SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 18 hrs 43 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Live Commentary: Australian Open day two - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Australian Open day two - as it happened: ID:64009: from db_amp
Live commentary of selected games throughout day two of the Australian Open.

Day two at the Australian Open saw the top seeds safely progress to the second round.

Andy Murray and Roger Federer both won in straight sets, while there were easy wins for Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in the women's draw.

Laura Robson joins fellow Brit Heather Watson in the second round of the women's draw with a 6-2 6-3 win over Melanie Oudin.

Read how all the action unfolded below:

Morning everyone. We're back and round one continues today after some great action yesterday. It's early, or late, but we'll have full coverage of the action and key games throughout the night and morning.
Murray is up first on Rod Laver against Haase. It was quite a year for the Scot, finally managing his maiden Grand Slam win at the US Open a couple of months after winning gold at the London Olympics.
His 25-year-old opponent is no pushover. He's currently 50th in the world, has been as high as 33 and made the third round here in 2011.
That said, it would be an immense shock if he were to knock out Murray. Murray will have to be alert but will hope to not have to reach top gear today.
A note on the Hisense Arena - Caroline Wozniacki kicks off proceedings there against Sabine Lisicki at the same time as this match. A good opening-round contest that.
Practice is almost over, Murray is about to get his tournament underway in 29 degree Melbourne heat. Meanwhile, in England, it's absolutely freezing!
They're ready, and Haase will serve.
The two 6'3" guys start with baseline tennis, before Haase moves to the net for a neat serve and volley. In no time at all Haase takes the opener to love.
Not immediately fluent from Murray, but he starts to open up the court with some accurate deep shots. Haase wins a long rally, showing class from the baseline before Murray closes out his first service game with a good serve down the T that Haase can only return into the net.
BREAK! Great athleticism from Haase to reach a drop shot and clip down the line. Murray gets it back but it's an easy volley from the Dutchman. Then a tremendous rally ends after Haase goes long going for the winner down the line. You'd have to fancy Murray if the pair keep getting into rallies but Haase displays a splendid cross-court drop shot to save the first of two break points. He then volleys long with a poor shot and Murray gets the early break.
Already the class is showing through here. Haase has some great shots but the Brit is equal to it all at this point. He'll only get better, too.
Murray wraps up his next service game without issue and the break is consolidated.
BREAK! Murray now attacking the serve and controlling the play from the baseline. Superb backhand passing shot from the Scot lands right at the feet of Haase for two break points. He saves one with an ace before putting a backhand into the net only half way up. Commanding start from Murray.
TWO BREAK POINTS!
Murray has now saved five break points in this game.
Murray gets to a Haase drop shot with seconds to spare but somehow just plops it into the net. He then goes long to give Haase two break points. The Dutchman goes long with the first and a swerving ace brings deuce. Haase notches another three points before the Scot finally takes the game on his first advantage following another great rally.
Good tennis from both players but Haase just edges it to ensure Murray has to serve out the set.
SET! Wozniacki 2-6 Lisicki
It looked tough on paper for the 10th seed and the first set has proven just that. Sabine Lisicki has never been past the first round here but she's made a great start.
BREAK! Haase finally does get one of the breaks back. He only needed one in that game though as opposed to his five attempts last time. Game on!
SET! Haase 3-6 Murray Fantastic volley from Murray right into the corner to turn around a point he was second favourite for. After that it was plain sailing and the previous break matters little. Good first set from Murray.
That first set seems to have woken up Wozniacki. She's responded to losing it by storming into a 3-0 lead in the second.
Murray opens the second set with a service game to love, just as Haase did in the first.
Murray sets up a point, winds up his forehand but skies it off the frame of his racket!
Another simple service game, this time for the man from the Netherlands. Going with serve at the start of the second.
Murray now striking from deep, playing more defensively. Haase is trying to take the initiative but the Scot is one of the very best at this kind of tennis and he wins the game with a wide shot from Haase.
Some sad news regarding ATP chairman Brad Drewett. He's stepping down from his role after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Full story from Michael Penkman here.
Back on court, Murray has chosen to attack Haase's serve and is currently 0-40 up.. Three break points.
BREAK! Haase saves the first with a quite brilliant lob from the baseline, but misses a volley into the net to give Murray the first break of the set.
Murray wraps up a comfortable service game to 15 and is completely in control of this second set. This one's only going one way.
Excellent aggression from Haase who sets up a simple volley with a strong forehand drive. He's up 30-15.
BREAK! Murray responds really well to set up a break point, but a good Haase serve is returned wide for deuce. Murray comes to the net; initially his volley is poor but gets a second chance on the backhand which is dispatched with ease. That's his fifth break of the match and he'll serve for the second set.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Petrova 2-6 0-6 Date-Krumm Twelfth seed Nadia Petrova is knocked out by 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm, who is 100th in the world!
