For some reason we have all been hood-winked by the equal pay syndrome expounded by feminists and liberal minded fair play supporters. I include myself in this second group because I believe in the equality of the sexes, and for equal pay for equal job performance. But the key word in the equation is equal [...]
Serena Williams has won her fourth Australian Open title following an utterly masterful mauling of Russian Dinara Safina.
The American blitzed the No. 3 seed 6-0 6-3 in under an hour, smacking 23 winners and four aces while committing just seven unforced errors.
From the first point, Williams looked amazingly sharp, her groundstrokes grooved, serve dominant and [...]
The 2009 Australian Open final was over less than sixty minutes after it started.
Second seed Serena Williams raced past third seed Dinara Safina in straight sets to win her tenth career Grand Slam title and recapture the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour number one ranking.
355 began the game at the beginning of the fortnight. And after today's womens' final, 15 players managed to beat the draw.
First off, big congratulations to veteran SP'er *Net_Raider*, who wins our huge prize package. We'll be in touch about getting everything to you, Net!
And the list of our other 14 draw beaters at this years Australian:
*ajay.gov
bluereggie
evil_juju
fierceheart
joshman_can
kknudsen
krishna
lemons
mwoods
nbala
pkultgen
repoman
tenor777
tour90 *
All of our other winners will receive a medal acknowledging their beating the 2009 AOSP draw.
Thanks everyone for playing. This was our 5th anniversary of the AOSP, and was our biggest game ever. And it came off without a hitch.
We'll look forward to seeing you in May for the 2009 French Open SP.
*Rod Laver Arena 16:00 Start Time *
*1. Mixed Doubles - Finals *
Nathalie Dechy (FRA) v. Sania Mirza (IND)
Andy Ram (ISR) Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)
Not Before:19:30
*2. Men's Singles - Finals
Rafael Nadal (ESP)[1] v. Roger Federer (SUI)[2]*
Everyone has Serena in the final The answer to the tiebreak will determine the winner of our prizes. In order:
a) # 0f Games
b) Length of Final, in minutes
c) # of winners hit by the winner of the match.
If it can be decided by #1, we go no further. If we still have a tie after # of games, we will go to #2 with those people who were still tied after #1. Then #3 if needed.
*Net_Raider*: a) 17 b) 88 c) 72
*Joshman_Can*: a) 18 b) 83 c) 72
*Tour90*: a) 18 b) 84 c) 72
*Lemons*: a) 19 b) 92 c) 73
*Mwoods*: a) 20 b) 95 c) 74
*Evil Juju*: a) 20 b) 110 c) 95
*Tenor777*: a) 20 b) 107 c) 82
*Pkultgen*: a) 21 b) 101 c) 89
*BlueReggie*: a) 21 b) 75 c) 82
*Repoman*: a) 21 b) 108 c) 91
*Krishna*: a) 22 b) 117 c) 83
*Ajay.gov*: a) 22 b) 105 c) 87
*Nbala*: a) 25 b) 120 c) 90
*Fiercehart*: a) 25 b) 102 c) 94
*Kknudsen*: a) 29 b) 122 c) 96
We'll announce the winner of the prize package sometime following the match (likely, sometime around 9 or so a.m. US time). I'll be in touch with our tiebreak winner by pm to arrange for the delivery of the prizes.
Indian youngster Yuki Bhambri turned in a dominating performance to beat Germany’s Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas 6-3 6-1 and take home the junior boys’ singles championship at Australian Open 2009.
It took only 57 minutes for 16-year-old Bhambri to make his official mark in the tennis world, overpowering his opponent with his trademark forehand and volley tactics.
He joins [...]
: Member Blogs Recent Entries Best Entries Best Blogs Blog List Search Blogs Talk About Tennis Forums CONTESTS Other Contests 2008-2009 PeterSkan's Contest : 2009 Australian Open AO 2009 SkanCanTest : Semi-Final Standings User Name Remember Me Password Member Blogs Arcade Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Notices Attention players still alive in the Suicide Pool Click here for a special notice on the prize package . tiebreak PeterSkan's Contest : 2009 Australian Open This is TAT's home for PeterSkan's 2009 AO Contest Have fun Thread Tools Yesterday , 12:41 PM 1 PeterSkan Champion of the Arts Join Date : Dec 2004 Location : Saskatchewan , Canada Posts : 1,612 Awards Showcase Total Awards 3 AO 2009 SkanCanTest : Semi-Final Standings What the Deuce I guess it helps to have all four finalists on your team . Well done PDF attached raw data : follows 2009 AO SkanCanTest Semi-Final Standing Rank Team Poster Board Domination Victory Quality Total Tier 1 : Intake 1 The Ashes Deuce TAT 863 1350 280 2493 2 Rosemary's babies owendonovan TAT 852 1270 254 2376 3 The Team asena ESPN 767 1320 273 2360 4 Federer's 14th Federex ESPN 856 1240 252 2348 5 No Need for a Third Seed oploskoffie TAT
*Rod Laver Arena 13:00 Start Time *
*1. Junior Girls' Singles - Finals
Laura Robson (GBR)[5] v. Ksenia Pervak (RUS)[3] *
*2. Junior Boys' Singles - Finals *
*Yuki Bhambri (IND)[1]* v. Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas (GER)
Not Before:19:30
*3. Women's Singles - Finals
Dinara Safina (RUS)[3] v. Serena Williams (USA)[2] *
*4. Men's Doubles - Finals
Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)[3] v. Bob Bryan (USA)[2]
Mark Knowles (BAH)[3] Mike Bryan (USA)[2]
*
*Margaret Court Arena 13:00 Start Time *
*1. Junior Girls' Doubles - Finals *
*Christina McHale (USA)[6]* v. Alexandra Krunic (SRB)
*Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO)[6]* Sandra Zaniewska (POL)
*2. Junior Boys' Doubles - Finals *
Mikhal Biryukov (RUS) v. *Francis Casey Alcantara (PHI)[7]*
Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) *Cheng-Peng Hsieh (TPE)[7]*
*Show Court 2 13:00 Start Time*
*1. Women's Wheelchair Singles - Finals
Esther Vergeer (NED)[1] v. Korie Homan (NED)[2]*
*2. Men's Wheelchair Singles - Finals *
*Shingo Kunieda (JPN)[1*] v. Stephane Houdet (FRA)
*3. Quad Wheelchair Singles *
David Wagner (USA) v. Peter Norfolk (GBR)You have made it! Congratulations to all eight of you for your chance to beat the draw, receive a medal, and play the tiebreak for a chance at the prize package!
