The History of Men's Tennis (Open Era)

So called “sweet sixteen” turned around into a “bitter sixteen”. That was pretty obvious that Nadal would beat Cilic and Federer would outplay Robredo without any problems, but we could expect much more from Verdasco, Almagro, Roddick and Melzer in their matches against respectively: Berdych, Djokovic, Wawrinka and Andy Murray. Unfortunately the 4th round didn’t deliver any drama and emotions: five straight set wins, two short 4-setters and one 5-setter, also a short one – a sensation of the tournament, Alexandr Dolgopolov survived the second consecutive match in a short 5-setter, after beating Tsonga (2:19 h), needed only 2 hours 36 minutes of mixing slices and top-spins to eliminate Soderling, who always play poor tennis at the Australian Open, this year advanced to the 4th round for the first time. Definitely the biggest success in his career, Dolgopolov accepted calmly; does he think a Grand Slam quarterfinal is not a peak of his abilities? Seemingly, his next match against Murray looks like the easiest one to predict – last year’s finalist Murray has been in a terrific form – in his first four matches has not lost more than three games in a  set! Murray comments after destroying Melzer: “The matches are definitely going to get tougher. I’m not expecting to go through the tournament winning matches like that, with that score line. So I’m ready for that mentally when it does get tough. Where there has been tight moments, like today it was right at the beginning of the match, went up a break, got broken straight back, I managed to break him in the next game“.

Longest match:
2 hours, 36 minutes: Alexandr Dolgopolov d. Robin Soderling 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

Most aces:
24 – Stanislas Wawrinka, defeated in three sets  Andy Roddick

5-set barometer:

7-9 Robin Soderling
3-1 Alexandr Dolgopolov

Alexandr Dolgopolov [46] stands out not only by his feminine haircut but also by very hard, unorthodox forehand. “Dolgo” isn’t very young  – 22, but he is a new face on the main tour, two years ago (2008) finished the season at the No. 309, in the last season played his first three majors and improved his ranking position considerably (moved from No. 131 to 48). Today has achieved the best career result destroying Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [13] in the last two sets of their five-setter (just 44 minutes) – for Tsonga, who was affected a bit by right hip injury,  it’s the first 5-set loss (he beat in five sets Dolgopolov during the last Wimbledon). The Ukrainian says: “For sure it’s probably the biggest match I’ve won for now. This year I got a lot stronger physically. I worked out consistently in the preparation for the year, so I’m feeling a lot better. Feeling good, feeling solid, so I can really get my game up with the level because I don’t need to do, like stupid shots, you know, miss a lot.”
John Isner [20] has inscribed himself to all record books winning a titanic ’70-68′ set in the last Wimbledon, but today wasn’t so resistant playing against Marin Cilic [15]. The Croat, known as a weak tie-break player, managed to win the 4th set tie-break though, after Isner’s two consecutive double faults, and held his serve without troubles in the 5th set. Isner, who was all the time behind, at 7:8 saved a match point and had a point to level at 8 games apiece, but Cilic played very good volley and a moment later converted his second match point after Isner’s forehand mis-hit. Cilic has improved his perfect record in 5-setters in Melbourne to 4-0. 

Longest match:
4 hours, 33 minutes: Marin Cilic d. John Isner 4-6, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 9-7

Most aces:
32 – Andy Roddick, defeated in four sets Robin Haase

5-set barometer:

10-6 Marin Cilic
5-1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
3-3 John Isner
2-1 Alexandr Dolgopolov…            Interesting article on “Dog”

