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Channel Seven disrespect James Duckworth in Brisbane

8th January, 2015
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James Duckworth takes on Jeremy Chardy at the Sydney International. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Expert
8th January, 2015
21
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Channel Seven has been the tennis television station for decades, with the winner of every match they cover interviewed live immediately for the viewers. Except James Duckworth at the Brisbane International last night.

The channel showed no respect for the 22-year-old Aussie, despite his courageous 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over the mighty-tough-to-beat Finn Jarkko Nieminen to chalk up one of the most important victories of his fledgling career.

Having stuck with Duckworth to the end on court one, Channel Seven switched immediately to centre court for the Anna Ivanovic-Kaia Kanepi clash, and ignored Duckworth’s superb win completely.

He deserved far better than that.

Duckworth was gone for all money midway through the second set, but he kept pressure on Nieminen even though his heavy first serves weren’t working to plan, despite Duckworth blasting 16 aces past Nieminen.

The aces were well spread, and rarely at critical times, yet Duckworth hung in there. His ground strokes had plenty of power, while his volleys kept his left-handed opponent honest.

Duckworth has ticker, and plenty of it. He saved two match points at 6-5, and broke Nieminen in the second game of the decider when he was having the devil of a time keeping pace with Nieminen’s swinging serve.

To prove how close this match was, both players won 103 points in the overall.

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In the end, leading 5-3 and serving for the match, Duckworth remained cool to win it to love with two aces included – one for match point.

Then no interview by John Fitzgerald to praise Duckworth’s success. Channel Seven, that was poor form and showed no respect.

Sam Groth was given all the normal recognition earlier for his win over Poland’s Lukasz Kubot, in a clash between two bazooka servers which saw only one break point converted out of nine, and that was Groth to take out the first set.

Groth served 21 aces to 14, and won 113 points overall to 110. But it was Groth’s powerhouse ground strokes that made the difference.

Both Duckworth and Groth face their moment of truth later today in what will be a huge leap in their learning experience.

Three young Aussies feature on the Brisbane International centre court today and tonight.

Sam Groth starts proceedings this morning against Canada’s Milos Raonic, ranked eighth in the world, followed by Bernard Tomic against Kei Nishikori, ranked fifth in the world.

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Tonight will be Duckworth against world number two Roger Federer, who dodged a bullet last night after being down a set and 1-3 to Aussie journeyman John Millman before rallying for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win in a tick over two hours.

Millman played some outstanding tennis, and if Duckworth can play as well as he did against Gilles Simon and Nieminen, and Federer doesn’t improve on his display, Duckworth is in with a show.

One thing for sure, if James Duckworth creates the biggest upset of the tournament, you can bet your house on Channel Seven interviewing him afterwards.

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