At first I acknowledge our great Editor Stephen Baker for providing me the information of the live radio Australian Open coverage on their website.
Around 8:40 am here (10:40 am AEDT), I tried to tune in the radio, but only music was on. My thought was like ‘Oh gosh. It must be blocked because I am in Japan’ – I visited the website by Google Chrome on my Android. Then I found that the Australian Open App was available and downloaded. Tuning in the live tennis radio, but music was on. However I found that the live coverage started at 11:00 am AEDT which meant I needed to wait for about 15 minutes at that time.
At 9:00 am (11:00 am AEDT), I had a physio therapy and would tune in the radio after the session.
My session was over around 9:15 am and live TV coverage was on at the clinic waiting room. The game was N. Almagro v K.Nishikori. Almagro lead at the time, but Nishikori played good tennis.
Then I caught a subway train to get to the employment program place and indeed tuned in the live radio. I had expected that the Men’s single game N. Almagro v K.Nishikori would be on. But it was Women’s single S.Stosur v M.Niculescu (Romania; singles ranking: 49th). I was happy to listen to my favourite Stosur!
Stosur kept the game well when she served even she got an ace. But it was hard for her to break the game. But then when the train was running around the city centre, Stosur started leading the game which Niculescu served.
At 10:00 am (JST; 12:00 pm AEDT), Stosur lead Niculescu at 6-4, 1-0. Fifteen minutes later, Stosur won other two games (6-4, 3-0).
But now I was at the employment program place and there were some people around, so I was unable to tune in the radio. Ugh! Instead I kept checking the live score board on their website.
At 10:30 am (12:30 pm AEDT), the score was 6-4, 5-1. Stosur was doing well!
Ten minutes later, there was no live score of the match. Searching completed matches on the website, I found that Stosur won at 6-4, 6-2. It must have been an easy match for the 21st ranked Stosur.
Meanwhile I found that a hostel chain in Tokyo was looking for receptionists and would make a job application in the afternoon.
Also I found a 7 Sport video clip of Niculescu’s funny serve, but sadly was unable to watch. It is really annoying even if it might be due to TV rights restriction! Come on Channel Seven!!
At lunch break, I watched the match highlight video on the Australian Open website.
The video started after Niculescu got the first game. After hitting rallies by two players, Stosur hit the volley from the left to close the right boundary (left hand side from Niculescu) and Niculescu was unable to catch. Good!
Then after Niculescu got an advantage short after, Stosur hit back by making volley into the left hand side (from her view). Another good moment!
Another Stosur’s wonderful volley brought her to the tie score at 4-4 for the first set.
At 3-1 at the second set, Stosur ran towards the net and hit the ball that bounced beyond Niculescu who was unable to catch up with. Brilliant!
When Niculescu’s hitting ball bounced outside the boundary line, the game was over with 6-4, 6-1.
It was a good game, but I wanted to watch more Stosur’s good performances including aces.
Following today’s tennis match brings me another excuse to go to Melbourne. Reasons to travel or move to Melbourne are now watching footy (especially St Kilda games), joining the Almanac Launch and watching Australian Open Tennis.
About Yoshihiro Imagawa
Love, passion and pride are seen on the footy that is the biggest part of my life. 1. St Kilda Club member: I am a passionate and crazy Sainter. Just hope we will win the second flag soon, especially after Dogs and Tigers having ended long premiership draughts. 2. The Osaka Dingoes Player and Public Relations Officer: Player number 44 that I chose to honour Stephen Milne with my wish being like a small forward like him. Lenny Hayes' hardworking attitudes are adopted on my trainings and practices. Nick Riewoldt's great plays are in my player audiobook too. 3. Writing: Here on the Almanac and also on the World Footy News. My skills utilise on great footy websites.
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You’re too kind Yoshi.
There’s plenty of reasons to get to Australia when you can. The sport events are just one of them.
Unfortunately, while Australian players remain in the draw, the powers-that-be will drop everything for a ‘local hope’ on court. So instead of watching the world’s best players, we get to watch people with triple figure rankings playing ‘spuds’ instead of quality tennis from the world’s best 30 male and female players right under our noses.
Usually this is no longer a problem by Thursday of week one, so we’ll see how we go today (fingers crossed!)
G’day Steve,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, you are right! I should have written that these three reasons were not only ones excusing to travel to or move to Australia.
It is good that you chase Australian players’ matches rather than top players’ ones. I am glad to hear that 11 Australian players will play Round 2 matches.
This morning, 1116 SEN took a phone poll to predict who will win tonight’s show case match between Sam Groth and Thanasi Kokkinakis. Many listeners think Groth will be the winner because of more experience. What do you think about it?
Enjoy your tennis mate!
Yoshi
Hi Yoshi. Despite the hype, this will be a pretty poor match to watch. People forget it’s the 87th ranked player on the ATP Tour vs the 147th ranked player. If this was at Roland Garros, Wimbledon or Flushing Meadows, these two spuds would be on one of the furtherest outside courts, so I’ll be getting an early night and giving this snore-fest a miss!
Hi Steve,
I had not known about their rankings. I had thought that the showcase match would be big because 1116 SEN talked about the match so much last night (on extended First Serve program).
I have just Googled Kokkinakis and found that he was only 18!
You seem to prefer matches which are played by more skilled players.
Cheers.
Yoshi