A young Canadian qualifier (was a set and a break down in his last qualifying match) of Montenegrin origin, 20-year-old Milos Raonic [152] is tall (6’5″ – 196 cm), possesses a huge serve and good nerves. Is he a material for the best player of Canada in the Open era? Time will tell, today he won his second straight match after #an identical scoreline – 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 – out-serving (21-10 in aces) inconsistent Michael Llodra [24]. Raonic states: “This is my biggest result. It’s my biggest achievement to date. But I hope to do more than this. I feel like I can. I feel like I’m playing at a level that I’m still there and I’m there with the top guys“. Also two tie-breaks and a set won ‘6-3’ needed Australian hope of Bosnian/Croatian descent – Bernard Tomic [199], and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [13], but in different configurations – Tomic against Feliciano Lopez [31] won the first two sets after tie-breaks, Tsonga against Andreas Seppi [51] the last two. For both, Raonic and almost two years younger Tomic, the third round at the Australian Open is the best achievement at the main level in their short careers. Ahead of Tomic is much more difficult task in the next round as he faces the top seed and the main title contender Rafael Nadal [1], who has lost only four games in two matches in Melbourne this year!!
Jan Hernych [241] luckily escaped from the second nightmarish defeat in Melbourne within three editions. Two years ago in the first round, he wasted a match point in the 3rd and 4th set of his match against Victor Hanescu, and couldn’t seal the win also serving for the match in the 5th set! Today against Thomaz Bellucci [31], lost the 2nd set wasting a couple set points in the tie-break, lost the 4th set wasting a 3:1* (40-30) lead and was 0-30 down serving at 4:4 in the 5th set, having already a *3:1 lead. Eventually he prevailed after 4 1/2 hour by an 8-6 margin in the decisive set.

Longest match:
4 hours, 31 minutes: Jan Hernych d. Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 6-7(11), 6-4, 6-7(3), 8-6

Most aces:
25 – Thomaz Bellucci, lost in five sets to Jan Hernych

5-set barometer:

14-9 Mikhail Youzhny
3-4 Thomaz Bellucci
3-3 Jan Hernych
1-1 Blaz Kavcic

# Raonic’s first two round at the Australian Open 2011:

1R: Raonic d. Phau 7-6(3), 6-3, 7-6(8) – 27 aces (2 hrs. 7 min.)
2R: Raonic d. Llodra 7-6(3), 6-3, 7-6(4) – 21 aces (2 hrs. 18 min.)

# Raonic saved a set point only in the 3rd set against Phau (7:8* in the TB)

In the picture, Verdasco’s reaction after winning epic matches at the US Open ’10 & Australian Open ’11.

As Fernando Verdasco [9] won amazing five-set match from two-sets-to-love against David Ferrer during the last US Open, we would have expected a long time before he would win another match in such a difficult situation. However he did it today on Hisense Arena overcoming Janko Tipsarevic [49] in extraordinary circumstances. After winning the first two sets, Tipsarevic led 3:1* (40-0) in the 4th set, Verdasco saved the triple break point with an ace and two brilliant winners DTL. Later on, Tipsarevic led 5:3* (30-0), and Verdasco won two consecutive points with help of an amateurish drop-shot and overhead! The Serb served once again to win the match at 6:5, after the second-serve ace he had double match point – Verdasco saved both match points with passing-shots (Tipsarevic played three volleys at the second m.p.!). The drama was continuing when Tipsarevic saved two break points to get another match point. Two points before,  Verdasco signalized problems with his right ankle, but was running amazingly during the third m.p., and after a lot of stretching from both sides, Carlos Ramos overruled a decision of the linesman which would have given a match for the Serb, who couldn’t challenge the ball due to lack of challenges remaining! It was a turning point of the match, after that rally Tipsarevic lost everything, his energy, his concentration and his fighting spirit – Verdasco notched a streak of 19 points won in a row (!) and comfortably got the 5th set, finishing the match with three consecutive aces, served 23 aces during his almost 3-hour 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-0 triumph. Verdasco: “I think that…every time you win one match like this in a Grand Slam it’s important for yourself to get confidence to see that you are good physically and mentally. It was of course, very important win after coming again two sets to love down, and also saving match point in the fourth set…I think it’s very positive for me.”
Verdasco’s compatriot, Nicolas Almagro [14] also won a match escaping from match points in the 4th set. In the tie-break of the 4th set against Igor Andreev [75], Almagro saved two match points (5:6, 7:8) with attacking style – on the second match point Andreev had relatively easy ball to pass the Spaniard. Andreev led also *4:2 (deuce) in the 5th set but lost after almost 4 hours. Six years ago in Miami, Andreev beat Almagro (7-6, 2-6, 7-6) saving two match points in the final set tie-break…
Tomas Berdych [6] was virtually on verge to lose his second round clash from match points up in the 4th set as well, playing against one of the toughest unseeded opponents – Philipp Kohlschreiber [35]. In the 4th set, Berdych couldn’t convert match points in two games, then at break point, felt relief serving an ace and eventually advanced to the third round after 6th match point, in 3 hours 3 minutes (4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4).