Yes, we know who each of you are going to pick, *BUT you must make it official* by making your choice in this thread.
Do NOT post your tiebreak answers. Send those by PM'ing me as set forth in the private message I sent to each of you or you can view the tiebreak rules *Here* (http://www.talkabouttennis.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13023)
I will post your tiebreak answers once the thread is closed.
Speaking of closing, *see the deadline in blue below*. I chose to close this thread 1/2 hour before the men's final starts because that way I can close the thread, post your tiebreak answers, put on a big pot of coffee, and be ready to enjoy the final.
*Picks are due no later than Sunday 2/1 7:00 p.m. Australian time, that is Sunday, 3:00 a.m. USA Eastern Time. This thread will be closed promptly at the deadline.*
Your final:
*[1] NADAL, Rafael ESP vs [2] FEDERER, Roger SUI*
It's the "Battle Of Tennis's Baby Sisters" for the first Slam of the year.
Serena goes for #10. You've got almost every single argument in her favor, as well the "odd year" stat, the "one she wins the Quarters" stat, the "well, she's Serena" stat. The almost typical scratchy start from a woman who claims she has yet to play her best tennis at this Slam. But it seems to me that since the 2nd set vs. Kuzzy, the tennis has been mighty fine.
Dinara. Makes it to her 2nd Slam final, on a surface where her game should excel. She's been streaky as well throughout the Slam, and came awful close to being dismissed at least twice allready. Yet she's managed to have the best Australian of her career, and has cemented her status as one of the elite of the WTA. She's the only player aside from Serena to get to two of the last 4 Slam finals.
The #1 ranking in womens' tennis also is on the line with this title.
Career H2H: Williams 5-1. Serena's 4-0 on hardcourts, 3-0 at Slams. Dinara's only win came on clay at Berlin last year.
Venus and Serena Williams won the 2009 Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday, beating Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama in the final. 
The 2009 Australian Open final will showcase two of the best players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
The winner of Saturday night's showdown between Serena Williams and Dinara Safina will take home the women's title and the world number one ranking. 
Second seeds Bob and Mike Bryan will contest their fifth straight Australian Open final against third seeds Mark Knowles and Mahesh Bhupathi, who will be appearing in their first Grand Slam championship title-match, on Saturday.
The Bryan twins defeated fourth seeds Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes 6-3, 6-3 in 54 minutes on the Hisense Arena, in what [...]
Rising British star Laura Robson has advanced into the girls’ singles final of Australian Open 2009 after defeating first seed Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand 6-4 6-3 on Friday afternoon.
Lertcheewakarn, who hadn’t lost a set coming into the match, began the first set in blistering form. She broke the 15-year-old Briton in the opening and third [...]
Top seed Rafael Nadal has advanced to his first Australian Open final, defeating compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4 in an epic Friday’s men’s singles semifinal to set up a dream match-up with second seed Roger Federer on Sunday.
Nadal, who hadn’t dropped a set en route to Friday’s semifinal, withstood a staggering 94 [...]
Ana Ivanovic has announced on her official website her provisional calendar for the remainder of the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tennis season.
She is next scheduled to compete at the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas tie between Serbia and Japan in February.
Serena Williams added another distinction to her brilliant resume on Thursday.
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced today that by advancing to the singles and doubles finals of Australian Open, Williams has broken the female athlete career prize money record previously held by golfer Annika Sorenstam.
Second seed Serena Williams advanced to the 2009 Australian Open final on Thursday. She will play third seed Dinara Safina in Saturday's championship match. 
Tennis fans in the UK have been starved for someone to root for since before I was born. Andy Murray has lifted their spirits and their dreams of finally having a champion, and some day he might win a ‘big’ one. But Laura Robson could fulfill the British void before Murray does. She will play [...]
