A time to breathe, before the drama poppets return at the Australian Open
Well thank heavens for that chink in the clouds, a return to the norm … we don’t mind admitting we were properly exhausted after all the drama of Day Three at the Australian Open, and Day Four was a little happier. OK well maybe not for eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki.
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka was always going to be the joker in the pack. Her first round against Sloane Stephens promised so much, but in the end, it was a confident return for the Belarusian, who cut a tragic figure just last March barely able to hobble around while trying to play with a recurring foot injury.
Fast forward (with a pair of sunglasses, admittedly) to a much anticipated clash between two former World No. 1s and it was almost a shame one of them had to lose.
Azarenka may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is a driven quality to both these players that made it a must watch match.
Caroline Wozniacki has been long overdue a shot at the slams and after a torrid summer, she got another swipe at the US Open, but went out with a whimper against Serena Williams. This year as the eighth seed, alas she joined Ana Ivanovic in a surprise week one exit at the hands of a very determined Azarenka.
“I think sometimes it doesn’t really matter on what stage you play,” Azarenka said about meeting a top seed so early. “It’s probably tougher in the beginning of the tournament. But for me I knew that I’m unseeded so I can play anybody. I just accept whoever is on the opposite side. She had such an incredible end of last season so I knew I had to step up my game and really take my chances today – I think I did that pretty well.”
Novak Djokovic whizzed through his round to match in almost indecent haste, and defending champ Stan Wawrinka may have been made to work for his next round, but he’s still hanging in there in the “we haven’t dropped a set but you have” side of the fence.
Serena had a bit of a scare at the hands of one of the fan-favourites Vera Zvonareva who more than held her own in the first set before being swept off the court.
Well, back we go to the doyens of drama tomorrow – Maria Sharapova could have her hands full with one of the WTA’s Rising Stars Zarina Diyas, and we might be treated with another lesson in Escapology 101. Andy Murray gets a change of scene but not quite with the big boys and girls on Rod Laver but he moves to Hisense for his third round match. Roger Federer has not lost to Andreas Seppi in 10 matches. We doubt he’ll lose now.
And that leaves Rafael Nadal. The night’s entertainment (and wisely this time left to last!) all eyes will be on whether he has gotten over the mystery virus that knocked him for six on court, and jolly nearly knocked him out of the tournament for another year. Let’s remember this is Nadal. Most of us who have had appendicitis could barely move, much less run around a tennis court before and after. Heavens when this chick has the merest sniffle of a cold, she could happily take a duvet week, never mind a day!
Well come on now, potential-upset-lightning surely will not strike twice?
Topics: Andy Murray, AO15, Australian Open, Caro Wozniacki, Federer, global chick, Maria Sharapova, Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Serena Williams, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Wta
GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN ON LADIES #TENNIS NEWS AND DRAMA FROM THE #AustralianOpen 2015- http://t.co/osBj2oJvMX #AusOpen #AO15 #wta