SET! Haase 3-6 1-6 Murray Back on Rod Laver, Murray has comfortably taken the second set and this one should be over before 2am.
BREAK! Murray breaks to love at the start of the third with a backhand down the line and the fight looks to have gone from Haase.
SET! Sousa 6-4 6-1 Smith. It looks as though Joao Sousa will be Murray's next opponent. The world number 100 is also two sets up.
He was taken to deuce after a double fault, but Murray does hold serve and that's game number seven on the bounce.
Haase stops the rot with an excellent service game to love, serving and volleying and acing his way to only his fifth game so far.
SET! Wozniacki 2-6 6-3 Lisicki. The Dane did indeed take that second set and we're into a decider over on Hisense Arena.
Murray responds with a comprehensive service game to love, coming to the net on the last point to open up the court with a volley. Simple.
BREAK! Despite a streaky clip off the top of the net for Haase, Murray wraps up another comfortable game and the double break. He finishes well with a passing shot right at the feet of the Dutchman.
He's beating himself up out there Haase. Literally - he was just using his own head as a tennis ball and giving it quite a pummeling.
BREAK! However, there's no need as it turns out. Murray blows a 30-0 lead and Haase gets a break back.
Wozniacki is in trouble now. She's 3-1 down to Lisicki in the decider, with the German on serve.
Late rally from Haase. He's powering forehands past Murray now and wraps up a service game to love to move just one behind.
A good response from Murray who takes a comfortable service game. Just one more game needed now for the Brit, Haase is serving to stay in the match.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Haase 3-6 1-6 3-6 Murray
Murray managed another break to wrap up the win. He wasn't at his best but he was more than good enough and it's a good start on which to build.
"It's a good start and nice to win in straight sets." Murray is speaking to Eurosport.
Now a quick word on his coach Ivan Lendl: "Ivan works me very hard. We've had a very good relationship so far; he doesn't lie to you and tells you how it is."
Here is Michael Penkman's report of Murray's win for a reminder of how it was done.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Wozniacki 2-6 6-3 6-3 Lisicki From 3-1 down in that third Wozniacki scrapes through a very tough opening game to make the second round.
Schiavone vs. Kvitova is the next game I'll be loooking at. There's already a very long opening game.
In fact, Victoria Azarenka is about to get underway at the Rod Laver Arena. Let's look at the defending champion instead, it's only fair.
She is up against Romanian Monica Niculescu and they are just about done with the warm-up.
Last year's win here is the 23-year-old Belarusian's only Slam to date and she also reached the final of the US Open in 2012.
I have to admit, her grunts do annoy me. Especially when some shots don't even require that much of an effort, such as drop shots. However, I can look past that as she is a fine player.
A good start from Azarenka as she wins her opening service game without much trouble.
A series of powerful forehands from the world number one eventually take their toll on the Romanian, who struggles with serve and loses it to love after an apology for a drop shot ends with Azarenka wrong-footing her for the winner.
The ball boys and girls are being told by Azarenka to give them to her right side only. I reckon the Wimbledon ones would have known that! Nothing quite like the ball gatherers at the All England club.
Niculescu fights her way back into this game but then an even worse effort at a drop shot this time bounces before the net! I'd stop trying that if I were her, as Azarenka slams a simple half-volley into the net. She gives away a break point but Niculescu plops another one into the net. The Belarusian survives the scare and goes into a three-game lead.
I have to say the Romanian doesn't look much good. Azarenka is playing well, mind, but I reckon this one could be over very quickly. That's not very profound, I know, as she's 4-0 up in the first.
BREAK! As I say that, she responds with a fantastic piece of net play, first pulling Azarenka in with the drop shot before hitting the volley to the other side.
As they sit for a break, a quick look at the Hisense Arena - Serena Williams has started well, taking the first three games against another Romanian, Edina Gallovits-Hall.
A golf shot from Niculescu as she lobs a shot way over Azarenka's head.
BREAK! She responds with an excellent forehand winner, but that was at 0-40. The damage had already been done and it is compounded with another poor shot into the net.
Again a marvellous backhand down the line - which looks to be her best shot today - shows some fight from the Romanian.
SET! Azarenka 6-1 Niculescu She tries again but this time puts it wide to give Azarenka two set points. She needs just one as she lifts a delightful lob right on the baseline to wrap up the set in just 31 minutes.
SET! Schiavone 4-6 Kvitova
Williams has had a fall over on Hisense. The overwhelming favourite has the medical team on to help, but it's a potentially huge moment in the ladies' draw.
A good response to losing that first set from the Romanian. She wins her opening service game after forcing Azarenka wide with her return.
The medical team are strapping Serena's ankle to the point of zero flexibility. It doesn't look good for the American after going 4-0 up.
BREAK! An unlikely break for the Romanian as Azarenka capitulated. It still needed a clinical touch from Niculescu, however, and she goes two up in the second.
