Your Call, 1.11

By Peter BodoPublished January 11, 2009

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 11: Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Fernando Verdasco of Spain during the men's singles final on day eight of the Brisbane International 2009 at the Queensland Tennis Centre on January 11, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) — © 2009 Getty Images

Morning, all.

The New Year has its first set of champions, as the build up to the first major championship of the year continues. Step forward Marin Cilic (hi, Bismarck!), Andy Murray (och, aye!) and Radek Stepanek (congrats, Stepanek fans... and yes, he did The Worm). It was a tough day at the office in Brisbane for Fernando Verdasco, who went down in the singles to Stepanek after taking a first set lead, then fell in the doubles final to the French team of Gicquel/Tsonga.

For the WTA, Victoria Azarenka prevailed over Marion Bartoli in Brisbane, and Elena Dementieva defeated Elena Vesnina to win the title in Auckland (thanks, Master Ace!).

Tournament action continues this week with fer-realz in Sydney, Hobart and Auckland, plus an exhibition tune up in Kooyong. As always in these Your Call threads, while tennis is underway we ask that you focus on tennis related activities, with light off topic conversation during breaks in the action. Enjoy today's tennis.

-- Andrew Burton