Now Things Are Interesting...

Oh the tennis! Where to begin?

After another high drama day on the courts at Melbourne Park, this AO is headed towards one very interesting ending.

The two highlight matches of the day - Nadal v. Murray and Cilic v. Roddick sure brought out some drama! The Cilic v. Roddick match went 5 sets, Cilic's third of the tournament, and third victory, no less. Roddick found himself two sets down early, but battled back in the next two to tie it up. However, the pain in his shoulder/arm bothered him throughout the match, and Cilic eventually came out on top in a marathoner: 7-6 (4), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3.

In the primetime match, Rafael Nadal also succumbed to injury. He was never in form as Murray took the first two sets 6-3, 7-6 (2). Trailing 3-0 in the third set, Nadal retired, much to the disappointment of the crowd at Rod Laver. That certainly leaves the door wide open for Federer to add to his mantlepiece.

Justine Henin continued her sizzling comeback run in the women's quarterfinals. She beat Nadia Petrova effortlessly and moved on to the semis. I wonder if this story has the same ending as that last lady who made her comeback on the courts after a two-year absence.

On the other hand, Zheng Jie, from China (woot!), made her second semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament, beating Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-1, 6-3. Now, fingers crossed for that other Chinese player, Li Na (who is from my hometown, no less!) as she plays Venus Williams when day breaks in Melbourne.

Federer and Davydenko will duel it out today as well. Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Novak Djokovic are slated to face eachother in a rematch of the 2008 final. Serena Williams is up against Victoria Azarenka in the quarters.

Things are getting real interesting down there in Melbourne...

-D