Melbourne Abuzz With Tennis Elite Ahead of Australian Open

SPOTTING a tennis star in Melbourne is about to get a lot easier.

With the start of the Australian Open just days away, some of the biggest names in the game are already lapping up life in Melbourne.

But Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wasn't as easy to pick out yesterday surrounded by all 380 Australian Open ball kids.

The world No.8 may be one of the best in the business on court, but still needs a few lessons when it comes to being a top-notch ball retriever.

Tsonga will be in good hands with the throng of junior officials ready to make their mark.

Ned Wellington, 12, of Essendon was among them. "You always have to concentrate and the players have to come first," he said.

Meanwhile, organisers have hailed the early arrival of players into Melbourne as a striking salute to the tournament and the city.

"Players are arriving earlier and earlier every year," tournament director Craig Tiley said.

"The Open has become a critical part of the season for the best players in the world and I think that's great for us."

Favourite to take out the women's title, American Serena Williams, last night unveiled her new Nike purple and orange pleated knit dress she will wear through the tournament before debuting her bespoke Nike training club workout for 60 fans at the Melbourne Central clock tower.

Record crowds could also be on the cards for the tournament, with ticket sales tracking ahead of the same time last year.

Mr Tiley said demand had increased from the moment tickets went online late last year.
"The event is in great shape and we will continue to manage its growth."

He said Victorians remained the most loyal spectators, with huge local demand, but conceded good weather was the linchpin to a successful event.

"In order to break records you need good weather for 25 sessions over 14 days," he said.
Scattered showers are forecast next week before warmer weather in the latter half of event.

Organisers were also considering ways to support those affected by the latest Tasmanian bushfire.

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Novak Djokovic Wins Epic Thriller Over Rafael Nadal

NOVAK Djokovic's extraordinary juggernaut rolls on after the Serb this morning claimed the longest Grand Slam final in history.

Condemning Rafael Nadal to a record third consecutive major final loss, exhausted Djokovic posted a 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 Australian Open triumph - a victory for the ages.

On rubbery legs and fighting mental and physical exhaustion, Djokovic clambered off the canvas from 2-4 down in the fifth set to do it.

Fittingly, the 100th Australian men's final was the longest in Grand Slam history at 5hrs 53mins.

Defending champion Djokovic's third Melbourne Park title - and fifth major overall - was sealed at 1.37am local time.

It will live with with the Serb forever, such was its epic nature.

With nothing more to give in the final game of the match, Djokovic crossed himself and glanced skywards afte saving a break point.

He did so again on the following point after earning match point.

Djokovic slumped to the court in relief and elation and Nadal trudged towards the net after missing a forehand.

It was only the third decider to go the distance at Melbourne Park after Pat Cash and Mats Wilander (1988) and Nadal and Roger Federer (2009).

Djokovic, 24, has now beaten Nadal seven times in a row - and in each of the past three Grand Slam deciders at Wimbledon, US Open and the Australian.

The Serb relentlessly pounded Nadal's second serve to expose gaping holes in the Spaniard's defence to land his fifth major, joining Andre Agassi. Roger Federer and Mats Wilander as the only men to win three or more Australian crowns since 1968.

In much the same way Nadal relishes his stroke-for-stroke match-up with Federer, Djokovic exerts a similar thrall over Nadal.

The critical difference last night was the second serve. Djokovic operated at 64 percent. Nadal landed 45 percent.

It was a similar scenario at Wimbledon and the US Open.

In becoming only the fourth male since Rod Laver in 1969 to claim three consecutive majors - Pete Sampras, Federer and Nadal are the others - Djokovic proved again he is clearly the sport's premier player.

Supposedly exhausted after a protracted semi-final against Andy Murray on Friday night, he overcame a sluggish start in sultry conditions to have Nadal on the ropes deep into the fourth set.

Holding three break points for a 5-3 lead, Djokovic could not capitalise as the Spaniard steamed back into the contest.

