SWEET SIXTEEN

Roger Federer experienced quite a range of emotions these past two Australian Opens.

A year ago, he sobbed on court after losing a thrilling final in five sets.

Federer was all smiles Sunday after rather easily beating Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) for a fourth championship in Melbourne and 16th Grand Slam title overall.

While Murray missed a chance to end a drought for British men at Grand Slam tournaments that stretches all the way to 1936, Federer became the first Dad to win a major singles title since 2003. He also now can aim at a true, calendar-year Grand Slam, something no man has accomplished since 1969.

"I'm over the moon winning this again," the 28-year-old Swiss star said. "I played some of my best tennis in my life these last two weeks. It's also very special -- the first Grand Slam as a father."

Federer had only recently discovered he was to become the father of twins when he lost the Australian Open final in five wrenching sets against rival Rafael Nadal last year, then broke down during the presentation.

This time, Federer was in control of the action pretty much throughout against Murray, and afterward, it was the 22-year-old from Scotland whose voice was breaking and who was choking back tears.

"I can cry like Roger," Murray said. "It's just a shame I can't play like him."

OZ ON TSN

NADAL'S KNEE

Rafael Nadal will miss up to four weeks of competition with a knee injury that forced him to quit in the third set of his Australian Open quarterfinal against Andy Murray.

The second-ranked Nadal had his right knee assessed in Spain and was advised to get rest and treatment for four weeks before returning to tournament play.

Nadal said it was not the recurrence of the tendinitis that sidelined the six-time Grand Slam singles champion for periods of 2009.

He was unable to defend his Wimbledon title last year because of the tendinitis and has not reached another Grand Slam final since his five-set win over Roger Federer at last year's Australian Open.

MRI and ultrasound tests showed a small tear at the back part of Nadal's right knee, which can be treated with physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory treatment, Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said in the statement.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

DEEP-SIX

On Wednesday, Roger Federer  fired a warning shot at his potential challengers in the Australian Open final four after a ruthless deconstruction of sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko in their quarter-final on Wednesday.

Despite a poor start that saw Federer lose the first set and face a double break in the second, the world No. 1 surged back into the match and finished off the Russian 2-6 6-3 6-0 7-5 in two hours and 36 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.

Davydenko stands near the baseline and as soon as Federer began to hit with greater depth, Davydenko lost some power, placement, and spin - all as a result of hitting the ball slightly late.

SLEEP-DEPRIVED - FRI 3:30 AM

MURRAY GRINDS DOWN CILIC

Marathon man Marin Cilic bowed out of his first Australian Open semi-final on Thursday disappointed and exhausted but will take away a top 10 ranking and more confidence to beat the game's best players.

The towering Croat, who upset quarter-final opponent Andy Roddick in his third five-set match of the tournament, appeared to have a chance of securing another shock with a win over a sluggish Andy Murray after taking the first set.

The match turned on one shot, however, when the fifth-seeded Briton broke Cilic, the number 14 seed, at 2-2 in the second set with a spectacular passing shot, then powered home to win 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena.

Eventho' , Cilic was running on fumes, Murray had to play superb tennis to win. In that sense, Cilic was beaten in the previous rounds.

REUTERS

CHINESE BREAK THRU

On Tuesday, Zheng Jie became the first Chinese woman to ever make the semifinals at the Australian Open. Twenty-four hours later, countrywoman Li Na became the second. Though the eyes of the tennis world are looking ahead to a potential Serena Williams-Justine Henin final in Melbourne, we'll today celebrate the historic achievements of China's two emerging tennis stars.

Love -- Though the Aussie Open schedule lists them as Jie Zheng and Na Li, their names are Zheng Jie and Li Na, respectively. The Chinese naming system puts the family name first (which is why Yao Ming has "YAO" written on the back of his jersey instead of "MING").

15 -- China's state-sponsored sports program used to keep Zheng Jie and Li Na from having much, if any, control over their careers. The players couldn't play many international tournaments and were assigned coaches, doctors, nutrionists and psychologists. But a post-Olympics reform gave the players more freedom and the results have been striking. New coaches, schedules and regimens have played an integral role in the emergence of the two women. Also key: Instead of forking over 60 percent of earnings to the Chinese government, the women now have to give just 12 percent.

30 -- In China the pair are nicknamed "The Golden Flowers."

