Chinese stars Zheng Jie & Peng Shuai shine at Australian Open

Chinese tennis stars Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai shine for Asia on the second day of the Australian Open, but regional hopes were dented as Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn bowed out.

Perhaps Zheng is Asia’s best hopes after her fellow countryman Li Na bowed out of the tournament due to injury.

“It was tough out there, hot and windy, so it wasn’t comfortable but it was a good win,” Zheng said after defeated Camille Pin 6-3, 6-3.

Along with Peng, she joins Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, India’s Sania Mirza and Taiwan’s Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun in the next round.

Also through is Chan Yung-jan, who won an all-Taiwanese battle against Hsieh Su-Wei 6-3, 6-3.

Japan’s Ayumi Morita was a first-round casualty, losing to Germany’s Tatjana Malek 7-6 (4), 6-2 as she joined Nishikori and Tamarine on an early departure.

Peng battled past Italian Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (4), 6-1 but fellow Chinese Meng Yuan failed to repeat her success last year against Serena Williams who revenged with the score 6-3, 6-2.

There were high expectations for Nishikori but he was unable to overcome Austria’s Jurgen Melzer which resulted him to lost 5-7, 2-6, 1-6.

There were also similar hopes for the experienced Tamarine after her successful at the Wimbledon last year where she reached the quarterfinal. But she lost focus against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, losing in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.

(Via jakartaglobe.com; Images via sports.sina.com, nikkansports.com)

Rafael Nadal in a ruthless mood, demolishes Christophe Rochus

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal conclude the first round of the Australian Open tournament by dominating Christophe Rochus 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena.

He showed no sign of the knee problems that sidelined him at the end of last year.

Nadal said he just wanted to get off to a good start and wasn’t trying to send a message.

Nadal, who reached the semifinals last year and is seeking his sixth Grand Slam title, finished with 47 winners to seven for Rochus and also blasted 10 aces.

The 75th-ranked Belgian, managed to laugh several times because basically there was little he could do.

The match only took 77 minutes . Rochus joked that he might need to consider a change in professions.

Nadal said it’s too dangerous to show any mercy.

“Sport is like this,” Nadal said.

“If I had some mistakes … anything can happen.”

"I'm just trying to improve and to be humble because every match is different and every match is tough."

"I'm very happy because I'm over the injury and at one of the greatest tournaments in the world."

Even my puppy loves this match!

(Via AP, ABC News; Images by Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images)

Surfer boy Evgeny Korolev & motorcycle chick Caroline Wozniacki ready for round 2

Evgeny 'Baby Marat' Korolev and Caroline Wozniacki made it through the first round yesterday at the Australian Open.

And earlier today, they took a short break from the tournament; hunky Evgeny did some photo shooting with his surfboard while Caroline took a Harley ride.

Caroline said that she would love to get her own motorcycle one day. Look at how excited she is!

Tomorrow Evgeny will have a tough draw against Roger Federer and Caroline will play against Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual.

(Images by Fiona Hamilton/AFP/Getty Images))

Australian Open: The fans win on Day 2!

What a boring second day at the Australian Open!!!

Firstly, Andy Murray was handed a win after Andrei Pavel retired due to back injury. Surprisingly Jo-Wilfried Tsonga recovered from his backache and had an easy win over Juan Monaco.

There were no upset earlier today except for Agnieszka Radwanska who lost to Kateryna Bondarenko.

Other seeded players who won it easily are Fernando Verdasco, Gilles Simon, Serena and Venus Williams as well as Jurgen Melzer who beat Asian favourite Kei Nishikori.

Even Fernando Gonzalez win over homeboy Lleyton Hewitt was an expected one.

For the full results, click here.

Before I leave for dinner, I would like to say that the winners today are not the players but it's THE FANS!

Don't you just love how colourful the Australian Open is! :D


(Images via Yahoo! Sports; Forty Deuce, AO official website)