===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
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1. Photos
2. Women's Singles: Second-round results
3. Women's Singles: Third-round draw
4. Men's Singles: Second-round result

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1. Photos
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Hsieh,Su-Wei:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hsieh
search Getty Images for "hsieh"

Various players including Hsieh,Su-Wei:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/

Fabrice Santoro:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=santoro
search Getty Images for "santoro"

Various players including Fabrice Santoro:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7193180.stm

Many players:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/gallery?pg=1&cap=1

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2. Women's Singles: Second-round results
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+ Hsieh,Su-Wei [Q,S] d. SYBILLE BAMMER [19], 6-2 6-0

- Akiko Morigami [S] lt. MARIA KIRILENKO [27,DF], 1-6 1-6

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3. Women's Singles: Third-round draw
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* Hsieh,Su-Wei [Q,S] v Aravane Rezaļ

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4. Men's Singles: Second-round result
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- Fabrice Santoro [S] lt. ROGER FEDERER [1], 1-6 2-6 0-6

Federer continues title-bid against Santoro (Reuters)
By Simon Cambers (Editing by Ed Osmond)
>>>
Roger Federer continues his bid for a third consecutive Australian
Open title when he takes on wily Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in the
second round on Thursday.

The world number one showed no ill-effects from the bout of food-
poisoning that hampered his preparations when he romped past
Argentine Diego Hartfield in round one.

Santoro, playing in his 62nd Grand Slam event - a record in the
professional era - has beaten Federer twice in their 10 meetings.

But the Swiss, who is just two Grand Slam titles behind Pete
Sampras's record of 14, has won their last six matches: all without
losing a set.

"I've been pretty dominant against him the last few times we played,"
Federer said.

"Of course, he's a tricky player to play against. Everybody knows
that. He's got incredible experience. He's a great tactician. So you
have to be very careful playing against him, but I really think I
know how he plays."
<<<

Federer's wizardry bamboozles court-magician (Reuters)
By Ossian Shine (editing by Ed Osmond)
>>>
Roger Federer's sleight of hand proved too bamboozling for court-
magician Fabrice Santoro as Melbourne Park was treated to a sporting
masterclass on Thursday.

Santoro has long been a wizard of the court. Armed with an arsenal of
unconventional shots, wristy groundstrokes - hit with two hands off
both sides - and a heavy reliance on slice, his game has confounded
the world's best over the years.

But he had no answer to a dominant Federer, whose own heavy spin left
the Frenchman flapping at the air as the balls flew past his
despairing lunges.

Santoro, 35, was playing in a record 62nd Grand Slam singles-
tournament. Rarely could he have lost so comprehensively as in this
6-1 6-2 6-0 thrashing.

"Everything looks easy to him," the Frenchman smiled. "There is no
space to play. There is no space to hit aces because he's returning
everything.

"He has time when he's attacking. He has time when he's on the
defence, too.

SO BEAUTIFUL

"He has always time to play. He's never in a rush or anything. When
he's coming to the net, there is no space to pass him.

"I'd love to play him once again. Because it's so beautiful, what
he's doing."

Federer, bidding for a third successive Australian Open title,
downplayed his dominance.

"I played really in a smart way," the Swiss said. "The scoreline was
very one-sided, so that was good for me anyway."
<<<

Perfect Federer swats aside wily Santoro
By Greg Stutchbury (Reuters)
>>>
Champion Roger Federer effortlessly ended Fabrice Santoro's record-
breaking Australian Open with a crushing 6-1 6-2 6-0 victory in the
second round on Thursday.

The world number one, who also dropped only three games to
Argentina's Diego Hartfield in the first round, was similarly
ruthless against the wily 35-year-old Frenchman.

The Swiss top seed did have moments of concern against the scrambling
Santoro - playing in a record 62nd Grand Slam tournament - but was
usually able to snuff out the danger with consummate ease.

"I just really got off to a good start, and after that, it was tough
for him," Federer told reporters. "I really didn't give him much. I
think I really played him in a very smart way."

While Federer's masterclass was of the highest standard, the match
was punctuated with moments of humour: particularly from Santoro, who
moved several steps inside the baseline to face service on match-
point.

"Things were going really fast, and he just wanted me to slow down,"
a smiling Federer said.

Federer, bidding for his third successive Australian Open title and
fourth overall, plays Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the next round.

Santoro described Federer's performance as "perfect."

"In November I beat [Andy] Roddick. I beat [Novak] Šokovic. I'm able
to play some good tennis against the top guys," said Santoro. "But
today I feel like he's coming from somewhere else.

"I was trying many things. I did quite a lot of topspin forehand a
few times. It didn't help.

"I served quite good. It didn't help.