Niculescu appears to be mocking the Azarenka grunt here. She's making a noise a good second or two after every other shots and Azarenka doesn't look pleased! A really good rally ends with Azarenka pulling back to 15-30
At 40-15 Niculescu again finds the net in what has to be an unforced error, but wins it with a superb push to the corner and she's flying!
A huge hold from Azarenka! The Belarusian starts with a double fault before Niculescu pulls of a treat of a lob on the backhand. A shot into the net by Azarenka gives two break points, but she saves the point with a superb rally of aggressive hitting. Another absolutely cracking rally sees Niculescu almost pull off an unbelievable drop shot winner, but Azarenka reaches it to bring up deuce and she makes no mistake from there.
Right folks, I'm off for a break. Enjoy the company of Michael Penkman who will see you through the next half-hour.
Good morning folks. While Matt has something to eat and a lot of caffeine, I'll jump right back into this Azarenka vs. Niculescu tussle, with the Belorussian 15-30 up.
Deuce
Double fault sets up break point for Azarenka...
Deuce Azarenka punished the second serve of Niculescu with a hard backhand return, but clipped the net chord as she stooped low for a sliced approach shot. Unlike her...
BREAK! Azarenka breaks back and we're on serve again in this second set.
Superb rally! Niculescu was inviting Azarenka to attack with a few delightfully sliced forehands deep to the baseline. However, the Belorussian can't work the angles effectively and Niulescu comes into the net forcing Azarenka to go for the line... and it's wide. She's powers back though and is now 40-15 up.
Deuce Niculescu is more than holding her own in this set. All credit to her for making a match of this.
Azarenka comes alive just when it matters, giving Niculescu the run around court. All the Romanian can do is lob a defensive backhand high into the sky, but Azarenka smashes it away to get the advantage.
Frightening hitting from Azarenka! She holds to draw level in the second set.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Williams 6-0 6-0 Gallovits-Hall Well the American's injury does not seem to have affected her, as she double bagels the Romanian to seal her place in the second round.
Niculescu holds, although Azarenka is looking the stronger of the two. In saying that, the Romanian did show lovely touch with a forehand volley. An ace down the T wrapped up the game.
Comfortable hold to love for Azarenka. A big serve followed by a big forehand seals the deal.
Azarenka is certainly dominating once the rallies get over a couple of shots. Her power is too much for Niculescu, whose game is more about finesse. The Romanian is also struggling with her second serve.
TWO BREAK POINTS FOR AZARENKA
An ace saves on...
BREAK! But she can't save the other, as Azarenka once again goes after Niculescu's weak second serve. Azarenka took control of the point and will now serve for the match.
Azarenka's power rivals that of Serena at times. The ball is rasping onto Niculescu's racquet, but she deals with the tirade well to level the game at 15-15.
Another fantastic rally! This time Niculescu comes out on top after 22 punishing shots. Azarenka goes long once again and there's some work left for her to do here...
Vika turns on the style now, volleying crisply at the net before setting up match point with more powerful ground strokes.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Azarenka 6-1 6-4 Niculescu The defending champion is safely through, despite being made to work for it in the second set.
Right, with that I shall hand you back over to Matt. Thanks for staying with me while he was stuffing his face. Matt...
A lesser man would be offended by that.. thanks Michael. Shreddies, for those interested.
That was perhaps not textbook Azarenka, but no top seed will complain about a straight-sets opening round win.
Next up we'll go to crowd favourite wherever he goes, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He's up against fellow Frenchman Michael Llodra.
The world number eight reached his only Grand Slam final here at Melbourne Park in 2008. So far the Hisense Arena has seen this one go with serve and Llodra leads 2-1.
Tsonga, kitted out with a yellow sweatband, dishes up his first ace for 40-15 then follows it up immediately with a double fault. The best and worst of Tsonga all at once there. Tsonga wins the game with a crushing forehand after setting it up with a booming serve.
Delicious point there. Llodra thinks he's won it with a neat drop shot but Tsonga reaches it to clip the baseline. This will be a great battle of technique vs. power.
After that point Llodra serves and volleys his way to a comfortable hold.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Raonic 3-6 6-1 6-2 7-6[0] Hajek
Tsonga is poor with his challenges so far. He's lost two of the three to wide ones and has just the one remaining in the set.
Tsonga comes to the net at 15-30 and is tall enough to reach Llodra's lob to smash. He follows with a magnificent backhand passing shot with the ball on the rise and equals it the very next point. Sublime.
Llodra wins comprehensively to love.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Kvitova 6-4 2-6 6-2 Schiavone
Federer has started his campaign out on Rod Laver, but I'm going to stick with this French battle until at least the conclusion of the set. The Swiss is one game up early in the first.
Tsonga's turn to hold comfortably and there's nothing between these two at the moment.
