Post Australian Open Performance...
Since the players left the 2010 Australian Open, they have each gone their separate ways. It’s a tricky balance for pro tennis players to schedule in sufficient time for travel, rest, recuperation, as well as training between tournaments. Of the eight semifinalists
between the men and the women, three of them have not yet played a match, i.e. Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Justine Henin.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams decided her injured knee required rest so she withdrew from the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden for the Billie Jean King Cup, which took place on March 1st, and traveled to Africa to open her second school there. Justine Henin has been off the Tour practicing since losing in the final of the Australian Open to Serena. Chinese semifinalists, Na Li and Jie ZHeng, have so far not managed to replicate their impressive showings at Melbourne Park in their subsequent tournaments. Li was upset in the quarters in Dubai and in the first round in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Zheng lost in the first round in Dubai and the second round in Malaysia.
On the men’s side, Roger Federer traveled to Ethiopia to open a school there through his foundation and then contracted a lung infection while practicing a week later and had to withdraw from Dubai. Federer is hoping to be healthy enough to play in Indian Wells. Australian Open Finalist, Andy Murray, was upset in the second round of Dubai. Croatian, Marin Cilic, has had the most post-Australian Open success by winning the title on home soil in Zagrab and then reaching the quarters in Dubai before being upset. Fellow Australian Open semifinalist, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, was upset in the semis in Marseille and then the second round in Dubai.
The mixed results, injuries and illnesses affecting the various top players simply further illustrate how challenging it is to both stay healthy while constantly travelling on airplanes across timezones, as well as maintain consistent top form and win matches. It makes one appreciate even more Roger Federer’s remarkable consistency both in reaching 23 straight Grand Slam singles semis, as well as his ability, despite a couple illnesses and losses along the way, to retain the Number One ranking over so many years.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams decided her injured knee required rest so she withdrew from the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden for the Billie Jean King Cup, which took place on March 1st, and traveled to Africa to open her second school there. Justine Henin has been off the Tour practicing since losing in the final of the Australian Open to Serena. Chinese semifinalists, Na Li and Jie ZHeng, have so far not managed to replicate their impressive showings at Melbourne Park in their subsequent tournaments. Li was upset in the quarters in Dubai and in the first round in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Zheng lost in the first round in Dubai and the second round in Malaysia.
On the men’s side, Roger Federer traveled to Ethiopia to open a school there through his foundation and then contracted a lung infection while practicing a week later and had to withdraw from Dubai. Federer is hoping to be healthy enough to play in Indian Wells. Australian Open Finalist, Andy Murray, was upset in the second round of Dubai. Croatian, Marin Cilic, has had the most post-Australian Open success by winning the title on home soil in Zagrab and then reaching the quarters in Dubai before being upset. Fellow Australian Open semifinalist, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, was upset in the semis in Marseille and then the second round in Dubai.
The mixed results, injuries and illnesses affecting the various top players simply further illustrate how challenging it is to both stay healthy while constantly travelling on airplanes across timezones, as well as maintain consistent top form and win matches. It makes one appreciate even more Roger Federer’s remarkable consistency both in reaching 23 straight Grand Slam singles semis, as well as his ability, despite a couple illnesses and losses along the way, to retain the Number One ranking over so many years.
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