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It is always exciting when top tennis players pair up with each-other for big doubles tournaments, and the 2012 Australian Open is no exception. Serena Williams, former World No. 1 has confirmed rumours that she will team up with fellow American tennis player Andy Roddick for this competition. Roddick is currently ranked as the World No. 14 and won the US Open in 2003. Since then he has finished as runner-up at Wimbledon in 2004, 2005 and 2009.
Serena suffered a toe injury during the recent US Open and has withdrawn from the rest of the tournaments in 2011. Having some time to recuperate and do things that non-tennis-stars do like play partypoker and relax should hopefully mean that she can then begin to get into fantastic shape for 2012. The year’s first Grand Slam tournament of the 2012 Australian Open will not be the last time that Williams and Roddick will play together. They are also set to team-up during the 2012 London Olympics.
Is this destined to be a beautiful match-up? They are certainly both very talented players and there is no telling what will happen when this talent is combined. The mixed doubles of the Olympics will be a tough test for the two, although this is after the Australian Open so they should be more comfortable working with each-other by then. At least we will know if they are the dream-team or not by this competition.
During the 2012 London Olympics, Serena’s sister Venus Williams is set to compete in the mixed doubles with Bob Bryan, the American doubles star. Bryan has already won a total of 61 career titles, making him a world-record holder. Serena is also planning to play in the 2012 Brisbane International tournament starting on January 2nd.
The Williams sisters drag women’s tennis into prime time, September 8 2001
Excerpts of The 100 greatest days in New York sports by Stuart Miller
“You gotta admit, Richard Williams was right. For all his loudmouth trash talk, his daughters were indeed the best in women’s tennis and the best thing for women’s tennis too.
They might not have made a lot of friends, but they were good and compelling. Everybody wanted to see what they’d wear, what they’d do and how they’d win. Serena won the US Open at 17 in 1999, Venus won it at 20 in 2000. In 2001 they met in finals – the first time two sisters had met in a major final since the Watson gals (Maud and Lilian) at Wimbledon in 1884; and thanks to their riveting personalities and powerful playing, the first time women’s tennis was deemed to have players ready for prime time. After years squeezed between the men’s tennis, the women’s final got its own show under the stars.
The Harlem Gospel Choir performed, a Marine Guard unfurled a court-sized flag. Grucci provided fireworks, and Diana Ross sang ‘God Bless America’.
Then came the tennis, which, though historic, was mostly boring. The five prior intra-Williams matches had been pretty awful too. This match was better, but both sisters still played nervously, not because of the pomp and circumstance, which they both relished, but because facing each other meant one sister would go home ad the loser. Venus was, if not more serene, less erratic, making 19 unforced errors to her younger sister’s 36 in a humdrum 6-2 6-4 win.
Before Hollywood, fashion, and injuries began distracting them, the Williams sisters staged an encore in 2002. That time Serena won. But both nights the big winner was women’s tennis.”
The real star of this first week was: the Centre Court roof. Only used for 3 matches the first two years, it has already been used 9 times in the first week this year. 3 of them featured Andy Murray, who qualified for the fourth round. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic also cruised through the second week.
The only surprise (semi-surprise) came from three-time runner-up Andy Roddick, defeated in straight sets by Feliciano Lopez, quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2005 and 2008.
Other seeds upset: Robin Soderling, Gael Monfils, Fernando Verdasco, Nikolay Davydenko
On the women’s side, seeds fall one after another: Vera Zvonareva, Na Li, Francesca Schiavone, Sam Stosur, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic are all out of The Championships.
Serena and Venus Williams struggle in the early rounds but qualify for the second week.
Caroline Wozniacki, Francesca Schiavone, Victoria Azarenka and Na Li roll into fourth round with straight sets wins. Maria Sharapova had to fight 3 close sets to win over Julia Goerges.
Venus was forced to retire from her her third round encounter against Andrea Petkovic after just six minutes.
The only semi surprise today was Kuznetsova‘s win over Henin.
Stat of the day: 57
Today four-time champion Roger Federer overtook Stefan Edberg, as the player who has won the most Australian Open matches (57).
Well, Stefan still holds the record for the number of matches won by playing SERVE AND VOLLEY. Remember what it is Federer?
Match of the day: Svetlana Kuznetsova defeats Justine Henin
For me Kuznetsova has always been some kind of a female Marat Safin: an extremely talented underachiever. She was 2-16 before her third round match against Henin, but this time she dominated with her powerful groundstrokes and overcame her nerves to knock the 7-time Grand Slam champion out of the tournament in a 6-4, 7-6 (8) victory.
Matches to follow on day 6:
Samantha Stosur(AUS)[5] vs. Petra Kvitova(CZE)[25]
Rafael Nadal(ESP)[1] vs. Bernard Tomic(AUS)
Flavia Pennetta(ITA)[22] vs. Shahar Peer(ISR)[10]
John Isner(USA)[20] vs. Marin Cilic(CRO)[15]
