Q. Your boyfriend plays Federer. Have you had a word about how to take down the big guns?

MARIA KIRILENKO: Yeah, he had Federer and I have Sharapova. I think before the matches he said that we can start the year like loud, you know (laughter). And I already start the year loud, I think. So now his turn. Of course is going to be tough, but, you know, in the first round, you know, never know what’s gonna happen.

Q. Yesterday your friend Miss Kirilenko said you had urged her to make a loud noise to enter the year. She said she did that and now it was your turn.

IGOR ANDREEV: She put too much pressure on me. (Laughter.) Like after she win the match she said, Okay, now it’s your turn. No, I was happy she won yesterday. She won because ‑‑ not only because she won, but she played very good match. Very good tennis.

The last time Federer and Andreev played before yesterday’s match, it was the 2008 U.S. Open. To say it was similar would be an understatement. It was the same thing, one set less. They played in an equal level during the first sets but, in the end, Federer mentally prevailed 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

In Melbourne, Igor had three set points to take the third set and lead 2-1, he wasted in such ways I still find unbelievable. I’m sure he had nightmares about one of these forehands.

That being said, I congratulate Igor. By the way he was playing Hopman Cup, I didn’t imagine him putting a fight here. It was a brave effort, let this show him how he can play tennis and inspire him to FUCKING DEFEAT FEDERER NEXT TIME. All right, Iggy? Awesome.

Oh yeah, and also Sodermort was ousted in the first roud. What a pity. SEE YOU AROUND, DUDE.

• These babies against Sharapova. Believe.
• TEAM QT against each other. Cheering for the blonde.

Random/LOLtastic news:

• Really good article on NYT on how the order-of-play is decided. (via Savannah’s World)
• Andy Murray and Laura Robson to play Hopman Cup 2010. Another cool team and very good experience for the Tiny Pack of British Awesomeness. My heart will be torn between cheering for them or Elena Dementieva and Kiri’s bf Igor Andreev representing Russia.
• Aga Radwanska: “I will never play doubles with Ula again!” Rofl. I love you kids.
• Venus Williams hates paleontologists. Ross Geller not amused.
• PAPArazzi Failderer.