justine henin

Rafael Nadal’s shattered dream, Justine Henin’s farewell and mused tweets

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Gloom descended on the rafters at Melbourne Park.

The courts will be bathed in bright sunlight Thursday morning, but there will be a weary leadenness in the hearts of tennis players, officials and fans.

The World No.1, Rafael Nadal, bade a somber farewell to his quest for a Rafa Slam. It was not to be.

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Australian Open 2011: Not quite giant-killers but no fly-swatters either

Daniela Hantuchova: Image via Wikipedia

It’s always difficult coming into the first Grand Slam of the year. It is as though one has to shake off the excesses of the Christmas festivities ,shed the trappings of the successes in the previous year and get down to business on a clean slate. Yet, one has to act as though one were never away from the hurly-burly of the action on court.

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Women’s Lib!

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It has been a women’s lib , of sorts, at the French Open this year with Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone bulldozing all in their path on their way to the final at Roland Garros.

Samantha Stosur , with her all court play , has ousted Henin, Serena Williams and Jankovic in quick succession. This is her best result ever in any Grand Slam. But it should come as no surprise to followers of the game as her game has improved considerably over the past year or so. She is considered a doubles specialist and it is her play at the net that has served to unnerve and demolish her more accomplished rivals.

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