Abby Brammell

By Nick Metcalfe

Simply magnificent: Roger Federer won a 16th Grand Slam title in Melbourne

Roger Federer ruthlessly ended Andy Murray's Grand Slam dreams in Melbourne to win a 16th major title.

The Swiss legend sent out an ominous warning to his rivals that he is in no mood to relinquish his crown as the world's best any time soon as he claimed a 6-3 6-4 7-6 win at the Rod Laver Arena.

Murray was fighting back tears at the end, after losing a second Grand Slam final to the Swiss master.

An emotional Murray apologised to the British public for just coming up short in the year's first Grand Slam event.

'Sorry I couldn't do it for you tonight,' he said.

With the crowd cheering in sympathy, Murray joked: 'I can cry like Roger, it's just a shame I can't play like him.'


Emotional: Andy Murray fought back the tears while speaking to the crowd following his defeat against Roger Federer


'I'd like to congratulate Roger. His achievements in tennis are incredible and to keep doing it year after year is pretty special. He was a lot better than me.'
Federer offered words of support to his beaten opponent afterwards, telling Murray: 'You played fantastic and you're too good of a player not to win a Grand Slam, so don't worry about it.'


Second best: Andy Murray lost out to Roger Federer in Melbourne

A thrilled Federer, who has now won four Australian Open titles, added: 'Winning this again, I think I played some of the best tennis of my life these past two weeks.

'This is a very special moment - a first Grand Slam as a father.'


On fire: Roger Federer plays a forehand in his clash with Andy Murray at the Rod Laver Arena

Murray was broken in his first service game of the match, and even though he quickly broke back Federer looked in imposing form and he produced some fine returns to break serve again in the eighth game and went on to clinch the opening set.

Federer then broke the Murray serve to love in the third game of the second set, and with the Scot looking decidedly second best, a routine win looked on the cards.


Beautiful sight: Night starts to fall in Melbourne as a packed house watches the men's final

It wasn't until the third set, where Murray produced a fine cross-court pass to break Federer's serve, that the Briton made his opponent sweat.

The Swiss used all his big-match experience to good effect however, and a casual volley from Murray soon let Federer back in to break the Scot's serve at the Rod Laver Arena.


He's Scot a lot of support: Fans cheer on Andy Murray in Melbourne


In a superb tie-break, with both players playing some delightful tennis, Murray failed to convert five set points before Federer clinched victory on his third championship point when Murray fired a backhand into the net.

Federer has now won three of the past four Grand Slam events, taking him two clear of the previous all-time record held by Pete Sampras.


source: dailymail

Marching on: Federer (left) demolished Tsonga in less than an hour and a half

Roger Federer sent out an ominous warning to Andy Murray as he rolled into the Australian Open final with a crushing straight sets win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The Swiss maestro, who is bidding for a fourth title at Melbourne Park, barely needed to raise a sweat as he took just one hour and 28 minutes to clinch a 6-2 6-3 6-2 victory.

Federer will now meet Murray in Sunday's final and if the Scot ever needed any reminding of the task he faces the world number one provided it with the consummate ease of his win.

Federer completely dominated on his serve conceding just 15 points in his 13 games on delivery to leave Tsonga, the 10th seed, shell-shocked.

With no pressure no his serve Federer worked away at Tsonga's delivery, which was not as potent as usual with the Frenchman seemingly troubled by an abdominal injury.

Federer broke serve on five occasions to book a re-match of the 2008 US Open when he beat Murray in straight sets.

Federer's win also meant he has now reached 18 of the past 19 grand slam finals


source: dailymail

Final countdown: Murray was in fine form as he reached Sunday's main event


Andy Murray is just one win away from claiming his maiden grand slam title after he recovered from a set behind to defeat Marin Cilic in the semi-final of the Australian Open.

The fifth seed dropped a set for the first time in the tournament but with his opponent tiring remained calm to win 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.