40 -- Despite being linked by the court, the pair couldn't be more different off of it. Li Na is the rebel with the tattooed chest and fiery attitude who often clashes with the oppressive Chinese government. Conversely, Zheng Jie has been called "the darling of the Chinese media" and is fiercely loyal to the Communist party.

Game -- Regardless of what happens Thursday in Melbourne, Li Na will become the first Chiense woman ever to enter the top 10. 

On Tuesday, Zheng Jie became the first Chinese woman to ever make the semifinals at the Australian Open. Twenty-four hours later, countrywoman Li Na became the second. Though the eyes of the tennis world are looking ahead to a potential Serena Williams-Justine Henin final in Melbourne, we'll today celebrate the historic achievements of China's two emerging tennis stars.

Love -- Though the Aussie Open schedule lists them as Jie Zheng and Na Li, their names are Zheng Jie and Li Na, respectively. The Chinese naming system puts the family name first (which is why Yao Ming has "YAO" written on the back of his jersey instead of "MING").

15 -- China's state-sponsored sports program used to keep Zheng Jie and Li Na from having much, if any, control over their careers. The players couldn't play many international tournaments and were assigned coaches, doctors, nutrionists and psychologists. But a post-Olympics reform gave the players more freedom and the results have been striking. New coaches, schedules and regimens have played an integral role in the emergence of the two women. Also key: Instead of forking over 60 percent of earnings to the Chinese government, the women now have to give just 12 percent.

30 -- In China the pair are nicknamed "The Golden Flowers."

40 -- Despite being linked by the court, the pair couldn't be more different off of it. Li Na is the rebel with the tattooed chest and fiery attitude who often clashes with the oppressive Chinese government. Conversely, Zheng Jie has been called "the darling of the Chinese media" and is fiercely loyal to the Communist party.

Game -- Regardless of what happens Thursday in Melbourne, Li Na will become the first Chiense woman ever to enter the top 10. 

On Tuesday, Zheng Jie became the first Chinese woman to ever make the semifinals at the Australian Open. Twenty-four hours later, countrywoman Li Na became the second. Though the eyes of the tennis world are looking ahead to a potential Serena Williams-Justine Henin final in Melbourne, we'll today celebrate the historic achievements of China's two emerging tennis stars.

Love -- Though the Aussie Open schedule lists them as Jie Zheng and Na Li, their names are Zheng Jie and Li Na, respectively. The Chinese naming system puts the family name first (which is why Yao Ming has "YAO" written on the back of his jersey instead of "MING").

15 -- China's state-sponsored sports program used to keep Zheng Jie and Li Na from having much, if any, control over their careers. The players couldn't play many international tournaments and were assigned coaches, doctors, nutrionists and psychologists. But a post-Olympics reform gave the players more freedom and the results have been striking. New coaches, schedules and regimens have played an integral role in the emergence of the two women. Also key: Instead of forking over 60 percent of earnings to the Chinese government, the women now have to give just 12 percent.

30 -- In China the pair are nicknamed "The Golden Flowers."

40 -- Despite being linked by the court, the pair couldn't be more different off of it. Li Na is the rebel with the tattooed chest and fiery attitude who often clashes with the oppressive Chinese government. Conversely, Zheng Jie has been called "the darling of the Chinese media" and is fiercely loyal to the Communist party.

Game -- Regardless of what happens Thursday in Melbourne, Li Na will become the first Chiense woman ever to enter the top 10. 

THE GUARDIAN

FED AND TSONGA MEET IN SEMI

 

World number one Roger Federer overcame a sluggish start before advancing to the Australian Open semi-finals with a 2-6 6-3 6-0 7-5 victory over in-form Russian Nikolay Davydenko Wednesday.

Tsonga beat Djokovic 7-6 (8), 6-7 (5), 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a near four-hour match and will play Federer in a semifinal Friday. Djokovic appeared to be affected by breathing difficulties and stomach problems during part of the match and took a medical timeout trailing 2-0 in the fourth set.

REUTERS - AP

WEDNSDAY MATCHES

CILIC AND MURRAY WIN

 

Fifth seed Andy Murray booked his place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open when Rafa Nadal, the Spanish second seed and defending champion, retired with an injured knee when trailing 6-3 7-6 3-0 on Tuesday.