And when Nadal held a commanding 4-2 lead in the deciding set, Djokovic somehow summoned the nerve and energy to draw back on terms.

He made the title-sealing inroad in the 11th game, when Nadal netted a weary backhand to earn the right to serve out the match.

For most of the contest, he was superior in defence and attack, mentally besting Nadal to inflict another serious pyschological wound on his arch-rival.

In the end, it was a dogfight.

Djokovic emerged with a $2.3million winner's cheque and the satisfaction of overcoming three sizeable obstacles - having 24 hours less to recover from that mammoth semi-final, giving up a first-set lead in the final and coming back from the dead in the deciding set.

Dipping into bottomless reserves after appearing to be spent after narrowly accounting for Murray on Friday night, Djokovic out-ran and outlasted the owner of 10 majors.

If it wasn't Djokovic's cleanest or most dazzling display, it ranks as his bravest.

In a contest that will be remembered for tension and high drama, there was a Grand Slam first when Nadal challenged one of his own serves - and was proved wrong by Hawk-Eye.

The serve, in the 10th game of the second set, was actually in, but Nadal had lost the rally and was hoping to earn a replayed serve.

In the end, he lost both a challenge and the point.

While there is nothing but shared respect between Nadal and Federer, it ia now increasingly obvious that the Spaniard has little time for Djokovic.

The Mallorcan glared at the world No. 1 and his support box after their prolonged celebration of Nadal's double fault to surrender the second set.

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic shakes hands with Rafael Nadal after the longest final in Grand Slam history. Picture: AFP

Source: AFP

While grunting has been an issue for discussion at Melbourne Park over the past two weeks, the men's final was marred by long, irksome delays between points.

French chair umpire Pascal Maria's problems started before the match when the warm-up went overtime.

And once the match started, the 20-second allowance between points was regularly flouted, often dragging out to 30 seconds or longer.

Unsurprisingly, the first set lasted 80 minutes - only two minutes short of the time Victoria Azarenka took to whip Maria Sharapova in the women's final on Saturday night.

Losing patience in the heavy, uncomfortable conditions, Maria asked Nadal to hurry up after the end of the first set.

The second set took 66 minutes, while the third (45), fourth (88) and fifth ()were drawn out affairs.

Rain stopped play briefly at 4-all in the fourth set, prompting staff to close the roof while the court was dried.

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No Longer a Work in Progress, Stosur Returns as a Star

Last year, when Sam Stosur began her campaign at the Brisbane International, her second round departure would be a harbinger for a meagre showing over coming weeks. At least she escaped before the rain engulfed centre court.

Defeat in her home town was followed by a third-round exit at the Australian Open in Melbourne. It was a disappointing return following an undisputed breakout season, where she made the final of the French Open and raised the expectations of Australian fans who hadn't hailed a female Grand Slam champion since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.

Even so, her near thing at Roland Garros didn't mean she was the star attraction in her home city's event. Her doubters remained to be convinced and with players of the quality of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin in the draw, Stosur wasn't to enjoy top billing.

Last night, the reigning US Open champion star strode out onto Pat Rafter Arena like she owned the place, confidently surging past Anastasiya Yakimova 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the second round in Brisbane.

She floated on a surge of emotion from a sold-out crowd that gave the top seed and world number six the most rousing of receptions. Stosur dismantled Yakimova with power and precision in the first set, before overcoming some rust and resistance in the second to advance to the next round, where she will face Czech Iveta Benesova.

If Stosur was nervous – and she said she was – she's one hell of a poker player. In the opening games, she peeled off winner after winner. From that point, with Yakimova clearly outgunned, it was always just a matter of time.

Stosur looked assured, focused and in total control of her game. She played like a woman who has finally found the missing piece to a puzzle she has been trying to complete since she was a teenager.

