Rarely does my favorite active player lose yet I cheer a result. Well, maybe cheer isn’t the right word. I clearly would have preferred Madison Keys to win her fourth round match at the 2016 Australian Open against qualifier Zhang Shuai. That didn’t happen as Zhang took out a an injury hobbled Keys, 3-6 6-3 … Continue reading
Tagged with Australian Open …
The Good News For Maria Sharapova: She Won Her Fourth Round Match With Belinda Bencic, The Bad News…
Generally speaking, if two tennis players have played each other as much as 20 times and you can name all the tournaments one of them has won against the other and the year those tournaments were played off the top of your head it usually means it’s a lopsided rivalry. One side has so few … Continue reading
Madison Keys, Zhang Shuai Advance To Fourth Round Showdown At 2016 Australian Open
On paper, the 2016 Australian Open third round match between Madison Keys and Ana Ivanovic looked like a tight contest that could go either way. That’s exactly how it played out as Keys came back from a set down and being down a break several times, including 0-3 in the final set, to outlast Ivanovic, … Continue reading
Naomi Osaka’s 2016 Australian Open Run Ended By Victoria Azarenka In Third Round
There will be better days ahead for 18-year old Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka. With her big game and charming personality, she became a bit of a media magnet following her upset of 18th seed Elina Svitolina in round two. Unfortunately, in round three Naomi ran into Victoria Azarenka, who is on fire right now. … Continue reading
Belinda Bencic, Maria Sharapova Set For Showdown At 2016 Australian Open
It’s starting to heat up down under. After making a run to the US Open quarterfinals last fall, 18-year old Belinda Bencic is one match away from equaling that result at the 2016 Australian Open. The new Swiss Miss had to come back from a set down to defeat Kateryna Bondarenko, 4-6 6-2 6-4. Obviously, … Continue reading
Zhang Shuai Continues 2016 Australian Open Success With Upset Of Alize Cornet; Madison Keys Advances
ZHANG Shuai sure isn’t playing like somebody who was 0 for her career in Major singles play coming into the 2016 Australian Open. With her upset of 2nd seed Simona Halep and now following it up with a 6-3 6-3 win over 2016 Hobart International champion Alize Cornet, Shuai is showing the talent that once … Continue reading
Young, Talented Qualifier Naomi Osaka Reaches Third Round Of 2016 Australian Open, To Face Huge Test Against Victoria Azarenka; Ana Ivanovic Into Third Round
I often call young, talented players “rising stars.” But in the case of 18-year old Naomi Osaka of Japan, she literally won the Rising Stars Invitational event at last year’s WTA Finals. However, after seeing her play against Donna Vekic in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open, I was shocked at how much … Continue reading
American Lauren Davis Reaches Third Round Of 2016 Australian Open, Will Face Maria Sharapova
When the discussion of which Americans can win the 2016 Australian Open comes up, it’s the usual suspects that are mentioned. Of course, Serena Williams leads all discussions concerning possible champions. Then there are the young players bursting with talent, waiting for a breakthrough like Madison Keys. A name not mentioned is Lauren Davis. Honestly, … Continue reading
Qualifier Zhang Shuai Shocks #2 Seed Simona Halep In The First Round Of The 2016 Australian Open; Ana Ivanovic Advances
Chinese qualifier ZHANG Shuai came into the 2016 Australian Open with the worst record of any player in the top 300 player, 0-14. None of that mattered in Melbourne as she jumped all over world #2 Simona Halep in the first round, sprinting out to a 4-0 first set lead and holding on for a … Continue reading
Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza Get Off To Strong Starts At 2016 Australian Open
I was very excited for day two of the 2016 Australian Open, as probably my three favorite players, Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep, would be in action. Up first were Maddie and Mugu. If Garbine was feeling the ill effects of her foot injury, it didn’t stop her from laying down an emphatic … Continue reading
Fairways and Forehands 