WHO WON THE FALKLANDS WAR

World number 10 Nalbandian will team up with Juan Monaco, Agustin Calleri and Jose Acasuso against a GB side headed up by Andy Murray, who is ranked nine.

"On paper, we are favourites," said Argentina coach Alberto Mancini. "They can count on Andy Murray - a very good, very experienced player.

"But clay is not his favourite surface. We're hosts, our fans will be close."

Britain are unseeded and face a daunting trip to the third seeds - the 2006 finalists - for the first-round tie at the 15,000-capacity Parque Roca from 8-10 February.

CORIA AND GAUDIO

Four years ago, back in the days before Rafael Nadal came to regard the red clay of Roland Garros as his own personal playpen, Guillermo Coria came within a point of winning the Roland Garros championship before bowing to Gaston Gaudio in an all-Argentine final.

Times have changed and today both Coria and the 183rd-ranked Gaudio, both at different stages of the comeback trail, skidded out of the Vina del Mar tournament on red clay.

Playing his first tournament in nearly 18 months after a lengthy layoff due to shoulder surgery, back problems and a confidence crisis, Coria returned to the site of his first career tournament title and lost to 11th-ranked Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

While Coria was at least competitive in his comeback bid, Gaudio was humbled by Spain's Santiago Ventura, 6-3, 6-0.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

The swoosh may well become a much more lucrative symbol to Roger Federer next month. Nike is reportedly on the verge of signing the 12-time Grand Slam champion to "the most lucrative tennis endorsement deal ever," according to a published report in the SportsBusiness Journal written by Daniel Kaplan and Terry Lefton.

The 10-year contract extension "could be worth as much as $13 million a year", according to SBJ, though it is unclear how much of that figure is guaranteed and how much is contingent on Federer meeting performance-based incentives.

Though tennis shoes and clothes sales in the United States are not nearly as large as other sports, Federer's popularity in Asia, where tennis is booming, his international appeal and his pursuit of Pete Sampras' record of 14 career gives the company global exposure.

Nike also has existing endorsement deals with World No. 2 Rafael Nadal and Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova.

SHARAPOVA OVER IVANOVIC

Russian Maria Sharapova has won her third grand slam singles title, downing Serbia's Ana Ivanovic 7-5 6-3 in the Australian Open final.

The fifth-seeded Sharapova won the last four games of the match to claim her first title at Melbourne Park in an encounter lasting one hour and 31 minutes.

Sharapova's other grand slam triumphs came at Wimbledon in 2004 and the US Open in 2006.

It was the fourth-seeded Ivanovic's second defeat in a grand slam final, following her straight-sets defeat to Justine Henin at last year's French Open.

DJOKOVIC WINS

Tennis hot property Novak Djokovic broke through for his first Grand Slam triumph with a dramatic four-set victory over unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open on Sunday.

The 20-year-old third seed became the first Serb to win a tennis Grand Slam, coming from behind to register a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over the tournament bolter in three hours six minutes.

Djokovic's victory was the first Grand Slam final since the 2005 Australian Open not won by Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal with the top-ranked pair dominating the game, claiming the last 11 majors between them.

DJOKOVIC BEATS FEDERER

Novak Djokovic has ended Roger Federer's 19-match winning streak at Melbourne Park to book a place in Sunday's Australian Open 2008 men's singles final.

The Serbian No.3 seed, who had only beaten Federer once in six previous meetings, avenged his defeat to the Swiss world No.1 in last year's US Open final with a dominant 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-5) victory.

Djokovic's reward for his impressive triumph is a clash with unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in what will be the Australian Open's first tournament decider between two players yet to win a Grand Slam title since 1998.

SHARAPOV - TENNIS DAD

Yuri shadows his daughter's every move and, alarmingly, here he is clad in a camouflage hoodie.

And sunglasses.

Even indoors.

Shrieky reckons he looks like "an assassin" and encouraged him to keep the hood down even if he insists on wearing the top. .

