===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
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1. UK TV-alert
2. Women's Singles: Qualifying
3. Women's Singles: First-round draw
4. Men's Singles: First-round draw

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

The evening-sessions of the Australian Open will be televised on BBCi
from 08:25 GMT each day of the tournament (digital viewers press Red
or select the appropriate Freeview-channel - it always tended to be
302 last year, but it could be 301).

My understanding is that this coverage will consist of the women's
match on the evening-session of the Rod Laver Arena (Kanepi v Molik
on Monday), followed by the men's match, followed by recorded
coverage of any Andy Murray match (or perhaps even Jamie Baker) that
will have taken place during the day-session, or the "best" match of
the day on a continuous loop.

But don't set your hopes too high - last year, only 7% of BBCi's
Australian Open coverage was of the women! :mad: There isn't a
women's match on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session every day, and
it's well within the BBC's past behaviour to show recorded Murray
instead of live women.

Other Australian Open coverage on BBC television:
* Sunday 20th January on BBC 2 (12:30 to 14:00 GMT);
* Saturday 26th January: Women's Singles final on BBC 1 (from 02:20
GMT);
* Saturday 26th January: repeat of WS final on BBCi (from 07:00 GMT);
* Saturday 26th January: highlights of WS final on BBC 2 (13:00 to
14:00 GMT);
* Sunday 27th January: Men's Singles final on BBC 2 (from 08:30 GMT);
* Sunday 27th January: repeat of MS final on BBCi (from 10:00 GMT).

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2. Women's Singles: Qualifying
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2.1 First round (Thursday 10th January)
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+ Hsieh,Su-Wei [S] d. GRETA ARN [7], 1-6 6-2 6-4
+ Ayumi Morita [S] d. Isabella Holland [WC], 6-0 7-6 (7/3)
- Lucie Hradecká [S] lt. TIMEA BACSINSZKY [9], 2-6 1-6


2.2 Second round (Friday 11th January)
----------------

+ Hsieh,Su-Wei [S] d. Barbora Záhlavová Strýcová, 6-0 7-6 (7/3)
+ Ayumi Morita [S] d. YULIANA FEDAK [8], 7-5 6-3


2.3 Third round (Saturday 12th January)
---------------

+ Hsieh,Su-Wei [S] d. Maša Zec Peškiric, 6-4 6-0
- Ayumi Morita [S] lt. Marta Domachowska, 3-6 4-6

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3. Women's Singles: First-round draw
------------------------------------

* Aiko Nakamura [S] v JUSTINE HENIN [1]
* Hsieh,Su-Wei [Q,S] v Klára Koukalová
* Yan,Zi [S] v VENUS WILLIAMS [8]
* MARION BARTOLI [10,DF,S] v Sofia Arvidsson
* Peng,Shuai [S] v Alisa Kleybanova [Q]
* Akiko Morigami [S] v Michaëlla Krajícek [DF]

The only really notable absentee is 1991-1993 and 1996 champion
Monica Seles, who hasn't played on the WTA Tour, or in a Grand Slam,
since the French Open 2003 due to a stress-fracture in her left foot.
Contrary to popular belief, Monica hasn't retired - in fact she's
planning a comeback at Miami in March!

Serena Williams could equal Monica as the only active player to win
nine Grand Slam singes-titles (I sincerely hope she doesn't).
Williams said: "That would be awesome. She was definitely a big
factor. I love her and I think she's a great person. She was my
favourite player."

Already this year, Monica has seen Lindsay Davenport break her record
of 53 WTA Tour + Grand Slam singles-titles - the most by any active
player.

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4. Men's Singles: First-round draw
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* Fabrice Santoro [S] v John Isner

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/selesians.html