Drama after drama = fun memories for a tennis fan
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by Philipina A. Marcelo
And so the first Grand Slam of the season kicks off, and it's here in the Asia-Pacific, too! Aussie Open... oy, oy, oy! Life makes sense again!
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It's a man's world... and I don't mind!
So, who will prevail? Would Roger Federer be able to defend his crown and go "17"? Would Rafael Nadal - the current Number One in the World - snatch it from him? Would the perennial World #3, Novak Djokovic, who bested Roger Federer in an epic five-setter semi-final in Flushing Meadows before bowing to Rafa Nadal in the final, take his second Aussie Open crown? Would Andy Murray step up to the plate and finally prove himself as a worthy Grand Slam winner? Would Robin Soderling steal everyone's thunder and run away with the crown this time? Would David Ferrer or Fernando Verdasco step out of Nadal's shadow and be the next Spaniard winner of the Aussie Open? Or, would Thomas Berdych, be up for a season opener upset? Would Melbourne be the venue of another epic Federer-Nadal Grand Slam Face-off? Hmmm... too many questions. Would the answers shock us, or would it subdue us? Would we rather be shocked or subdued?
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Ladies a-gaga
Hmmm... I can't say I'm excited to see what happens at the women's side, especially that Caroline Wozniacki is seeded #1 again. *sigh* I know, I know... it's not her fault, and yet, I think tennis fans deserve something better than peeping backside and cleavage in colorful outfit and nails mechanically running around the court without an emotional connection with the audience. OK, so Serena Williams will not be participating... one less "legitimate" contender for the crown there. Venus William is participating though... oh, no, not again! Not another two weeks of skin-toned shorts all over the place! *gag* Safina won't be there... great! One less potentially catastrophic mental breakdown on court! Maria Sharapova is back... and in her competitive form, too. Oh, boy, here we go... time to get new earplugs! Kim Clijsters and Sam Stosurs are in the draw! Awesome! Now, it's a real competition! Huh... they're in the same half of the draw though... uh-oh! :( Francesca Schiavone is in the draw. OK, nice... a guaranteed drama - in a good way.
So, yeah, drama is guaranteed at the women's side... not sure about the competitive quality of the matches though. Who would win? Seriously, apart from Kim Clijsters, are there any other women in the draw whose competitive edge had been consistent enough to put our money on? Sadly, no. So, let's just get on with it... and enjoy their outfits - if that is even possible at all! :)
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