[Rollo]

The Aussie is usually the slam I anticipate the most, because it ends that awful "wait" after November. Somehow though, we never get to see a really "classic" women's final there.

Any ideas why?

The French has a had MANY nailbiters (2001, 1999,<br />1996, 1992, the Navratilova finals....

Wimbledon had Graf-Sanchez in 1995

The US Open had Serean-Hingis in 99, 94.

But look at the Aussie. Few 3 set finals(the last in 1993) and no real third set drama unles you go all the way back to Evert-Navratiloca in 1981-82!.

Why? Bad luck? The heat? I'm stumped.

 

[Philbo]

yeah, its a bit strange isnt it Rollo??

I once had a look, and the O Open has more straight sets finals than any other slam..I think only 2 in the last 10 years...

Seles and Novotna, and Seles and Graf...

<br />Its hard to pinpoint why...

Ive started typing about 4 or 5 reasons why, but have to keep crosssing them out, cuz none of the reasons I can think of stand up for the last 5 years....

 

[Rollo]

And even in the Seles 3 setters Monica ran away with the last set.

Must be something in the water.... <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

[Mateo Mathieu]

Because heat temperature. Sometimes, Melbourne reached 40 degrees during Australian Open especially Sydney (adidas International).

Do you remember Conchita Martinez told umpire for bring fans in the court but umpire refused it. Conchita was angry and lost against Martina Hingis in semis <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> I was there and it was very heat! <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

 

[Mateo Mathieu]

I mean, Conchita v Martina in Sydney not Melbourne! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[Mateo Mathieu]

I though Lindsay Davenport beat Martina Hingis in third set? I am right?

 

[Sam L]

It's got to do with quite a few factors I guess. IMO the biggest reason is that Australian Open is the slam that most of the top players miss if they were to miss anything. I mean look at Graf (92/95/96/98), Seles (94/95/97/98), Venus (2000). I'm not sure but I also think that's the GS the top players play the least. I remember like Jana Novotna practically stopped coming to Australia towards the end of her career, likewise with Martina Navratilova. So that really contributes to relative lack of competition.

Having said all that though you have to remember that 93 final was a great match. The scoreline doesn't suggest it's that close but the QUALITY of the tennis was very very high.

 

[Randy H]

Strange how there's been so many sort of lopsided finals in Australia in recent years. Maybe the heat really affects the players and tires them out towards the end of the week? Maybe the players just aren't really as match tough as they'd be going into the others slams and we don't necessarily get to see their best tennis because most of the players haven't found their top level game, who knows I guess. Hopefully we will see some more competitive finals then we have mroe recently. Unfortunately the trend seems to be that the classic Australian Open matches go on in the quarters or semis, and not the finals.

 

[[email protected]]

yeah, the heat reason looks to be the more obvious one, and it's a fair enough reason. if someone loses a first set, it's very dejecting and more so if it is in the heat. it would be incredibly hard to keep fighting on in the searing heat.

 

[TS]

Originally posted by Randy H:<br /><strong>Maybe the players just aren't really as match tough as they'd be going into the others slams and we don't necessarily get to see their best tennis because most of the players haven't found their top level game, who knows I guess.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Spot on Randy. Thats what i was gonna say.

I remember that 93 final BTW...great stuff, and I was screaming my lungs out for Monica!

Hopefully we'll get thrilling final in January <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Crazy Canuck]

There have been classic matches in earlier rounds though that went on forever, haven't there been?

Isn't Australia where Rubin and Sanchez Vicario played, and Chanda won something like 20-18 in the third set? Was that the quarter finals, then she played Monica, right? What year was that?

 

[irma]

1996

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Thanks Irma <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I was thinking it had to be 1996, but didn't really know for sure <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[thefreedesigner]

Well with the surface (not too fast, true bounces), you'd think it was just ripe for really good, high quality, exciting finals.

But I'd have to agree that in recent memory we've not seen that.

Possibly cause of where it is in the schedule (you've got to be quick out of the blocks - everyone has), and the conditions make it quite draining for players.

 

[Julian]

What's weird though Becca, was that the Arantxa-Rubin match from 1996 was a night match. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Interesting fact Julian.<br />Guess that makes the heat arguement even more relevant. Not that it wasn't to begin with, but it is certaintly good evidence.

 

[Rollo]

Thanks for all the responses so far. It's gota be hot if someone asks for fans on court like Conchi did!

The night matches could be a factor. One one hand night play saves energy. The downside is it doesn't prepare you for the daytime heat and sun, and to win it all, you have to survive that. IMO the USTA does Andre Agassi no favors by giving him so many night matches at the Open.

 

[matthias]

1996 was the best AO-Final!<br />but the score was not the best!

i think the reason is the top-player are not in the best form at the australian open or she don´t play, steffi was many times injured and few other players too!

 

[LukasM]

Hallo,I also think that 1996 Australian Open final was the best between Anke Huber and Monica Seles

 

[Carmen Mairena]

OMG this thread is 4.5 years old!