Rafael Nadal’s shock exit from the Australian Open paves the way for Scot Andy Murray to qualify for another showdown with world No. 1 player Roger Federer.

Murray, who carries the hopes of Great Britain after its lean period of producing class players, lost to Federer in last year’s Melbourne Park final.
Murray is super-hungry for a grand slam. He came close twice – in the 2008 US Open and the 2010 Australian – but suffered defeats to Federer each time.
But can Murray learn from his previous losses to seriously challenge the Swiss dynamo? Firstly, Murray has to win his semi-final clash against Spain’s David Ferrer, who whipped a disappointing Rafa in the quarter finals.
Ferrer is red-hot at the moment, and Murray has to be at the height of his game to eliminate the Spaniard.
But Murray wants a grand slam so badly and the hard court suits his game.
Expect a semi-final epic between Federer and Novak Djokovic. But it is likely that Federer will walk through to the final. He’s just pure class.
Since the Aussies were forced out over the weekend, Melbourne Park fans have been entertained by the world’s top single players.
Patriotic fans are missing out on the Aussies playing off in the finals. It’s nothing but a downer.
In the women’s finals race, world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki is playing the in-form Kim Clijsters, who is on fire. Clijsters is the hard-court queen who is very comfortable at Melbourne Park. Expect an epic showdown in the final.
But one thing’s for sure, the internationals have enthralled us – on and off the court. Wozniacki took the cake for her joke with reporters about a kangaroo attack.
Wozniacki’s ill-timed joke (which was reported globally as fact) has snowballed into something monstrous. The top seed later showed up at a press conference with a blow-up kangaroo, making light of her story about the cut on her leg, caused by an out-of-control roo.
The toy kangaroo is something we really needed. It’s the only skippy left in the tournament!
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
Abbott’s crass logic: trash the Parliament in order save it
An email was sent to almost every politician in Australia this week saying that someone should cut off…
Our special forces don’t always need special treatment
We admire them, but we’re not entirely sure why. We allow them to operate in the shadows; we rarely…
A good holiday is about unrest, not rest
Like a fat full-stop, it lay in my hand. A small orange – not exactly fresh, but purchased anyway…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
Michael S says:
"A teacher at Geelong Grammar had criticised her for using words that were too long, which had left her confused and had made her doubt her ability to write essays. She became ''quite distressed'' when her English marks began to fall." I can sympathise. My scholastic mentors conveyed to me a causal relationship… [read more]From: Welfare for breeders is a bonus for everyone
Change Up! says:
I have no problem paying my taxes. As a single, childless person on a very decent income, I can afford it and not have my life severely altered. Plus I understand that my taxes paying for things like schools, childcare and infrastructure is ultimately a good thing. A better community is better for me… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
A private school girl’s family is sueing her elite, extremely expensive private school for not… Read more
Most commented