Today Andy Roddick outlasted Novak Djokovic in an extreme heat match at the Quarters of the Australian Open. Court temperature hit 136 degree Fahrenheit which took a toll on Djokovic. Andy didn’t show any fatigue from the heat serving 80+% and hitting a lot of first serves in. Unfortunately for the defending champion he retired during the 4th set down 2-4. Now Andy Roddick gets into the semi finals just that close to the finals and the championship.

Showing no fatigue what so ever.

Fernando Verdasco the underdog left in the Australian Open beat Andy Murray in 5 sets; 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Verdasco hit a lot of strong and fast forehands to beat Andy’s chance of executing good shot selection. In the final set both players were cautious during their serve but Verdasco knew he had to go big or go home. He now faces Jo Wilfried Tsonga, 2008 Finalist, in the Quarterfinals. I don’t think he will beat Tsonga though because Tsonga is just too powerful and good. Regardless of this big win his road stops here for the Australian Open.

Strong forehand by Juan Martin Del-Potro

Playing against Marin Cilic for the first time Juan Martin Del-Potro shows a load of talent.  Potro is seeded #8 and Cilic is #20 but Cilic managed to take the first set 7-5.  The next three sets were lopsided victories which led to winning the match for Potro; 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.  Watching the match I think Del Potro used the first set as a analyzing set because he hasn’t played against Cilic before.  This gave all the information Del Potro needed to take the match into his hands.  Del Potro faces Federer in the Quarters next which will be a very good match for fans.

Fired Up Federer

When all hope felt gone down two sets to love to Thomas Berdych, Roger Federer (#2) overcame that obstacle to win the match 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.  I watched the whole match from coin toss to the final serve ace for the win.  So amazing to see Federer come back.  It shows that he is still a legendary player despite getting old and being ranked #2.  I am really excited to see his next match against Juan Martin Del-Potro who had a tough challenge against Mario Cilic earlier today.

The Centennial High School Girls Tennis Team are currently out of a coach for the 2009 season.  Brian Alvord has been the coach for the past numerous years but has moved to Texas.  So far the school has had consideration in hiring PE teacher Ms. Nelson as the new coach or Bill Cooper, father of the Boys #1 player Will Cooper.  I also gave this news to my friend and Centennial Alumni Wyatt Brock and he has applied for the position to coach the girls.  It will be an interesting and exciting season for the girls as they are searching for a new coach.

As the season is less than a month away I am starting to play more tennis to get myself back into shape.  I haven’t played tennis since October last year and my skills drifted away from me.  During the inactive period I’ve been working on my fitness and strength.  Running, push-ups, and sit-ups are my main excercises.  Running to gain the stamina to play long matches, push-ups for upper body strength, and sit-ups to work my abs to gain more speed around the court.  Now I’ve mainly been playing with my last season doubles partner and long time friend Derek to regain my skills.  Thanks to my training my serves have increased in speed greatly which helps keep the points short.  My groundstrokes still need more practice for improvement.  I am going to be ready for this season for it is my last as a high school senior.  My goal is to qualify for the state tournament.

James Blake of the United States represented well agaisnt Igor Andreev in the 3rd round at the Australian Open.  Giving up the third set James Blake kept his composure and dominated the fourth set to clinch the match 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.  This is good news for USA tennis and hopefully either him or Andy Roddick can make it to the finals.

Watching the Australian Open match between David Nalbandian and Lu Yen-Hsun was amazing.  There has never been consistent talent in Asian tennis but this match Lu contested and overcame the #10 seed Nalbandian.  In the forth set I saw that Nalbandian made a lot of unforced errors and Lu took advantage to win the set bringing this match to 5 sets.  With momentum from Lu and frustration from Nalbandian, Lu ended up winning the match 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

As the ATP Tennis season stirs up for non stop action in 2009 I am waiting for the Australian Open to go underway.  Last year we saw Novak Djokovic face agaisnt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as new faces of a Grand Slam final match.  It was amazing how in the first Slam of the 2008 season neither one of the world’s top 2 players (Rodger Federer, currently #2 and Rafael Nadal, currentlly #1) reached the finals.  This is a new season and new players will rise up to take on the greatest in this sport.  Who do you think will win this Grand Slam?  Defending champion Novak Djokovic?  Roger Federer?  Rafael Nadal?  Maybe someone who you wouldn’t think of.  Until then all we can do is wait and analyze the performances of the players in the mini tournaments they are playing.

As the regular season ends for the ATP Tour, I am left with boring days without any new tournaments on Tennis Channel.  This 2008 season has been very good for tennis though.  Novac Djokovic wins the Australian Open for the first time and rises to world number three.  Rafael Nadal continues to dominate at Roland Garros for the fifth consecutive time and he finally wins his first Wimbledon but wait that’s not all, he finishes the year end ranking as world number one.  Roger Federer, struggling as world number one before falling to second, managed to hold strong and take the US Open again.  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wins the BNP PARIBAS tournament to qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup.  Lastly Novac Djokovic wins the Tennis Masters Cup.  This season has many unfamiliar winners.  Many would expect winners of major tournaments to be Nadal or Federer but this year we’ve had Tsonga, Djokovic, and Del Potro win big.  I am excited for the 2009 season and will be ready to blog about it.