Sharapov, though, has outdone himself here. After No. 1 daughter had demolished Justine Henin, he jumped up to applaud the victory and ran his finger across his throat, a gesture suggesting he was cutting his throat.

This is not a warm and fuzzy sign at the best of times, but in Australia it is regarded as particularly offensive.

The WTA and Yuri together are pleading that it was an innocent joke between Maria and Yuri about the sweatshirt.

The Aussies weren't buying that one.

Yuri, you see, has something of a record in this department and has been known to shout out, in Russian, less than flattering things to Shrieky’s opponents.

After one spectacularly vocal outburst, daughter was to be found outside the locker room giving father a verbal lashing along the lines of "If you ever embarrass me like that again, you will never travel to another tournament with me again…"

But for all the claims of misunderstandings and misinterpretations over the throat-cutting gesture, Yuri was sitting quietly at the courtside wearing a plain white tee-shirt and keeping his mouth shut sitting on his hoodie.

We should cut Yuri some slack.

Maybe, he's not malicious.

Just stupid!

TSONGA WHIPS NADAL

Rafael Nadal was dealt a killer punch Thursday by unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as Ana Ivanovic staged a stunning comeback to set up an Australian Open final against Maria Sharapova.

The Frenchman, nicknamed Muhammad Ali for his resemblance to the boxing legend, left the second seeded Nadal reeling by his ferocious all-court game and deft touches in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 pounding.

Tsonga has now accounted for four top seeds and will face either world number one Roger Federer or third seed Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday.

IVANOVIC AND SHARAPOVA MEET IN FINALS

Serbian Ana Ivanovic will face Russian Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open women's final on Saturday.

Ivanovic, the fourth seed, outlasted Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova in three tough sets - 0-6 6-3 6-4 - in their semi-final showdown in two hours 10 minutes.

Fourth seed Ivanovic looked frozen with nerves as she dropped the first eight games of the semi-final but as Hantuchova's level dipped, she recovered strongly to set up a final against Russian fifth seed Maria Sharapova.

In the other semi-final fifth-seeded Sharapova overwhelmed injury-hit Serb Jelena Jankovic in straight sets, winning 6-3 6-1 in one hour 18 minutes to reach her second straight Australian final.

Hantuchova, 24, had never been past the third round at Melbourne Park in three previous appearances.

Ivanovic had beaten her in the past two of their three meetings on the circuit but today the Slovak dominated their clash early before the Serb hit back to snatch the second set and go on to serve out the match.

FEDERER - BLAKE

HORSE'S ASS

For tennis ability and for courage and determination on the court, Maria Sharapova is admired.
But it seems likely that everyone will root for her opponent in the semis and final. It is a situation that was made certain at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night when Sharapova, the fifth seed, beat the world No.1 Justine Henin. The 20-year-old Russian grunted as usual, fiddled endlessly before serving and over-celebrated her biggest points. But all of it might have been overlooked had her father, sunglassed and hooded, hadn't stood up in the player's box at the end of the match and made a violent, throat-cutting motion with his hand.

YURI SHARAPOV

YURI SHARAPOV - HORSE'S ASS

We waited patiently yesterday to find out what action the authorities - the WTA Tour, the ITF, the tournament organisers - would take against Yuri Sharapov after he made a throat-slitting gesture towards the court after his daughter's brilliant victory over world No.1 Justine Henin on Tuesday night.

Substantial fine? Banishment from his centre-court seat? Face full of capsicum spray? Name your poison.

Sharapov's belligerence, captured by a camera he knew was in his face, belongs in a professional wrestling ring, not beside a tennis court. Even the American NFL, the world's most violent football code, banned the throat-slashing gesture - which some players had called "the OJ" - eight years ago.

This was one of those clear-cut incidents when there was no alternative but to act.

When the verdict was delivered we found out. Is that one lump of sugar or two, Mr Sharapov?

You see, it was all just one big misunderstanding. What we thought was a violent gesture, the WTA Tour reported, was actually just an in-joke about Sharapov's hooded sweatshirt, which his daughter thought made him look like an assassin.