"And when I hit some unbelievable passing-shots, there was no space.
The only space was out of the court, but I'm not allowed...

"Everything is perfect. Everything."
<<<

Magician fails to confirm final vanishing act (Reuters)
By Greg Stutchbury (Editing by Ed Osmond)
>>>
Evergreen Frenchman Fabrice Santoro broke into a smile when asked
about his retirement-plans on Thursday.

The wily 35-year-old had just been thrashed 6-1 6-2 6-0 by a rampant
Roger Federer in the Australian Open second round, and the crowd
treated the match on Rod Laver Arena as the last time they would see
him play.

They cheered every point he won, applauded his relentless chasing of
the world number one's drives that many would have given up as lost
causes, and laughed when he attempted to bring some levity to his
clinical dismantlement.

"I don't know yet. I can't answer a hundred percent now," the 35-year-
old known as "The Magician" said when asked if 2008 would be his
final year on the ATP Tour.

"It was great," he said of the crowd-reaction. "They're maybe
thinking it was my last match on this court, and this court is very
special for me.

"I played three Grand Slam [doubles] finals on this court.

"I played my only [Grand Slam singles] quarter-final on this court.
I played a Davis Cup final on this court.

"So after 20 years on the Tour, if I take my top 10 matches, there
are at least five or six on this court." Even then, however, he
refused to acknowledge he had said goodbye to Melbourne Park.

"I may be back," he smiled.

Santoro, whose appearance at the tournament broke Andre Agassi's
record of 61 Grand Slam singles events, believes the Swiss can still
get better.

"He's still improving; he was a tremendous player the past four
years, and I think he's a better player today.

"He's a better athlete, too. He's moving unbelievably well.
Everything looks easy to him.

"It's so beautiful, what he's doing. I mean, you can't imagine. I'd
love to play him once again. I'd love to."
<<<

Federer, Šokovic, Venus Williams advance at Aussie Open tennis
by Martin Parry (AFP)
>>>
Roger Federer stepped up his unrelenting charge towards a third
successive Australian Open title with an emphatic win on Thursday.

The Fed Express, chasing a 13th Grand Slam title, undid wily
Frenchman Fabrice Santoro - playing in a record 62nd Major
tournament - 6-1 6-2 6-0 in a good-natured showdown.

It was Federer's 16th consecutive match-win at the Australian Open,
and tees up a crack at Serbian Davis Cup team-member Janko Tipsarevic
in the next round.

"I always enjoy playing a match against Fabrice," said Federer, whose
phenomenal shot-making was at its scintillating best on centre court.

"In the first match I played against him, he totally dismantled me -
he can really show where he could hurt you.

"It was a pleasure to play, more so because of the score, but also
for the way the game and the spirit in which it was played.

"He does a great job in making you doubt at times."

The victory stretched the world number one's record over the 36th-
ranked Santoro to 9:2, with four of his last five wins coming in
Grand Slam tournaments.
<<<

Marcos Baghdatis pulls out 5-set victory over Marat Safin at
Australian Open
By Paul Alexander: Associated Press Writer
>>>
The Federer-Santoro match went by so quickly that Santoro asked him
to wait a moment on match-point, pointing to the scoreboard and
smiling. The Swiss star got a chuckle out of it, too, then got in a
serve-and-volley winner.

"It was a tough match for me," Santoro said. "It was not easy to have
fun, but I tried to have some."

Despite the rout, Santoro was ready to take on Federer again.

"Because it's so beautiful, what he's doing," said the 35-year-old
Frenchman, who had only four unforced errors. "At my age, you can be
able to play your match and appreciate your opponent, too.

"Today, I feel like he's coming from somewhere else. I served quite
good. I was moving well. I was fit physically. I was hitting the ball
well. And I won three games."

Federer won the last 10 games, ended it with a serve-and-volley as
Santoro edged in almost to the service-box. He clambered over the net
to embrace the Frenchman.

Dictating play, Federer ended up with 53 winners and 18 unforced
errors.

"Obviously I always enjoy the match against Fabrice," said Federer,
chasing his third consecutive Australian Open title and his 13th
Major. "First time I played him, he totally dismantled me. Showed I
had a lot of things to work on.

"Today I was in great shape, could play aggressive. We always have
great rallies together, because of his playing style - he does a
great job of making you doubt. It's always a tricky match against
him. But you know it's going to be fun. And this is what it's
supposed to be, this game."
<<<

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The reality was pretty bad for me." [Santoro, on
why he jokingly pointed to the scoreboard at match-point against
Federer]

"I missed four balls - four unforced errors in the match I did. He
did 58 winners in 58 minutes almost. I served quite good. I was
moving well. I was fit physically. I was hitting the ball well. And I
won three games." [Fabrice Santoro on facing Federer]

--
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