World No.2 Roger Federer has advanced to the men’s singles final of Australian Open 2009 after defeating Andy Roddick 6-2 7-5 7-5 in their semifinal on Thursday night.
After a second straight scorching day in Melbourne, one where temperatures hovered at 43 degrees for much of the afternoon, the conditions became kinder before the 7.30pm start, [...]
Calm, collected and cool—with the Rod Laver Arena roof closed to keep out Melbourne’s oppressive heat wave—the second-seeded American ended Olympic champion Elena Dementieva’s 15-match winning streak with a 6-3, 6-4 victory Thursday to reach the Australian Open final.
All that stands between her and a 10th Grand Slam title is third-seeded Dinara Safina, who is [...]
The championship match at the 2009 Australian Open is between Serena Williams and Dinara Safina.
For more information about the contest and its prizes or to leave your pick, please go here.
Serena Williams and Dinara Safina will battle on Saturday for the 2009 Australian Open title.
The winner will be crowned the women's champion in Melbourne and the new world number one on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
Tennis Channel will welcome a new, yet familiar face to their broadcast team this summer.
Five-time US Open champion Jimmy Connors will be the lead analyst during the network’s upcoming telecast from Flushing Meadows in August, its inaugural coverage of America’s largest tennis tournament.
Australian Open semifinalist Serena Williams and her sister Venus were not on the U.S. roster submitted Wednesday for Fed Cup first-round matches against Argentina next month.
New U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez invited both Williams siblings to participate, but they declined, citing scheduling issues, the U.S. Tennis Association said.
“This year, with the new schedule, the new [...]The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced today that the Warsaw Open has been upgraded to a Premier event status on the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendar.
Two new International level tournaments in Bad Gastein, Austria and Marbella, Spain have also been added to the 2009 schedule.
: skip to main skip to sidebar The Indian Tennis Blog The one-stop shop for Indian tennis fans Congrats Yuki Bhambri India gets a junior Australian Open champion finally Tuesday , January 20, 2009 Tennis Briefs Sania Mirza in Round 2 of Australian Open Agence France-Presse MELBOURNE : Sania Mirza made a successful return from a long-term wrist injury on Monday when she downed Marta Domachowska of Poland in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 at the Australian Open . For more click here The Press Trust of India NEW DELHI : His phenomenal performance at the Chennai Open has re-ignited the passion in the men's game in the country but Sania Mirza is hoping that Somdev Devvarman's success will do more than just help tennis shoot up the popularity chart . For more click here Indo-Asian News Service NEW DELHI : While Somdev Devvarman is fast emerging as a new Indian tennis star , Yuki Bhambri is seen as another one in the making . For more click here The Press Trust of India KOCHI : The four-day All India Lotus Trophy Tennis Tournament will commence here from January 21. For more click here ATP RANKINGS 19 January 2009 in brackets positions lost gained since last week SINGLES 155 1 Devvarman , Somdev: skip to main skip to sidebar The Indian Tennis Blog The one-stop shop for Indian tennis fans Congrats Yuki Bhambri India gets a junior Australian Open champion finally Wednesday , January 14, 2009 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Somdev Devvarman Indian tennis sensation Somdev Devvarman spoke to The Indian Tennis Blog about life after his giant-killing run to the final of the 2009 Chennai . Open How helpful was the 3-week training with Andy Roddick before the Chennai Open . Did it play a part in your performance last week It was an incredible experience , training with Andy . He and Coach Larry Stefanki gave me some really good tips . Also training with someone who has been in the top 10 of the world for many years gave me great insight into how hard I need to work . It definitely had a big role in my performance in . Chennai Any ranking goals for 2009 I've never set any goals for myself as far as rankings are concerned . I just want to keep working hard and enjoying the hard work . The rankings will take care of . themselves Any expectations from the Australian Open I go into the Australian Open with a lot of confidence as I feel I'm playing well . I have worked hard in the off season to: skip to main skip to sidebar The Indian Tennis Blog The one-stop shop for Indian tennis fans Congrats Yuki Bhambri India gets a junior Australian Open champion finally Sunday , January 11, 2009 Tennis Briefs Somdev goes down fighting in Chennai Reuters CHENNAI : Third-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic defeated Indian wildcard Somdev Devvarman 6-4 7-6 to win the Chennai Open on Sunday . For more , click here The Press Trust of India CHENNAI : The Chennai Open will remain in the city for at least another five years with increased prize money and a title sponsor . For more , click here The Times of India BANGALORE : Comeback girl Sania Mirza made a strong statement in the World Team Challenge tennis tournament in Hong Kong on Friday when she dismissed world No.25 Agnes Szavay of Hungary to give the Asia Pacific team a 2-0 win over a Europe side led by world No.1 Jelena Jankovic . For more , click here Sportstar By winning the singles title in the under-18 section of the Orange Bowl in Miami , the 16-year-old Yuki Bhambri has not only become the No . 2 in the world junior rankings but also the best hope for 2009. For more , click here ATP RANKINGS 12 January 2009 in brackets positions lost