I hope Clijsters wins it all...just love the way she plays. Roger just took the 1st set off Rafa GO ROGER!!!!

I like this blog a lot http://www.fit-2-hit.com

GO ROGER!!!!!!!!!

nicely done steve - should be a good final. be interesting to put masha's service yips against vika's general nerves and see who wins.

Super congratulations to the winner's Princess Warrior Azarenka, and the old-gaurd Maria Sharapova- all of 24 years. Both of my picks lost yesterday and to that I say tremendous victories for Victoria and Maria against very formidable players who each themselves could have won. Trully worthy group of players making up these semifinals where anyone of these 4 girls had what it takes to come out on top & even win the championships. But there can only be one. Especially impressed with Vika as I've been saying for a week she would surely lose. So in the end Vika stood taller than I gave her credit for; she proved me just dead-as wrong about where her development stands presently. We'll have to see where Serena fits into this mix but these 4 represented this years semifinal with class and distinction. Great matches both, highly competitive, and brought out the best of all athletes. Again congratulations, well deserved wins by the victors.

Wanna see Vika take home the hardware for her 1st Grand Slam win.

And by the way- really nice summary write-up Mr. Tignor.

Although I am happy for these two girls this is without question the worst match-up that could have taken place for the women's game. The talk won't be about how well these two are playing at the moment, or the quality of the tennis we might see on Saturday. All the talk will be about the loud sounds that we be coming out of both these women come the final. How unfortunate.

Wish I could have seen those matches. Watched on AOTV from the start and up until the semis it was great being able to see tennis live. Then it all went down hill. Say what you will about the noises the girls make, nothing turns me off from tennis more than the constant drone of commentators. Even the fans are mostly silent during points, but not the commentators. Not only do they blather on constantly, their open mikes deaden the court sounds as well.

Anyway, glad to hear Maria won. Let me know how the final turns out.

I really think this time Roger should retire. This was heartbreaking.

Steve Tignor: Learning to Forget

Good advice. Steve’s picks for both these SF were wrong.
Let’s forget it.

What's with "Melbourne' href='http://tennis.com/tournaments/australianopen/australian-open.aspx' target='_top' >MELBOURNE" in every post?

Do the people who comment on here actually even follow tennis? For example, poster #1 hoping Kim wins it all when she'd already been knocked out hours ago. Oh, that poster is just using this as vehicle to push a crap blog. Lovely.

TennisDeb--
They're in Australia. Everything is upside down. Winter is Summer. The losers in the semis play for the title. :)

Jigsawwill-

"How unfortunate"

Everything you said has my backing my man. Personally neither of th two's grunting and/or screeches ever really bothered me that much. They've been doing that since juniors and that is what we are going to get from till their careers are over. Any discussion about that diminishes how good they are as professional tennis players and athletes, their commitment to thier craft, their will, passion to bring the best of themselves every time they go out to play, what incredibly fierce competitors they are and really the game itself. Theose girls are awesome man! Any discussion about the noise they make is a unfortunate distraction and a pity- in my humble opinion.

TennisDeb-

Go take a hot bath, open up a bottle of red wine, drink it all to yourself, then smoke a joint- and get a good night sleep. Hope you feel better in the morning.

Kisses-

Seriously, is anyone going to actually listen to this match or just have it on mute? Who wants to listen to these two hyenas scream at each other for 2 hours. Maybe this match will help push the ruling bodies to put some limits in place on screeching by these two.

Who cares about thhe grunting? Not me I just want a great game of tennis. Come on Sharapova!!!

Hurley, don't do hurling here. Use a john.

I am glad Peter B. changed his mind and picked up Maria to win ,Steve T. was not so lucky ,let's see
about predictions for the final.
Never underestimate Siberian Tiger.
Golden Girl of WTA Maria the Great is ready for new challenges.

Sharapova is 24. Putting her in a veterans category with Williams and Clijsters is silly.

Now Maria and Azarenka can scream each other's heads off. Just turn your TVs on mute!

"Although I am happy for these two girls this is without question the worst match-up that could have taken place for the women's game."

so very true.

"Even the fans are mostly silent during points, but not the commentators. Not only do they blather on constantly, their open mikes deaden the court sounds as well." - ED
I also find this so unbelievably annoying. There are a few commentators who add only a sentence or two between points, which is fine, but I remember listening to two commentators go on about towels for an entire game. Over the play & everything. Who Cares??? And I hate muting them b/c I like the sounds from the court - shoes squeaking, the ball hitting the strings, the line calls.

Also think this match will bring the grunting / shrieking issue to the fore. Might be about time, but I'll be sad if it takes away too much from what's shaping up to be a high quality match. Two steely competitors both playing really well...hope Vika gets her first slam but wouldn't mind seeing Sharapova back on top. She's sure worked hard enough for it.

Two fantastic semifinals, both 3-setters, by four classy, competitive players with different backgrounds and achievements. Such proud performances by Vika and Maria, both of whom I lost would lose today.

Just hope the final is as competitive as the semifinals were. I don't think Vika will be intimidated by the occassion. I think she's matured big time from last year, from the way she handled the adverse moments during these matches to her post-match interviews, you can tell she wants this really really badly and is mentally prepared for it. I teared up when she did after she won the match today. And you can always count on Maria to show up and be a warrior.

Good effort by Petra - no shame in losing to a focused Sharapova. Whoever wins on Saturday will be a deserving champion. I'm going to give the edge to Maria, based on sheer experience and because she is a more intelligent server, and also because she lost to Vika the last 2 times. Vengeance will be on her mind and she will be strategically very prepared. Vika I am sure will have a strategy as well but her serve isn't one of her biggest weapons and I imagine Maria will be all over them. I gather there will be some long and loud rallies.

