That shot wasnt even ha;r way up the net Tomas and it looked like you just wanted to get out of the point

Hmmm at least that was the first decent rally by both players

MA this YEC is just sizzling with excitement lol. I have high hopes for Andy Rafa though.

Wonderful point!

Love the fight from both for this game.

Hell how did you manage that shot Tomas

Good low slice from Nole too

This has given me sone hope

This game is only 11 mins and ticking

Good morning, all.

I started reading this article, then had to stop to check the byline. Thanks again, Hannah, for a very nice read and take on this tourney.

Thanks to Madame President for the Moya piece, too.

Get well soon, Serena!

Berdych has hit a few great forehands which is a good sign.

Colour Me Surprise He Held after 12 mins!!!!!!!!!!

Berdych does hold, but is down a break, 1-2, in the early games against Djokovic. Loop and run, boys, loop and run.

I'm very sad for Serena. I miss her playing. Thanks for the update MA.

Jay No worries I thought it was a great article/

Yo. Just popping in to mention that it was completely my suggestion and decision - I wasn't "outed". I've belatedly realised it's fairer all round to post under my own name, not least to the tournament who accredited me/the people I'm writing about. Kind of makes me feel like I have a big target on my back, but then I feel like that anyway, that's the great thing about paranoia :)

Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement.

Master Ace - didn't Sanja Ancic play with Mario one year? I don't think she exactly qualified through merit either. I think she's a pharmacist now.

Maybe Berdy has woken up at last !

Tomas that was soo lame you just gifted Novak the passer there

Well Nole a better service game from you there at least

Quality of play isnt good compared to the other group at this stage

MA: Thanks for clarifying about Coco, that sure would be a tall team if she paired with John. :)

Heather, in case you missed it earlier this morning, there was a good interview with AndyR on TTC. They may replay it before his match this afternoon but since you won’t be able to see that, maybe you can catch it on the ATP site. It’s the one they all apparently have done wearing their suits. Andy looked very handsome without his trademark cap.

Heather LOL! I just had a visual with those 2 playing at the Hopman Cup

Actually the field is a strong one and I am looking forward to it

Master Ace I wonder if Justine will play another lead up tournament apart from the Hopman Cup for the AO 2011?

Well a love service game from Tomas there?

Nole's ugly whipping FH is back.

Tomas another miss going up the line though you were too late with that shot and it does help to move your feet.Too many u/errors

He's really fun to watch. Great point!

I usually enjoy BBC's radio coverage of tennis but it's terrible at WTF. They are talking thru the whole match and every fourth thought is about Andy Murray. I don't recommend it.

Good defensive on the b/hand from Nole there and good at the net too

NP Welcome I dont think this match will engage you

Tomas that was just plain woeful

Novak please just step up and end this 1st set ASAP

Thanks Nole 1st set 6-3

AM, it's not. I'd rather be watching Dancing with the Stars right now.

Considering Berdych is struggling with his confidence right now, I very much doubt that he will be to do anything in the next set.

Sisu, thanks! I think I saw it the other day, was Justin interviewing him? Did he talk about he and Brooke having kids? That's the one I caught the other day. It was such a good interview for Andy fans! :)

Aha! The scoreboard here says 4-3. But the tennis.com SB, I should know by now, isn't the most reliable.

SkySports showing Murray at the practice court. Reportedly, he's been seen practicing shots to the high backhand zone and working on his backhand slice. hmmm... wonder what he has in mind against Mr. Federer... ;-)

Ugh, Berdy's 1st % was in the toilet in the first set. Yikes...not a good day at the office for him.

NP Dancing with the Stars sounds good to me.I got up soo early for this match as well.I should have stayed asleep.

Help me if Rafa v Roddick is the same.pfft.

Heather, hi! What did Andy say about having kids? (:

"Loop and run, boys, loop and run."

Andrew,
I guess that what Murray had in mind for his competitors. LOL

Gauloises,
I will have to look that up on the Ancics.

Aussiemarg,
Good question on Justine. If she does, it will be Sydney but I have a feeling that playing 3 to 4 matches is all she will be willing to play before AO. Speaking of AO, I got a few more weeks before contenders and pretenders and if Serena does not play, who will capture the top spot? And, I got to come up with a name for AO to go along with the FO(Rafael Nadal Invitational), W(Williams-Federer Classic) and USO(Moonpie Open). USO name will change but will it be the Jersey Girl Open. Thought I saw another good name for USO but I already forgot it.