Longest match:
3 hours, 54 minutes: Nicolas Almagro d. Igor Andreev 7-5, 2-6, 4-6, 7-6(10), 7-5

Most aces:
23 – Fernando Verdasco, defeated in five sets Janko Tipsarevic

5-set barometer:

18-14 Roger Federer
14-8 Fernando Verdasco
13-7 Janko Tipsarevic
8-7 Nicolas Almagro
5-8 Igor Andreev
5-3 Gilles Simon

Juan Martin del Potro [236] came to Melbourne last year admittedly with suspicious physical shape, but in a glory of the US Open ’09 champion. Now, after a wasted year due to injury, tries to rebuild his position in the tennis world and his first step is notable – he beats Dudi Sela [92] in straight sets, winning #the third longest tie-break in the Australian Open history. In the tie-break of the 1st set he saved five set points (5:6, 7:8, 8:9, 11:12, 12:13), two of them on opponent’s serve, in impressive style the last one when played a forehand winner DTL of the tramlines.
Interesting battle on Margaret Court Arena survived one of the oldest players in the main draw – Michael Russell [100]. 32-year-old journeyman of America, after winning the first two sets easily against “wild card” Matthew Ebden [185], led 4:1 with a double break in the 3rd set but found himself at 3:5* (15-40) in the 4th set. Russell managed to save that double set point, saved another one in the tie-break at 6:7 and won 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(9) after 3 hours 22 minutes.
John Isner [20] who wins more sets than anyone else being one or two points away from losing a set, once again showed his tremendous mental resistance in the 2nd set of his match against Florent Serra [69]. At *7:7 tried to finish the point with a forehand but missed by centimeters, wasn’t upset though and in the following point risked with his forehand twice to save the second set point (the first was at 6:7). Isner won 6-3, 7-6(8), 6-3, after exactly the same scoreline (except the score in a tie-break) won his match Feliciano Lopez [31], who will meet next the biggest Australian hope, 18-year-old Bernard Tomic [199] – a good performance on Hisense Arena against Jeremy Chardy [44] –  Tomic’s first win over a Top 50 player. “I think I played well as a junior,” Tomic says, “That’s totally different to the senior level. But I think I’m stepping up and beating all these players now. I think it’s just a matter of time before I win a lot of matches in a row in a tournament“. Other youngsters, Milos Raonic and Richard Berankis won their matches in straight sets as well, Raonic served 27 aces in his first Grand Slam win.
Two out of four main contenders to the title, Rafael Nadal [1] and Andy Murray [5] weren’t forced to work even trough three sets, because their opponents, respectively Marcos Daniel and Karol Beck retired quickly.
In one of the most entertaining first round matches, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [13] came back for the first time in his career from two-sets-to-love to improve his perfect five-set record (5-0). The beaten Philipp Petzschner [57] has lost for the third time being two sets ahead ##, and for the third time after winning the first two sets easily… Unfortunately there were many lopsided three-setters, the most surprising outcome was witnessed on Court No. 18 where Ernests Gulbis could not deal with Benjamin Becker.

