Day 10 of the Australian Open

Day 10 at the Australian Open started out beautifully.  Venus Williams managed to choke away a victory against Na Li.  Even in the twilight of Venus Williams' career, one thing everyone knows is that you don't let someone as powerful and talented as Venus get out to a fast start.  That is the very thing Na Li did.  Venus started the match on fire, and a combination of Li mistakes led to a easy first set in favor of Venus.  The second set started out like the first had ended.  Venus went out to an early lead and was only two points away from a routine straight set victory when Na Li found another gear in her game.  Down 3-5 and two points away from going home, Li started playing some of the best tennis of her career.  She then fought back and forced a 2nd set tiebreaker that she was lucky enough to win to even the match up at one set a piece.  Venus slowed the Li momentum by taking a quick 2-0 lead in the 3rd and final set.  Li like before came back and evened the set 2-2.  The set continued like this the rest of the way with each player struggling to hold serve.  At 5-5 Li was able to get a break of serve to put the match at 6-5, and then hold her service game for a joyous upset of Venus Williams.  2-6, 7-6, 7-5.

One Williams down, one to go...

With Venus being eliminated and the thought of Serena possibly being next to be sent home got me excited.  The way Victoria Azarenka started out against Serena Williams only added to my excitement.  Azarenka with a howling screech everytime she made contact with the ball was able to play "her" game and be on the offensive against the #1 player in the world.  Serena was forced to play defense for most of the first set, and Azarenka was able to do enough on offense to take the first set 6-4.  The start of the 2nd set was amazing, with Azarenka playing out of her mind hitting winners down each line, as Serena ran ragged at the baseline. Azarenka was up 4-0 in the 2nd set and looking at a semifinal matchup with Na Li next.  This is tremendous!!  Roddick eliminated the day before, and now both Williams' getting beat.  Can this get any better?  Then shit hit the fan.  Just as well as Azarenka was playiing, Williams matched it and then surpassed it.  Azarenka didn't choke.  Serena was just that damn good.  With her back against the wall and nothing to lose Serena was hitting every ball as hard as she could, but the thing was, they were landing in.  The onslaught was on.  Serena down 0-4 came back and blew by Azarenka, beating the Belarussian in a 2nd set tiebreaker 7-6.  Serena playing at an elite level, and Azarenka playing at a solid level was no match after that.  Serena put the match to an end with a dominating 3rd set, winning the match 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.  What a crappy day of tennis this has turned out to be.

Now it was the mens turn to take the court.  #1 seeded legend, Roger Federer and the hot Nikolay Davydenko playing for a berth into the semifinals.  In the first set Federer was "unfedereresque" in his play, making 19 unforced errors and basically giving the first set to Davydenko 6-2.  After the terrible start to the match and the loss of the first set it seemed Federer got "pissed" and flipped a switch to his game.  After that it was bad news for the Russian.  Federer took control of the rallys and dominated each of  the next two sets, winning them 6-3, 6-0.  The 4th set was a little more competitive than the previous three.  Both players holding their ground, but there is a reason Federer is probably the greatest of all time, and its for this reason.  He doesn't lose these types of matches (well rarely).  When there is an opportunity to pull the plug on an opponent and put him away he normally does it.  That is exactly what he did, winning the final set 7-5 for a final score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5.

In the night match Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga went head-to-head to see who would join Federer in the semifinals.  The first two sets were as close as close could be.  Each going to a tiebreaker, with each player winning one.  With the match tied going to the third set, Novak Djokovic went on the offensive and took control of the match with a easy 6-1 set in his favor.  Djokovic now with the finish line in sight was ready to put Tsonga away.  Tsonga won the first game of the set, and in the second game it looked as if Djokovic was getting ill.  Looking sluggish on the court and staring at his box, Djokovic found himself down 0-2 all of a sudden.  After that second game Djokovic motioned to the chair umpire that he had to go "throw up".  So off the court Novak went to do his business.  A few moments later Djokovic returned to find a shell of himself.  It was all Tsonga after the bout of food poisoning/lack of conditioning.  Tsonga took the 4th and 5th sets easily to win his second straight 5 set match. 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Day 11 Preview:

All matches will be played at Rod Laver Arena.

The two women semifinals are scheduled along with the mens semifinal between Andy Murray and Marin Cilic.

Serena Williams and Na Li will be the first singles match played on Day 11.  Serena will put away Li in relatively easy fashion.  Everyone get ready for a Patrick McEnroe, Pam Shriver, Mary Jo Fernandez "slurpfest".  ESPN acts as if she is "christ-like",  she can do no wrong, even when threatening line judges.  The only disagreement they have is about who gets to kiss her ass first.

The 2nd womens semifinal will be Justine Henin and Jie Zheng.  I cannot see a way how Henin loses this match.  She has the experience and the all around better game than Zheng.  This match will be closer than the previous one, but Henin will move on to face Serena in the final.

The Andy Murray - Marin Cilic semifinal will be the featured night match at Rod Laver Arena.  Cilic coming off 2 straight 5 set struggles will be no match for Murray.  Murray has not lost a set yet, and was crushing Rafael Nadal when the Spaniard retired with a bum knee.  Murray is on top of his game and will continue on to the final with a 4 set victory over Cilic.