Federer, by the way, is up against another Frenchman, Benoit Paire. He's now 2-0 up after coming back from 40-15.
BREAK! The first blood goes to Tsonga, who breaks in a close one and now will serve for the opening set.
BRIT WATCH! Laura Robson is out a little earlier than expected. She's up against American Melanie Oudin.
SET! Tsonga 6-4 Llodra Tsonga gets it in a closely contested service game and just the one break was needed in the opener.
I'm now switching my focus to Federer vs. Paire. He's always wonderful to watch, so let's get to it. We pick it up at 3-1 to Federer on Paire's serve.
Paire holds reasonably comfortably, but he's a break behind and will have to try to make inroads into the always solid Federer serve.
The court seems to be a couple of inches longer and wider for the Swiss as he twice finds the very edge of the line.
Federer breezes through another service game at a trot.
BREAK! Federer takes it to deuce and whips a fantastic backhand pass that does Paire for pace. Paire then hits a poor shot into the net and it's a second break for the Swiss.
SET! Federer 6-2 Paire
Federer needs just one of the two set point he worked as he takes the opener in just 25 minutes. Just the start he wanted.
Paire starts the next set with two aces. Can't ask for more!
Federer goes millimetres wide with a passing backhand but it's a comfortable opener in the second set for the Frenchman.
Superb forehand down the line gets Paire back in the game at 40-15 and he works it back to deuce. Both men make mistakes and Federer edges a very low-quality game - aside from a glorious inside-out forehand to glance it past Paire to win it.
BREAK! A double fault and a poor forehand from Paire combine to give Federer two break points. A superb backhand down the line forces Federer into an error on the first one but there's no stopping a fericious passing backhand from the Swiss as Paire came to the net.
Robson is 4-1 up on serve in the opening set against Oudin. A very strong start indeed for the Briton.
It's looking very comfortable now for Federer as he swiftly wraps up another service game to love.
Paire stands up to Federer in a rally and is rewarded with a closely fought service game win. He's pleased with that one and shouts something in French. It wasn't "oui" so I'm none the wiser.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Kohlschreiber 6-2 6-3 6-4 Darcis
He's so dominant on his serve Federer. I just cannot see how Paire can get back in this without having even a glimpse of a look at the Swiss's serve.
Really good point there. Federer turns a pass into a drop shot, which is somehow met by Paire but his lob is just too long.
SET! Robson 6-2 Oudin. The Melbourne-born Brit comfortably navigates the opening set.
Two successive double faults set up a Federer break point but Paire does well to force the Swiss wide to save it. He then does well to recover and take the game.
Wonderful from Federer. He sends Paire all around the court chasing a ball he was never likely to win before finishing off with a backhand volley.
Paire smashes a backhand into the net on game point before yet another double fault gives Federer a set point. Paire saves it and just about takes the game to force the Swiss to serve for the set.
SET! Tsonga 6-4 7-5 Llodra
It's looking good for Tsonga, who again broke late in the set. He's always very hard to break so you'd have to fancy Jo-Wilfried from there.
SET! Federer 6-2 6-4 Paire A straightforward service game for Federer, who only needs one of the two set points. Not classic Federer by any means, but I don't think he's sweating yet.
BREAK! Ominous now for Paire as Federer breaks at the third time of asking in the game. The second was saved with a fantastic serve out wide, but the work was undone with yet another double fault.
Satellite accurate serving from Federer who takes less than two minutes to wrap up his service game. This won't take long now.
A poor attempt at a drop shot from the baseline from Paire sees Federer give it the forehand treatment it deserves. Paire responds with a smash on the half-volley before reverting to a drop shot and this time hitting the net. Federer wins the point with a fantastic return right at the feet of the advancing Frenchman.
There's little resistance now on the Federer serve, but the Swiss had to be alert at the net after Paire reached what looked a certain winner.
The backhands from Federer are fair racing towards Paire now. It really is poetry to watch. Despite that, Paire does well to take his first game of the set.
Paire celebrating every winner now. To be fair to him that one was an absolute pearler of a backhand down the line.
Absolutely incredible from Federer to save an unlikely break point with that super flowing cross-court forehand. A couple of points later and he wraps up the game.
Bizarre from Paire now who doesn't care any more! He hits the net with a shot between his legs when it wasn't needed. Funny, to be honest. He knows he's a beaten man so is having some fun.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Federer 6-2 6-4 6-1 Paire Paire celebrates a correct challenge, but he's again outclassed and Federer wraps up a comfortable win.
Federer explains the decision not to play any warm-up games in the build-up to this tournament as wanting to spend more time with his family. The man is class on and off the court and deserves to win everything going as many times as he wants.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Robson 6-2 6-3 Oudin An equally strong showing in the second set from Laura and she's safely through to the second round.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Tsonga 6-4 7-5 6-2 Llodra
It's Kvitova up next for Robson, which will be a huge test.