Cilic had been taken to five sets in three of his five matches at the tournament and his 6ft 6ins frame simply could not keep pace with the spirit of the 22-year-old Scot who booked his place in just his second major final

Murray's only other final appearance was at the 2008 US Open where he lost to Roger Federer and the world number one looms as a possible title rival again on Sunday night.

The Swiss will play 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the other semi-final tomorrow.

Murray had looked in trouble early as he dropped a set at the tournament for the first time as Cilic twice found a way to break him.


Best of British: Murray (left) was too good for big Croat Cilic


The Croat was controlling the match with his booming forehand and Murray's frustration was showing as he repeatedly chastised himself for his lack of movement around the court.

The self admonishment worked as he grabbed a break in the fifth game of the second set that owed completely to his athleticism.

Murray first ran down a net cord and when Cilic then shovelled a lob over him he somehow made enough ground to allow him to flick a forehand past his stunned rival.

It was a pivotal momentum as Murray stole the initiative and did not hand it back.


That's my boy: Murray's mum Judy (top left) celebrates with coach Miles Maclagan (left) and physical conditioner Jez Green (centre)


He levelled the match at a set apiece with a forehand winner down the line and Cilic visibly started to tire.

Murray sensed it and broke in the third game to have his opponents on the ropes early in the third set, although Cilic produced a stunning forehand cross-court winner as he immediately levelled.

Cilic was, however, clearly starting to flag and relied more heavily on going for his shots to shorten the points.

Murray was content to run his opponent around and as Cilic's forehand grew weary he started to spray his groundstrokes.


Tartan Army: Murray fans show their true colours Down Under


It cost the Croatian a break in the seventh game and Murray underlined his better physical condition as he made ground to hook a cross-court forehand winner.

He then served out to win the set and two quick breaks in the fourth set had him on the verge of victory.

The Scot had one party piece left to deliver, however, as he swatted a forehand from metres outside the court that flew past the net post and into play.

The crowd rose as one to applaud and two points later they were on their feet again as Cilic hit a return long to hand the match to Murray


source: dailymail

Pump it up: Andy Murray shows the raw passion which fired him through to a semi-final clash with Marin Cilic in Melbourne

The two sets of tennis that you have always yearned to see from Andy Murray arrived here with the thrilling destruction of Rafael Nadal to put him within two matches of winning a first Grand Slam title.

Is it premature to start, like we all did at Wimbledon, thinking of the name Perry and the 74 years that have elapsed since a British player won a tournament of the Australian Open’s stature?

Not according to Nadal who, before he wrenched his right knee in the quarter-final and was forced to retire when trailing 3-6, 6-7, 0-3, saw enough to make him believe that this could be the time for the 22-year-old Scot.

It was an intense, nerve-wracking contest, packed full of quality and electric moments.

Murray was sensational, matching Nadal’s power in his groundstrokes most of the time and blasting his way past him aggressively when the moment was right. But don’t be fooled by the scoreline, Nadal was not far off Murray for most of the first two sets.

Last year’s champion came out of the blocks far the better player but - as became the pattern in the match - whenever Nadal got ahead, Murray fought back and then saw him off for good measure.

Their ridiculously long rallies, often 20 shots or more, created a brilliant atmosphere, the crowd erupting at the end of each point.

You can only imagine how the players felt. Murray put more on his second serve from the off and often clobbered his forehand rather than giving it the relative caress that usually looked too insipid against in-form opponents at the four Majors in 2009.

There was also a generous smattering of serving and volleying when he needed it, as well as his more predictable brilliant returns to damage the Spaniard.

When he faced break points, his serve was outstanding, his nerve even more impressive. This helped him fight back from a break down to win the first set and hang on when Nadal edged ahead 6-5 in the second.


In pain: Nadal receives medical treatment in Melbourne


Instead of crumbling, he recovered and bulldozed his way through the tie-break. By the time he broke the world No 2 at the beginning of the third, Nadal’s body had had enough.

In the bowels of Melbourne Park afterwards, former players and coaches were abuzz with what they had seen.

