19/01/2012 14:00 CEST - Australian Open

Melbourne bids farewell to Haas

Haas press conference Us Open 2009

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Wawrinka def. Baghdatis 7-6(3) 6-4 5-7 6-1

An exciting game to say the least. Wawrinka, the player alleged to have left his wife over a year ago in order to fully focus on his tennis career, had an opportunity in the third to close the game at 5-4, but let the Cypriot back in and lost it 5-7. The crowd, though occasionally too loud (especially between serves) nonetheless kept up this raucous atmosphere throughout. Baghdatis’ lack of precision often gifting easy points to his adversary, as his rather central returns were begging to be punished with a passing shot.

The Cypriot, though superior at net-where he won many of the tie’s thrilling points- fell apart in the last set, gifting it to his opponent who now faces Nicolas Almagro in one of Round 3’s hottest encounters.

Nadal def. Haas 64 63 64

43,547 spectators turned out to watch the Australian Open today, some of whom captivated by a game which saw the new generation face up to the old. Nadal-Haas turned out to be an interesting encounter, not merely because of the standing ovation the three-time semi-finalist got after he lost in as many sets.

It was a fantastic way for the Australian public to say goodbye to one of the circuit’s most appreciated warriors, now tired after a lifetime’s worth of high-octane duels and beautiful backhand winners, the shot with which the German pretty much ended his game.

So it was Nadal who cruised to victory in straight sets, no doubt helped by his far better physical condition. Haas had managed to snatch a break early on in the third, but was immediately pegged back in the fifth, and the game was a formality from then on.

The emotional tone of the occasion was further enhanced by Haas’ typically consummate skill: no doubt many still wonder what might have been had injuries given him a break.

Nadal was graceful in victory: “I think Haas played well. He played aggressive. He played with very good second serves. For a moments his first serve was really difficult to read.”

“I really practiced well. I had very good preparation in my opinion. I practiced very well. I won already two matches in straight sets with positive feeling. I am well.”

“You never know. (Smiling.) We are in the first week, and, you know, every match will be difficult. Next one will be not be an exception.”

Isner def. Nalbandian 4-6 6-3 2-6 7-6(5) 10-8

They don’t call him the 'marathon man' for nothing, you know. As usual, John Isner added another entry to the term “rollercoaster” in the tennis encyclopaedia, never making this game easy for himself. That said, this game won’t be remembered for its length, rather for the last of the three match points he saved in the fifth.

With the scores at Eight-all, Nalbandian was in control against an opponent seemingly suffering from cramp. Isner sent down a wide serve, overruled by umpire Kader Nouni, who called it in. Nalbandian-thinking it had been called out- took a while, amid the confusion, to ask for a review, something Nouni refused on the grounds that the Argentine had taken too long to make up his mind.

Cue bedlam, as Isner won the match in the next game and a furious Nalbandian went ballistic in the press conference: "It's ridiculous playing this kind of tournament with this kind of umpire. Eight-all, break point."

"Can you be that stupid to do that in that moment? What does the umpire need? Press, the name, his picture [in the paper] tomorrow? Incredible.I have never seen something like that. So the ATP have to check what they doing for the umpires. Do they practise? I don't know."

Still, we got the chance to watch an incredible duel, worth remembering for the kind of stroke play only Nalby can come up with. Isner himself was hardly twiddling his thumbs, as he snatched the decisive match-point thanks to a spectacular forehand.

Not bad a big fella, the saying goes, as Isner also dispelled any issue with cramp, claiming that he looks more tired than he actually is because of his giant frame. He will now clash with Feliciano Lopez.

(DM)

Falla def. Fish 76(4) 63 76(6)
The first giant-killing of the men’s round also contained an element of controversy. Though thoroughly outplayed by Colombian ace Alejandro Falla, Mardy Fish complained about his opponent’s apparently excessive calls for cramp treatment:

"Nowadays we're going towards fitness is such a big part of the game now…they're making it to where it is such a physical match, physical game, that, you know, you're going to have guys that are going to abuse that a lot.”

Fish, the highest seed to fall so far (he is 8th in the ATP rankins), hinted at the fact that his opponent was play-acting: "I thought he [Falla] was having some physical issues…but then, in between [i.e. when the players changed ends], on every point, he was totally fine."

"When you think someone is cramping or ailing physically, you sort of change your game a tiny bit," he added. "I think it had a significant bearing on the third set, for sure."

That said, Falla played a blinder, winning most of the backcourt rallies and showing far more efficiency than an opponent who was as wasteful as he was at the Kooyong Classic, committing 58 unforced errors and landing only half of this second serves.

Fish still hasn’t expressed his game this year, though he denied that his moodiness in the press room had anything to do with possible fatigue. He dropped his serve when leading 5-3 in the third set and lost the tiebreaker after two straight errors.

Falla now meets Philip Kohlschreiber in Round 3.

(MDR)

Berdych def. O. Rochus 61 60 76(4)

At least Olivier Rochus didn’t have any illusions. The Auckland finalist had confessed that he expected a massacre, and was proved right by the first two sets, only giving his opponent a game in the third.

Federer def. Beck ret
Is Federer jealous of his Czech colleague, who at least got some sort of a run out? Andreas Beck, Federer’s opponent in the second round, pulled out just before the match because of injury, warning the Swiss champion in the locker rooms that he wasn't going to play:

According to Federer "He said, I'm not so good actually. I have a bad back. It came as a surprise. He said he had a lot painkillers and pain during the last match. I think it happened four, five days ago. He doesn't want to risk it early in the season, best five sets against me. Nothing he could have done, even though he would love to play against me. I guess it's the only smart decision for him to take.”

Beck felt "disappointed" not to play, but argued that playing might have compromised his season.

Ubitennis.com