BRIT WATCH! From one Brit to another. Jamie Baker is underway in his match against Lukas Rosol.
Marin Cilic, the 12th-seeded Croat, is also in action at the Margaret Court Arena. He's up against Aussie Marinko Matosevic, who is being backed as you might expect. Matosevic leads 3-2 with the set going with serve so far.
Juan Martin del Potro I believe is due at the Rod Laver Arena soon. The Argentinian sixth-seed is up against Adrian Mannarino of France.
The world number 47 is giving as good as he is getting thus far against Cilic. A superb passing shot as Cilic comes to the net moves him to 40-0 and he sees it out.
German veteran Tommy Haas is warming up on court number three. The 19th seed faces a tricky opener and is up against Jarkko Nieminen, who is now 70th in the world.
Del Potro and Mannarino have also started their match.
Two double faults and three aces from Haas's first service game.
Good chance for Haas with an early break point but goes long when well-placed in the rally. Nieminen holds well after being 15-40 down in the game.
Haas holds well, finishing off the game with a classic serve and volley perfectly fitting of a 34-year-old.
Del Potro has raced into a 4-0 lead already, while Baker - 196th in the world - is currently matching Rosol serve for serve.
This one also continues to go with serve, although Haas's are slightly more comfortable than Nieminen's at the moment.
Haas's accuracy in the corners of the serve box is keeping Nieminen on the back foot, as the German-turned-American wraps up his third service game of this opening set.
SET! Cilic 6-4 Matosevic. The Croat gets the vital break and takes the opening set.
SET! Del Potro 6-1 Mannarino
It's pretty much point-for-point on the Nieminen serve, before Haas completely skies a backhand and puts a drop shot into the net for Nieminen to level once more.
SET! Rosol 7-6[5] Baker. Unfortunate for Baker, who matched Rosol for the entire set before just being edged out in the tie-breaker.
Nieminen finally gets something of a look-in at the Haas serve, but the American remains solid and we're still waiting for the first break here.
Good play from Nieminen. Firstly he catches Haas off guard with a bouncing slow serve before smashing a forehand winner right down the line. He's just about working his way on top of this.
Good serving once more from Haas as he plants a wide ace at 30-15 before wrapping up the game comfortably. Something has to give from one of these guys' serves, surely?
Del Potro is already 3-0 up in the second set. That one looks like it'll be over very quickly indeed.
Superb trademark Haas backhand down the line - it didn't look like there was a gap as Nieminen advanced. There could be a chance for a break here...
Nieminen fights back with a powerful forehand to force the error and level the game.
Superb from Haas, going for the drop shot followed by the pass down the line. Set point...
Serena Williams reassures everyone that she will play on and is "fine" after a nasty fall during her 6-0 6-0 win earlier today. Further details here.
Meanwhile, Nieminen just manages to hold after saving that set point.
If you refresh the link to the Williams story will actually be working now...
Haas again with a strong service game. It doesn't look likely to let him down again and Nieminen serves to save the set once more.
This time he holds with more ease, to 30, and we go to a tie-breaker in the first set.
Haas 0-2* Nieminen
Haas *1-2 Nieminen
Haas *2-2 Nieminen. A big ace for the American levels it.
Haas 2-3* Nieminen
Haas 2-4* Nieminen
Haas *2-5 Nieminen
Haas *2-6 Nieminen
Haas 3-6* Nieminen
SET! Haas [3]6-7 Nieminen Very strong play in the breaker gets the Finn the opening set.
SET! Del Potro 6-1 6-2 Mannarino
Haas has changed his shirt for the second set. Maybe brown will bring him more luck than white.
Excellent net play from Haas keeps him in contention in the game, but a fine cross-court winner followed by an ace right down the T wins Nieminen the opening game of the second set.
BREAK! Haas looks to be cruising at 40-0 up but a couple of errors let Nieminen back in, before the Finn brings it back to deuce with a superb flicked forehand pass. Haas follows suit with a strike right down the line but Nieminen smells blood and ups his level to take a huge break.
It's all too easy now for Nieminen. He's racing away with this set and Haas must up his game very soon or it's going to get away from him.
Nieminen finding all the corners now as it really starts to come together, but Haas responds with some big serves to finally get himself on the board for the set.
Haas goes on the offensive to get himself in a good position at 30-15, but some good serve and volley play from Nieminen, followed by a good serve maintains his three-game cushion.
SET! Rosol 7-6[5] 7-5 Baker
Haas once again starting to impress on his serve, and now he must start to make a dent in Nieminen's.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Del Potro 6-1 6-2 6-2 Mannarino Impressive start from the Argentine as he drops just five games on his way to that win.
BREAK! Nieminen volleys into the net to give Haas two break points. This time he only needs one of them as the Finn backhands into the net. Suddenly Haas is on top.
