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Eve Muirhead: Australian Open is the best chance of an upset

Roger Federer..
Roger Federer..

It’s certainly been a retro Australian Open this year.

Most of us thought the days of the Williams sisters playing against each other in Grand Slam finals were over.

And we could even be treated to another instalment of the legendary Federer v Nadal rivalry, if Rafa wins his semi-final.

It definitely backs up the old phrase ‘form is temporary but class is permanent.’

Out of the four of them, you would only have given Serena a strong chance of winning when the tournament began.

I think it also shows that the Aussie Open is the best chance of an upset in the four majors.

That’s because it comes so early in the tennis season.

I know that there are people who believe it should be later in the calendar but I’m not one of them.

The fact that the players have to hit the ground running presents a challenge all of its own.

Getting the balance right between having a proper break at the end of the previous year and making sure you don’t overdo or underdo your preparations is an important part of being a professional athlete.

Maybe Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic didn’t get it quite right this year.

It was interesting to read that Federer got settled in Australia much earlier than those two.

By the time the French Open comes round in May, chances are that Murray and Djokovic will be into their stride and it will be harder to look past them for the last three Grand Slams.

Federer will know that.

It’s hard to regard him and Nadal as underdogs, given all they’ve achieved in the game, but that’s what they are now.

And the Aussie Open is the underdog’s best chance.

 

* It’s impossible not to feel sorry for Usain Bolt after he lost one of his Olympic relay gold medals because of a team-mate failing a drugs test.

The triple-triple was an iconic achievement that has now been downgraded through no fault of his own.

Nesta Carter isn’t the first top-level sprinter from Jamaica to get caught out.

This week’s news doesn’t tarnish Bolt’s legacy but that’s not the case for Jamaica.

 

* It’s always special when you win a tournament for the first time, especially when it’s in your home country, and especially when you’ve had a bit of a dip in form!

I’ve competed in the Glynhill Ladies a few times but, for whatever reason, it’s been one that has got away.

And going into last week’s event we weren’t playing at the top of our game.

Even though we knew that we were doing the right things, and focusing on long-term goals, you still get a bit worried when the results aren’t what you expect.

So that was a big win for us.

Next up is a trip back to Canada for a skins tournament next week.

We’re the first non-Canadian team to get an invite, which is quite a big deal.

The skins format is a unique one and it could be a long way to go to come back with nothing. But, on the other hand, there’s the chance that you could be playing for 20,000 dollars in the final end!