Womens Singles Semi-final:
Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel) bt (32) Fabiola Zuluaga (Col) 6-2 6-2
Kim Clijsters (Bel) bt (22) Patty Schnyder (Swi) 6-2 7-6 (7-2)
The women final as expected is between Henin and Kim. Should be a good game to watch.
Another five setter and Safin win through to the finals. A classic semi final. Felt sorry for Agassi. It was probably his last appearance at the Asutralian open.
what are the timing for 2nd semi...
well Carlos couldn't make it - Federer outclassed him - this sets up a great final between Safin and Federer.
Justine's had an easy win - but Kim Clijister really fought back in the second set down by 5 games to 2 against Patty - it's difficult to pick between the 2 as it is between Serena and Venus - however this time i will back Kim to her first Grand Slam title.
Martina Navratilova and Leander Paes made it to the mixed doubles finals. That was a great comeback by Paes who was sidelined for almost 6 months due to some health issues.
Navratilova, now 47 years old, says it's going to be her last australian open appearance. :-/
I miss Steffi Graf :(
^ yeah same here - i missed Graf too
Justine Henin-Hardenne has won her third grand slam title - a good match - Kim Clijsters was terrible - she had i guess over 25+ unforced errors - and was beaten by Justine in straight 11+ serves points - tho she did fight back after winning the second set but when 4 calls went against her - i took her out of the game - there are 2 wrong calls in the first set - one in the 3rd - and the last one in the final moment - a good rivalry overall between these two women - hopefully when Williams Sisters return - there will be much more competition among all four of them - and fun to watch Tennis.
[thumb=E]justinekim18849_4801147.JPG[/thumb]
Henin!!
:love:
Henin won a see saw match. Clijsters fought well but couldn’t overcome the brilliance of Henin.
Henin :k:
:flower1: ** Roger Federer crowned aussie open 2004 champion + new world number 1 :flower1: **](BBC SPORT | Tennis | Australian Open 2004 | Majestic Federer takes title)
- Majestic Federer takes title
New world number one Roger Federer comprehensively outplayed
Marat Safin to win the Australian Open.
Federer displayed the kind of breathtaking form which took
him to the Wimbledon title last July in a commanding 7-6 6-4 6-2
win over Safin.
Safin defeated Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick on his way to
the final but he had no answer to the power and precision of his opponent.
Federer sealed his second Grand Slam title with a fierce first serve.
“What a great start to the year,” said Federer, who became
world number one with his semi-final win over Juan Carlos Ferrero.
“To win the Australian Open and become number one in the
world is a dream come true.”
Safin admitted he was affected by fatigue against Federer
after spending over 17 hours on court just getting to the final.
“I’m glad to be in the finals again and to have played my
best tennis after last year’s injuries,” he said.
“I just ran out of gas today.”
Many had expected the encounter between Safin and Federer,
two of the most talented players in the game, to be a classic.
But once Federer won a see-saw first set on a tiebreak,
Safin’s game fell away, with his first serve deserting him.
The Russian battled gamely but even at peak form he would
have struggled against Federer.
The Swiss second seed broke Safin in the fifth game of t
he second set and closed out the set with a big serve down the
middle to take a stranglehold on the match.
The 22-year-old seized a double break in the third set with a
whipped forehand pass to take a 4-1 lead and put an exasperated
Safin out of his misery on his first match point after two hours and
15 minutes. *
Safin was tired and tried too hard - he had double fault something like 4/5 times.
Roger now is the number one player in Tennis - and he will be a favorite for French Open - and to defend his title at Wimbeldon.