Ace number nine for Haas keeps him on top of his next service game with a delightful lob bringing him just a point away from levelling the set. A smash on the half-volley does indeed make it 4-4.
A set of two halves, this. At 4-1 up Nieminen was cruising. Now he's missing everything as Haas now has three break points!
Good defence and advancement to the net from Nieminen saves the first...
BREAK!... before an absolute stinker of a shot almost hits the backboard without bouncing! Terrible. Haas is closing in on the set now.
SET! Haas [3]6-7 6-4 Nieminen From 4-1 down Haas takes the set 6-4! He finishes with an ace and this match has turned around completely.
Nieminen wins his first game in six with a much stronger effort on serve.
Some superb powerful hitting from Haas is just too much for Nieminen on his serve and the opening two are wrapped up pretty quickly in this third set.
Nieminen finds his range with a couple of decent winners.
BREAK! Nieminen works a chance for a break, but Haas swats it away with a powerful serve and finish. The German then gets his own chance on advantage but Nieminen emphatically returns it to deuce with an early passing shot. A Haas drive volley goes long and he then slices wide to put Nieminen back in front.
Nieminen wraps up a swift service game to love and he's now well in control of this contest.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Rosol 7-6[5] 7-5 6-2 Baker
Nieminen pulls off a phenomenal rasping forehand to take the early initiative in this game.
Haas works himself back into the game from 0-30 and an absolutely fantastic rally ends with Nieminen reading a Haas pass but the German volleying deep to win the point. On deuce Haas delivers a fantastic shot right into the corner and Nieminen matches it with a forehand down the line, but Haas just about sees it out.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Cilic 6-4 5-7 6-2 Matosevic
Haas battling for the break here. A great winning forehand levels at 30-30 but he hits the net with a half-volley before firing a forehand wide. Nieminen just one game away from a 2-1 lead.
A bold serve by Haas pays off and he claims a second-serve ace. I can't say I've seen many of those. He's really scrapping here and finds the line with a forehand winner before wrapping the game up with a wide serve returned into the net.
A bold serve by Haas pays off and he claims a second-serve ace. I can't say I've seen many of those. He's really scrapping here and finds the line with a forehand winner before wrapping the game up with a wide serve returned into the net.
SET! Haas [3]6-7 6-4 3-6 Nieminen A superb backhand pass keeps Haas in the game, but Nieminen claims the second set with some solid baseline play and now leads 2-1.
Right, that's all your getting from me. I'm handing over to Sian Cowper, who will see you through the remainder of the day's action. Over to you, sian.
Thanks Matt. Good morning all, it's Sian here taking you through the rest of day two's action. We'll be sticking with Haas vs. Nieminen for the time being, it's got all the hallmarks of a five-set thriller.
A close opening game of the fourth set. Haas looks comfortable on serve but Nieminen makes some fantastic returns to keep himself in the game, losing out after taking it to deuce.
BREAK! Haas gets a break point in Nieminen's opening service game of the set, the Finn responding with a superb ace. However, he misses his first serve and a safe second serve gives Haas an easy return and he takes a 2-0 lead in the set.
An easy hold from Haas, he is absolutely flying in this fourth set. The German raced to 40-0 up, his opponent struggling to cope with the power he puts on the ball. Nieminen would very quickly find himself in a deciding set.
Nieminen starts the game well, taking a 30-0 lead, before a lazy return allows Haas back in to the game. Nieminen digs deep to restore his two-point lead before smashing an ace past the German.
SET! Elsewhere, Gasquet has taken a two-sets lead against Montanes. He took the second set 6-2 and is already 3-0 up in the third. It could be an easy route to the second round for the Frenchman.
BREAK! Nieminen strikes back. He's looked weary in the opening few games of this set, so won't be keen to let Haas force a fifth. Some superb returning has Haas on the back foot, and he's powerless to stop the Finn.
Nieminen holds, we we're back on serve. In the end it was a fairly easy hold for Nieminen. A second serve won the game for the Finn, as Haas put too much power on a cross-court backhand, failing to find the sideline.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Dodig 7-5 4-6 6-3 6-3 Wu
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Montanes 5-7 2-6 1-6 Gasquet
A close game sees Haas hold his serve, but only just. The German makes it hard for himself, unforced errors keeping Nieminen in the game. A challenge at break point went Haas's way, giving him the momentum to serve out the game.
A superb forehand from Haas just clipped the sideline at 15-15 to put Haas up, but Nieminen battles back, and completes the game with an ace.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Simon 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2
A long rally early in the game gives Nieminen the advantage before Haas digs deep to take it to deuce. Nieminen had a chance to break, but Haas pulled out some fantastic shots to take the game.
SET! Tomic 6-3 Mayer
SET! Haas [3]6-7 6-4 3-6 6-4 Nieminen The game heads to deuce after some scrappy play from both players, before Haas forces a break and set point, but Nieminen comes out top in a 19-stroke rally. The Finn sends the ball long to give Haas another chance, and this time he takes it, to also take the fourth set.
