Roar Rookie
Joined October 2011
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With the curtain coming down on the tennis calendar, I thought it appropriate to reflect on a stellar year for the women's game. In…
What is the obsession with television sporting directors showing the players' faces when national anthems/team songs are being sung prior to matches? More times…
The local council need to see what has been done to Redfern oval and copy it. The former home of the South Sydney Rabbitohs is now a picturesque community park.
Is Leichhardt Oval equipped to host professional sport?
This will be the 7th time QLD and NSW have met in the Shield final – the score to date, NSW won 5, QLD 0, Drawn 1 (and NSW as hosts won the title).
Some absolute crackers in there – lets hope for another one.
1984/85 NSW vs QLD Sydney NSW by 1 wkt
1985/86 NSW vs QLD Sydney Drawn
1989/90 NSW vs QLD Sydney NSW by 345 runs
1992/93 NSW vs QLD Sydney NSW by 8 wkts
2002/03 QLD vs NSW BrisbaneNSW by 246 runs
2004/05QLD vs NSW BrisbaneNSW by 1 wkt
A guide to the 2020-21 Sheffield Shield final
Great stats and analysis Avatar!
Should Osaka win (as expected) it will be her 7th career title, 4 of which will be majors. Pretty impressive!
I’m still stunned that it’s Brady in the final and not Barty. I’m also surprised that the media have not piled on Barty for the ‘choke’ and loss to Muchova. It’s not quite as bad as Greg Norman 1996 Masters capitulation or the late Jana Novotna’s 1993 Wimbledon final vs Graf. I note however Novotna came back and won in 1998 (a win I feel she never really got the credit for that it deserved).
I really hope Barty can do the same and come back and win the AO some time soon.
2021 Australian Open: Women's final preview
Let’s not cloud over the fact that this was a truly horrendous loss by Barty.
She will not get a better chance to make the AO final again.
This is a match she should never have lost from a set and break up medical time outs (MTO) or not.
However on the topic of the MTO, how about fighting fire with fire?
Once Barty lost the second set and could surely sense momentum had changed, why not also take a MTO? Maybe get her leg strapping checked out? Maybe she also felt dizzy (a la Muchova) or had breathing difficulties or back spasms (a la Djokovic)? I know that two wrongs don’t make a right but surely what is good for the goose is good for the gander 🙂
It's time for tennis to call timeout on medical breaks
Just a phenomenal win by Tsitsipas. The hard bit now is backing up against Medvedev tomorrow night and then Djokovic on Sunday.
Only third time in his career that Nadal has lost in 5 from 2 sets up.
This AO has confirmed for me that neither Zverev nor Kyrgios is likely to ever win a major.
However Tsitsipas is a different story (put Medvedev in this category too). Can this be one of their years?
Passing the baton: Tsitsipas conquers Nadal - the king of comebacks
As an example of how good the Shield can be when teams are at full strength is this blast from the past. October 1997 NSW v VIC at North Sydney Oval.
Steve Waugh made 202 not out against Reiffel, Saker, Dodemaide, Warne and Ian Harvey.
NSW side read Slater, Taylor, Waugh, Waugh, Bevan, S Lee, Matthews, Emery, Stuart, MacGill, McGrath. All represented Aus at either Test and/or ODI level. Vics also had M Elliott, D Jones (RIP)
Scorecard is here: http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997-98/AUS_LOCAL/SS/NSW_VIC_SS_22-25OCT1997.html
Highlights of Waugh’s 202 are here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ago-65XCVOU
Australia's postponed South African tour sets up brilliant domestic finale
A great stat I saw on ESPN last night – this is only the second mens major in the Open era where none of the 8 quarter finalists have won a major before.
Wimbledon 2003 – Bjorkman, Roddick, Federer, Schalken, Henman, Grosjean, Popp, Philippoussis
US Open 2020 – Carreno Busta, Shapovalov, Coric, A Zverev, Rublev, Medvedev, De Minaur, Thiem
Will need to check if it has happened in the womens at all
Serena Williams wins her 100th as Alex de Minaur breaks new ground
Mens is now really wide open. Perhaps Zverev vs Thiem or Medvedev in the final. But it would not surprise if any of the others got through.
In the womens, Osaka is the stand out in the top half, with Serena and Kenin in the bottom half. A semi between those two would be a cracker!
2020 US Open: The story so far
the VIC opener was Wayne N Phillips. Not to be confused with Wayne B Phillips the SA left-handed batsman and sometimes ‘keeper. And I think David Campbell should be Greg Campbell, Tassie quick.
The best players who never played Test cricket for Australia
I always liked Gerald DeKock and Michael Abrahamson on the radio when Aus toured SAf in the 1990s and 2000s. And Robin Jackman on the TV.
Are these cricket's best-ever commentators?
Djokovic’s medical issues mid-final and miraculous recoveries are a tactical move and have again succeeded in changing the course of a match. I recall some years ago Andy Murray was all over him in the Aus final when Djokovic developed breathing problems and appeared gone. Next minute he’s back to 100% and winning the title. Same thing last night.
With “tactics” like this he will never be the GOAT in my book.
The GOAT debate has become a Djoke
13 of past 16 AO men’s singles winners have last name of Djokovic or Federer. If Djokovic makes the final, he’ll win. So the question is, can someone take him out before then?
