Australian Open 2010: A 'Gigantic' Day

I have watched tennis for as long as I can remember, but it is only during the recent years when I realized that the Grand Slams have been about the first week too. In fact, a Slam is as much about the first week as it is about the marquee second week.

A Mockery of ‘Giant’ Tests

Murray and Nadal survive big serving tests to set up a blockbusters Quarter Final

The opening two matches at the Rod Laver were almost identical. Two big serving giants with huge serves but incomplete ground games against two players with exquisite defensive skills, one slightly more aggressive than the other.

The tension at these games was surreal. John Isner and Ivo Karlovic were under pressure because they knew that one service break means a lost set, because their ground game is incompetent against their agile and versatile opponents. Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal were under pressure because of the same reason, but with a minor difference. Their opponents have good enough serves to hold their own and seal the set.

The result, though, was never in question in either contest. Breaking a big serve is much easier if it is not backed up completely, than breaking a relatively weaker one which is heavily protected at the baseline. Both, Nadal and Murray survived the serving onslaught, took those aces with a nonchalant shrug to move over to the next point, and capitalized their chances on every ball they managed to connect.

Isner folded mentally after two sets, ‘Doctor’ never did. However well or bad they played, we have the Quarter Final we wanted right from the start—Rafael Nadal versus Andy Murray. Predict at your own risk.

The Other Battle of Giants

Marin Cilic scores the biggest win of his career over Juan Marin del Potro

One has to thank the television replays when they show the top view of the rallies between Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic. Because this is the second best way to experience how fast these two guys actually hammer the ball (the first being, obviously, to face the music from the other side of the court).

It was like watching a battle between two heavily armored battering rams; the ball returned faster than it was sent and yet hardly escaped their territory. The velocity of that heavily hammered and bruised tennis ball was so fast that you can just marvel at the way these two players were always in position to reach the ball.

And if you get the impression that this match was all about butchering the poor tennis ball, then you got it wrong. Because, the onslaught was of such high quality that it would have failed to separate the two players. They clipped the service lines on second serves, attacked the net, tried lobs, hit disguised drop shots, and exchanged multiple volleys at the net. But to my astonishment, they also took the defensive skills to an entirely new level. They ran from side to side, never giving up until the ball bounced twice, tried to reach their rackets on forehands, which were hit as fast 120mph, and still managed to return them near the baseline making their opponent hit one extra shot, and forcing out the errors in many cases.

In fact, the mere fact that there was not a single tie-breaker played between these two who had such amazing hold games highlighted the quality of the returns of serve they had, especially Cilic. His height helped him enormously to reach out to the big Argentine’s serves which were fearlessly returned with pace. A few backhand rippers made me shout out in amazement.

If that was not enough, the players redefined the two signature shots of the best players of the 90s. Del Potro took forward the running forehand of Pete Sampras to a entirely new level, while Cilic surpassed Andre Agassi with the pace and accuracy of his down-the-line backhand.

The heat of the battle was so palpable, that the crowd restricted their cheering only for the appreciation of the quality of play. They could feel the pressure. They were themselves involved in the match.

In the end, the match tilted towards Cilic who was brave enough to improvise more than his opponent—he hit 21 winners more than the Argentine—and remained in a better physical fitness as the match headed into the decider.

After failing to defend even one of the eight break points that the Croat faced against del Potro at New York, he has won his first high profile match which went the distance. Yes, Marin Cilic has announced his arrival to the tennis world. One who would be expected for great things in the coming year.

Food for Thought

—When your opponent nets a drop shot despite being in a good position to hit a decent forehand, you can sense your opponent is feeling the heat. Murray realized that quite a few times today.

—Andy Murray is yet to lose a set in the tournament. And why would that not be, when he hit only eight unforced errors today.

—Roger Federer is not in the list of the top ten Ace hitters of the tournament.

—Karlovic has developed some variety in his game since the last year (his vicious BH slice being the standout).

—Rafael Nadal plays as Roger Federer on his Play Station. Apparently, the Nadal on the computer really plays without a brain. Two meters behind the baseline, only defending, and hardly hitting any winners.

—While the on court interview (led by Jim Courier), has been cool and enjoyable (Rafa’s interview with Courier was a gem), the press interviews have reached its new lows. Has the quality of questions gotten any worse? Here is a question asked to Nadal after his victory Karlovic:

Which would you prefer, for you to win the Australian Open or for Spain to win the World Cup?

—So much had already happened in these three matches, that I had to skip the other matches to keep the length of this review in check.

All right, the last match of the day is still not finished, so I head back to my idiot box as A-Rod wins the first set.