Day 3: Under the Cover of Day

After the Supernova's near-death experience on Day 2, Day 3 couldn't help but pale in comparison in terms of drama... which was the perfect setting for defending champion Amelie Mauresmo to sweep into the Round of 32.



The deed was accomplished with a putting-her-in-her-place 6-2/6-2 win over Olga Poutchkova in the 2nd Round.

Rarely has a player entered a slam with less fanfare despite having won the tournament a year ago and claimed two slams in the previous season as is the case with Mauresmo coming into Melbourne. Maybe it's the #3-ranking. Or the three matches out of seven she won through retirement in Oz a year ago. Plus, Justine Henin-Hardenne isn't around to remind everyone about all the nonsense that came about after the 2006 final.

Since play has begun, nothing has really changed. #1-seed Maria Sharapova was physically and mentally shaky just long enough to nearly be upset in her first match. #4-seed Kim Clijsters has been spectacular, bageling her 1st Round opponent. #2-seed Mauresmo has simply won, cleanly and calmly and without any occurrence (good or bad) that would bring her undue attention as she attempts to traverse the first defense of a grand slam title in her career.

While Sharapova and Clijsters are trapped in the top half of the draw that only one of them can survive, Mauresmo is "safely" tucked away in the bottom half. Thanks to a few upsets, there's not a single seeded player between her and the QF. After that, either Elena Dementieva or Nicole Vaidisova could be waiting. Not easy, but better than Maria or Kim. If Mauresmo reaches the SF, do the good feelings from '06 take over? Could she actually have a shot to repeat?

Why not? It probably wouldn't be any less likely than Amelie winning Oz a year ago. Right?




Love-Love...during ESPN's 3:30am coverage of the Mauresmo/Poutchkova match, it was a case of "great minds" thinking alike when Mary Carillo noted how the young Russian's website bills her as a "model and professional tennis player," in that order. I highlighted the same thing a few days ago. The fact that she was so tickled by that might be a clue to why I've always found her tennis commentary the most entertaining. Of course, rather than "great minds thinking alike," it could just as easily be a case of "minds with nothing else better to do," as well. Hey, either way.
=============================
15-Love...

...ah, here we go, the first official Backspin slam award -- for Oz's "Revelation Ladies" -- goes not to the Russians, but the Belarussians. Victoria Azarenka (finally getting some traction at a slam) and Anastasiya Yakimova both moved into the 3rd Round on Day 3. 17-year old Azarenka upset #18-seeded Marion Bartoli, while 20-year old Yakimova knocked out #23 Ai Sugiyama.

The leading contenders for early-round "Upset Queens" are the Russians and Czechs, by the way.
=============================
30-Love... the last qualifier standing added one name on Wednesday (Tamira Paszek, who finally got to defeat Severine Bremond in their 1st Round matchup) while subtracting two (as Anne Kremer lost to Serena Williams and Julia Vakulenko dropped a three-setter to Maria Kirilenko in a pair of 2nd Round matches).
=============================
40-Love...

**THE FINAL 32 -- bottom half**
4...Russia (#3 Kuznetsova, #5 Petrova, #7 Dementieva, #26 Kirilenko)
-------------------------
3...Czech Republic (#10 Vaidisova, Safarova, Birnerova)
-------------------------
2...France (#2 Mauresmo, #20 Golovin)
-------------------------
2...Belarus (Azarenka, Yakimova)
-------------------------
1...Serbia (Jankovic)
1...USA (S.Williams)
1...Israel (Peer)
1...Italy (Camerin)
1...Slovenia (#21 Srebotnik)

=============================
40-15... Girl Friday Anna-Lena Groenefeld DID survive Day 3, and it wasn't because of the weather this time. She defeated qualifier Sandra Zahlavova 6-4/6-1 in the 1st Round. Not only that, she and Meghann Shaughnessy won their opening doubles match over Kaia Kanepi & Anna Smashnova, as well.
=============================
40-30... in the 3rd Round, it'll be Serbia's Novak Djokovic vs. Thailand's Danai Udomchoke. Should someone alert security about a possible dust-up between the Serbian and Thai fans before the match?
=============================
Deuce... hmmm, there are three American men in the 3rd Round in the top half of the draw, and none of them are named Andre or James. (By the way, they're Andy, Mardy and Sam.)
=============================
Ad... Jelena Jankovic's win over Virginia Ruano-Pascual makes her 11-1 on the 2007 season.
=============================
Deuce... the first BIG match of the tournament? Andy Roddick vs. Marat Safin.
=============================
Ad... 2nd Round score: Peer def. Tu 6-3/6-0. So far, Shahar still so good.
=============================
Deuce... two interesting doubles matches to note. Russians Elena Bovina (on the comeback trail) and Alla Kudryavtseva (a teen qualifier) defeated #9-seeded Corina Morariu and Rennae Stubbs. Emilie Loit & Nicole Pratt upset #4-seeds Virginia Ruano-Pascual & Paola Suarez.
=============================
Ad... somewhat lost amidst today's results was that last year's runner-up, Marcos Baghdatis, was dumped out of the tournament by Gael Monfils 7-6/6-2/2-6/6-0. The young Frenchy will face off against countryman Richard Gasquet in a 3rd Round battle to see which one will step a little closer to fulfilling his promise while the other takes a step back.
=============================
MATCH. Sometimes you're the broom. Sometimes you're the dust... Consider that Camille Pin's epitaph for this year's Australian Open. After losing to #1 singles seed Sharapova on Day 2, she and Nathalie Grandin lost to #1 doubles seeds Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur on Day 3. Next time, Camille should bring a Dustbuster.
=============================




All for Day 3.