ChabDog’s Aussie Open Conversation Openers (Day 9):

• In the end, only Nadal was looking pretty in pink; Kyrgios gave us flashes of brilliance, but he showed weakness when it mattered most, and against Rafa providing any opening is normally lethal.
• Zverev pounds out a convincing victory against Rublev, and readies for a tougher test in the next round.
• Fed survives an Antietam type, blood and guts skirmish with Tennys, who brought a gimpy Roger to the brink of elimination; but 7 match points later, it’s the favorite who remains standing … and waiting for the winner of Djoker-Raonic.  Give the No. 3 tons of credit for hanging in against almost insurmountable odds.  For Sandgren, there may well be sleepless nights thinking about all those lost opportunities.
• Steady Kerber just didn’t have the weapons in her tool kit to avoid getting run over in the third by Pavlyuchenkova.
• Barty’s versatility gives less flexible Kvitova nothing but fits.
• Sofia knocks out Jabeur.

ChabDog’s Aussie Open Conversation Openers (Men’s Singles, Day 7):

• Wolfman Khach was quite an animal, coming back from 2 sets down to force a final set breaker, but in the end it was happy hunting for killer Kyrgios.
• Isner just couldn’t stand rallying with Stan.
• Too tall an order for Verdasco to hang with lanky Zverev.
• Raonic playing with a real itch to win his first major.
• Too much of a reach to think short Schwartzman could hang with No. 2 Novak.

ChabDog’s Aussie Open Conversation Openers (Women’s Singles, Day 6):

• Cori’s story continues to build, as the 15 year old phenom surgically removes an ordinary Osaka from the tournament.
• Sofia certainly wasn’t loafing as she sends Shuai away packing.
• Swiatek navigates around the Vekic wreckage
• Kontaveit takes flight and soars over Bencic.
• Mertens returns from an incredibly productive bathroom break to break Bellis over and over and over again.
• Halep didn’t feel like saving a place for Putintseva in the next round.
• Pavly’s slight edge over Plisk involved more than just a few last name letters.
• The trains are running on time in German, and Kerber’s reorg plan is definitely on schedule.

ChabDog’s Aussie Open Conversation Openers (Women’s Singles, Day 5):

• Brute force notwithstanding, Serena’s lost a few steps, and her groundies are no longer wired tight. EVERYBODY WANG QIANG TONIGHT! EVERYBODY WANG QIANG TONIGHT!
• Dart misses her targets and gets stopped by Simona.
• Pavly packed too much punch for Taylor T.
• Kontaveit had it just ight against Tormo.
• Ash Friday goes very well for Barty.
• Yulia puts away Dan-yell.
• Carla submits to the Iga sanction.
• Riske-reward definitely favors Alison.
• Encounter with Sakkari is no pleasure cruise for Keys.
• Woe is Wozniacki as she’s floored by Jabeur’s jabs.
• Lauren Davis eliminated by Elina.

ChabDog’s Aussie Open Conversation Openers (Women’s Singles, Day 4):

• Serena bludgeons her way past testy Tamara.
• Madison finds a good avenue for advertising her power.
• Mugsy slugs her way past Tomijanovic.
• Diyas apparently hasn’t exhausted her diet of upsets.
• Plish knows how to dish out the winners in straight setting Siegemund.
• It’s over for No. 20 Muchova.
• Germany’s Kerber u-boats her way into the next round … still operating under the sonar.
• Cornet was largely out of tune against Vekic.

ChabDog’s Aussie Open Conversation Openers (Women’s Singles, Day 3):

• Consistency (and ground strokes) curiously abandoned Amanda, as she takes a dive Down Under against Diyas.
• Lauren Davis waylays Leylah.
• Garbine overcomes a bagel to shelve Shelby.
• Smart money did not cast it’s lot with Lottner.
• Siegemund successfully lays siege to Coco on Ct. 22.
• After a close first set, Brady’s points did not come in bunches against Halep.
• Nice win for No. 26 Dan-yell.
• Harriet darts to victory against Doi.
• The ageless Suarez Navarro sinks Sabalenka.
• A second Cori-story is emerging, with another plot twist that now engages Naomi.
• Binkova didn’t blink against Paolini.

ChabDog’s Aussie Open Conversation Openers (Men’s Singles, Day 2):

— “What me worry” Paire nearly stubs his big toe against Stebe, but the best beard in sports … survives.  Sorry Harden, Paire’s is without compare.

— Novak loses a set but hardly breaks a sweat while stuffing Stuff.

— Japan’s latest sensation, the Tasumian Devil outguns Gunneswaran.

— Homeboy Millman seen milling around the 2nd Round, and the locals are pleased.

— Fabulous escape by Fabio from the ridiculous reach of long tall Reilly.

— To the dismay of most of the ladies in the crowd, little Agut wins another Spanish Civil War over over lover boy Lopez.

— Dusan dusts off Kyle Edmund.

— More tennis for Tennys.

— Leonardo definitely needed to be more on the ball against Tommy Paul.

— Stan narrowly avoids collateral damage against Damir.

— Gulbus takes a big gulp and fortifies himself in four.

Day 1 Update:

• A focused Osaka drops many big ones in a day 1 demolition
• Like a rolling stone gaining mass and traction, it’s rocks off for Gauff as the 15-year old phenom blows up tennis’ 2nd rock from the sun … the very sour Venus Williams
• Japan’s other Nish deters Djere
• Slammin Uncle Sammy kills off Borna
• In a real Guido move, Pella puts Smith in a straight set jacket
• Berankis is money in the bank against Baena
• Fucsovics decides not to fuss much with Shapo
• Fed puts Stevie Johnson out of his ever lovin misery of mediocrity
• Brother Dim makes short work of Londero, in a throw-up style shirt that resembles a Xmas sweater gone rogue