Tennis Update: “Fed Express” Back On Track
- January 19th, 2009
- Posted by Daniel Challis
Another scintillating weekend of tennis has seen the likes of Swiss gun Roger Federer fire up and dispose of Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-3 6-1 at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.
Other good news for the Europeans include rising Czech star Petra Kvivota who beat fellow countrywoman Iveta Benesova in straight sets at the Hobart International…
FORMIDABLE FEDERER
Roger Federer was clinical in his defeat of fellow Swiss Wawrinka in straight sets, the match lasting only 57 minutes.
The world number-two out-muscled his opponent and was exceptional, moving lightly on the court and striking the ball well.
After the match he told reporters he was feeling confident going into Monday’s Australian Open.
“I am confident entering any grand slam really because of the success I have had over the last six years. I don’t remember playing a slam, though, where I wasn’t confident.
“It’s going to take an incredible performance by someone else to win,” he said.
After his loss to world number-one Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final last year, Federer went through a slight form slump during the end of 2008.
However, he seemed to have regained some of the fitness and incredible touch in Saturday’s final (17.01.09) that made him the world’s best for so long.
Federer’s first round match in the Australian Open will be against unseeded Italian Andreas Seppi.
SYDNEY AND HOBART INTERNATIONAL
Argentine David Nalbandian won the final of the Sydney International beating Jarko Nieminen in three sets: 6-3 7-6 6-2.
Nalbandian survived a tie break (9/11) in the second set to eventually trample his opponent in the third; leaving Nieminen with only one win from nine finals in his career.
Nalbandian also said he had had good preparation all week which helped set up the win.
“Today it was a tough match. I feel that I played very good sometimes and sometimes not that good. But it was a very positive week, and I feel that I’m going to arrive to Melbourne with a lot of confidence,†he said.
His first match in the Open will be against Frenchman Marc Gicquel who won the doubles rubber with world-number-seven Jo-Wilfred Tsonga at the Brisbane International last week.
18-year-old Czech Petra Kvitova was another winner this weekend after taking out the Hobart International.
After the match Kvitova joked about beating her opponent and long-time friend Iveta Benesova saying that they were currently sharing accommodation and she hoped the two slept well tonight.
“We are sharing a room but I think I will kick her out tonight,†Benesova joked with the crowd after the match.
Reference:
Michael Gleeson, ‘Federer government has newly stated case’, The Sydney Morning Herald (18.01.09), http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/federer-government-has-newly-stated-case/2009/01/17/1231609054314.html, (18.01.09).
Hobart International official website, http://www.hobartinternational.com.auSydney International official website, http://www.medibankinternational.com.au/
Kooyong Classical official website, http://www.aamiclassic.com.au/Home
ATP World Tour website, http://www.atpworldtour.com/1/en/home/default.asphttp://www.atpworldtour.com/1/en/home/default.asp,
Australian Open website, http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/index.html
Picture: “Fed Express” in full flight, moldova.org