And, if you didn't believe that, there was an alternative official version. It wasn't throat-slitting but the film director's signal for "cut". As in game over. It's a wrap.

This guy's a moron!

SEMIS

MEN

FEDERER - DJOKOVIC

NADAL - TSONGA

WOMEN

SHARAPOVA - JANKOVIC

IVANOVIC - HANTUKOVA

FED AND DJOKER TO MEET IN SEMI

Defending champion Roger Federer advanced to a semi-final showdown against Novak Djokovic with a straight-sets win against 12th seed James Blake.

The world number one remained composed during key points at the end of each set, though Blake won each of his three break points and made Federer work much harder than the scoreline of 7-5 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 would suggest.

The victory sends Federer into his 15th grand slam semi-final in a row and ensures he remains unbeaten against Blake in their eight matches.

Novak Djokovic is a step away from his first Australian Open final after seeing off Spaniard David Ferrer in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena.

The Serbian won the quarter-final 6-0 6-3 7-5 to send a strong warning to the other contenders left in the men's singles draw.

He will play the winner of the Roger Federer-James Blake quarter-final in the semis.

HANTUCHOVA - IVANOVIC WIN

Slovakian No.9 seed Daniela Hantuchova has advanced to the semi-finals with ease as she eliminated Polish Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-2.

Radwanska, 18, had enjoyed a spectacular run at Australian Open 2008, overpowering second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round.

But her Australian Open hopes were demolished as Hantuchova dominated the match with her powerful serve and groundstrokes.

Exciting Serbian star Ana Ivanovic is one match away from her second Grand Slam final after downing Venus Williams to reach the Australian Open semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

The 20-year-old No.4 seed claimed one of the game's biggest scalps - and a six-time Grand Slam winner - in straight sets, 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

It was her first-ever win over Williams, pushing the world No.3 into a semi-final clash with Daniela Hantuchova, having last year reached the decider at the French Open.

SLAM TO LEAVE OZ?

Melbourne Park is to be upgraded in a move to stave off foreign [China] plans to poach the Australian Open. The Victorian State Government today committed to a $A2million business study to redevelop the 20-year-old venue.

The investment comes in response to Tennis Australia's plea for $A300million to revamp the inner-city complex.

Once at the cutting edge of international sporting stadia, Melbourne Park has been overtaken in recent years by innovations at the US Open, Wimbledon and the French Open.

TSN TV SCHEDULE

WOMEN'S QUARTERS AND SEMIS

SEMIS

Sharapova - Jankovic

QUARTERS

V Williams - Ivanovic

Hantuchova - Radwanska

MEN'S QUARTERS AND SEMIS

QUARTERS

Federer - Blake

Ferrer - Djokovic

SEMIS

Nadal - Tsonga

NADAL AND TSONGA WIN

World number two Rafael Nadal overcame an early hiccup to thump Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 7-5 6-3 6-1 and reach his first Australian Open semi-final.

Nadal was briefly in trouble when Nieminen had two set points at 5-4 in the first set, but two big serves from the Spaniard got him out of trouble.

And despite the energetic Finn's best efforts, Nadal did not look back.

He next faces unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who overpowered Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 6-0 7-6 (8-6).

Tsonga is likely to pose a greater threat, although Nieminen battled gamely.

SHARAPOVA AND JANKOVIC WIN

Maria Sharapova produced a magnificent display of clean hitting to thrash world number one Justine Henin 6-4 6-0 in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

The Russian came out flying to break in the second game and though Henin pulled it back in game nine, a fantastic cross-court backhand won her the set.

Sharapova then waltzed through the second with a succession of winners to end Henin's 32-match winning run.

The fifth seed will now take on Jelena Jankovic in the last four on Thursday.

Third seed Jelena Jankovic outfought defending champion Serena Williams in an enthralling match to win 6-3 6-4 and reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

With Williams restricted by a huge blister, Jankovic recovered from a poor start to run away with the first set.