Brisbane's event has been elevated up the WTA food chain and the women's draw is stronger than ever. The presence of Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Clijsters and Andrea Petkovic has given organisers more than enough marketing ammunition.

Fans crowded into Pat Rafter Arena to see Samantha Stosur play last night. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

But it is Stosur they came to see. The same tennis fans who were glued to their screens as Stosur soared – and Williams exploded – in New York last year paid up to get their seats to watch the show in the flesh.

“It's always nice to come home, play in front of a home crowd; where I'm from in Brisbane, a full house. If you're going to come out and play another match, why not start it like that?” Stosur said.

I've been looking forward to coming out and getting the year started so I'm happy with the way the first one went.”

Things have changed since Stosur upset Williams to win the US Open and the result has been a huge boost for tournament organisers. A crowd of 12,595, which was a record for any day of any year of the event, was testament to how much Stosur's dramatic victory has rekindled the interest of Australian tennis fans.

“Always when I come home, I get a great reception. Whether I'm in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, it's always a nice experience. Now I get recognised a lot more and more people know who I am and want to come out and watch. It probably shows – a first round, night session, it's pretty much sold out. The atmosphere was great,” Stosur said.

“If that's the impact that a player can have on a home tournament, then that's fantastic. I think, when you've got a player that's doing well, it feeds down.

“There are not many tournaments in the world that you can go to and you have a sold-out first couple of days. It shows how popular tennis is becoming again in Australia. To have a crowd like that first day, it can't get any better.”

Stosur has had little choice to embrace the big picture and her growing celebrity but she remains focused on improving her record in Australia, starting in Brisbane. She has never been past the second round but beat Benesova twice last year, in Rome and Paris.

She looks in immaculate physical shape and has clearly put in a rigorous pre-season to give herself every opportunity to fire. She did that last night, being aggressive from the first ball and continuing her attack even as she fended off five break points in the seventh game of the second set.

“I've done everything I possibly could to get in the best shape I can be. My pre-season went very well. I really felt like I was ready to start. What I learned over the past few years has really made me aware of what I need to get done,” Stosur said.

“Hopefully this will mean I'll stay fitter and stronger and healthier for the whole year.”

Shoulders loosened and homecoming match complete, Stosur is on her way to what she hopes are big things on friendly courts. That could include a semi-final against Williams at this event if the pair keeps winning.

For that rematch, they might have to build an extra stadium.

Quality Brisbane Accommodation available at Metro Hotel Tower Mill

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/no-longer-a-work-in-progress-stosur-returns-as-a-star-20120103-1pitk.html#ixzz1iLgmB82V

Tennis stars coming to Perth for Hopman Cup

West Australian tennis fans are in for a star studded treat at this summer’s Hyundai Hopman Cup XXIV with one of the best fields ever assembled in the tournament’s 24-year history.

Tourism Minister Kim Hames said it was great to see Caroline Wozniacki, who’s held the number one ranking for the past year, coming to Perth for the first time.

“Caroline Wozniacki has won 18 WTA events and will be a major drawcard - she’ll become the 24th world number one player to play in the event since it started in 1988,” Dr Hames said.

“To have three of the top seven ranked women players in the world and two of the top 10 men coming to Perth this summer is fantastic.

“There are three Grand Slam event winners in Petra Kvitova, Li Na and Lleyton Hewitt in the field as well as some of the rising stars of tennis, which will guarantee some thrilling and entertaining games.”

The Minister said the State Government, through Eventscorp, is a founding sponsor of the Hopman Cup, and last year put in place a new four-year sponsorship agreement that carries through to 2014.

“The last Hyundai Hopman Cup broke attendance and television coverage records, and with the star studded field assembled for Hopman Cup XXIV those records will again be under threat,” Dr Hames said.

“This Hopman Cup will signal the end of an era with the tournament moving to Perth Arena next year and I want to publicly thank Burswood for being such wonderful hosts since 1988.”

(Source: Ministerialmediastatements.wa.gov.au)