Australian Open

 

Main draw announced for Australian Open 2011

Friday, 14 January, 2011

The draw for the Australian Open 2011 has been made, with top seeds Rafael Nadal facing Brazilian Marcos Daniel, and Caroline Wozniacki set to play Gisela Dulko.

In the women's draw, US Open champion Kim Clijsters will take on former world No.1 Dinara Safina in one of the most-eagerly awaited first round clashes at Australian Open 2011. Safina, who has returned to the tour after prolonged back problems, will have her work cut out against the experienced Belgian, who comes into Melbourne after contesting the Medibank International final in Sydney, against Na Li.

In the first quarter of the draw, singles world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki has drawn doubles No.1 Gisela Dulko, in the opening round, who famously knocked out Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon. Rising Australian star Jarmila Groth faces Yanina Wickmayer, Australian Open 2010 runner-up Justine Henin takes on a qualifier, and Svetlana Kuznetsova matches up against American Alison Riske.

Venus Williams, runner-up at Australian Open 2003, is the top seed in the second quarter, and will play Italian Sara Errani. Impressive German Andrea Petkovic takes on Jill Craybas of the USA, Li Na plays Sofia Arvidsson, and Sharapova will play veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn.

French Open finalist Samantha Stosur is matched up against American wildcard Lauren Davis in the third quarter, while fellow Australian Sally Peers will take on Wimbledon 2010 semi-finalist Petra Kvitova. Anastasia Rodionova plays Flavia Pennetta.

The fourth and final quarter is home to the mouth-watering Clisters/Safina clash, as well as Jelena Jankovic against Alla Kudryavtseva, Kimiko Date-Krumm against Agniezska Radwanska, while Australia's Alica Molik plays Roberta Vinci of Italy.

In the men's draw, Nadal is joined in the top quarter by Australian wildcard Bernard Tomic, who plays Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, and compatriot Lleyton Hewitt, who faces David Nalbandian. The Hewitt/Nalbandian encounter is agreed to be one of the most explosive of the opening men's matches.

Robin Soderling is the top seed in the second quarter. The Swede, twice a French Open finalist, will play Italian Potito Starace. Soderling is joined by Juan Martin Del Potro against Dudi Sela, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga against Philipp Petzshcner, and Andy Murray against Karol Beck.

The third quarter is home to Australian Open 2008 champion Novak Djokovic, who will play Spain's Marcel Granollers in his first match. Andy Roddick, Tomas Berdych, Nikolay Davydenko, and Fernando Verdasco are also in the third quarter. Australian Peter Luczak faces veteran Ivan Ljubicic.

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2011-01-14/201101141294963737550.html

Queensland Floods

The worst flooding in the last 35 years threatens millions of people and critical infrastructure in the areas of South East Queensland, Australia -- including Ipswich, Caboolture and Brisbane. 

Flooding in Southern Queensland

Significant flooding has occured in areas of South East Queensland including Ipswich, Caboolture and Brisbane during 11-13 January 2011.

Search and rescue efforts continue in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley searching for people who remain missing following the flash flooding on 10 January 2011. A hotline has been established for relatives and friends concerned about people affected by the flooding in these areas. The number is 1300 993 191.

Flooding in other towns including Condamine, Dalby, Goondoowindi and Texas is an ongoing issue, with evacuations in Condamine on 11 January 2011.

People in flood affected areas are urged to:

• Stay calm – be prepared and keep informed of flooding information
• Avoid unnecessary travel – do not drive on or try to cross closed or flooded roads, bridges and causeways
• Cooperate with SES, police and other authorities if evacuation is required.

 http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/

Cherry Picking & Dromana Beach

Friday, January 8^th of 2011

Today’s weather is TERRIBLE !! It was around 35 degrees or something. I couldn’t just stay at home  and do nothing. That’s why I asked my parents to go to somewhere. Finally my family, Bu Lies’ family and Bu Ani’s family went to Cherry Picking at Frankston. We went there at 12.30 pm and arrived around 13.30 pm. It’s quite far from my house but we went there by car, so it’s not a problem. It’s the first for my family and Bu Ani’s family went to Cherry Picking, that’s why we didn’t know anything about its area.

First we were dropped at the front garden. All the trees there were full of big cherries, so we just ate as much as possible. Suddenly there was a big dog barking at us! We were so scared! A man came to us and warned us that actually we weren’t allowed to eat the cherries in the front garden. We had to go to the back garden if we wanted to eat the cherries, that’s what the man said. We walked to the back garden, we had to pay first, $10 for each person. While we walked around inside the back garden, we couldn’t find any cherries as big as the cherries in the front garden! All the cherries here were very small. Even not all the trees have cherries. It’s really different if you compare the front garden and the back garden. We tried to find some big cherries. We had walked there for a very long time, but we still couldn’t find any. Suddenly a Chinese family came to us and gave us a bucket of big cherries! They said they had too much that’s why they give the cherries to us (I wondered where did they find the cherries). Thanks Alloh after we walked for a long period of time eventually we had got some cherries. After that we paid the cherries, it costed $19.

It was around 4 pm, so we went to a park to sholat first. After we finished, we went to Dromana Beach (we didn’t plan it actually), it wasn’t too far from the Cherry Picking. You know what guys, the beach was so BEAUTIFUL !! The sands was white and the beach was really clean (not like beaches in Indonesia, hehe). The wind was so strong though, that’s why we didn’t spend much time there. Before we went home we felt hungry, so we bought some chips and some kebabs. We ate them near the beach. Then we went home straight away. We arrived around 19.30 pm. WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY :D !!