This weekend is arguably the biggest on Australia’s tennis calendar, with the 2014 Australian Open champions set to be crowned at Melbourne Park. There’ll be plenty of other sporting codes in action over the coming days – here’s our weekly wrap of what’s on this weekend.
Our Aussie cricketers will be hoping to put England through the ringers again today and complete an English whitewash in their ODI’s series. Having already clinched the series, the Aussies will field an understrength side in Perth today but with a World Cup on the horizon all players will surely be keen to impress. The fifth game of the series will be played on Australia Day at the Adelaide Oval as the Aussies endeavour to send Captain Cook and his England side home winless on their tour.
Another round of A-League action kicks off tonight when Brisbane Roar host an in-form Wellington Phoenix. With the ladder leaders missing their star striker Besart Berisha through suspension, our very own Dimitri Petratos looks set to be called upon to help lead the Roar’s frontline. Mike Mulvey’s side have lost their last two home matches so will be eager to turn their form at Suncorp Stadium around for their fans.
The highlight of the evening will no doubt be the mouth-watering matchup of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Men’s semis of the Australian Open. The pair have had some epic contests over the years, with the Spaniard leading the man many consider the best to have ever played the game in their head-to-head record. Federer will be aiming to add to his 17 grand slam haul, but the World No.1 will be trying to reclaim the title he won back in 2009. A meeting with Stanislas Wawrinka awaits the winner in Sunday’s final after he accounted for Tomas Berdych in last night’s other semi.
The Women’s title will go on the line on Saturday night when Li Na faces Dominika Cibulkova in a battle of the generations. The 31-year-old Na will be making her third appearance in four years in the final, while 24-year-old Cibulkova will be aiming to become the first Slovakian to win a grand slam. Na will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky when she walks onto Rod Laver Arena but Cibulkova has defied her world No.24 ranking in only dropping a combined six games in her quarter and semi-final.
There’ll be plenty of other sport on across the Australia Day weekend, with Sydney FC playing Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers hosting Perth Glory in the A-League and the doubles finals of the Australian Open also set to be contested. Unfortunately our own Australia Day tennis tournament has been postponed due to a lack of registrations but do take the opportunity to join us this weekend for what promises to be a great weekend to watch and play tennis.
Following trading hours for Australia Day long weekend.
Sunday 26th – Opens 11am – Closes 11:30pm
Monday 27th – Opens 5pm – Closes 11:30pm