AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS RESULTS FROM SERENA & SHARAPOVA, & THE GREATEST TENNIS PLAYER EVER ROGER FEDERER FROM MELBOURNE, GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN

Written by: on 20th January 2016
Tennis Australian Open 2016
AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS RESULTS FROM SERENA & SHARAPOVA, & THE GREATEST TENNIS PLAYER EVER ROGER FEDERER FROM MELBOURNE, GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN

epa05112007 Maria Sharapova of Russia in action against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus during their second round match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT  |

Rain, vegemite and never trust a coffee machine over a proper Barista. That’s this morning’s life lessons ahead of day three, but lucky for us there are stadium roofs in Australia. Three of them in fact, which is why we could settle ourselves in and watch Maria Sharapova in her second round match.

 

She breezed past the young Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2 6-1 much like the breeze blew around Melbourne Park today, as we cast an expert eye on her draw. With compatriot and ever unpredictable Svetlana Kuznetsova bowing out to start our daily seed carnage, Sharapova still looks set for a fourth round showdown with Belinda Bencic – that would be a real tasty match to get our teeth into. She bombed her way right through Timea Babos in straight sets 6-3 6-3.

 

Serena Williams of the US in action against Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan during their second round match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/JULIAN SMITH

Meanwhile, truckin’ right along was Serena Williams – anything Sharapova could do, well she could do it too beating Su-Wei Hsieh 6-1 6-2 (!). But what a change in conditions with Sharapova starting under the covers, and with the sun out and getting in Williams’ eyes in the second match. Yep – Four seasons in one day.

 

Still no carnage on Rod Laver, as the day session unbelievably reached its conclusion at the princely time of 2pm with the arrival of Roger Federer. Now this could be a tricky element with Alexandr Dolgopolov. His deceptive groundstrokes and athleticism – well goodness me the pace was blistering from both from the start.

 

Federer was counting on some amazing defence to allay Dolgopolov’s lightning quick service action (and serves, for that matter). A straight sets win, but there was plenty of muttering going on from the 17-time Grand Slam winner – the quest for perfection continues, but as always he was good value after the match, talking team changes and whether or not he fancies watching his girls play on the circuit.

 

It is so far so good with the new pairing between Federer and Ivan Ljubicic. A run to the Brisbane final and two straight sets win, Federer had this to say about the switch up:

 

“I have gotten used to Ivan now being on the team for the last sort of month or so. It’s not that different anymore like it maybe was at the very beginning. There is always a different angle or something else you can work on or something that maybe you tend to forget sometimes, as there are so many things to work on and so many things keep changing. The game keeps evolving. So I think it’s important to have an open mind.

 

And what of the new generation of Federers waiting in the wings – his goals may surprise you!

 

“I think it’s 40 years on the tennis tour that doesn’t excite me, you know, straight. (Laughter.) And [his daughters] don’t necessarily love it the way I did.

 

“They are going to tennis lessons because daddy says so because I think it’s a good thing for them. I think it’s a wonderful place, the tennis tour, otherwise I wouldn’t be on it. It’s a great sport to learn how to lose, to win, to figure it out, for friendship, discipline, you name it. For hand/eye coordination. I only think good things about it.

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament, in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/MAST IRHAM

 

“I didn’t say it in a negative way. I just don’t think they will ever be a tennis player who is ever going to play on Rod Laver Arena. Maybe they will surprise me and one day they will be here and I will be home in the cold and they will be here. Who knows?”

 

With more player-parents now a constant presence on the tours, what would be his first choice for the girls?

 

“I will support them all the way whatever they want to do, but I don’t see myself doing that right now. I’d rather support them in another sport. Go see them be a super skier. That would be exciting.

 

“To go watch tennis matches, I don’t know. (Laughter.) As much as I love it now, I’m just not sure what my excitement level will be in 20 years’ time from now. You never know.”

 

All we need now… is some of that sun. Failing that, we’re off to go buy a hoodie!

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