Jankovic's thigh was also proving troublesome and both players needed lengthy treatment in the second set.

Williams initially raised her game when the match restarted but it was Jankovic who dug deepest in the end to triumph.

TUESDAY'S MATCHES - TONIGHT

NADAL - NIEMENEN

TSONGA - YOUZHNY

DJOKOVIC PUMMELS HEWITT

Third seed Novak Djokovic held off Lleyton Hewitt and a pro-Australian crowd to advance to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory on Rod Laver Arena.

The 20-year-old Serb overcame a lacklustre start before overpowering the local favourite 7-5 6-3 6-3.

Djokovic will now meet fifth seed David Ferrer, who defeated Spanish compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-1.

Coming off an exhausting five-set marathon against Marcos Baghdatis that ended at 4.34am on Sunday morning, Hewitt showed no signs of tiredness as he broke Djokovic early in the first set to take a 4-2 lead.

But wasted opportunities on Djokovic's serve in the seventh game - Hewitt held two break points - allowed the Serb back in the contest.

FED UP OVER BERDYCH

World No.1 Roger Federer showed no ill-effects from his third-round epic to advance to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over Czech No.13 seed Tomas Berdych on Day 8.

Federer's 6-4 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 win over Berdych set up a battle with American No.12 seed James Blake, who had no troubles defeating Croatian Marin Cilic.

While Berdych did not offer anywhere near as stern an examination as Janko Tipsarevic did two days earlier, the 22-year-old Czech still had the world No.1 under pressure.

He blew two set points in the second set tie-breaker, suffering a shocking brain fade when he netted a drop shot to hand Federer his first reprieve before drilling a short ball long for the second.

Another errant forehand gifted Federer a two-set lead and from there the world No.1 had things his own way.

He dropped just four points on serve in the third set and broke Berdych to love to grab the crucial break in the sixth game.

NADAL - FEDERER

Nadal could actually take over the No. 1 ranking from Roger Federer if he were to win the championship here and Federer were to lose before the semifinals.
But some things keep occurring and Federer playing on the final Sunday of the Australian Open has been one of those things.
The world No. 1 is seeking his fourth title Down Under in last five years.

NALBANDIAN THRASHED

Juan Carlos Ferrero sent a woeful David Nalbandian crashing out of the Australian Open with a crushing 6-1 6-2 6-3 win in round three.

Nalbandian was seeded 10th but considered one of the favourites for the title after a superb end to 2007.

But the Argentine fired 38 unforced errors and former French Open champion calmly took advantage for a fine win.

Another Spaniard, fifth seed David Ferrer, progressed with a 6-3 6-3 6-2 win over American Vince Spadea.

RODDICK NEEDS CONNOR'S BRAIN NOT HIS MOUTH

On Friday night, Andy Roddick swore, sneered and belittled Emmanuel Joseph, the chair umpire, during the course of a four hour match which he lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber. Using language both crude and blasphemous — and sometimes highly anatomical — he berated the poor official simply because he, the world No. 6, was being made to look like the limited, petulant player he is by a fellow from Germany ranked 27 in the world.

Yet, Roddick walked away with no more than a $500 fine for racket abuse.

While Jimmy Connors looked on, Roddick proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the only thing he has learned from the retired champion is how to behave vilely when being beaten.

Connors behaved like a foul-mouthed hooligan and used his racquet in ways that would have surprised even Mapplethorpe, but he could, at least, point to the fact that he was a serial Grand Slam champion. He was the most consistent world No1 in the history of the game (or he was until a certain Swiss came along) and he was pathologically incapable of accepting defeat.

Roddick, on the other hand, is a one slam wonder with a big serve and no clue how to formulate a game plan.

Joseph was clearly not going to take on the American and neither warned nor penalized him despite the torrent of abuse sent his way. Roddick verbally bullied him and got away with it.

Unfortunately for Roddick, these days he can only bully the officials.

