Australian Open Live Blog

Good morning everyone! It’s roughly 2:00 here in la casa de Fetch, 3:00 on the East Coast, and for you lucky West Coasters, it’s just 12:00. Tonight we take a break from the wonderful world of college roundball to watch what should be an epic Australian Open final. It has a lot to live up to, as last year Rafael Nadal took out Roger Federer in 5 sets. I also didn’t get to bed until about 7 AM last year, so for selfish reasons I am hoping this match is shorter.

This looks to be an extremely even matchup on paper. Every single time  you count Federer out he does something to make you shake your head, such as a straight set destruction of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was on an absolute roll, in the semifinals. The safe money is definitely on Fed.

But Andy Murray is extremely talented in his own right. The 22 year old is perhaps the one who will assume Federer’s title as the best tennis player in the world. Already the highest ranked British player since Fred Perry, Murray is attempting to be the first Brit since Perry himself in 1936 to win a major. Although, unless you’re some kind of a moron who doesn’t think Scottish people are British, you already knew all that.

This is just Murray’s 2nd grand slam final. He no doubt has matured since his last one, a 2008 US Open final loss to Federer, but he is still in relatively unfamiliar territory. Murray no doubt has tons of majors to rack up in his career, but I am going to follow my #1 principle of tennis here: never pick against Roger Federer in a big match. I think he goes 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3

I’ll update the post after the jump. See you in a half an hour for the official start of the liveblog. Feel free to get acquainted with the thread beforehand

2:32 – This is our 123rd post. Weird. Anyways, welcome party people. I am fresh off a quick nap and watching John Mayer storytellers. I have to say, I am a fan.

2:36 – Yadda yadda, some talk about Murray’s backhand (which is phenomenal, by the way) yadda yadda.

2:39 – Why is Chris McKendry here doing anything? She is terrible

2:43 – Interesting tidbit from Fowler: Federer won his first major in his 17th appearance. This is Murray’s 17th major.

2:45 – A little dicey, but Fed holds.

2:47 – Double fault for Murray. Fighting some nerves. Unrelated note: ESPN needs to feature Patrick McEnroe more.

2:49 – Fed breaks Murray. They were talking about some of the smack talk Fed has been saying about Murray. Fed talking smack is awesome.

2:52 – To Cassino: I have no idea wtf is going on with your comments. Also, in tennis news, Murray breaks right back.

2:53 – I forgot to mention this: We have a prize for comment 1,000 on the blog (probably a guest post about whatever you want) and there is a chance we could get there tonight. So keep that in mind.

2:54 – Can’t say I’ve ever understood the no talking during play thing. Basketball players shoot free throws with 20,000 people screaming obscenities all the time.

2:57 – And the first challenge of the night goes Murray’s way

2:58 – Today someone told me Andy Murray wasn’t British because he wasn’t from England. Lulz all around.

3:00 – Some really good defense there. The fact that they aren’t the most powerful guys but have tons of variety is going to make for some siiiiick points.

3:05 – Federer saves a couple break points, then goes ace ace for the hold.

3:08 – An underrated challenge of liveblogging: holding it in when you have to pee. I’ve also had some stomach troubles today if you get my drift.

3:10 – Rankings update: Roger Federer retains his #1 ranking, Novak Djokovic moves up to #2 and Andy Murray moves to #3. Nadal is 4th, but none of this will matter for the next Grand Slam because the French Open reseeds.

3:12 – Federer is definitely getting the best of Murray right now, making him run all over the place.

3:14 – Dear Andy Edwards: Where the fuck is Grad? Get his bitch ass in here.

3:18 – They flash some stats on the screen, and of course I think: How cool would sabermetrics in tennis be?

3:21 – Federer breaks Murray and now is serving for the set.

3:34 – Sick point for Federer as he wins the first set. Bathroom time!

3:28 – Murray holds, and has a different color shirt on.

3:31 – McEnroe throws Cincitucky under the bus.

3:34 – Well then. Fed does what he wants when he wants.

3:36 – Huge break for Fed and we could all be hitting the hay earlier than we thought.

3:42 – This is like 2004 style Federer. There’s a reason why he’s the best ever.

3:44 – Since the comments are being stupid I’ll have a new post for the 3rd set. Bear with us.

3:47 – fuck it, we’re doing it now. Bang it here for the new post