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2010 Aussie Open - Women

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Serena looked almost unbeatable last night - she hasn't lost a service game yet in the tournament.

She'll next face Azarenka, who makes Sharapova's grunts sound tolerable by comparison. The other match on the top half is #1 seed Na Li vs. Venus. (I almost included Na Li in the vBet, now I wish I had done that, so I could have tossed a little money at some 199-1 odds. :wink2:

The bottom half has Henin against Petrova, and Zheng Jie facing Kirilenko. Assuming Petrova melts down, that's a relatively easy path for Justine to reach the final. I haven't seen Zheng play yet.

I'll take Na Li in an upset over Venus, but I think Serena will beat Henin in the final.
 
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(BB73) Azarenka, who makes Sharapova's grunts sound tolerable by comparison.
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Okay here is my perspective.

Anyone who thinks there's anything intolerable about Azarenka ought to schedule an appointment with their optomotrist/opthamologist. :)

Jaxbuck;1643083; said:
Victoria Azarenka 42-1

Victoria_Azarenka_014.jpg
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The rest of the BB73 update is a good read.
Li Na #16 seed and Zheng Jie are representing the nation of China proudly.
They are both considered longshots at the title and will likely be eliminated before the semi's.
Venus is not playing well, struggling early in matches, but her power and pace will be too much for Li Na.
Zheng Jie (ranked #35) has advanced as far as her consistency and perseverence will take her.
Kirilenko OTOH was the beneficiary of Safina's injury to make it to the quarters.
Henin is not playing well, but seems to have an open section to advance.
I really like the tenacity of Azarenka, and if she can get by Serena, I think she will beat the rest of the field.
 
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gracelhink;1649191; said:
Okay here is my perspective.

Anyone who thinks there's anything intolerable about Azarenka ought to schedule an appointment with their optomotrist/opthamologist. :)
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I was rooting for her, but it was difficult because of the obnoxious noise. The Aussie crowd was actually mocking her by making those sound between points, despite repeated requests from the chair asking them to stop.

She was my 3rd betting favorite - I wish she was on the other half of the draw so she could meet Serena in the final.

As far as the grunting, it would be OK if it was for other reasons and was right into my ear. :biggrin:
 
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Henin beat Petrova 7-6, 7-5. I haven't seen the match, but I'm sure the difference was mental toughness once each set got to 5-5.

Zheng Jie rolled over Kirilenko, and she'll be a tougher match for Henin than I thought, she's a mirror image of Henin, although at 5'4" Zheng is 1 inch shorter.

She said after the match that Henin was her favorite player. She plays just like her: solid baseline strokes, great wheels to run things down, and good use of angles on the court.

Henin will actually come to the net more than her opponent does, but they might set a record for fewest aces in a non-clay Grand Slam semi. :tongue2:
 
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BB73;1649091; said:
I'll take Na Li in an upset over Venus, but I think Serena will beat Henin in the final.
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Venus was up a set and up 5-3 in the second set, and managed to lose to Li Na, sending two Chinese women into the semis for the first time ever in a major. Ten years from now the number of Chinese women in the majors will be something like the number of Russian women now.

Serena was getting her ass kicked by Azarenka last night, down a set and 0-4; and she just starting hitting and serving better. Once Serena got up a break in the third set, Azarenka folded. But she's only 20 and hits the ball a ton, so she'll be back.

I still like Serena over Henin in the final, but I wouldn't be shocked in Zheng takes out Henin. As I said before, she plays just like her.
 
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Serena has won her Thursday match in Melbourne.

She won 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1). Li Na played well, but Serena raised her game when she needed to.
 
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Justine Henin was the sports idol of Zheng Jie of China. Who would have thought her adulation would carry over to such extreme submission on the court.

Serena Williams, Justine Henin to meet in Australian Open final - ESPN
Unseeded Henin who is only two tournaments into her comeback from retirement advanced over Zheng 6-1, 6-0 in 51 minutes the shortest match of this tournament and the most lopsided semifinal at the Australian Open since 1982. Henin's victory sets up a championship match involving two former Australian champions. Serena Williams leads Henin 7-6 in career head-to-heads, although they've never met in a Grand Slam final. Williams won their last match, at Miami in 2008, just before Henin retired suddenly while holding the No. 1 ranking.


"I can't wait for the final. It's such an amazing chance that I have to play another final in Melbourne," said Henin, who won the 2004 title in Melbourne. "It's a very special occasion, but the dream continues.

"I'm going to play the No. 1 player in the world in a Grand Slam final. She's a real fighter," she said.
Williams has won the title every time she's played for the championship since beating Venus here in 2003. The winning sequence has been every odd-numbered year so far.
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It was a pretty good match in the final. Serena won the first set, and was up 3-2 with a break point in the second set. Justine held, and later in the set won the last 10 points, and then 5 more to start the third set. 15 straight points against Serena - unbelievable.

Tied at 2-2 in the third, Henin was serving at 15-15, and hit a great lob over Serena to win the point. Her coach jumped up from his seat, and it looked like a big momentum shift. Instead, Serena got tougher and broke Henin, then started serving better and won the final set 6-2.

Thot's now 12 majors for Serena, tying her with Billie Jean King (who was there). And a repeat double down under, defending both singles and doubles. Her 11th doubles major gives her 23. That's a fine total, but Margaret Court, who handed Serena the trophy, has 62! A record 24 in singles, and 19 each in doubles and mixed.

I'll never like Henin, because of her poor sportsmanship in the 2003 French against Serena and in the 2006 Aussie final by not playing it out against Mauresmo, but I dislike her somewhat less since she was in the Congo working for UNICEF last year.
 
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