Just got back from day 1 of the ASB Classic (a couple of hours ago) :nanner:
Got lots of pics on my camcorder(281), so its not HQ stuff. Might be getting a digital camera soon...
Arrived with second row seats and Kuzzie was on the practise courts
The UoA Business School is visible on the left of the 1st and 4th pics.
http://www.imagebam.com/image/57c03f113532052
Sania Mirza/Sabine Lisicki was the first match, although it was part of qualifying.
Lisicki rolled the first set 6-1, then Mirza came back, winning the second in a tie break, only to lose in a third set tie break 7-5 after being up 5-2.
She smashed her racket afterwards and the handle broke off :o No pics of that though sawee.
http://www.imagebam.com/image/2c1181113532073
Next was Kuzzie vs NZ number 1 Sacha Jones. Sacha was aggressive from the start (suppose you have to be against a former world number 2) and hit some nice forehands. Kuz was too classy in the end though and won 6-4 6-2.
http://www.imagebam.com/image/24e5a7113532060
After that, the NZ number 2 Marina Erakovic teamed up with Swede Sofia Arvidsson to take on Tamira Paszek and Simona Halep (the breast reduction girl).
She has become a lot less 'recognisable' since the surgery(in all white)
Although Simona has been on the rise lately, Erakovic and Arvidsson beat them down 6-2 6-1. Yeah :clap:
http://www.imagebam.com/image/b05b9b113532048
All that paled in comparison to the main event, Sharapova vs who cares?(I mean, Alberta Brianti
)
She was originally going to play Carla Suarez Navarro, but there was a change of plans due to the withdrawal of one of the seeds.
Masha looked rusty at the start at she began with a hardfought service game win, but got into gear later on. She did have trouble closing both sets though.
Brianti was slicing most of her backhands back and was generally on the defensive most of the time.
Maria wasnt actually as loud as I expected until near the end, maybe the sound pickup between live and TV affects it :dunno: But even so, she was the loudest player that day.
(particularly proud of the third shot down. Service Animal
)
Sharapova wins 6-2 6-3
http://www.imagebam.com/image/d21a85113532082
The last match I saw was between the 40 year old Kimiko Date Krumm and Katerina Bondarenko as part of the night matches (although it wasnt actually dark until the second set. Daylight saving time
)
I didnt get any decent shots of Kimiko unfortunately, she is pretty cool being twice the age of half the field :bowdown:
Bondarenko wins 6-4 6-3
http://www.imagebam.com/image/f55ec2113532042
...and that was Monday done :hatsoff: I'm going back on Wednesday, then there is 3 days worth in the Heineken Open mens tournament (including the final. Could be Isner/Ferrer/Nalbandian to name a few?)
I know there are 6 links there, but give me a break eh? plzzz
