded), so little wonder it was close.