Women’s appears quite open but Barty has a fairly tough draw – full of tough Eastern Europeans in her way. As always, Serena is a threat but I feel Pliskova has a big chance.
2020 Australian Open: Previewing the contenders and their potential paths to glory
By the early and mid-1980s, the tournament had more than outgrown Kooyong. Not enough courts meant no mixed doubles tournament and reduced size fields for the singles and doubles in which the seeds sometimes had first round byes, too small and poor facilities for spectators, and being a private club, the members were not happy when the AO came around.
The decision to acquire land, initially build, and then further develop the amazing complex that is there now was an inspired one by the tennis authorities and the Vic government at the time, and has ensured the success of the AO and its future as one of the 4 annual Grand Slam tournaments.
The Australian Open is tennis' ugly duckling that came good
Also Hyeon Chung, who beat A Zverev and Djokovic 2 years ago en route to the semi finals, and Nicolas Mahut, he of the epic 3-day, 11-hour, 2010 Wimbledon match with John Isner. Highlights the depth of talent in the mens game.
Which Aussies will make it through the Australian Open qualifiers?
Where’s Juan Martin del Potro? With him there Argentina would be near favourites! Please don’t tell me he’s still injured.
Must admit some nations are really just making up the numbers! Moldova and Norway come to mind.
And where are all the Italians? They have an antipasto platter of top men missing (Sinner, Cecchinato, Berretini, Sonego and Seppi just to name a few).
ATP Cup players: Every team and player at the 2020 ATP Cup
Excellent analysis and article Paul!
Can’t quite put my finger on why, but I can’t get enthused about Thompson.
But you are spot on about the other 4. Real talent there which is exciting.
Where is Australian men's tennis going over the next decade?
Great preview of the upcoming summer of tennis, Avatar!
For me, the big questions at the AO are:
1) Can Barty break the long Aussie drought in the women’s? She is in with a decent chance but there are numerous other chances in the women’s field.
2) Can someone other than Federer or Djokovic win the men’s? Those two have dominated the event winning 13 of the past 16 titles. Could we finally see someone else win the title? Someone break through for their first major?
3) How far can De Minaur, Kyrgios and Millman and Popyrin go? Can one of them make the second week?
Your guide to the 2020 Australian summer of tennis (Part 3)
So far so good for your tips there Todd!
De Minaur and Barty with wins, and losses for Stosur, Hon and Gavrilova.
I reckon Stosur might call it quits after the Fed Cup final in Perth in November (hopefully after guiding Aus to a win in the doubles!)
Other notable results for me are first round losses for Genie Bouchard and Thomas Berdych. Bouchard has not been the same since her slip and fall in the change rooms at Flushing Meadow (was it 2 years ago?) and perhaps a career out of tennis beckons. Berdych appears a shadow of his former self due to injuries and might also pull the pin soon. Another player of great talent who could have won majors if not for complete domination of the big 3 in the current era.
US Open: Aussie preview and predictions
MCG one was Boxing day test of 1998. Steve Waugh took the extra half hour to get the win and Aus ended up losing. Chasing 175 lost by 12 runs at around 9pm from memory with extra overs due to previous rain meaning a very long day.. Crazy stuff. Dean Headley 6/60
And another is Hobart in December 2011 to NZ. Chasing 241 lost by 7 runs. Doug Bracewell 6 wickets (9 in the match) and Dave Warner carrying bat for 123*
Why is Australia cursed to lose the classics?
I’ve looked at last 40 years – Australia are won 4 and lost 16 in “close” results – close being 20 runs or less or by 2 wickets or less. Only wins are:
Colombo won by 16 runs 1992
Port Elizabeth won by 2 wickets 1997
Johannesburg won by 2 wickets 2006
Johannesburg won by 2 wickets 2011
So when England got within 20 runs I knew it was over!
Stokes revives Ashes with extraordinary match-winning ton
Djokovic’s dominance is ridiculous and barring injury may well continue for the next 5 years. 25 major titles and $200m prizemoney is not out of the question. And I actually fear for the men’s game as total dominance by one player is not healthy or good for the game.
Djokovic domination: Novak knocks over Nadal in straight sets
Good review Kieran!
From what I saw Alexei Popyrin is a serious talent. He has a big game and is exciting to watch. Astra Sharma also shows promise and interestingly both have taken overseas paths to where they are now. Popyrin via years in Spain and Sharma via college in the USA.
The ten Aussie singles players who made it out of Round 1, rated
Excellent article Richard.
Cilic, Thiem and Raonic are a few other names in the mix. Plus the talented but underachieving Berdych. And del Potro is missing again due to injury which is a big shame as he really is the only one in my opinion who can regularly challenge those big 3.
A new winner this year would be great but alas I can’t see it happening.
Only injuries will end Federer, Nadal and Djokovic's dominance
Chris Matthews was another like Angel. Prolific wicket taker at domestic level but couldn’t translate that to the Test arena. I recall him trying to bounce Richie Richardson at the WACA. Richardsons hookshot deposited the ball out of the ground!
Cummins only 50-50 chance as WA speed demon gets shock Test squad call-up with Neser