[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

[Chris Hanson]

Federer unchallenged against Roddick. Straight sets. His 18th major final and a real chance to win his 14th.
I realise the term "great" can be overused, but this is sporting greatness, at least.
The danger, of course, is Nadal (if he gets through)--the only person to have beaten him in a major final (3 French and one Wimbledon).

Serena Williams has the form and the history to win her 10th major title here. Hard to see her losing.

[Diane Dees]

I actually think Hot Sauce has a bit of a chance against Nadal.

If Serena and Dinara both bring their best games and their best heads--wow. Anything can happen. If...

[Chris Childers]

Nadal/Verdasco. I say again: WOW.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

That was the most awesome tennis match I have ever seen. Better than last year's Wimbledon final, I think. It is almost impossible to describe what we witnessed, and fully impossible to believe in many of the shots. It shouldn't be possible to do such things!

What will the Final produce?? I can't believe it can be as good as what we have just seen. Rafa will surely be exhausted. It is exhausting simply breathing in Melbourne at the moment.

I can't decide who I will be barracking for tonight in the Women's. But I have no doubt both these players will give it all. It'll be close.

Great tennis this year!

Cally

[Diane Dees]

Yes, that was the best match I've seen at the AO this year, and an absolutely fabulous match, period.

I didn't get to see a lot of the women's matches this year because the ones I really wanted to see were played at night (I stayed up just one time--to see Safina vs. Dokic--and I'm staying up tonight, too), or they were pre-empted in the U.S. by men's matches. So I don't have that many from which to choose. I hear that the Dokic vs. Kleybanova match was very messy, but exciting. The best match I saw, quality-wise, was probably Serena vs. Dulko

However, next to the Hot Sauce-Nadal match, the very best match I saw was that barn-burner between Hantuchova/Sugiyama and Black/Huber. Incredible.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

Diane,

Would that be the most one-sided women's final in history??

Why can't Safina do something about that serve??

I hope the men's is a real contest!

Cally