Henin and Delpo Survive AO Day 3

Dementieva Bows in Defeat (Getty)

It’s beginning to feel like each match at the Australian Open is required to go at least three hours. Of course not all the players yesterday had to endure epic matches. Andy Murray, Gael Monfils, Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal all cruised in straights. On the women’s side, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic got their games tuned up for the third round with easy wins as well.

And then the two most anticipated matches started in the evening – at the same time. Elena Dementieva and Justine Henin pushed each other in an almost, and I say almost, a flawless match that saw Henin finally prevail 7-5, 7-6 (6). Plenty of breaks in this one, but each player really returned well and never let the other gain any momentum.

Henin definitely attacked more but her serve still let her down as she should have closed it out earlier. She looked sore and tired towards the end so, even though she should cruise in her next rounds, this match took a lot out of her so you have to wonder how much she has left in the tank.

As for Elena, my heart goes out to her. It’s the second time now in a row she’s gone into a Slam a top favorite and gone out early again to a “wildcard” or “upstart”. People are now comparing her to one of my favorite players of all time, Jana Novotna, who finally won Wimbledon. The sympathy train is on for Dementieva to win one before she retires. But with so much depth in the women’s game, will it ever happen.

Same could be said for James Blake who almost pulled out the upset over Juan Martin Del Potro losing 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, 3-6, 8-10. Blake certainly had the right game plan by coming to net a lot and going for broke on returns. The fifth set was even better than the third and the fourth with Blake only losing because he hit a few loose shots while serving 8-8.

Again this match took a lot out of the big Argentine. He might squeeze through his next match against Florian Mayer but then he’s got Cilic or Wawrinka in the fourth round. And I could see either one of those players pushing Delpo to another five hour, five set match, which of course, is required at the Australian Open.

Tagged as: Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Australian Open, Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva, Gael Monfils, James Blake, Jelena Jankovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Justine Henin, Rafael Nadal, Svetlana Kuznetsova