MIA

I've been totes MIA lately (totally missing in action, if you were wondering).

Midterms have overtaken my life (one down, two to go) as has Search, the retreat that I help plan on campus. The retreat itself this weekend, which is both scary and exciting in one! We have lots to do, but I know it'll all get done.

If anyone's feeling a bit overwhelmed (other than me) it's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Aussie open runner-up crashed out of Marsielle in the first round, losing to wildcard Mario Ancic in straights.

That's no follow-up to his slam breakthrough. Hopefully I won't have such a dip from midterm number one to two and three...

Djoko Wins AO

Tennis is looking a little more crowded at the top after the year's opening grand slam ran its course over the last two weeks.

Novak Djokovic continued his brilliant run with a four-set win over surprise finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his first grand slam title.

His elation following the win was apparent, as he played in a major final for the second straight time. This time, it was his tournament to win. I'm guessing we're going to see lots, lots more from this enjoyable youngster.

A Serbian Slam?

We're two matches away from a Serbian slam. Could it really happen?

Ana Ivanovic takes on Maria Sharapova while Novak Djokovic faces the unknown power of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in what promises to be a tremendous final weekend of what has already been an entertaining Australian Open.

Djokovic stunned us all with his decisive three-set win over tennis god Roger Federer and now takes on seed-killer Tsonga in the final. The two have never met on the pro tour or at the junior level.

Ivanovic escaped Daniela Hantuchova in the semifinals after a dismal start, winning the match 0-6 6-3 6-4. Hantuchova, true to form, literally crumbled before our eyes in the final set, reminiscent of her performance against an injured Serena at Wimbledon last year. Poor Dani. Poor, miserable Dani.

Watch here as Hantuchova misses one of the easiest volleys you'll ever see a pro tennis player miss:


My favorite of favorites, Mary Carillo, gives her take on Djoko's win over Federer:


Christopher Clarey writes a great preview for tomorrow (today's?) final between Ana and Maria.

Predictions: Sharapova defeats Ivanovic 6-3 7-6(2).
Djokovic defeats Tsonga 2-6 6-4 6-1 7-5.

That's Tsonga. T-S-O-N-G-A

I promised myself that if Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did the unthinkable (beat Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the Australian Open) that I would give the 38th-ranked Frenchman a tag on the blog.

Well, he's earned his due.

Tsonga literally couldn't miss in his three-set trump of Nadal, and that's just what he'll have to achieve on Sunday against Roger Federer or Novak DJokovic to walk away with the upset title of this decade. Tsonga's high level of play has been maintained for six impressive matches, making him the Marcos Baghdatis of 2008, a similar feat the Cypriot achieved here two years ago.

So does he have a chance in Sunday's final? I would've given him as much of a chance as I did to beat Nadal. But now, tag-and-all, Tsonga has all my respect. And, a little bit of a chance.