AO 1 - Australian Open(ing Day)

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

Well, we have had our first day. We have already had a major exodus of seeds on both sides. Just as the ATP and WTA were starting to look stable, everything imploded. The Australian contingent thus far has excelled. The one-handers have fared decently and Federer has already hit four shots I could never ever hit in my life or indeed in Methuselah's lifetime. We are well and truly ensconced in the Australian Open now.

The favourites seem to be holding, but the dark horses have stayed in their stable. Two former slam champions are gone and yet again we wonder how did Ivanovic and Kuznetsova ever win slams? I watched Sveta win that French Open and I'm still in disbelief. Bencic is gone. Gulbis and Robredo are the only men's seeds out, though they were seeded 11 and 15, respectively, and Robredo retired.

Suicide Pick:
We all know how this works. Pick a player to win each round but you cannot pick them again. I'm in a little late, but the first round is still going.

Day 1: Venus Williams [d. Torro Flor] and for the men I will have Jerzy Janowicz [d. Moriya]


ROD LAVER: NADAL d. YOUZHNY
...Youzhny didn't last two hours. Nadal swept him aside just as one might sweep aside fallen leaves or late snow. Nadal was never troubled in this 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 rout. Youzhny isn't seeded because he hasn't earned it. It isn't a mistake and he's been a bit injured, but is coming back. Youzhny has really fallen due to bad form and he seems to have lost what he once had. Nadal hit 37 winners and just 15 errors. I remember a match once where he had one unforced error. That's the kind of player Nadal is. Youzhny was very poor. He won just 51 points but Rafa won 91. The Russian was quite literally bullied on Rod Laver. Nadal has showed everyone just how wrong they are about his form. His forehand was on song throughout. The rest of the draw had better watch out. Smyczek is an American qualifier who is a fairly well known journeyman. He is the next lamb to the slaughter.
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ROD LAVER: FEDERER d. LU
...The problem with these early rounds? There aren't usually so many storylines and the big guns never struggle. Well, on the men's side they rarely struggle. As a fan and occasional commentator on the WTA I am going to shock nobody when I say it is a mess right now. It has been for some time. It is seriously missing a top group of women always solidly there or thereabouts. The consistency just isn't there. On the men's the top ten, one feels, are the top ten always and for a reason. Sadly, this is much more boring than on the WTA. Lu played a fantastic match but, like Mikhail, didn't last two hours. He lost 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Federer was supreme and pulled out some incredible shots. What can't that man do? The 37 errors were a little sloppy but his 57 winners was impressive. I'm sure there weren't 37 errors from him in that two hours or just less span. He did hit one amazing drop shot which nobody saw coming. It briefly put me into a state of shock. Bolelli beat Monaco in four but he won't push Fed that far.
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MARGARET COURT : MURRAY d. BHAMBRI
...Murray went 13-0 in the aces to doubles ratio as he wrapped up a straightforward 6-4,6-3,7-6 victory against Bhambri in the first round. The two time finalist -- no, the three-time finalist -- has always done fairly well here but has yet to be the bride. Perhaps this year is different. In fact, I would say that he has been perhaps the best player of this decade, Djokovic and Nadal aside. Perhaps Federer noses ahead of him but not by much. Odds are if he reaches another final he has to win it. Matosevic, another Australian darling, will be waiting in the next round. Can Murray make another run here? Yes he can, but Federer and Nadal look closer and closer with every victory. He no longer has a winning record against Roger, but then neither does Djokovic.
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HISENSE SELECTION: TOMIC d. KAMKE
...Tomic needed less than three hours to get through his match as he beat young German Kamke 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Hisense. Tomic and the Australian Open have had a longstanding love affair, more even than Wimbledon. It's similar to how Li Na won the French but really this was her slam. Tomic has had his best result elsewhere but, really, it is here he loves. It is here he calls home and it is here he wants to do well. That being said nobody can not love Wimbledon once they've been, except Lendl. Tomic hit 25 aces [over a set] and broke his opponent six times. He needs to cut out the errors, as 57 is far too many, but the signs are good. Tomic looks like he might be maturing at last. Up next is Kohlschreiber. If he wins that he gets to play Groth or Kokkinakis for a place in the fourth round. It looks like there will be an Aussie in the fourth round, possibly two. But Kohl has to fold first. Honestly, I think Tomic can do it.
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SHOWCOURT 3: KOKKINAKIS d. GULBIS
...Saving a match point and winning is exhilarating. I once saved seventeen match points during a club semi-final. It was a harrowing experience. But Thanasai saved four match points in a slam match. Last year he ran into Nadal and this year Gulbis. This year, however, he is a year older and wiser. He knew how to handle it. In a funky scoreline he won 5-7, 6-0, 1-6, 7-6, 8-6. He won the breaker 7-2. It took him over four hours but the Aussie young gun stormed through. All three of the triumvirate were triumphant. Afterwards he did a lap of the court, high-fiving all the fans. This sums up how exciting the youngster is:



Next up for Kokkinakis is Groth. It's a pity that afterwards he may well run into Tomic. Then we get to see who Kyrgios' back-up is. And you can bet it'll be on RLA.
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OUTER COURT SELECTION: BAGHDATIS D. GABASHVILI
...I bring you a blast from the past from court thirteen. Some people never lose their sense of the dramatic. In over three and a half hours, Bagman won through 6-2, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Russian Gabashvili. Why Bagman is still playing is beyond me. The desire must be strong. He is still the Cypriot number one, as well. He fired 29 aces on his way to the comeback victory and hit 58 winners in total, a low score for such a lengthy match. His opponent hit 69 errors. Next up is Goffin for Bagman and his match against the 20th seed should be on a big court. Expect fireworks.
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Any other notes?

* Ten years ago Stosur won her first slam. It was the mixed in Melbourne with Scott Draper. She's had a really incredible career and it's been across three disciplines, too.

* Federer's outfit -- it's a yes from me.

* I find it odd Peng Shuai would split from Hsieh.

* Gulbis is so talented and consistent on the ATP tour. Why is he so different at slams?

* There haven't been any real bad injuries yet. I know it's only been a day but we can at least be thankful of that.

* Tomic proved to be a diversion, a distraction whilst Kokk and Kyri rose to be the real Australian hopes. He said to fans, "I'm number two" after they chanted to Tomic he's number one. Hey, I think I could get to like this guy.

* Casey Dellacqua hasn't started her matches yet but when she does, watch this space.

Thanx all and visit WTA BACKSPIN please.

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