Longest match:
4 hours, 48 minutes: David Nalbandian d. Lleyton Hewitt 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1), 9-7

Most aces:
27 – Milos Raonic, defeated in three sets Bjorn Phau

5-set barometer:

30-16 Lleyton Hewitt
17-11 David Nalbandian
12-18 Arnaud Clement
9-6 Marcos Baghdatis
8-7 Andreas Seppi
6-6 Philipp Petzschner
5-0 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
4-1 Ricardo Mello
3-3 Thomaz Bellucci
2-2 Grega Zemlja
1-1 Pere Riba, Carsten Ball

# Three longest tie-breaks in the Australian Open history:

2007, 1R: Andy Roddick d. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7(18), 7-6, 6-3, 6-3
1992, 3R: Omar Camporese d. Lars-Anders Wahlgren 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(15)
2011, 1R: Juan Martin del Potro d. Dudi Sela 7-6(13), 6-4, 6-4

Del Potro’s tie-break

## Petzschner’s five-set defeats from 2-sets-to-0 up:

UO ’09: Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 4-6
AO ’10: Florian Mayer 6-0, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6, 2-6
RG ’10: Carsten Ball 6-3, 7-6(4), 2-6, 5-7, 7-9
AO ’11: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6

Mardy Fish [17] was working really hard last year to improve his physical fitness, and the work pays dividends – among his last eight singles wins, five came after 5-set matches! Today he prevailed against a tricky Victor Hanescu [50] 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3, improving his 5-set record to 8-7 (2-7 before the US Open ’10).
Less luck had Fish’s compatriot, Sam Querrey [18] who was surprisingly ousted in five sets by Lukasz Kubot [72] 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-8. The American led 6:5* (30-0) in the 5th set as Kubot played a couple risky shots from the baseline and finished the rally with an overhead. He took the momentum after that, supported by bunch of Polish fans who were yelling “Walcz Łukasz! Walcz!” (Fight Lukas! Fight!). After the win, Kubot performed his own dance… the same thing did Gael Monfils [12] but with lesser expression, after winning a match point against Thiemo de Bakker [47]. The Dutchman after saving a triple set point in the 1st set, had the match in his own hands but couldn’t convert a 5:2* lead in the 3rd set and lost 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 2-6, 1-6, limping at the end… “When I get back at 5-all, I had a strong belief like, ‘Oh, I could make him play like more and even go to the fifth. In the fifth, we never know,’” says Monfils – the 5-set specialist.
Also from on verge of straight sets defeat was Philipp Kohlschreiber [35]. In a prestigious duel with Tobias Kamke [65] (“the newcomer of 2010”, has aspirations to surpass “Kohli” as No. 1 in Germany), Kohlschreiber was two points away from loss in the 3rd set tie-break but won 1-6, 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4 after almost 4-hour battle on Court No. 13. They met in the first round also during last year’s US Open and Kohlschreiber won easier then, in comfortable four sets.
Beside Querrey, among seeded victims is Nikolay Davydenko [25], last year in the Top 5 during the Australian Open with wins over Nadal and Federer under his belt, now after being beaten by Florian Mayer [36] in four sets, will drop outside Top 30 at the beginning of February.

Longest match:
4 hours, 24 minutes: Frederico Gil d. Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-3, 9-7

Most aces:
48 – Ivo Karlovic, lost in five sets to Ivan Dodig (just the second case in history that a player served 48 aces, previously did it Marc Rosset, ten years ago in Neuchatel – Davis Cup)

5-set barometer:

9-5 Philipp Kohlschreiber
8-7 Mardy Fish
8-5 Victor Hanescu
8-2 Gael Monfils
6-1 Albert Montanes
6-4 Lukasz Kubot
3-13 Ivo Karlovic
3-1 Frederico Gil
2-3 Pablo Cuevas
2-0 Ivan Dodig
1-1 Tobias Kamke
1-2 Thiemo de Bakker
1-4 Sam Querrey
0-1 Dustin Brown