‘The best I’ve seen him play, so good it was scary,’ said John Lloyd, whose bullish predictions had proved accurate.

Murray even managed to survive the disrupting effect of a nine-minute delay while Australia Day fireworks were let off not far from the stadium.

The players had been warned beforehand, but the stoppage came at a bad time for Murray as he was about to serve and he was duly broken before breaking back immediately.

‘When the big moments came in the match I thought I dictated what happened on the court,’ said Murray.

It is always tempting to revert to type when the pressure is greatest and he has succumbed before. Not this time.

Nadal could not be precise about when he wrenched his knee, but it happened around the tiebreak, which he lost 7-2, and got steadily worse thereafter.

Yet in the wake of his defeat, Nadal emphasised that until his mishap late in the second set, he was playing about as well as he can and Murray was good value for his victory.

‘I think Andy’s at an unbelievable level, no? I think my level was very high, too,’ he said. ‘I think it was an amazing two sets and we both played really well.

‘He served unbelievably when I had chances. He’s a very complete player. Andy deserves to win his first Grand Slam and I think he’s going to do it.’

Marin Cilic, the 21-year-old Croatian who defeated Andy Roddick to make it through to Thursday's semi-final, will try not to see it that way. He will have the memory of the straight sets win he inflicted on Murray at September’s US Open.

Having their say as well will be the winners of the remaining quarter finals, which feature Roger Federer taking on Nikolay Davydenko and Novak Djokovic tackling Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.


Sympathy: Murray shames hands with Nadal after the Spaniard was forced to pull out of their superb quarter-final


For good measure the same sentiment was expressed afterwards by welterweight champion Ricky Hatton - on holiday here to support Murray, who is a keen boxing fan.

Recognising a decent pugilist when he sees one, Hatton ventured that in one-on-one combat his new friend had ‘wiped the floor’ with the world No 2.

The Scot declined to use the more colourful language of the fight game when he considered whether he would be out for revenge for New York, where he was suffering from the onset of a sore wrist.

‘Everyone talks about revenge but you go out there knowing that every day is a new day in tennis,’ said Murray.

‘I’ve played him on tour a few times and had good results against him except there. If I play like I did here then I have a good chance of winning.’

A critical factor could be the contrasting way that he and Cilic - as phlegmatic as his fellow Croatian beanpole Goran Ivanisevic was erratic - have arrived at this point in the tournament.

Murray has not lost a set and been on court for just a shade over 10 hours, while the fast-rising world No 14 has had to play 18 hours and 40 minutes and been taken to three five-setters.

The latest was the quarter-final win against Andy Roddick, which he finally wrapped up 6-3 in the decider, having been two sets up.

While his age will help him recover physically, at least to some extent, he admitted that his gruelling battles have taken their toll.


Plenty of support: Fans cheer on Britain's No 1 Murray


‘Roddick was a tough match mentally. It’s not easy psychologically to bring out your best tennis when you need it,’ he said. ‘Murray is going to take a lot of energy out of me, so we’ll see how I’m going to be able to survive.’

His triumph over the American denied Murray the chance to avenge his Wimbledon semi-final defeat of last year when, if he had shown the same spirit of adventure and tactical poise as he did here, he would surely have reached his allotted appointment with Federer.

On that summer afternoon, the British No 1 had sat back too much and relied on his tried and trusted method of counter-punching, only to find that the inspired Roddick was able to overrun him.

It cannot be guaranteed now, but the next five days may reveal this victory to have been a career-defining one for the best player in the sport not yet to have won a Grand Slam


source: dailymail

Venus Williams of the United States returns to Li Na of China during their Women's singles quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday Jan. 27, 2010.







MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Venus Williams of the United States of America plays a forehand in her quarterfinal match against Na Li of China during day ten of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.



MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Na Li of China plays a forehand in her quarterfinal match against Venus Williams of the United States of America during day ten of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Na Li of China plays a forehand in her quarterfinal match against Venus Williams of the United States of America during day ten of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


photo: AP, Gettyimages

Spain's Rafael Nadal gestures to the crowd after retiring from his quarter-final match against Andy Murray of Britain at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2010.


