On the Tennis

A few observations on the Aussie Open thus far:

  • Best thing I have seen so far is Lleyton’s Australian flag shirt. Just sensational. I feel like Darryl Kerrigan would approve.
‘Straya
  • Worst thing I’ve seen so far is this Buzzfeed report on match-fixing. When this stuff is getting broken by listicle-websites rather tennis authorities you know something pretty rotten is going on. I’m gonna write a full post on this later in the week.
  • I really hope Nick Kyrgios goes on to have a successful and wildly-erratic career. He treads the fine-line between surly brilliance and volatile madness better than anyone since Marat Safin (my all-time favourite non-Pat Rafter tennis player). Basically nothing would really shock me at this point. KYRGIOS BEATS DJOKOVIC is totally believable headline. So is KYRGIOS DISQUALIFIED AFTER PUNCHING BALLBOY. I love it.
  • How on earth did Sam Stosur win a Grand Slam? Someone texted me the other day saying she was the worst grand slam winner ever. Hard to really argue with but Francesca Schiavone, Marion Bartoli and Flavia Pennetta definitely give her a run for her money. The fact that I didn’t even need to look those names up (apart from the spelling) tells me I have a problem
  • Why don’t the women play best of 5 sets? I’m all for equal prize money but only if they play the same length match. Equal pay for equal play is pretty hard to argue with right? It’s not like the women run a shorter marathon at the Olympics…
  • For a while there it looked like Nadal would challenge Federer’s status as best of all time. After his first round exit to perennial journeyman Fernando Verdasco, I think we can put that one to bed. Unlike the Fed, Nadal’s game was built around his sheer physicality. He was just fitter, stronger and faster than everyone and that was a big reason for his success. Hard to see that continuing now that he’s had a bunch of injuries and is now into his 30s. As an aside, I love both the word journeyman and the concept of being a journeyman. I’m adding it to the bucket-list — Become a Journeyman at something.
  • Not watching on Channel 7 means not seeing ads for My Kitchen Rules. It’s great.

Tell me if I’ve missed anything.

Jez