Australian Open Capsules: Federer leaves Rod Laver Arena in a better place
MELBOURNE, Australia — The last time Roger Federer played at Rod Laver Arena, he left in tears after losing the 2009 Australian Open final to Rafael Nadal.
There were no such waterworks on Tuesday, just a few tense moments for the Swiss star seeking his 16th Grand Slam title in a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-0 first-round win over Igor Andreev of Russia.
Federer lost the first set after leading by a break, then saved three set points in the 12th game of third set before winning the tiebreaker and totally dominating the fourth set.
It was a far cry from a year ago, when, with Rod Laver himself about to present the trophy, Federer shed tears after having missed his first chance to equal Pete Sampras' 14 Grand Slam titles — a feat he later achieved and then surpassed with wins at the French Open and Wimbledon.
"It's killing me .... maybe I'll try later," Federer said last January when he was not able to speak initially at the trophy presentations.
On Tuesday, Federer was all smiles at the courtside television interview with two-time Australian Open champion and now commentator Jim Courier, who reminded Federer that he had not lost a set in the first round of a major in more than six years — not since the 2003 French Open, the event before he won Wimbledon for his first Grand Slam title.
"I did know it was going to be tough, we played five sets in New York two years back and I really had to adjust my game to beat him," Federer said of Andreev. "I think I definitely got lucky to get out of that one. It was a fortunate third set today. I prefer easier matches, but this worked as well."
Top-ranked Serena Williams, the defending women's champion, had an easy first-rounder, beating Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-1. Her sister, sixth-seeded Venus, also advanced easily, beating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2.
Later Tuesday, third-seeded Novak Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion, played Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain.
Serena Williams's record in the first round of the Slams is even more impressive than Federer's — she has never lost an opener.
"I was a little nervous today because that's always on the back of my mind," Williams said. "Records are meant to be broken. This one means a lot to me ... just to have an opportunity to have not lost yet in the first round of a Grand Slam — knock on wood — is really good for me."
Williams' demeanor was also far different than her last Grand Slam appearance at last year's U.S Open. There, an outburst against a line judge who called her for a foot fault cost Williams the match, a record fine of $82,500 and a suspended ban which means she'll miss a U.S. Open if she has another such outburst at any Grand Slam event in the next two years.
"I always said what I did wasn't right ... I don't know whoever got fined like that. People said worse, done worse. I just thought it was a bit much."
The 28-year-old American hurt her left knee at the Sydney International last Friday night and later said she has been bothered by a foot problem. She played with her right thigh heavily wrapped with a white bandage Tuesday, but said it was more for a precaution.
Williams' win in 73 minutes contrasted to what the WTA Tour said was a record for the longest women's match at a major in the Open era. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic needed 4 hours, 19 minutes to beat Russia's Regina Kulikova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (10), 6-3.
Elsewhere, No. 8 Jelena Jankovic, No. 11 Marion Bartoli, No. 13 Sam Stosur and No. 19 Nadia Petrova advanced along with No. 26 Aravane Rezai, who beat India's Sania Mirza 6-4, 6-2.
No. 18 Virginie Razzano lost 6-2, 6-3 to Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and American Vania King ousted No. 23 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5.
Back on the men's side, sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, No. 9 Fernando Verdasco — who lost an epic five-set semifinal to Nadal here last year — No. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 12 Gael Monfils of France, No. 19 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland and No. 21 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic all advanced.
Americans James Blake and John Isner reached the second round, but No. 25 Sam Querrey lost to German veteran Rainer Schuettler. Blake had a 7-5, 7-5, 6-2 win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement, while Isner held off Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4.
Fabrice Santoro extended his Grand Slam career into a fourth decade, but he lasted only one match — a 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 loss to 14th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia.
The 37-year-old Frenchman, who started his Grand Slam career at the 1989 French Open, retired last season but returned to Melbourne Park for a record 70th major.
The rain that allowed only 26 of the scheduled 64 matches to be completed on the opening day gave way to sunny conditions Tuesday, allowing officials to clear up some of the backlog.
Notebook: Serena Williams auctions clothes for Haiti victims
MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams has turned her punishment into a charitable opportunity by launching an online auction of her personal clothing and memorabilia in order to raise $92,000 for Haiti earthquake victims, as well as schools and charities.