Andy Murray of Britain waves after his quarter-final match against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2010.


Andy Murray of Britain reacts to a point won against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their Men's singles quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday Jan. 26, 2010.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Rafael Nadal of Spain wipes his face in his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray of Great Britain during day nine of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.



Rafael Nadal of Spain, left, and Andy Murray of Britain meet at the net before their Men's singles quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday Jan. 26, 2010.



Spain's Rafael Nadal waves after he retired from his quarter-final match against Andy Murray of Britain at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2010.


photo: REuters

By Mike Dickson

Roaring success: The winner in the clash between Nadal (left) and Murray is likely to push onto claim the title later this week


It may have been the usual phoney war that takes place before such occasions but prior to Andy Murray’s Australian Open quarter-final against Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard’s camp were prepared to take things one step further.

The suggestion was that not only did they think the British No 1 was favourite to beat their man, they also considered him the likely winner of the tournament.

'Before the tournament I thought he was the favourite to win the title, just like he was last year when he came here after winning the title in Qatar,’ said Toni Nadal, Rafa’s uncle and coach.

‘Rafa regards Murray as the favourite here, especially as we’re playing on his best surface. The only negative thing for Murray is that he hasn’t won a Grand Slam yet, although he definitely has the quality to do that.’

As less-than-subtle attempts to shift the pressure go, this was right up there, but there is a feeling around Melbourne Park, even among the non-aligned, that the 22-year-old Scot has at least an evens chance of eating into a 2-7 career deficit against Nadal, by far the worst he has amassed against any other top player.

As Toni Nadal pointed out: ‘This is the most difficult match we could have faced at this stage. Rafa needs to play more aggressively than he did in the last round against Ivo Karlovic. He also needs to be hitting with more power in the rallies.’

At 7.30pm local time (8.30am British time), before a packed Rod Laver Arena crowd of 15,000, the talking will be over and Murray can set about what is his first Australian Open quarter-final, completing his record of reaching the last eight of every Grand Slam.

Of course it will be difficult for Murray, but then he is attempting to do something extraordinary and win one of the sport’s four major prizes at a time when the competition has hardly ever been more intense.

Despite his decision to step down temporarily from Davis Cup play, he has a supporter in captain John Lloyd, a finalist here in 1977.


Centre of attention: Murray is mobbed during training in Australia


‘Rafa is Rafa and a great player but I feel good about this one for Andy,’ said Lloyd, who is in attendance as a commentator. ‘I fancy his chances. I looked at Rafa in his third round against Philipp Kohlschreiber and he had to save quite a few break points.

'I just sense he may be more vulnerable right now. It may be a few months before we see the best of him again.

‘The court here is slower and I was wondering whether Andy had enough punch to get the ball through, but, after seeing him against John Isner, I think he has.

'Also he has been returning so well that he could do some serious damage to Rafa’s serve.’

One thing that distinguished Murray’s play against the American giant — a totally different kind of player to Nadal — was his poise at the crisis points and this is the aspect that particularly intrigues former women’s world No 1 Tracy Austin, another expert in town.

‘Murray has all the tools to win a Grand Slam and all he has to do now is show that he can hold up under pressure,’ she said. ‘There’s almost nothing he can’t do because of his unique blend of power and touch.


Eye on the ball: Murray was superb against John Isner


‘But it can’t be easy being Britain’s big hopeful as it’s been 74 years since one of his countrymen (Fred Perry) won a major.

'At times he seems to cope with the expectations well, but at others he seems to fall short of the mark.’

Murray looks to be relatively at ease at this tournament, which offers the least potent mix of pressures as far as Grand Slams are concerned.

It is not Wimbledon, where the hype is off the scale, and not the US Open, where he seems to have convinced himself it is his destiny to win. And it is not Roland Garros, where his chances are the smallest anyway, because the clay does not suit him especially well.

