[white&blue]

I decided to make a new thread for 2007 opening. Hope you don't mind. Jarkko is first-seeded in Adelaide where he will start his journey of 2007. There's this new round robin system. We'll see how that will suit to Jarkko.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

[CattyA]

I hate yo bring you the bad news but Jarkko is suffering from stomach flu and can't play in Adelaide. According to the papers here it started last night and I guess he can't have travelled today as planned. He seems to be prone to stomach problems. Let's hope it is nothing more serious. He'll start the season in Auckland.

[Labamba]

Originally Posted by CattyA

I hate yo bring you the bad news but Jarkko is suffering from stomach flu and can't play in Adelaide. According to the papers here it started last night and I guess he can't have travelled today as planned. He seems to be prone to stomach problems. Let's hope it is nothing more serious. He'll start the season in Auckland.

yeah, bad news

Let's hope he's ready for the Auckland title defense

[el güero]

The heavy Finnish Christmas cuisine is definitely not for Jarkko's fragile stomach..

[Labamba]

Auckland draws are out:

ROBREDO, Tommy ESP v RAMIREZ HIDALGO, Ruben ESP
MONFILS, Gael FRA v MARTIN, Alberto ESP
KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp GER v HORNA, Luis PER
QUALIFIER v HRBATY, Dominik SVK

NIEMINEN, Jarkko FIN v ROCHUS, Olivier BEL
KING-TURNER, Daniel NZL v QUALIFIER
SERRA, Florent FRA v LAPENTTI, Nicolas ECU
DEL POTRO, Juan Martin ARG v CALLERI, Agustin ARG

WAWRINKA, Stanislas SUI v ALMAGRO, Nicolas ESP
VLIEGEN, Kristof BEL v TIPSAREVIC, Janko SRB
BRACCIALI, Daniele ITA v SIMON, Gilles FRA
GAUDIO, Gaston ARG v FERRER, David ESP

FERRERO, Juan Carlos ESP v MASSU, Nicolas CHI
MAHUT, Nicolas FRA v CHELA, Juan Ignacio ARG
QUALIFIER v FISH, Mardy USA
QUALIFIER v ANCIC, Mario CRO

[1] ASPELIN, Simon/HAGGARD, Chris vs CALLERI, Agustin/CHELA, Juan Ignacio
[WC] STATHAM, Jose/STATHAM, Mikal vs [WC] KING-TURNER, Daniel/NIEMINEN, Jarkko
[4] ALLEGRO, Yves/LINDSTEDT, Robert vs PALA, Petr/SKOCH, David
BRACCIALI, Daniele/HRBATY, Dominik vs SERRA, Florent/SIMON, Gilles

HORNA, Luis/LAPENTTI, Nicolas vs MONACO, Juan/RAMIREZ HIDALGO, Ruben
ALMAGRO, Nicolas/FERRER, David vs [3] GARCIA, Martin/PRIETO, Sebastian
ROCHUS, Olivier/VLIEGEN, Kristof vs MARTIN, Alberto/MASSU, Nicolas
COETZEE, Jeff/WASSEN, Rogier vs [2] FRIEDL, Leos/KOHLMANN, Michael

[Labamba]

A very difficult start for the season in singles, Ollie Rochus got some match practise already in Doha and was in pretty good form reaching the QF there. Jarkko has to be very sharp from the beginning, remember their match here last year?

[rrfnpump]

good luck Jarkko in 2007

tough opener

[kalle]

STADIUM
Matches Start At: 11:00am

Kristof Vliegen v Janko Tipsarevic
followed by
Gaston Gaudio v David Ferrer
followed by
Jarkko Nieminen v Olivier Rochus
followed by
Gael Monfils v Alberto Martin

[kalle]

Good luck Jarkko!

[Smasher]

Very tough opener here. Another thrilling match between Jarkko and Oli wouldn't be much of a surprise. Do your best defending the title here Jarkko!

[rrfnpump]

Jarkko lost 67(3) 16

a bit expected, but still disappointing

[Labamba]

Jarkko didn't play well at all, but that was to be expected under the circumstances. He has a doubles match today, much needed match practise and training for AO...

[anttik]

Jarkko had poor break points statistic: 2/11 !!!
and
in the second set after 2 Jarkko's service games his first service % was 13%.

This way is hard to win any top player like Ollie!

[el güero]

No real surprise here. Ollie's such a tough opponent to face in your first match of the season.

At least Jarkko gets a lot of practice in before the AO now and can go there without pressure. Let's hope Jarkko repeats the feat from US Open 2005, when he came into the tournament having played only 1 match on hard courts (losing to Jenkins in New Haven) but went all the way to QF in The Big Apple...

[Labamba]

hopefully the doubles match gets played today, damn the rain in Auckland

Jarkko can't train there and he can't leave for Melbourne when he's still in the draw