[Diane Dees]

So did anyone see that doubles match?! Hantuchova/Sugiyama def. Black/Huber--one of the most thrilling doubles matches I've ever seen. H/S down 2-5 in the third, then down 2-6 in the tiebreak. Def. B/H 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.

[Chris Hanson]

And now Dokic is out, in an ineptly played match against Safina (I mean, inept on both sides--so many double faults).
Djokovic is also out, a victim of heat and his "Phar Lap heart".
Federer was unchallenged against Del Potro.

(edit: The Sydney Morning Herald's online headline read: "Barve Dokic's Open fairytale ends."
I had to laugh. And this was honestly a straight copy-paste.)

[Diane Dees]

By now, Dokic must have hit herself on the head with a hammer. She only had a hundred chances to totally wipe Safina off the map.

I'll cut Jelena some slack, though--she hasn't really played on the tour for years, and she hasn't played in a major for 5 1/2 years. I cut no slack for Dinara, though--that was pitiful.

[Chris Childers]

Am I crazy, or is Dementieva going to lose to Serena because she just isn't changing the direction of shot effectively in the rallies? She keeps going back at Serena cross court when the line is open, which means that she spends so much more time running in the rallies. I feel like she makes a lot of bad decisions about where to put the ball & her crosscourts are too predictable. Case in point--Serena's GREAT rally to break at 4-4 in the 2nd.

Chris

[Cally Conan-Davies]

No - you're not crazy.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

This next one is going to be fun! Go Saf!

Do you realise it is 45C here right now - that's 113F.

It's the hottest temperature I've ever experienced.

[Chris Childers]

Yeah, that's brutal. I think it got about that hot two summers ago in Athens, when I had to listen to a lecture about the Acropolis at the Acropolis on a day that hit close to 45. But taking notes about Greek architecture is a lot easier than playing a tennis match! I guess it's a good thing they've got the roof--better quality tennis = better television.

As for the other, Serena was at her best of the tournament BY FAR, and Dementieva was good, but I really do think Elena was playing it too safe with those cross-courts & it cost her. She also had the brain cramp drop shots which she kept on doing despite them never working.

Chris