===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN (Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Rebound Ace);
Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
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This is a cut-down, Daniela-focused edit of my full Australian Open
preview:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/message/3113

1. UK TV-alert
5. Andrew's analysis of the draw
7. Order of play for Monday


--------------
1. UK TV-alert
--------------

For those in the UK who have a Freeview box or other form of digital
TV, there will be extra coverage of the Australian Open on BBCi!
They will be televising the evening-session of the Rod Laver Arena
from 8:30am GMT each day, in addition to the usual weekend-coverage
on BBC 1 & 2.

Further details:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4582096.stm


--------------------------------
5. Andrew's analysis of the draw
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5.2 Second quarter
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* MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] v Sandra Klösel (davai Maria!)
* Ashley Harkleroad [Q] v Peng,Shuai (jia you Shuai!)
* Mashona Washington v Jelena Kostanic
* Zuzana Ondrášková v ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [28] (pod'me Zuzana!)

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v Saori Obata
* Dally Randriantefy v Akgul Amanmuradova [WC]
* Mariana Diaz-Oliva v Camille Pin
* Li,Na v SERENA WILLIAMS [13]

* ELENA DEMENTIEVA [9] v Julia Schruff (davai Elena!)
* Elena Vesnina v Li,Ting [Q]
* Tzipora Obziler [Q] v Olga Savchuk [Q]
* Jill Craybas v JELENA JANKOVIC [23]

* KLÁRA KOUKALOVÁ [29] v Ekaterina Bychkova (pod'me Klára!)
* Maria Elena Camerin v Yvonne Meusburger [Q] (forza Maria Elena!)
* Jarmila Gajdošová [Q] v Martina Müller
* Sophie Ferguson v NADIA PETROVA [6]

1r: #101 Saori Obata is the most boring tennis-player I've ever
seen. She just stands behind the baseline and hits everything ten
feet above the net. She lost 6-4 6-4 to Tatiana Poutchek in the
first *qualifying* round of Canberra.

Obata may have been the beneficiary of a 6-3 6-1 self-destruction by
Jelena Dokic at Eastbourne 2003 (I was there), but she'll get no
such favour from Daniela (always assuming that Daniela will have
recovered from the gastrointestinal illness with which she retired
from Sydney).

2r: Looks like another easy passage against either #185 Amanmuradova
or #68 Randriantefy - really nothing to worry about but Daniela's
health.

3r: It should be Serena Williams - but not the same Serena who owns
a 3-0 record over Daniela (most recently 6-4 6-3 at Dubai 2005). The
defending champion is seeded only 13th after a horrendous 2005 post-
AO. And she lost 6-1 6-3 to Elena Dementieva in last week's Hong
Kong exhibition - and I was shocked at how out-of-shape and
overweight Serena looked in a photo from that event. There's never
been a better chance for Daniela to finally get a win over a
Williams sister than if she meets Serena now.

4r: I really hope for a mouthwatering Daniela v Maria Sharapova
match. Daniela did beat a young Maria 7-6 6-1 at Tokyo Pan Pacific
Open 2004, but Maria has won their subsequent three meetings in
straight sets. Maria will be playing in pain from a dislocated rib,
but I'm pretty confident that she will keep up her end of the
bargain.


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7. Order of play for Monday
---------------------------

Show Court 3 (start 11:00 EST = 00:00 GMT)
WS 1r: DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v Saori Obata
MS 1r: MARIO ANCIC [18] v Agustin Calleri
MS 1r: José Acasuso v JAMES BLAKE [20]

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/danielahantuchova/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/