2011 Australian Open (Day 1 & (part of) Day 2): A Viewer’s Version

 

Day 1

Alright, so I was a little behind in putting up a post about the first day before the second one started, which means I’m adding a little of Day #2 to Day #1. It was a pretty typical first day — no matter the tournament  — with most seeds moving through and a couple falling by the wayside.

Time for Tennis!

So, since the Australia Open is in a month I decided to do a little guessing game for the next two major tournaments for the 2011 year (male and female) and predict who will win each one. Barring injuries these results can and will be changed.

Australia Open (1/17/2011-1/31/2011)

Men: Roger Federer- Federer is the reigning Aussie Open champion and has won the tournament four times (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010) and came in 2nd place once (2009). Nadal is the favorite because he is the new number 1 and is poised to dominate 2011 as long as his knees hold up. I love Federer’s style of play and he has come on strong at the end of 2010. I also love his attitude and his experience and how he loves playing on hard courts, and statistics show that this is his tournament.

Women: Caroline Wozniacki- I wanted to pick Serena Williams because she is dominant and has owned this tournament in the past (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010). But, of course she is injured so she is withdrawing from the first major tournament. So, I guess Woz will have to do for now. She has not dominated this tournament in the past, highest finish was the 4th round (2008, 2010) which is nothing to special. But, she is playing good tennis and with Serena out, to me only Venus Williams (0-4 W-L record) and Kim Clijsters (0-2 W-L record) are a threat to her. As long as Woz focuses and plays her best I feel she can win her first major tournament.

Why Woz?

The sun was shining brightly on "Sunshine" throughout the 2010 U.S. Open -- until she fell to finalist Vera Zvonareva in the semifinals of the event.

She took her racquet back, preparing for a forehand her opponent had hooked cross-court. After a big wheel-house backswing, she released the racquet, striking the ball with an uneasy forehand motion. The ball hit the top of the net and sunk to her side of the court. Thus, the No. 1 seed at this year’s U.S. Open, sparklingly blonde Dane Caroline Wozniacki, had lost to an opponent in Vera Zvonareva that she met for the first time a year and a half ago — and would ultimately face five times this year. If only that match weren’t an omen of what was to come at the Sony Ericssion (year-end) Championships.