Laurie's Tennis articles

The 2014 Australian Open has proved to be the most interesting in many years, resulting with two first time winners. Yesterday’s ladies final between Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova was an intriguing match, and had Cibulkova sneaked the first set tiebreak, it could have well have been a surprise victory.   But in the end Li’s greater experience and incredible shot making ability saw her take the 2nd set 6:0.   The victory speech was probably the best part of the night, classic Li Na and as BBC commentator Jonathon Overend said, a post tennis career of stand-up comedy would not look out of place! Today’s mens final between Warwinka and Nadal proved just as intriguing.   The big question was always going to be how Warwinka would deal with the nerves of being in his first major final and play a guy who he never even took a set off in twelve tries, a very tall order indeed. But as the first set developed it was clear Warwinka was ready to have a go at Nadal. ...

In its long history, the Australian Open has a tradition of throwing up surprise finalists.   And that has proved to be the case in 2014 with Stan Warwinka of Switzerland making the mens final and Dominika Cibulkova making the ladies final. Cibulkova will play Li Na of China in a final that guarantees a first time winner of the event from either China or Slovakia.   For Slovakia, it would be a first as Slovakia have lived in the shadows of the Czechs for such a long time.   Cibulkova is indeed the first major finalist since Miroslav Mecir got to a US Open final back in the late 1980s when he lost to Ivan Lendl. Daniela Hantuchova got to the semifinal of the Australian Open in 2008 but lost out to Ana Ivanovic (that match being famous for Ivanovic’s “squeaky” sneakers). Meanwhile Li has already played in two Australian finals and lost both to Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka in 2011 and 2013, each time in three sets.   Li will see this as a great o...