"Sharapova is 24. Putting her in a veterans category with Williams and Clijsters is silly"

Pov,
Not really. While the WS, Clijsters and Henin were at their peak, Sharapova competed on the same level as they did consistently winning 3 Slams in the process. Unfortuantely, Sharapova had shoulder issues after winning 2008 AO which has slowed her career so her getting back to a 2nd final in the last 3 Slams is a good achievement.

Hope the final is just as good as the semifinals.

Sigmund-

I agree with you on everything. Final I'd give a slight edge to Maria but slight. 55/45 at the most.

Master Ace-

So true, but I still wouldn't count her in with Kim or Serena. She's got a couple of years on her more than they do. I would agree that the way she plays, her body would not hold up to the rigors of the game into her thirties. I think she' can play until she's 28 though, so another 4 years. I'd be surprised if either Serena or Kim, (definitely not Kim) will play that long. Maria could retire earlier but I think she still loves the game and that won't dimminish. I think we'll see Maria around and competitive till then.

The final is going to take some serious "grunt work". ha haa haaa.
No disrespect intended to anyone.
Just had to get that comment out of my system.

I still think about Serena and how sad was that. However; going into the Australian she didn't have much match play and was hurt. However; in the past she came through. I think people and myself included, don't think about how Serena came back this year and she is still ranked in the top 20. She also won 2 tournaments in the summer and was in the finals of the US open, we just expect so much from Serena! I think she will be back for one more slam and she will get it!

Oh by the way, I think Sharapova will win, she has the strongest mental ability ever! Azarenka will win because of her loud noise making. She will win because of the stronger decibels in her screaming. Sharapova come in a strong strong 2nd in the world for that LOL

Janice - Sharapova hadn't had any match-play going into the event either to be fair, just like Serena. But at the same time she wasn't contending with such a damaged ankle because thankfully hers had healed.

If both Vika and Maria play well this could be amazing, the second set of the Miami final was great, as was the first set of the Rome QF last year. I'm excited!

Janice-

Stick a fork-in-err, she's done. Nut'n left but toast.

Sorry Janice. Really didn't mean that. Just had to get it out of my system.

Well - as my handle explains- I'm of course hoping for Masha to win it all - She deserves it - After a career threatening surgery and a long time of rehabilitation and training she's finally back in the top 5 again - Most experts had already dismissed her as a leading force in tennis at the end of 2010 - In 2011 however we saw flashes of Masha's old self - but a failing serve hampered her to dominate - But look who's in the final of the AO 2012 after a very strong run to get there - Her serve maybe never be as good as in her pre-surgery career - but it sure has worked well throughout the tournament - Winning it all would be such a big thing for her - it should confirm that all the hard work - all the disappointments on the way - have payed off and hopefully all those who've made demeaning comments about her tennis will finally shut up and give her the credit and respect she deserves

You wanna see a fighter - one who never gives up? - Look at Masha!!

@MashaFan Completely agree. I think Maria beat the best player in the last round but Vika always gives her trouble so this final makes me just as nervous. I think its going to be an emotional night as you can tell from her post match interview how much it means to Azarenka and we already know what it would mean to Sharapova. I really hope the grunting controversy doesn't overshadow the match.

The two biggest screemers of the WTA. Could not care less who wins- wish they would both go away.

Wow. Giants beat Niners. Vika vs. Sharpay in the women's final, sure to be a caterwauling embarrassment. Roger gets beat again by Panties-in-a-bunch. What a crappy January so far. Hope Murray upsets everything. Hope Brady outduels Gomer Manning. Otherwise I'm afraid we are looking at President Newt and the end of the world.

Posted by knez011 01/26/2012 at 10:51 AM
Now Maria and Azarenka can scream each other's heads off. Just turn your TVs on mute

_______________________________________________________________________

Are you joking? the screams turns me on. lol

Really? I am tired of people talking about screaming and grunting! These two produce some great tennis rallies - so that is what tennis fans should be looking for! But on the other hand, I do agree that I learned to ignore one side of the game... still need to learn both... i.e. we shall see in the final!

Firstly, I just want to say that Sharapova making it to the final has certainly, for me, softened the blow that is Roger's loss (that was and will always be heartbreaking, especially because he had chances.)

But to see Maria come back from so many tough situations both before this match and during it is remarkable. I've been a big fan for a year or two now and it's great to see her back in top form. I think she's got a great shot against Azarenka but she has to be careful and not let the nerves dictate her play. I'm really hoping we see her lift the trophy on Saturday. It won't be easy, but she can do it.

As I did for the semis, the TV will be on remote. I agree with the earlier comments regarding how fine they are as tennis players. That is no doubt. They are both brilliant. However the reason everyone talks about the grunting is because it is absurd. Who grunts hitting a drop shot? Who grunts hitting a groundie in the first game of a match? They don't seem to grunt for every ball in the warm up or practice either I notice. It is not a breathing technique, it is pure gamemanship exploiting a loophole in tennis law and the sooner they change the laws the sooner womens tennis will get some respect back.

sorry I meant mute, not remote!!

This one'll definitely be a screamer

I for one think that Petra Kvitova has done a tremendous job at this slam. I applaud you Petra.

Stephen-

Well, Petra was doing a tremendous job... then she got beat. At that point of the final game, the job she was doing dropped-off trmendously. In the end, the job she was doing turned out to be not quite good enough.