Upset Of The Day

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I fell in love with her the first time I looked into her forehand. Today, Sorana Cirstea remembered who she was and took out US Open champ and homegirl Samantha Stosur in the first round of the Australian Open. So, for the second Slam in a row, the champion of the previous Slam is ousted out of the gate. (Yeah, my girl Petra Kvitova started it in New York last summer.)

But this girl here, Sorana, caught my eye a bit earlier than the oddsmakers favorite to take the title Down Under. Right here in 2008, against Ana Ivanovic, I saw something special in the Romanian. It's unfortunate she hasn't trusted herself enough since then to do something with that that special something.

Yesterday, though, she delivered.

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Now, make no mistake, Stosur conjures Amelie Mauresmo whenever she gets a chance. She gets that chance whenever she plays her home Slam. At least the Frenchwoman was able to finish her career with two Slams. If Stosur follows suit, I suppose she'll when Roland Garros this year or next and end her career with the two Slams Mauresmo refused to or could not take.

But I digress.

Sorana slaps her forehand around like a champion, but when push comes to shove, she's usually absent. I haven't a clue where Sorana goes from here, but I'll follow and pray and feel the pain of her disappointments.

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Andy Murray is simply not an aggressive tennis player and yesterday he was, as usual, cantankerous and erratic. Ivan Lendl won't be able to change any of that.

Ryan Harrison needs to get serious. He also needed to have found a way to win that match because the cantankerous, erratic Scot was there for the taking.

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I said it on twitter, I'm going to say it again: Serena Williams remains undefeated in Grand Slam first rounds. One of the greatest statistics in tennis history.

Tamira Pasczek has actually developed a relatively effective second serve. But against the return of Serena, it meant almost nothing.

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For Lleyton Hewitt, tennis still means something, his surgically repaired body be damned.

Verily I say unto you, he has grown on me. While I certainly don't want him to beat Andy Roddick in the next round, I truly won't be mad if he does.

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Round one is history. Use this as your Day 3 Open Thread.