A-Rod finds himself overtaken by the likes of Nikolay Davydenko and David Ferrer in the world pecking order.

Everyone knows that the American is there for the taking.

Get the big guy's serve back and then stand back and watch him disintegrate.

FEDERER SURVIVES

When he needed it the most, top-seeded Roger Federer found an extra gear to survive at the Australian Open.

There was never a letup in the tension of the 4½-hour match as Federer was forced repeatedly to rally before outlasting 49th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 on Saturday to advance to the fourth round of the tournament he has won the past two years.

Tipsarevic, who has never reached a singles final, played the match of his life and gave Federer everything he could handle with the packed crowd screaming on every point.

Federer, seeking his 13th Grand Slam crown, needed every one of his personal best 39 aces -- 14 more than his previous mark in one match -- to fend off the third-round challenge from the 2001 Australian Open junior champion.

Tipsarevic rallied from 15-40 while serving at 4-5 in the third set, then broke in the next game as Federer lost two aces to successful challenges by Tipsarevic, who then held for the set.

As he has done so often, Federer seemed to find an another level, running off five straight games to take the fourth set and even the match.

Tipsarevic refused to yield, saving two break points while serving at 2-2 in the deciding set, then a match point at 8-8 before Federer nailed a sharply angled backhand volley winner to take the last break. Federer held for the match when Tipsarevic netted a backhand to end it in 4 hours and 27 minutes.

Federer shouted in relief as he pumped his fist.

"What a great victory," he said.

OZ OPEN PRIZE MONEY

Prize Money Breakdown 2008 Australian Open

Singles
Winner $1,281,000 Aus Dollars
Finalist 640,500
Semi finalist 320,250
Quarter finalist 160,125
Round 16 80,060
Round 32 49,100
2nd Round 29,890
First Round Loser 19,215


Doubles (men and women) 64 draw. Money per pair
Winners $446,020
Finalists 223,010
Semi-finalists 110,800
Quarter-finalists 55,400
Round of 16 31,245
Round of 32 17,035
First round losers 9,585


Mixed doubles 32 draw
Winners $134,460
Runners up 67,230
Semi-finalists 33,615
Quarter-finalists 15,490
Round of 16 7,745
First round 3,775

$1.00 Australian = $ 0.88 US

TONIGHTS MATCHES [SATURDAY IN OZ]

On court today…

No. 1 Roger Federer (SUI) v Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)

No. 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Sam Querrey (USA)

No. 5 David Ferrer (ESP) v Vince Spadea (USA)

No. 7 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) v Marin Cilic (CRO)

No. 10 David Nalbandian (ARG) v No. 22 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)

No. 12 James Blake (USA) v Sebastien Grosjean (FRA)

No. 13 Tomas Berdych (CZE) v No. 21 Juan Monaco (ARG)

No. 15 Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v No. 19 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Marcos Baghdatis, who is looking to create history at the Australian Open when he takes on Lleyton Hewitt. The Cypriot has the chance to become the first player to defeat three former Grand Slam champions in consecutive rounds here.

·

NO MO MAURESMO

Australian Casey Dellacqua has fought back from a set down in front of a thrilled home crowd to stun 2006 Australian Open Champion Amelie Mauresmo.

Dellacqua started strongly but fell away to concede the first set 6-3 before producing the finest tennis of her career to reach the fourth round.

In the second set Dellacqua took the early initiative, breaking Mauresmo to lead 2-0 before a further three breaks of serve – two from Mauresmo and one from Dellacqua – leveled the scores at 3-3.

Mauresmo used her slice well, inviting the Aussie to go for her shots, but Dellacqua gradually worked her way into the match and cut out the unforced errors that cost her in the first set.

The Frenchwoman had the yips on serve allowing Dellacqua to take the second set 6-4.

At this stage the tide began to turn and it was the Aussie’s power game that forced Mauresmo into errors she would otherwise not make.

Dellacqua’s backhand in particular was on fire. She put immense pressure on Mauresmo and it was this shot that set up the win for her.