Towards the end of that last set, Nieminen seemed to have the measure of the German in the longer rallies, while Haas has more power to spare. This should be an interesting deciding set, and it could be a long one.
Haas has a few teething problems on his first serve but manages to get the job done. Some poor returns from Nieminen allow Haas to go 40-15 up before the Finn sends his forehand a touch long, handing Haas the.
Nieminen falls foul of the net chord to take to the game to deuce, before his superior footwork gives him advantage. Haas fights back, but Nieminen strikes again, to take a difficult hold. To say that this is the fifth set, neither player seem in any hurry.
That's more like it! An easy hold for the German. Nieminen struggles to return Haas's strong serve, failing to get on the score board in the third game of the set.
Around the courts, Monfils and Dolgopolov are in a first-set tie breaker, while Tomic is a break up in his second set against Mayer.
Another quick game, this time Nieminen stops Haas from securing a point against his serve.
A strong start to the game saw Nieminen looking for the break, but Haas forced his way back in to the game. Both players are still looking strong.
SET! Monfils [7]6-7 Dolgopolov
BREAK! Haas takes a two game lead with a break in the sixth game of the set. Poor serving by the Finn made it easy for Haas in the end.
BREAK BACK! Nieminen makes up for his mistakes in the last game with some fantastic forehands from the back of the court, while Haas struggles to get his first serve in, handing the Finn an easy break to get the set back on serve. The German is livid with himself.
SET! Tomic 6-3 6-2 Mayer
Nieminen, buoyed by the previous game, races to a 40-0 lead before taking an easy hold to level the fifth set.
Haas puts his previous service game behind him to make some fabulous shots on his way to a -4 lead. A break now would be enough to see the German through.
Nieminen is not distracted by Haas's lead, and uses his quick feet to make some brilliant strokes to take an easy hold.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Lu 6-2 6-1 4-6 6-1 Ramirez Hidalgo
Nieminen forces deuce with a deceptive forehand down the sideline. Haas takes advantage before Nieminen puts the ball wide with a pacy backhand.
Nieminen shows some nerves with a double fault, before Haas gets the better of him in a 20-shot rally. Haas brings up a match point, but a superb backhand from Nieminen keeps him in the match. Haas hands Nieminen advantage after missing and easy backhand, before the Finn takes the game.
BREAK! Haas finds himself 30-0 down, before making a point back, but then he serves a doubles fault to give Nieminen two break points. Another double fault hands the Finn the break. That could be costly.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Haas [3]6-7 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-8 Nieminen
The Finn has done it! Nieminen holds his serve to take the fifth set and a thrilling match. Nieminen's nerve were challenged in that last game, with the umpire overruling a line call against him, while having to rely on his second serve.
We now join the Margaret Court Arena where Gael Monfils is in a second-set tie break with Alexandr Dolgopolov. The Ukrainian already has a one-set lead.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Kilzan 3-6 6-3 3-6 4-6 Brands
SET! Monfils [7]6-7 7-6[4] Dolgopolov
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Tomic 6-3 6-2 6-3
Wow, that was a busy few minutes. Monfils is right back in this match with Dolgopolov. Two tie breaks in two sets suggest we might be in for another long one.
Meanwhile, the home fans will be happy as Bernard Tomic is safely through to the second round in straight sets.
It's an easy start to the third set for the Frenchman. Monfils races to a 40-0 lead before a couple of brilliant returns from Dolgopolov gets him back in the game. Monfils finished the game with a superb backhand, and is looking comfortable so far.
BREAK! Monfils shows his athleticism, reaching high for a fantastic volley. Dolgopolov finds the net to hand his opponent two break points. Monfils gently brushes a short volley past the Ukrainian to secure the break.
BREAK BACK Dolgopolov finds himself with the chance to break back and is gifted the game when Monfils misses his first serve, before putting a forehand in the net.
Monfils has only recently returned to regular tennis, having sustained a serious knee injury in May, after being hampered by a back injury in the early part of last year.
BREAK! The Frenchman rises high in to the air to smash a volley past Dolgopolov, while the 18th seed skids out wide to make a brilliant cross-court backhand before finding the net while a break point down to hand Monfils the advantage again. This is thrilling stuff!
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Hampton 6-2 6-4 U. Radwanska
BREAK BACK! Dolgopolov starts the game well, taking a 30-0 lead, before Monfils hits back. Monfils sends his forehand long at deuce then serves a double fault to hand Dolgopolov the break.
BREAK! Dolgopolov finds himself a break point down yet again. After missing his first serve, he sends down a risky, fast second serve to help to the deuce. Monfils gains advantage before making a stunning backhand to the baseline while sliding. Brilliant stuff from the Frenchman!
Monfils secures the first hold of serve in six games, and must now be favourite to take the third set.
