The first Grand Slam of the year is on and tennis-crazy teenagers are hooked on to it. With upsets, surprises and disappointments having been part of the Australian Open, the Grand Slam is truly a thrilling one.
Says 15-year-old Bengalurean student Sumanth PS, "I’m a supporter of Rafael Nadal and I hope he wins the title this year. He’s got amazing stamina and I love how he is both right-handed and left-handed."
The Australian Open has already seen upsets like Maria Sharapova’s shocking defeat in the first round when she lost to fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko. The other upset was when Belgian player Kim Clijsters was sent packing in 52 minutes by world number 19 Nadia Petrova. "These two defeats were so surprising," adds Sumanth.
On the other hand, 18-year-old Harshita Sontha is rooting for Roger Federer. "He is someone who can win even when it looks like he is going to lose the game. From the women, Justin Henin has chances of clinching the title and so does Serena Williams," she says.
Tennis fan Nikitha Gupta too is rooting for Federer. Among the other players, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick have chances of reaching the semi-finals, she says. "As for the women, I have a feeling it will be an all-William final with sisters Serena and Venus battling it out for the trophy," she adds.
But the ousting of Indian players from the Grand Slam has left these tennis buffs disappointed. While Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza had to pull out of the Oz Open due to Bhupathi’s injury, Somdev Devvarman and Prakash Amritraj have crashed out of the men’s doubles. "Sania too has crashed out of the women’s doubles. The only hope we have now is Leander Paes and his partner who have reached the third round of men’s doubles," adds Sumanth.
Echoes student Sumit J, "Peas is the only Indian player who we can expect a win from. As for the men’s singles, I’m rooting for world number one Roger Federer. There’s no one like him!"
Will it be another Nadal-Federer face-off in the finals? Will the Williams sisters have another battle in the final or will Kirilenko and Henin shine in the next rounds?
Get set for more exhilarating games.
By Ikyatha Yerasala
The Asian Age