In the deciding set Dellacqua twice came back from 15-40 on serve to hold, in stark contrast it was Mauresmo who double faulted her way into trouble.

It was clear her wayward serve was getting to her mentally and she double faulted twice in the final game to hand Dellacqua the match.

The West Australian will next face No.3 seed Jelena Jankovic, who took three sets to see off No.30 seed Virginie Razzano on Friday.

Jankovic’s form has not lived up to her seeding so far in the tournament meaning a win for the rampaging Dellacqua is not out of the question.

RODDICK OUT

German giant-killer Philipp Kohlschreiber downed a frustrated Andy Roddick to move into the fourth-round of the Australian Open in a titanic five-set struggle in the early hours of Saturday morning in Melbourne.

Kohlschreiber, the tournament's No.29 seed, eliminated the 2003 US Open winner with a 6-4 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-7 (3-7) 8-6 triumph in a tick under four hours.

The marathon match at Rod Laver Arena ended just after 2am local time.

Roddick - who launched a series of verbal assaults on chair umpire Emmanuel Joseph during the tense battle - served a career-high 42 aces.

However, Kohlschreiber himself sent down 32 winners on his serve and broke the weary American in the 14th game of the final set to secure what he immediately labelled the best win of his career.

In an astonishing contest packed full of inspiring passing shots, Kohlschreiber racked up 104 winners to his opponent's 79.

He did require five match points, all on the Roddick serve, before securing a ticket into the next phase of the event, however.

The German, who reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park in 2005, will tackle 24th seed Jarkko Nieminen on Sunday for a place in the last eight of the year's opening slam.

TSN TENNIS

Along with these times, TSN is being broadcast randomly on the alternate TSN feed starting around 7 pm every night.

SAFIN BAGGED

Marcos Baghdatis needed five sets to defeat Marat Safin 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 Thursday at the Australian Open, evoking memories of his run to the 2006 final.

The marquee matchup of the night between Baghdatis and Safin was packed with drama -- long rallies, seemingly impossible winners and shifts in momentum.

Baghdatis appeared to be on his way to a straight-sets victory, looked down and out, then pulled himself together to set up a third-round meeting with another former No. 1, Lleyton Hewitt.

The mercurial Safin, the 2005 champion who has slipped to No. 56 because of a rash of injuries, tossed his racket twice in frustration while falling behind, then broke it after dropping serve early in the fifth set.

FEDERER DISMANTLES SANTORO

Federer struck all of his shots harder than I've ever seen. Whether, its another level to his game this year or a game plan just for Santoro .....we'll see.

The Federer-Santoro match went by so quickly that Santoro asked him to wait a moment on match point, pointing to the scoreboard and smiling. The Swiss star got a chuckle out of it, too, then got in a serve-and-volley winner.

"Today, I feel like he's coming from somewhere else. I served quite good. I was moving well. I was fit physically. I was hitting the ball well. And I won three games."

Federer won the last 10 games, ended it with a serve-and-volley as Santoro edged in almost to the service box. He clambered over the net to embrace the Frenchman.

Dictating play, Federer ended up with 53 winners and 18 unforced errors.
"First time I played him, he totally dismantled me. Showed I had a lot of things to work on.

"Today I was in great shape, could play aggressive. We always have great rallies together, because of his playing style ... he does a great job of making you doubt. It's always a tricky match against him. But you know it's going to be fun. And this is what it's supposed to be, this game."