Kirsty Gossip monger lol!

Kids already?

AM, the WTF needs a Pistol Pete.

No Heather. This one he was seated with the ATP logo in the background and only he was on camera. He spoke about his season and how happy he was to be here after what he’s been through this year.

Hi Kristy! How are you? :) Oh it was a good interview, at the end Justin asked Andy about married life and about having kids and he said something to the effect of that it was something they were both looking forward to in the future and that Brooke will be working longer than he will so he expects he'll be changing more diapers which is both "gross and exciting" at the same time.

No kids anytime soon, AM. :) Hi to you too!

Master Ace Well I know you will come up with a good name for the AO going on your previous names.

I guess Kim would have to be the obvious choice given the fact she is the Queen Of the Hard courts? though she hasnt done well at the AO to date.Though I have been reading she wants to focus and do well there this year.She will be playing Medibank so I will get a chance to watch her live there I guess.

It's over for Berdych.

I know, AM, I am totally voracious in any gossip regarding Andy and Brooklyn!

It's pitiful.

And that's the nail on the coffin for Berdy, very much misfired forehand.

Oh okay, Sisu. I'll have to check it out when I get home then, thanks....my silly company doesn't believe in streaming video at work...they apparently expect us to actually work...bummer! :)

Heather LOL! I had a feeling the children would be put on the back burner for soemtime.Mrs Roddick is only young and I guess wants to focus on her career a bit.

"voracious in" isn't right. "Voracious about." Coffee not yet working.

NP There is only one Pistol Pete

Yep ! This match is definitely over now.

Well Tomas had a little opening there buy Novak has just closed the door

Heather, thanks! I'm fine. At work, so can't watch the bloodbath btw Nadal and Andy. ): I fear Rafa will clobber him.

Not surprised he and Brooklyn are waiting on kids. She's only 23 or something.

Good 1st serves got Novak through there

Tomas? no comment

Heather and Kirsty

May I remind you both Andy has a 3-2 over Rafa on the h/courts?

So this isnt a given that Rafa will win ok

Though I may kill myself if he dosent ok lol!

Hey he has his career slam now so it dosent matter anymore lol!

Eh, I don't know AM, while he does have an edge with the record on h/c this is an indoor hard court which I don't believe they've ever played each other on before, though I could be wrong and not Andy's best surface. I was feeling good about it, at least positive but then I saw just how slow the courts are playing. Hoping for a good match at least!

"Hey he has his career slam now so it dosent matter anymore lol!"

AM: Not according to some in the media. GOAT status is riding on this championship.

oops Novak watch your feet as you go for those balls pls

Thanks AM, I know about AndyR's h2h w/ Rafa, but the latter's incredible year feels like an unstoppable force. Coupled with Andy's less than incredible one.

wilson75 LOL!

Well Rafa isnt in the equation for Goat status I am afraid

Goodness me the commies must be bored out ot their minds.I think they need a well earned break.

Wilson: The media is so lame, can't they just be Co-GOAT's? They seem to like each other perhaps they could just share the GOAT title and call it a day.

Djokovic continues to demonstrate that he's the ATP player with the best command of angle after that game. He may be playing the slowest of the eight: certainly, a quick win would keep Djokovic's interest alive in the tournament.

I think Rafa himself has put enough importance on this championship by declaring since the USO that he wants to do well at the WTF. I think he will also try to do really well at the AO, to complete the grand slam and then the GOAT conversation will become much more substantial.
And from what we've seen so far, if Rafa sets a goal, he achieves it

Well Rafa hasnt played since the Asina swing where Melzer just blew him off the court and just hit through him.He took the time away from Rafa there.Long time since I have seen a player to that to Rafa let me tell you.

Though I did have a "open bar" going.So it wasnt all that bad lol!

AM: I agree with you.

Heather: I wish they would stop with the GOAT talk. As long as both are still playing there shouldn't be any discussion on the issue.

Good point about Melzer, AM. But now Rafa will be rested and, I predict, focused. Andy will have all he can handle.

Agreed, Wilson. It's just all so ridiculous, how can you declare someone the GOAT when their careers are not over yet?

Anna: I agree Rafa said he would like to win WTF but he never equated it with being the GOAT.

Kristy Rafa may be too rested? lol!

We shall see.

Heather: Not only that, but the criteria for being declared the GOAT is constantly being changed by the media.

