Ozzie Open First Week: Hits and Misses

The Summer Sun at Melbourne glaring at everyone has not diminished the enthusiasm of the tennis players and the fans alike. The week has sped by leaving us anticipating more and wishing some hadn't taken the way it has.

Before the attention rivets to the second half of the schedule, I took out some events, which stood out from the mundane, yet, interesting package. Presented below is the same, which I hope everyone enjoys:

Comeback Prodigy: Of course Jelena Dokic.

I know, she's the talk of the town and there have been a couple of articles dedicated to her and she deserves it. Coming back after a series of depressing and crushing incidents, she is making inroads to the highway, yet, again.

Using the Australian Open as a jumping board, she has already caused two upsets on her way to the second week and if she continues her run, there could be more upsets in the draw.

Fashion Statements:  Courtesy of Rafael Nadal, who unveiled it at Abu Dhabi; Jelena Jankovic, with her olive green dress code, she is impressing everyone with her game as well as style statement; Roger Federer, did anyone notice the side locks' gone?; Dinara Safina, hers is not exactly stylish, but is far better than the pink apparel she used to wear and most importantly Serena Williams whose " Bold patterns and chic" didn't divert eyes from her game …

… at least thats what I think!

Upsets: David Nalbandian, who unimpressively lost to a Taiwanese player whose name I cannot even pronounce properly; Ana Ivanovic to Alisa Kleybanaova, who had a surge of sudden inspiration; Venus Williams's loss to Carla Suarrez Navarro; Giller Muller's epic battle against Feliciano Lopez — does that constitute an upset? — and not to mention the least, Jelena Dokic, who demolished Anne Chakvetadze and Caroline Wozniacki.

Lleyton Hewitt's defeat by Fernando Gonzalez technically isn't an upset, but from emotionally and from a non-sporting parlance, it constitutes the same.

Prelude to “WWIII”: The Balkan problem has been raging on for years now.

It was the cause of WWI and doesn't seem to be abating now.

It flared up when the world was least expecting and what a place to dig buried skeletons: "Australian Open 2009" and what artillery to fight with: chairs! Of all things.

Looking on the bright side, the players fighting it on the court had the better sense to leave politics and sports aside.

Au Revoir: First, to Marat Safin; who had to bow out this way.

Curse the person who was responsible for charting the draw and also, on the downside, Marat is retiring this season so would be inappropriate to grieve for him?

We sure will miss his drama and its climax.

Secondly, to Fabrice Santoro, who was enjoying his last Oz tourney.

He would have enjoyed more if Roddick had stopped him in his tracks. Positively, Santoro is still playing the doubles, so till he hangs out there.

Conclusion: The climax begins tomorrow in earnest with the contest getting closer and closer and more precarious.

The upsets now, if any, should be even jaw drooping than the first week.

From Federer's and Nole's point of view, it’s all statistics now.

Murray's stamina and Nadal's vulnerability faces the test tomorrow onwards.

Jankovic's answer; Safina's answer and Serena's rise again — all waiting to happen and manifest before our eyes.

Lets see how it pans out … it should be one cracker of a slam to watch out in the coming seven days!