TONIGHT'S MATCHES

No. 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) v No. 28 Gilles Simon (FRA)

No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) v Marc Gicquel (FRA)

No. 6 Andy Roddick (USA) v No. 29 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

No. 8 Richard Gasquet (FRA) v No. 31 Igor Andreev (RUS)

No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v No. 20 Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

No. 23 Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) v Stefan Koubek (AUT)

No. 24 Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) v Mardy Fish (USA)

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)

SEEDS' RESULTS

Click on the player's name for short bios. Men Seed Player Name Opponent Round
1	Roger Federer	v.	Fabrice Santoro	RND 2
2	Rafael Nadal	v.	Gilles Simon [28]	RND 3
3	Novak Djokovic	v.	Simone Bolelli	RND 2
4	Nikolay Davydenko	v.	Marc Gicquel	RND 3
5	David Ferrer	v.	Juan Martin Del Potro	RND 2
6	Andy Roddick	v.	Philipp Kohlschreiber [29]	RND 3
7	Fernando Gonzalez	v.	Hyung-Taik Lee	RND 2
8	Richard Gasquet	v.	Igor Andreev [31]	RND 3
9	Andy Murray	lost to	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	RND 1
10	David Nalbandian	v.	Peter Luczak	RND 2
11	Tommy Robredo	lost to	Mardy Fish	RND 2
12	James Blake	v.	Michael Russell	RND 2
13	Tomas Berdych	v.	Oscar Hernandez	RND 2
14	Mikhail Youzhny	v.	Ivo Karlovic [20]	RND 3
15	Marcos Baghdatis	v.	Marat Safin	RND 2
16	Carlos Moya	lost to	Stefan Koubek	RND 1
17	Ivan Ljubicic	lost to	Robin Haase	RND 1
18	Juan Ignacio Chela	lost to	Guillermo Garcia-Lopez	RND 1
19	Lleyton Hewitt	v.	Denis Istomin	RND 2
20	Ivo Karlovic	v.	Mikhail Youzhny [14]	RND 3
21	Juan Monaco	v.	Amer Delic	RND 2
22	Juan Carlos Ferrero	v.	Alun Jones	RND 2
23	Paul-Henri Mathieu	v.	Stefan Koubek	RND 3
24	Jarkko Nieminen	v.	Mardy Fish	RND 3
25	Fernando Verdasco	v.	Janko Tipsarevic	RND 2
26	Stanislas Wawrinka	lost to	Marc Gicquel	RND 2
27	Nicolas Almagro	lost to	Marin Cilic	RND 1
28	Gilles Simon	v.	Rafael Nadal [2]	RND 3
29	Philipp Kohlschreiber	v.	Andy Roddick [6]	RND 3
30	Radek Stepanek	lost to	Vincent Spadea	RND 1
31	Igor Andreev	v.	Richard Gasquet [8]	RND 3
32	Dmitry Tursunov	v.	Sam Querrey	RND 2

SNATCHING VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF FEAR

Amélie Mauresmo raced to a commanding 6-4, 5-1 lead when the demons of doubt that have plagued her whole career reappeared.

Her singles match with Russia's Yaroslava Shvedova became a two front battle; one to control Shvedova, and one to control herself.

Ultimately, the 2006 champion squandering nine match points, suffering a five-game slide, striking successive double faults in the second-set tiebreaker, found a way to survive in scoring a 6-1, 7-6(5) victory.

LAST NIGHTS RESULTS - WEDNESDAY IN OZ

* 6-Andy Roddick (U.S.) bt Michael Berrer (Germany) 6-2 6-2 6-4

8-Richard Gasquet (France) bt Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 6-2 6-1 6-3

29-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) bt Evgeny Korolev (Russia) 6-4 6-2 0-1 (Korolev retired)

4-Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) beat Nicolas Mahut (France) 6-4 6-0 6-3

31-Igor Andreev (Russia) bt Kristof Vliegen (Belgium) 7-5 7-5 6-2

28-Gilles Simon (France) bt Rainer Schuettler (Germany) 6-2 6-2 6-1

14-Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) bt Andreas Seppi (Italy) 4-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-4)

2-Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt Florent Serra (France) 6-0 6-2 6-2

Mardy Fish (U.S.) bt 11-Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-1 6-2 6-3

Marc Gicquel (France) bt 26-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 2-1 (Wawrinka retired)

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Spain) bt Alejandro Falla (Colombia) 6-4 5-7 6-4 7-6 (8-6)

20-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) bt Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-7 (7-5) 6-4 6-3 6-1