In some respects there is less expectation in playing Nadal because, on paper at least, the Spaniard has such a dominant record against him. But this is a desperately difficult one to call.

As Boris Becker said: ‘Whoever wins this encounter, I would pick to go on and win the title.’





source: dailymail

By James Tapper

Cheeky: Venus appeared to have a bare behind at the Australian Open


Even by the usual attention-seeking standards of women’s tennis, Venus Williams appeared to be flashing rather too much flesh at the Australian Open yesterday.

But closer inspection – which many of her male fans undoubtedly undertook – revealed that the five-times Wimbledon champion was actually preserving her modesty with flesh-coloured underwear


Unflattering: The flesh-coloured shorts did Venus no favours


The 29-year-old attracted plenty of wolf-whistles for the risque outfit, which brought to mind the famous Athena ‘Tennis Girl’ poster of model Fiona Butler scratching her naked bottom that once adorned the walls of so many teenage boys’ bedrooms.

Williams revealed that she designed the eye-catching outfit herself, apparently managing to circumvent the Melbourne tournament’s ban on skimpy outfits.

The bright yellow dress also boasted a flesh-coloured panel at the front, making it appear to have a plunging neckline.


A real eyeful: Venus said the knickers showed her outfit to its best advantage


Low cut: The dress had a flesh-coloured panel on the front to give the illusion it was daringly low


Looking back: The Athena 'Tennis Girl' poste


Williams’s outfit attracted a great deal of speculation on the internet, with dozens of fans asking her via the Twitter social networking site if she had ‘gone commando’ – or worn no underwear – on court.

She explained to fans: ‘My dress for the Australian Open has been one of my best designs ever! It’s all about the slits and V-neck. I am wearing undershorts the same colour as my skin, so it gives the slits in my dress the full effect!’

She added: ‘This is completely my design. I just sketched it out. The whole idea is just about the illusion that I’m wearing a deep V-neck. Then the idea was to wear shorts that were like the same colour as my skin. It works very well, apparently.

‘This is completely my design. Anything I wear on the court probably you could wear 20 years from now.’

Williams recently completed a fashion degree while on tour, and has launched her own clothing line called EleVen and interior design company, VStarr.

The extra attention did nothing to distract the American from her third round match against Australian Casey Dellacqua, which she won comfortably in two sets .

Last year, the Australian Open introduced a ban on daring dresses after French player Alize Cornet wore a see-through top during another match in Australia.

The Williams sisters have often attracted attention for their outfits, with Serena wearing a black catsuit for the 2002 US Open


source: dailymail

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Justine Henin of Belgium serves in her third round match against Alisa Kleybanova of Russia during day five of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Alisa Kleybanova of Russia celebrates winning a point in her third round match against Justine Henin of Belgium during day four of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Justine Henin of Belgium reacts after a point in her third round match against Alisa Kleybanova of Russia during day four of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Alisa Kleybanova of Russia plays a forehand in her third round match against Justine Henin of Belgium during day five of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Justine Henin of Belgium plays a forehand in her third round match against Alisa Kleybanova of Russia during day four of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia


photo: Gettyimages

Andy Roddick of the U.S. reacts during his match against Spain's Feliciano Lopez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 22, 2010.


Spain's Feliciano Lopez reacts during his match against Andy Roddick of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 22, 2010.


Spain's Feliciano Lopez changes his shirt during match against Andy Roddick of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 22, 2010.



Spain's Feliciano Lopez reacts during his match against Andy Roddick of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 22, 2010.



Andy Roddick of the U.S. reacts during his match against Spain's Feliciano Lopez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 22, 2010.


photo: Reuters

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Novak Djokovic of Serbia thanks the crowd after winning match point in his second round match against Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland during day four of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) shakes hands with Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli at the conclusion of their match during the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 21, 2010.



MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand in his second round match against Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland during day four of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland plays a backhand in his second round match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day four of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning match point in his second round match against Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland during day four of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.


photo: Gettyimages