It's an easy hold for Dolgopolov, and Monfils will now serve to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
SET! Monfils [7]6-7 7-6[4] 6-3
A few nervy moments for Monfils in that final game but ultimately he is too strong on serve for Dolgopolov, and the Frenchman is now just one set from the second round
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Tsurenko 7-5 6-3 7-5 Pavlyunchenkova
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Sela 6-3 1-6 5-7 3-6 Davydenko
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Garcia-Lopez 4-6 4-6 6-3 2-6 Ram
Dolgopolov survives two break points to hold his opening service game. Two long rallies during that game allowed both players to show off their blistering pace.
BREAK! Some messy shots from the Frenchman as Dolgopolov is the first to break in the fourth set.
BREAK BACK Monfils is right back in this set as mistakes from Dolgopolov allow him to break back straight away. The 18th seed struggled to find the baseline in the game, while Monfils returned brilliantly.
In the only other match still taking place today, the 20th seed in the women's draw Yanina Wickmayer is beating Australian Jarmila Gajdosova, having taken the first set 6-1
Dolgopolov needed a short timeout after the last game while his trainer took a look at the strapping around his ankles. However, he's back now, and the match is going to resume.
Monfils levels the set, sending a fantastic forehand past the Ukrainian, who was at the net looking for a volley.
All the momentum is with Monfils as he secures his third game in a row. Dolgopolov sent is first serve to the net at break point to allow the Frenchman to dictate the play, before he netted a forehand, giving Monfils the lead for the first time in this set.
Dolgopolov is off the court again for more treatment. It would be a shame if the Ukrainian wasn't able to continue, this has been a brilliant match so far.
Over on the Rod Laver Arena, Gajdosova has hit back in the second set, with a 2-0 lead of Wickmayer in the second set, to give the home crowd something to cheer about.
Dolgopolov is back and is going to continue. Fingers crossed he is able to finish the match.
Monfils' serve lets him down at the start of the game, but he finds his rhythm to hold the game. Dolpogolov, with a freshly taped knee, seems to be moving well despite his break for treatment.
BREAK! Dolgopolov is moving fantastically but he can't match Monfils, who has found another gear in the last few minutes. Some fantastic returns from the Frenchman lead to the 18th seed putting the ball in the net on break point, and now Monfils will serve for the match.
BREAK! Monfils crumbles as he tries to serve out the match. Opening with a double fault, before Dolgopolov made some classy returns to get a triple break point. Monfils served another double fault to hand his opponent a break back.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Monfils [7]6-7 7-6[4] 6-3 6-3
Dolgopolov saves his first match point against the Frenchman, before handing him a second chance just moments later, and Monfils takes it to book his place in the next round
At times Monfils was outstanding, but he also made some basic errors, including far too many double faults.
As the day two action draws to a close, there's just the one game still underway at the moment, so we'll join that. Yanina Wickmayer has a one set lead against Jarmila Gajdosova, and has come back from two breaks down in the second set to bring the score back on serve.
BREAK! Gajdosova takes another break against the 20th seed in the women's draw after Wickmayer sends a forehand long. The Belgian challenges the call, but the ball was out, and the Australian will serve for the set.
BREAK! Wickmayer gets the break back following a close game between the two players.
Gajdosova, who became Australian in 2009 having previously represented Slovakia, has never won a match at the Australian Open. This is her eighth time in the main draw.
Gajdosova has a somewhat heated exchange with the umpire. The Australian wanted to challenge a call, but the umpire wouldn't allow it, as she had moved during the play. Gajdosova argued that she only moved so that she wasn't hit by the ball, but the umpire was not going to change her mind.
Wickmayer holds to level the scores in the second set. Gajdosova had a set point, but the Belgian played some strong shots to keep the set alive.
Gajdosova looked uncertain on serve in that game, bringing up a break point with a double fault, then slicing her forehand to the net. The 20th seed will now serve for the match.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Wickmayer 6-1 7-5 Gajdosova
It's an easy win in the end for Wickmayer as the Belgian holds her serve to take a straight sets win over Gajdosova.
The Australian showed great spirit during the second set, and maybe deserved to take the match to a third. But the 159 places between the women showed in the end.
Well, all of today's matches are now complete. It was a good day for the top seeds in both the women's and men's draws, with Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Serena Williams all recording easy victories
The other Brits in action today had mixed fortunes. Laura Robson looked impressive in her win over Melanie Oudin, but Jamie Ward was knocked out by Lukas Rosol.
That's it for Sports Mole's live coverage of the Australian Open this morning. Stick around for reports and reaction to all of the results from day two, and join us again from midnight for day three, with Novak Djokovic, Heather Watson and Maria Sharapova all scheduled to play. It should be another exciting day. Thanks for joining me.

amp_article__64009 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2013-01-15 13:42:41:
html db last update - 2013-01-15 13:42:41 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .