Tennis Power Ranking 2020: Australia Shakes Things Up

Novak Djokovic –  Winning the first major of 2020 makes Djokovic the easy choice for the first #1 in Tennis Abides’ power rankings. Dominic Thiem – The Austrian is getting closer to claim his first major.  At 26, he is no youngster, but he is taking the ball earlier on hard courts and this should…

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Australian Open 2020: All Hail King Novak VIII and Queen Sofia I

Five. Straight. Points! Kenin blasts three consecutive winners on break point and escapes her way out from 0-40 to hold for 3-2.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gVsNdr6sjO — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 1, 2020 NOTE from the Tennis Abides Legal Team*: Whatever fond memories I have of watching Sofia the First with my children when they were younger,…

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Australian Open 2020: CGI Saltwater Crocodiles Play Tennis!?

The bushfires in Australia hopefully will raise awareness of and support for wildlife and wildlands among tennis fans.  Not sure what to say about this, but the Australian Open did help raise funds for the cause of Australia’s ecosystems.  

Australian Open 2020: Thiem vs. Djokovic is Set as the Main Event

Backhand Blitz Thiem seizes the moment to break and erases a Zverev chance to claim the 3-1 edge in the third set.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/vfrr9Rtib8 — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2020 Does Thiem have a Chance? Yes!  Dominic Thiem will pose the toughest match Novak Djokovic will face in his 7 matches in Melbourne.  Thiem…

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Australian Open 2020: Djokovic Eyes a 17th Major

The Australian Open has made one big and one small surface change since 1987.  In 1988, the Australian Open left grass behind and debuted a highly rubberized hard court called Rebound Ace.  This type of hard court was used from 1988-2007 but its tendency to “grab” the soles of players’ shoes and ruin ankles on…

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Australian Open 2020: Sofia Kenin reaches the Final!

ENORME SURPRISE A MELBOURNE ! @SofiaKenin bat @ashbarty 7/6, 7/5 pour se qualifier pour sa première finale de Grand Chelem. @AustralianOpen 💥💥💥 pic.twitter.com/1ESPcEBl36 — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) January 30, 2020 Emerging stars always help tennis.  I am not sure how many people pegged Sofia Kenin to reach a major final prior to this event.  Yet, here…

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Australian 2020: My 1st Grumpy Old Man Post

It is strange for me to not have engaged the 1st major of the year until the middle of the first week.  I am now 44 and 2020 has me starting my year is a less than youthful joy.  Here are my reasons: A capacity crowd of more than 15,000 at Rod Laver Arena watched…

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Australian Wildfires: Bigger than Tennis

Canberra Challenger officially moved to Bendigo. https://t.co/VNhinyLA8q — Alex Theodoridis (@AlexTheodorid1s) January 2, 2020 A lot more than tennis is going on in terms of wildfires and heatwaves in Australia.  Tennis cannot solve the issues involved in these and other weather-related incidents around the world.  Yet, tennis is a global sport with an 11-month season. …

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