# Australian Open 2009 Anyone? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 24, 2009, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782 "2009-01-24T12:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/61 "2009-01-30T23:36:20Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Federer is actually a really good example of a pretty humble sports “great.” He doesn’t parade around demanding everyone know he’s the best(I’m looking at you, Ali). > > :Sits waiting for someone to find one quote of Federer bragging: > > 😃 [Here you go](http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2007-09-16/300.php). He tends to get away with it as being just telling the truth, but he has frequently made statements acknowledging his own superiority. ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/62 "2009-01-31T11:54:52Z")
Whoever pulled off getting equal prize money for the women should get involved in the Israel/Palestine problem, they’re _good_. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/63 "2009-01-31T16:36:45Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > [Here you go](http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2007-09-16/300.php). He tends to get away with it as being just telling the truth, but he has frequently made statements acknowledging his own superiority. Still, what else is he going to say about it? He’s not an egomaniac about it from what I can see, but he’s got a huge edge on the field aside from Nadal. I think he’s gotten frustrated at times with the press’ haste in hoping other players would come along to challenge and surpass him. They’re always looking for somebody new, like declaring Djokovic part of a “big three” with Federer and Nadal, which he hasn’t earned despite the one slam title, or adding Murray to a “big four” this month even though he hasn’t won any majors at all. Murray and Djokovic are both very good, but come on! ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/64 "2009-02-01T03:04:51Z")
What a snoozer Women’s Final!! Safina never showed up. The Men’s Doubles was more exciting. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/65 "2009-02-01T03:07:01Z")
Bhupathi is one of the most enjoyable names in sports. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/66 "2009-02-01T06:03:00Z")
I should meander more – good thread. Never think to look in here, for going by the displayed thread on the Forums page, I thought sports had become irrelevant. Great to see they are still breathing. Anyway, excellent AO and the cream of the cream in The Final. First on a HC out of the record eight Slam finals they will have played after this morning. Lots of anticipation and questions over this one. Another classic? If Rafa wins the first set, I give them even odds from there. Otherwise I think Fed has a better than good chance of tying Pistol Pete. I’ll obviously be rooting for Rafa, but if it’s not to be, you can’t lose to a better player. [**Let the battle commence**](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article5627480.ece) and may the best man win. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/67 "2009-02-01T06:06:34Z")
PS-Did anyone else ruin their schedule by watching some of their “night matches” at 3 or 4 in the AM? 'cause I think I’m turning into a vampire. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/68 "2009-02-01T08:18:17Z")
Correction: Make that seven finals, not eight. So much for trusting my memory. Apologies. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/69 "2009-02-01T09:18:52Z")
There’s an odd one. Jim Courier wonders how Nadal’s feet are after his long semi because he likes to wear shoes 2 sizes too small so that “he feels fast on the court.” WTF??? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/70 "2009-02-01T09:29:05Z")
This one looks great so far - they’ve traded breaks twice and are both playing very well. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/71 "2009-02-01T10:44:31Z")
Christ, those guys are pretty good tennis players, both are hitting unbelievable winners. Federer did actually win a critical challenge, though. Tied 1-1 in sets now, could be a classic match. ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/72 "2009-02-01T12:09:21Z")
Does Rafa even understand the concept of giving up? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/73 "2009-02-01T13:10:32Z")
What I love about tennis is that Federer could have won this in straight sets. He served with the break for the first set. Was up 30-15, hit a perfect volley and Nadal ran it down and Federer dropped serve. He won the second set. In the third with games on serve he had Nadal 0-40 and failed to break. ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/74 "2009-02-01T13:16:21Z")
I suspect Fred Stolle or whoever said it is right: Federer may well never beat Nadal again. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/75 "2009-02-02T01:27:17Z")
Wow. I just watched it on ESPN2. I really felt for Roger when he broke down. I think he really needs to beat Nadal in a final to feel like he’s the best. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/76 "2009-02-02T03:14:24Z")
Fed had some brilliant shots but Nadal had some awesome ones. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/77 "2009-02-07T02:58:04Z")
Sigh, just watched the Federer/Nadal final. Brilliant first four sets, the fifth was pretty disappointing in terms of how the quality dropped. I really wanted Federer to win, since I like his game a lot more than Nadal’s pure power thang. I love how he’s willing to do stuff like go to the net or attempt three drop shots in a single game. Also, I get the sense that while Federer is still one hell of a player, Nadal has just improved past him, and I’m not sure if Fed will have all that many chances to win a major again before age becomes an issue. Not that I feel sorry for the guy, but I want to see his style of play emerge triumphant one last time before Nadal becomes the new Federer (in terms of success). ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/78 "2009-02-08T17:36:30Z")
Nadal is King. Simple. He is King of Clay, and now has shown that he can win on grass as well. Feds days are numbered. He is where Sampras was circa 1998-1999. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/79 "2009-02-08T23:21:29Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Nadal is King. Simple. He is King of Clay, and now has shown that he can win on grass as well. Yes…I think he showed us he can win on grass last July. Now, he’s shown us he can win a major on hard court. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782/80 "2009-02-09T11:57:37Z")
Yes, I know the Aussie Open is played on the hard stuff, having been there a couple of years ago! However Clay-Courters found it easier to play on Hard courts as opposed to Grass. Even before Nadal, Clay Courters had had success on the Hard courts, Moya went to the Aussie Final in '97, Ferrero to the US Open Final in '03. Sucess on the hard court is not as surprising as his Wimbeldon success. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-2009-anyone/482782.md?page=3)