tennis

Serena Williams, Osaka, Nishikori advance at Australian Open

10 Comments
By HOWARD FENDRICH

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10 Comments
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Finally, Nishikori gets a smooth win over an inferior opponent. He needed it. He's had a very easy draw thusfar in the AusOpen. Next up is Carreño Busta, his first seeded opponent, but also a Spanish dirt baller. In theory he should make it through that as well.

Milos Raonic eased to a 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (6) win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert... after Raonic had two tough opening matches with Nick Kyrgios and 2014 champion Stan Warwinka.

This is the opposite of an easy draw. And it gets worse - next up is Zverev (assuming he wins).

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Now why couldn't he play like this in the first two rounds? I'm happy for his fans - it will keep them in high spirits for a few days until he meets a fairly good player.

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Osaka on the other hand was an abysmal drama queen. Glad she won, for sure, but her opponent stayed calm and impressive while Osaka was really her own worst enemy. No sympathy for that. Couldn't watch any more after a while, and as I turned off the set I pitied her coach. I could just see his thought bubble: "Oh, no, not again!"

I sure hope she learns how to control such behavior and steels herself seriously for some tough matches ahead.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Nishikori has not come to Melbourne ready to play, and that's putting it very mildly.

Lol, funny the nonsense some people post

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Wait, Naomi smashed her racket?

Where are all the detractors to call her names, insult her, and such?

Can we get a racially tinged cartoon of her throwing a tantrum now, and have it excused by a lot of people?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Now why couldn't he play like this in the first two rounds? 

Lol, like he would have returned more of Karlovic’s aces had he been playing him again today?

Some ridiculous notion that is.

Here’s a thought - give credit to both players, not imagine that it is Kei versus a mirror.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Osaka has 2 singles titles for her entire career. It's not impressive.

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Naomi Osaka is wasting her talent and she doesn't serious about tennis right now. I think she lost her passion and seriousness in tennis after she won the US Open. I'm not convinced she is working hard and training hard. Naomi Osaka' coach treats her as a child when you look at when he talking to Naomi in Brisbane International.

we are expecting more than what she was achieving in 2019 so far. She should have won Brisbane International if she plays like 2018 the US Open. Naomi Osaka was 2nd favorite to win the 2019 Australian Open after Serena Williams before Brisbane International. However, no one was talking about Naomi Osaka to win 2019 Australian Open now.

We are criticizing her now because we want to see her success and win more Grand Slam titles. We hope she will change her attitude before too late.

We want to proud of her and see her highest achievement and don't want to see her wasting time and talent. She needs to work hard and hunger for wining titles and number One ranking.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Pukey, Now why couldn't he play like this in the first two rounds? 

> fxgai "Lol, like he would have returned more of Karlovic’s aces had he been playing him again today?

Some ridiculous notion that is.

Here’s a thought - give credit to both players, not imagine that it is Kei versus a mirror".

Fxgai, I totally agreed with you.

I believe Ivo Katlovic's service was best in the 2019 Australian Open so far and may be whole Australian Open game. Ivo has served 59 aces with only 3 double faults. He served Ace on every break points. Nishikori was lucky to be won at Tie Break as new Rule was applied in 2019. Nishikori was helpless and he could do nothing to improve his game. All he has to do was waiting and patient for opportunity. That makes him able to defeat Ivo.

Ivo Karlovic has maintained his service at 217 km/her first service and 180 km/her at second service until the end of the 5 set games. I don't know 39 years old Ivo Karlovic always serve his services like that or not, but not many players can maintain their service high percentage ace and services at 5 set games.

Nishikori was lucky to be advanced to the 3rd rounds and now he was in 4th rounds.

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The US Open win was a fluke, an upset. Suddenly people piled on all these "next big thing" expectations on her shoulders when she was never on the edge of being great. There was no reason to think she would win anything after the US Open win as it was more of divine intervention.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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