Australian Open '12: Point By Point Coverage

[lt]

I will also be getting the AO member's perk to purchase tickets before they open to the public so in case you're so inclined, you can always contact me if you are planning to head over here in the next year or so.

Right back at you if you ever decide to come to the states for the US Open. Or, if after school you decide to try your luck at some Las Vegas-style gambling, I'm always up for a trip there. I love that not only your tennis knowledge is helping your bets, but your stats knowledge as well.

Fed smiling! Awwww (and although I like looking at smiling Fed, the picture of Ramo linked back to Fed and I like to look at Ramos as well).

I woke up to Murray being down a set and a break and Chris Fowler saying "it will be harder for Murray to come back than it would Djokoic." Since I agreed with that statement I went back to sleep for an hour and woke back up to Murray serving for the set! How'd that happen? What wackiness ensued that not only was Murray able to break back in the 2nd but he was able to get an additional break?

Funny about the spider cam--there was a shot of Murray with the spider cam right in his face. I thought he was going to hit it with his racquet.

heh, Murray is sucking down the liquid in the middle of the game. . . did he bring that stuff out to the back of the court with his towel?

Murray looks ruthless out there! If this is Lendl's influence, win or lose this match, what a great hire.

[chestylarue]

Murray had some out of this world defense and is playing w aggression.

These two are playing some fabulous stuff.


Until this game- serve out the set Muzzah!

[chestylarue]

I wonder how many miles these two dudes have covered. Tired just watching this.

[falafaclese]

Excellent match!

[lt]

I can't find a stream! I listened to the AO Radio on my phone (thank goodness for that) on the way to work but I'm now at my desk and none of the streams are working. . .

Wow, is this crowd evenly divided! Love that.

eta: phew, found one. Literally the last link on livescorehunting

my goodness, what a match! I'm happy that I didn't get to see the fourth set and only heard. Oh no--no more challenges for Murray! Heh, my stream is a little ahead of the radio but I LOVE the radio guys so much that I'm still listening to them. They just gave the break point numbers--almost 50 between the two of them.

[printwhore2012]

Holy sh*t, I wish I was watching this! Tickets were for sale yesterday at list price. Sounds like a hell of a match.

[lt]

Damn it! He couldn't convert!

Oh no. . . . match points for Djoker. . .

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......... Murray is going to be SO upset when he looks at his opportunities in that 10th game.

eta: 11th game. I can't count.

[breezybee]

Damn. So close for Murray.

[lt]

Whoah. Gilbert may be exasperating as all get out but here is evidence that if he would just use his powers for good instead of annoying we'd all be better off.

[GrandSlamGuru]

Sounds like I missed a great match. I'll have to catch a replay. I was rooting for Andy but at least it went 5 sets -- he made Djoko work for it -- so no shame there.

Frankly, I’m not excited about the women’s final but will watch the men’s.

Acre, good to see you. You –emain one of my favo-ites.

Printwhore, thanks for your coverage and for the pics. You have truly been our roving reporter and it's been great. Also, thanks for encouraging us to visit Melbourne for a future AO. I would love it (if ever I could afford it).

Perhaps those of us in the NYC area could band together and become USO roving reporters.

I don't have many tennis-loving friends so this board allows me to go beyond just talking to myself about the sport. I was thrilled to leave TWOP behind to find real, knowledgeable fans. You folks are great.

[mooncreek]

Vera should be extremely thankful for Sveta being on her side. Sveta was awesome at the end of the match and I hope maybe she'll actually be more of a factor in the big tournaments again.

I saw the fifth set and I have to say that I am most thankful to never hear that Andy can't bring it in a big match. To come back from 5-2 down in the fifth (after a steamroll from Novak in the forth, I'm guessing) and nearly serve for the match (that one shot of Novak's down the line especially), I honestly couldn't be more proud. Of course I'd be happier if he won but clearly Lendl's words have already had some impact.

[acre]

Sounds like an awesome, exciting, and hea-tening(fo- Andy) match, and natch that's what Slam semi should be. The best of the best, leaving nothing behind. Due to scheds I didn't get to see the semi's, but I'm still th-illed that they we-e such tight competitive matches. Good fo- tennis is good fo- me, and the inte-national scope will always mean someone/a-ea will get the tough timing.

Thanks GSG, though I hate loathe and detest my messed up kb, it is a g-eat pleasu-e and relief to have a place I can come and just put out my thoughts in thei- slightly coded fo-m, without having to st-ess about it. Thanks to all of you fo- that.

Now, the final's a-e on at the -easonably civilized(to this time zone) time of like 9, 10pm, yes? I hope. I always like tennis, but I can only love it madly when I get a chance to watch live and feel like eve-y point -eally matte-s. Not like "uh-oh b-eak point, but no biggie, I know he wins the set/match, so I'll just watch at ease". Tension is impo-tant fo- the full expe-ience fo- me.

[breezybee]

Now, the final's a-e on at the -easonably civilized(to this time zone) time of like 9, 10pm, yes?

I guess it depends on your time zone. It's on at 2:00 a.m. here. That's central.

[acre]

Eww, I'm EST so that's not looking good fo- me. Wishful thinking again.

Must say I'm kinda pleased fo- Woz, not that she lost, but that the p-essu-e let up has to be huge. Like, okay now I can just be a fantastic tennis playe- and win all the matches possible, but I WON'T have to deal with this unending bullshit about if I "dese-ve" to be #1. I just play the matches, you know. See she tweeted about a mani/pedi afte- the long flight home. How good it feels, sounds plenty -elaxed and at peace to ms.

pwit would have been a much dulle- Aus Open without all you- info and repo-ts, so double/ext-a thank you fo- that. Hope you had a complete blast.

[falafaclese]

I gotta add my thanks to printswhore to the rest of you. Maybe our most comprehensive correspondent to date what with the multi-day coverage, player and spectator photographs, and the special interest coverage on tennis gambling. I loved it all.