Oh, there's that Djoker look that brings back memories of Screech!

wilson75, Rafa would never start the GOAT conversation- he is too humble for that.
It is just my observation/ opinion that he is really focusing on these twwo tournaments- the WTF and 2011 AO

Yes Tomas I would put a towel over my head as well in the change

I guess Tomas is getting thrashed?

Anna Not to get ahead of myself I hope Rafa can do well at the AO 2011.I will be there with fingers crossed of course.

Nole were you thinking you were playing doubles with that attempted shot up the line there?

AM, I am so jealous!
I hope you witness some thrilling matches.

AM, such a bad miss on that smash, I believe Novak's mind was on the DC for a moment. ;-)

Jason was just saying he thinks this match from Novak has been just as good as Murrays and Rogers from yesterday?? Hmmmm.

Anna: I'm not saying that Rafa started the GOAT talk in fact he has gone out of his way to say he's not the GOAT. But you said that him winning the WTF and AO will bolster his claim to GOAT status. Whether, I agree with your opinion or not, is not the point. I just wish the media would like him and Roger play out their careers before bestowing GOAT status on them.

Anna I went this year though as you know Rafa didnt make the 2nd week.

Hopefully he will be there next year.

Holds To Love I think your on the money there with Novak

boy this match is really helping me not yawn(not!!!)
wonder if rafa will keep up the snoozefest or inject some unnecessary drama?
at any rate after winning us open , i think as a rafa fan i've been selfish enough and got more than i dared to expect back in january '10!
but i suppose rafa's gotta find motivation just like fed to keep on going when u've practically won everytime!

Come on Novak

I wish tennis TV would stop showing famous people, spouses and coaches in the crowd. There's no lighting on the crowd so when they show them, all I see is a black screen on my TV.

Clinical performance by Nole. Congrats.

Later.

Sorry to have brought up the GOAT conversation again. I, in no way meant that Rafa would be the GOAT, I do not believe in that. But IF he won the WTF and the AO 2011, the media frenzy would be unstoppable

Novak 63,63

Thanks for putting me out of my misery

Tomas no comment.

Well done, Nole. It must have been shame over his brown boots that hampered Berd's performance.

Anna: You have nothing to apologise. But I agree that the media frenzy would be overdrive if Rafa won both tournaments. Not to mention, the pressure will be enormous on him to win the calendar slam. It never stops with the media.

DJOKO! =D

Murray...another who will be king,who is the best,the greatest etc.
Murray is acutally a journeyman....like Davedenkyo,Nalbanian.Will win a few titles,matches but will not win a GS.
Murray just doesnt have IT.

Well at the AO site for 2011 the media is already in over drive with the prospect of Rafa winning.

Though to me the winner of the AO is always the hardest to pick in ways.Its the 1st GS of the year.Players are coming off a break as well even though they may play lead up tournaments in Australia to get climatised with the conditions etc

For me its a slam in way that is up for grabs.That also goes with the women.

AM: I agree. The AO is always unpredictable. It going to be even more unpredictable on the women's side whether Serena plays or not next year.

wilson75 I feel this injury with Serena is quite serious.She has had 2 operations to date on her foot.If she has already withdrawn from the Hopman Cup she will at least need to play a tournament before the AO if she can play.She played Medibank this year as her lead up tournament.

So I guess it will be a waiting game if she can recover in time to defend her title.

"AM: I agree. The AO is always unpredictable."

MA, precisely why I had a while back suggested a name, not for USO, but AO - the Wide Open.

AM: I had the feeling Serena was not going to play AO since she announced that she had the second surgery and my doubts grew even more when I saw that picture of her on crutches last week. As Roger always says things change quickly in tennis, I still remember Mary Carrillo at Wimbledon talking to Serena about reaching 18 slams. Now it looks like she might not make it that far.

Colette: I like the name for AO. I hope MA is taking notes.

Follow up to the dubs conversation, I have always hoped that when Venus and Serena do hang it up in singles (assuming it's not injury-related) that they will grace us at least for some years with their doubles play.

jewel: "So far, it's showing just how impressive Soderling has been over the last year and a half, in backing up that first big performance."

i think that's been underrated with Robin. Earlier this year he was struggling with an elbow injury (i think it was elbow) and his results were a bit spotty. Yet he has still managed to play well enough to move into the 4 slot, and make the WTF's for 2 years in a row. He's definately here to stay, imo.

Now if he can just get his act together for tomorrow. THough I like Ferru too. That's a bit of a dither for me... sigh.