23-Paul Henri-Mathieu (France) bt Paul Capdeville (Chile) 6-7 (7-5) 6-0 6-4 6-4

24-Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) bt Jesse Levine (U.S.) 6-2 7-5 7-6 (7-2)

Stefan Koubek (Austria) beat Agustin Calleri (Argentina) 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Sam Warburg (U.S.) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-2

TSN TENNIS

TONIGHTS MATCHES - THURSDAY IN OZ

Show court matches

RLA: No. 1 Roger Federer (SUI) v Fabrice Santoro (FRA)
No. 19 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v Denis Istomin (UZB)
No. 15 Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Marat Safin (RUS)

VA: No. 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Simone Bolelli (ITA)
No. 10 David Nalbandian (ARG) v Peter Luczak (AUS)


MCA: No. 22 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) v (WC) Alun Jones (AUS)
No. 5 David Ferrer (ESP) v Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
No. 12 James Blake (USA) v Michael Russell (USA)

SC2: No, 25 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)
No. 7 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) v Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR)

SC3: No. 13 Tomas Berdych (CZE) v Oscar Hernandez (ESP)
No. 32 Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) v Sam Querrey (USA)

POST HARTFIELD MATCH INTERVIEW WITH ROGER

ROGER USED THE INTERNET TO LEARN ABOUT HARTFIELD

With him, honestly my memory wasn't that good anymore to know exactly how he played against me in Paris. You know, that was clay. I just wanted to see against what type of guys he was winning and losing, where he was playing, because I hardly saw him around.

It makes sense now because he was playing so much on clay. Yeah, sometimes, you know, I just like to, for peace of mind, so I know what's sort of coming for me.

HOW DIFFERENT IS THE NEW SURFACE

I was going to say it's the same as last year. Now you want to hear the difference. Honestly, there's not much of a difference.

I think the only big one is during the day, if it's really hot, I think the ball is bouncing really a lot on Rebound Ace. It's not uncontrollably, but it was quite different to the night sessions. Whereas the night session it was rather dead.

I think this is a bit more even throughout day and night. I think that's good for the players. Honestly, I think that is the biggest difference. You know, there is still this spring in the court, which is a bit softer than when you walk out in the US Open.

It's like concrete, more or less. It's really hard. And it's not as sticky maybe as last year. It's a bit more not slippery, but I think it's just a bit more healthy on the body, this one this year.

WAS YOUR ILLNESS FOOD POISONING

Apparently. That's what they told me, and I believed it. I've moved on now mentally. I'm past being sick. Looking forward to a healthy couple of weeks hopefully.

Yeah, I'm fine now, like nothing ever happened, which is a good thing.

NALBANDIAN IS IN YOUR HALF

Honestly, I don't even know where he is in the draw. Apparently he is in the semis or quarters, I don't know. Look, I mean, he's had his back problems. I guess he's fine again after winning his match, but he's had an incredible end to the season last year.

He's probably got a tough section himself, you know, making it all the way there. I'm concerned about my section, and hopefully I get through the next one, go from there. If I have to face Nalbandian, it's fun, you know. I've had, I don't know, about 16 matches against him. We're 8‑All.

2nd DAY'S MATCH SCHEDULE

Show court matches

RLA: No. 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Benjamin Becker (GER)
No. 19 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v Steve Darcis (BEL)
No. 1 Roger Federer (SUI) v Diego Hartfield (ARG)

VA: No. 15 Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v Thomas Johansson (SWE)
No. 12 James Blake (USA) v Nicolas Massu (CHI)

MCA: Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR) v Chris Guccione (AUS)
Mariano Zabaleta (ARG) v Peter Luczak (AUS)
No. 7 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) v (Q) Konstantinos Economidis (GRE)

SC2: Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) v (WC) Joseph Sirianni (AUS)
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) v Marat Safin (RUS)

SC3: No. 10 David Nalbandian (ARG) v (WC) Robert Smeets (AUS)
No. 5 David Ferrer (ESP) v Edouard Roger Vasselin (FRA)