Australian Open Day 13 Open Thread: Women's Final
by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:20 AM EST
in Match Threads
84 comments
After laying dormant for almost two years, the Serena vs. Henin rivalry resumes on the grandest of stages. Hope you're not sleeping through this dream final.
Not Before 19:30
Serena Williams (USA)[1] v. Justine Henin (BEL)[W]
I rewrote my prediction piece for this final about twelve times before finally deciding that I really don't know. The one thing I expect is an awesome match. If it goes three, that could spell trouble for the gimpier Serena, but that's really the only thing I can say with any degree of certainty.
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Oddsmakers say 50-50. I’d have to agree.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, Serena really looking shaky here in the opening game. Facing two break points already
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
They're both having shaky moments.
Lots of pressure.
by srberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 1-0* Justine
And after four deuces, Serena holds. Real big first game.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
3 correct challenges already, less than two games in.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, a 95 mph forehand return winner from Serena. That’s as fast a women’s groundstroke as I’ve ever seen.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena *1-1 Justine
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 3:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena *2-1 Justine
Saves another break point in the process.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, quick 0-40 for Serena on Henin’s second service game.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena *3-1 Justine
Serena breaks at love. Really switched it on there.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 4-1* Justine
Already some drama. On break point, Justine thought she had hit a winner, but it was actually called out by a line judge who immediately called it out. The crowd boos. They replay the point, and Serena hits a service winner followed by a loud audible obscenity from Justine. The crowd boos again.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena *4-2 Justine
Fairly easy hold.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 4-3* Justine
A forehand winner, followed by a break, followed by an “allez!”
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena *4-4 Justine
Holds at love. Momentum really seems to have shifted with that controversy in the fifth game.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 5-4* Justine
Her most routine service game so far.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Justine saves one break/set point…
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Here comes another…
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Serena *6-4 Justine
A netcord winner falls just outside the line, but no challenge.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 1-0* Justine
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Justine saves two break points off Serena backhand errors.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 1-1 Justine
Three aces for Justine so far, about three more than I would’ve expected in this match.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 1-2* Justine
Henin breaks at love, and the crowd goes wild.
Short memories on these people.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, *2-2 Justine
Some real bad Henin errors give the break right back.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 4:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I predicted a Serena win
and she’s performed better on break points. Simple as
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 4:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Maybe spoke to soon
Serena fails to break after several chances. Maybe that’s not what’s seperating them!
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Justine stays alive.
Making some good shots.
by srberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Superb backhand
Serena wants to finish this
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, *3-5 Justine
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, Justine is really racing through the end of this set.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, 0-0* Justine
Breaks at love to take the second set.
This is the first three-set women’s final since Wimbledon 2006.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow Henin kicked ass there
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
10 Points in a row
Most of them down the line winners
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sad that I have to leave to meet a friend for breakfast soon
As this is great stuff!
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Still recovering from the boxing last night
I stayed up. Stupid me
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I like to imagine that Paul Williams
Is related to the Williams sisters!
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I have two questions
Is Justine now favourtie?
Was Federer-Nadal (Aus Open) better than Federer-Nadal (Wimbledon)?
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
To the first question, I’d say yes. To the second, I don’t think so at all. Their Australian meeting was real sloppy, relatively.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Justine is cruising. So she must be favourite. Holding to love again. 15 Points in a rown
Both were crackers. But Wimbledon for me aswell.
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, *0-1 Justine
Justine has won fifteen straight points.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
True grit needed by Serena now
2 break points saved, let’s see the game through now
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, 1-1* Justine
HUGE hold.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Looks like it
Important hold that might have deflated Henin a little bit. Is she going to start missing those winners?
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, she is.
4 Unforced errors and Serena breaks
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Seems like it, for sure. She and her crowd are deflated.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, *2-1 Justine
Listless game for Henin, big break for Serena.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Women's tennis needed Henin and Clisters
It was so uncompetitve without them
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
That's true
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So many errors!
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
SO many. It’s gotten real ugly.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, 2-2* Justine
Surprisingly lackadaisical effort from Serena
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Williams looks like she may be losing her mental game a bit
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
As is Henin though.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Serena wins
does she join Billie Jean-King at 12 Grand Slams?
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yup, that’s correct.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, *3-2 Justine
Disappointingly WTAish third set thus far.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
WTAish?
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Break after break, errors everywhere, no momentum…
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It's a higher level version of Venus-Li
No-one able to hold, errors everywhere
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, you're right
The standard has dropped, WTAish might be a bit harsh though
by Dafs on Jan 30, 2010 5:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Competitive set so far
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yes but they are still close
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, 4-2* Justine
Phenomenal second serve ace to get the big hold.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Most likely
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Serena 6-4, 3-6, *5-2 Justine
Match on her racquet
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nice ace to start off there
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
And another...
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I just saw Shumenov make the ticker
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by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A dominant final game
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 30, 2010 5:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Game, Set, Match, Championship Serena Williams
Serena Williams (USA)1 def. Justine Henin (BEL) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for stopping by folks!
Hope to see you back here tomorrow for the men’s final.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think Federer in 4, but it really all depends on Murray.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 30, 2010 5:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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