A Steady Grigor Dimitrov Earns Spot in Quarterfinal of Australian Open
By Jane Voigt There’s a razor-sharp line between brilliance and stupidity on a Grand Slam court. Nick Kyrgios dances that edge, seeming to relish the danger. Just look at his Mohawk buzz-cut and the diamond earring studs. Across the net from Kyrgios late today at the Australian Open, in their 4th-round match, stood the number-three…
Angelique Kerber Advances in Battle of Champions
By Jane Voigt Angelique Kerber took an extended walk-about last year. But make no mistake, she is back in form showing strength of character, honed defensive and spatterings of offensive skills, plus her iconic crouching-tiger ground strokes. “I’m just so happy it’s 2018 and not 2017 anymore,” Kerber said, in her press conference, after thumping…
Opportunities Abound for New Faces at Aussie Open
By Jane Voigt Venus Williams lost in the first round. The French Open, Wimbledon and U. S. Open champions Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguzura and Sloane Stephens respectively, are gone; and, Serena Williams, the Australian Open champ from 2017, withdrew before a ball was struck. She wasn’t ready to compete like she knows she can compete, after…
Jim Courier Crossed a Line in Post-match Interview With Roger Federer
By Jane Voigt The Australian Open draws marched on toward the fourth round today, as temperatures soared and players quibbled about court assignments. This gripe was most notable when Tennis Channel’s Jim Courier sideswiped Roger Federer in an on-court interview, following the last match of the day. Courier wanted to know if Roger had asked to…
Nike Premiers Flamingo Pink for Men. Says It’s a Confident and Revival Color.
By Jane Voigt January 16, 2018 — Christopher Clarey of The New York Times wrote a wish list for 2018 tennis, one being that players sponsored by the same company wear different outfits, if they’re playing each other in a match. Seems plausible. Fans could then tell players apart. We can certainly sympathize with Mr. Clarey’s desire. Especially…
The Thrill Is Gone as 12 Americans Exit Melbourne on Day One
By Jane Voigt Having it good is tough. Or so it seems, after a ragged start for Americans at the Australian Open yesterday, opening day of the first Grand Slam of 2018. Jack Sock debuted as a top ten seed, number eight, for the first time in his young career, but lost to Yuichi Sugita, ranked…
Fans Benefit as Heat Wave Breaks
By Jane Voigt January 16, 2017 — Australia’s longest heat wave since 1908 broke wide open today. Lightening splintered the sky, thunder clapped and rain spattered every inch of Melbourne Park. The three-hour delay was a bonus for those lucky fans at The Australian Open as well as early risers along the East Coast of…
Djokovic Just Too Good, Wins 6th Australian Open
He kissed the court, as he well should. It’s been good to Novak Djokovic, giving him that comfy cozy feel of home. Andy Murray, meanwhile, earned his own record … losing five-of-five finals at this major. “I feel like I’ve been here before,” Murray told fans, a wry smile peeking through his obvious disappointment. “Well done…
Kerber KOs Serena to win First Grand Slam
“These were the best two weeks of my life,” Angelique Kerber told fans. She wasn’t kidding. She’d celebrated her 28th birthday, faced match point in her opening round, advanced to her first major final, and saved her very best for last doing what most would think impossible — beating Serena Williams to win the Women’s Singles title…
Men’s Australian Open Semifinal: A Play in Three Acts
January 28, 2016 — Scene: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Australia. Men’s singles semifinal between world number one and number-one seed, Novak Djokovic, and world number three and number-three seed, Roger Federer. Head-to-head tied at 22-22, as action commences. (Note: roof open.) ACT I — SuperNova(k)Little did we know just how fast a player of Novak Djokovic’s…