The target equals Williams total fine for her profanity-laced outburst at a lineswoman during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September.
"The purpose of the mission is to turn a negative into a positive by educating and helping women, men and children so that they have a fighting chance," Williams writes on the Web site of her charity, the Serena Williams Foundation.
Williams' eBay auction began Monday with items including an autographed pair of sneakers that she wore in her championship run at the Australian Open last year, her 2008 Olympic team dress and a Phoenix Suns jersey signed by Steve Nash.
She announced the auction in December, shortly after she was fined a record $82,500 by the Grand Slam tournament for her profanity-laced outburst at a lineswoman during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September. She also paid a $10,000 penalty to the U.S. Tennis Association.
Williams said the idea for the auction came after the International Tennis Federation denied her request to donate some of her fine to charity.
The auction will run for 92 days, with new items up for sale each week.
The proceeds were originally designated for schools in the United States and Africa, but Williams decided last week to direct some of the money to victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake.
MELBOURNE PARK REVAMP
Major upgrades to Melbourne Park — including adding a retractable roof to a third arena — will begin this year and ensure that the Australian Open remains at its present site until at least 2036, Victoria state officials said Monday.
Margaret Court Arena will get 1,500 new seats and a retractable roof similar to those on Rod Laver and Hisense arenas, making the Australian site the only Grand Slam to boast three covered courts.
"This will allow Melbourne to run the most weatherproof Grand Slam event in the world," Victoria Premier John Brumby said.
The $336 million first stage of the redevelopment also includes 21 new courts, upgrades to the main two arenas, and additional parking.
"Importantly, it locks in the Open until at least 2036," state Sports Minister James Merlino said.
Work on the first stage of the project will begin in April and take about five years to complete.
ZAGAT GUIDE
Venus Williams shops at Harrods. Maria Sharapova prefers the boutiques of Paris and New York. And when it comes to dining, many of the world's top women tennis players suggest trying Nobu restaurants and their delectable black cod with miso.
Life as a tennis player involves considerable travel — and eating and shopping — around the world. So Zagat, the global dining guide, teamed up with the organizers of the women's tennis tour to make a guide that taps into the players' preferences.
"Zagat — Best of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour," has sections on 24 of the cities where tournaments are played. The 2010 guide is the third annual edition and includes three new cities: Montreal, San Diego and Warsaw.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams recommends the curries at upscale Thai restaurant Blue Elephant in Paris. In New York she goes for brunch at Soho hotspot Mercer Kitchen.
Thanks to Nobu's branches around the world, the players can get their fill of spicy tuna rolls and the signature cod dish in London, New York, Tokyo, Miami and Melbourne. Among the regulars are Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova and 2008 French Open winner Ana Ivanovic.
"Nobu. What else needs to be said?" Williams notes in the London category, adding that Wimbledon's timing allows her to shop at Harrods during the summer sales.
Most of the players don't seem too preoccupied with bargain shopping.
In Paris, France's Tatiana Golovin shops for bags at Fendi, jeans at Diesel and "loves the styles" at pricey lingerie shop La Perla.
"If you're looking for an evening dress, you can always find something gorgeous here," Elena Dementieva, the Beijing Olympic gold medalist, says of Versace in Paris.
French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova goes for Gucci.
"I like to go to Gucci anywhere in the world," she says. "You can never go wrong with Gucci."
GETTING BORED
Oracene Price is apparently getting tired of traveling the world to watch her daughters, Venus and Serena Williams, play tennis.
Price, a regular spectator behind dark sunglasses in the players' box at major tournaments, reportedly told Australian Tennis Magazine that she hates flying and was starting to find the whole thing boring.
"It used to be I looked forward to get away from L.A. but now it's getting dull, to be perfectly honest," Price said in comments published in Tuesday's Herald Sun newspaper. "I've had enough. It's the same old, same old."
Price, who co-coaches the sisters with their father Richard Williams, also revealed her secret for sitting through the many hours of matches.
"I go to sleep," she was quoted saying. "That's why I wear the sunglasses, sitting there waiting until it's over."
-- Tanalee Smith