A downcast Andy Roddick blamed a shoulder injury for robbing him of the "full deal" during his five-set quarter-final loss to Croatia's Marin Cilic on Tuesday.

The seventh-seeded American struggled with the injury from the first set and took medical treatment in the second, but after battling back to square the match, he went down 7-6 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena.

REUTERS

FOURTH ROUND RESULTS

FOURTH ROUND

BEST MATCH-UPS TONIGHT

But we'll probably have to watch the sisters.

ISNER STOPS MONFILS

American John Isner blazed more than 100 winners in knocking 12th-seeded Gael Monfils of France out of Australian Open 2010 on Friday evening.

It was a disciplined display from the 206cm giant, who made only 38 unforced errors on the way to his second consecutive Grand Slam round of 16, defeating Monfils 6-1 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(5).

TSN TENNIS

- Australian Open - January 17 – 31
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Indian Wells - March 15 – 21
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Miami - March 29 – April 4
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Monte Carlo - April 12 – 18
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Rome - April 26 – May 2
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Madrid - May 10 – 16
- French Open - May 23 – June 6
- Wimbledon - June 21 – July 2
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Rogers Cup (Toronto) - August 9 – 13
- Sony Ericsson WTA Tour: Rogers Cup (Montreal) - August 16 – 20
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Cincinnati - August 16 – 22
- US Open - August 30 – September 12
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Shanghai - October 11 – 17
- ATP Masters Series 1000: Paris - November 8 – 14
- Barclays ATP World Tour Finals: London - November 22 – 28

CRYSTAL BALLS

 

Who has to beat whom to be champ by round:

Federer

1. Andreev

2. Chela

3. Starace

4. Hewett

5. Davydenko - Verdasco

6. Djokovic

7. Nadal

Djokovic

1. Gimeno-Traver

2. Chiudinelli

3. Chardy

4. Robredo

5. Tsonga - Haas - Soderling

6. Federer

7. Nadal

Del Potro

1. Russel

2. Blake

3. Troicki

4. Cilic - Wawrinka

5. Gonzalez - Berdych - Roddick

6. Nadal

7. Federer

Nadal

1. Luczak

2. Mayer

3. Kohlschreiber

4. Stepanek - Karlovic

5. Murray

6. Del Po

7. Federer

OZ ON TSN AND TSN2

 

JESSE LOST

JINGOISM

Police have warned they are ready to crack down on troublemakers at the Australian Open after ethnic violence marred recent tournaments.

In 2007, 150 Croat and Serb fans engaged in a wild brawl, hitting each other with bottles and flagpoles. It was the first time in more than 100 years of grand slam tennis that violence had erupted at a tournament.

Police then used capsicum spray on a group of rowdy Greek supporters in 2008 while last year a fight broke out in one of the bar areas between Bosnian and Serbian fans, who threw plastic chairs at each other.

The year's first grand slam begins on Monday.

Police also had expanded powers to deal with drunkeness and swearing, he said, while they would also use closed-circuit television to monitor the crowds and venue 24 hours a day.

REUTERS

OZ SEEDS

Men’s seeds

1 (SUI) Roger Federer

2 (ESP) Rafael Nadal

3 (SRB) Novak Djokovic

4 (ARG) Juan Martin del Potro

5 (GRB) Andy Murray

6 (RUS) Nikolay Davydenko

7 (USA) Andy Roddick

8 (SWE) Robin Soderling

9 (ESP) Fernando Verdasco

10 (FRA) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

11 (CHI) Fernando Gonzalez

12 (FRA) Gael Monfils

13 (CZE) Radek Stepanek

14 (CRO) Marin Cilic

15 (FRA) Gilles Simon

16 (ESP) Tommy Robredo

17 (ESP) David Ferrer

18 (GER) Tommy Haas

19 (SUI) Stanislas Wawrinka

20 (RUS) Mikhail Youzhny

21 (CZE) Tomas Berdych

22 (AUS) Lleyton Hewitt

23 (ESP) Juan Carlos Ferrero

24 (CRO) Ivan Ljubicic

25 (USA)Sam Querrey

26 (ESP) Nicolas Almagro

27 (GER)Philipp Kohlschreiber

28 (AUT) Jurgen Melzer

29 (SRB) Viktor Troicki

30 (ARG) Juan Monaco

31 (ESP) Albert Montanes

32 (FRA) Jeremy Chardy