Mid-Aussie Open Report: Old Guard Takes the Happy Slam By Storm

We're checking in midway through the 2017 Australian Open, a tournament marked by the shocking upsets of Djokovic, Murray, and Kerber, as well as the Old Guard (Federer, Venus, Nadal) reminding us that they're still here. We do close reads of a few matches, take another look at Novak's slump, share our frustrations about certain American players and commentators who should move on. 

 

1:15 Old Guard re-asserts itself, plus upset shockers

3:40 Venus Williams is feeling herself

8:50 Nadal def. Zverev, in what could be a tide turner for Rafa

15:30 Djokovic stunned by Istomin - what's up with Novak?

24:15 Andy Murray goes out to Mischa Zverev

30:15 Grandpa Roger is back, beats Berdych and Nishikori

33:20 Johanna Konta is playing great tennis, will face SW

35:00 Ashleigh Barty reaches 3rd round in singles, beats Hingis/Coco in doubles

37:00 The Bad: Trump-supporting, early-losing, badly behaving American men

44:00 A digression on politics

50:15 Also Bad: TV Commentary

54:30 John McEnroe is mean, hypocritical, and obsessed with demeaning Nick Kyrgios

59:45 Kyrgios' press conference and our shifting feelings

1:05:20 Looking at some potentialities/possibilities of the second week (including a vocal performance from Jonathan)