Same format as the women's!
Roger Federer (1) v. Tomas Berdych (13)
As with the women's top seed Roger Federer's draw, at least on paper, looks to be a fairly favourable one until at least the quarter finals. He does face a possible rematch with John Isner from the United States in the second round. Isner was able to take a set from Roger last year at the US Open so it could be a match that draws more attention than the average second round match for Roger. Tomas Berdych is a solid player but as Roger Rasheed (former coach of Lleyton Hewitt) said "he doesn't like to get dirty" I'm guessing by that Roger means he tends to fade when the going gets tough. He does have a win over Roger at the 2004 Olympics but given his record in big matches since then the odds are certainly against him repeating that feat this year.
James Blake (12) v. Fernando Gonzalez (7)
The runner up from 2007 has been handed an unenviable task of defending his points this year. If he can get through his section of the draw - full of players who can defeat him - he faces a quarter final meeting with Roger. His form at the Kooyong event was horrible so he has a mammoth task if he is to repeat this year. If James Blake can keep his mind clear and errors to a minimum he could be the guy to advance from this section. He too has struggled in the lead up and his record at majors is not spectacular but maybe this new Plexicushion surface will do him a couple of favours with his slice and volley. The other player to watch is Ivan Ljubicic. His grand slam record is mediocre for a player of his calibre so he is due a good result. He definitely has the game.
Roger Federer (1) v. Tomas Berdych (13)
As with the women's top seed Roger Federer's draw, at least on paper, looks to be a fairly favourable one until at least the quarter finals. He does face a possible rematch with John Isner from the United States in the second round. Isner was able to take a set from Roger last year at the US Open so it could be a match that draws more attention than the average second round match for Roger. Tomas Berdych is a solid player but as Roger Rasheed (former coach of Lleyton Hewitt) said "he doesn't like to get dirty" I'm guessing by that Roger means he tends to fade when the going gets tough. He does have a win over Roger at the 2004 Olympics but given his record in big matches since then the odds are certainly against him repeating that feat this year.
James Blake (12) v. Fernando Gonzalez (7)
The runner up from 2007 has been handed an unenviable task of defending his points this year. If he can get through his section of the draw - full of players who can defeat him - he faces a quarter final meeting with Roger. His form at the Kooyong event was horrible so he has a mammoth task if he is to repeat this year. If James Blake can keep his mind clear and errors to a minimum he could be the guy to advance from this section. He too has struggled in the lead up and his record at majors is not spectacular but maybe this new Plexicushion surface will do him a couple of favours with his slice and volley. The other player to watch is Ivan Ljubicic. His grand slam record is mediocre for a player of his calibre so he is due a good result. He definitely has the game.
 |
Novak Djokovic (3) v. Marcos Baghdatis (15)
The toughest section of the draw without a doubt. Included are 2 former champions (Safin and Johansson), 2 runners up (Hewitt and Baghdatis) and the current world #3 and US Open runner up Djokovic. Hovering close by is Dimitri Tursunov the winner of the Medibank International this week. There is no doubt that whoever can come through this small section of the draw will be playing well. After watching Tursunov play in Sydney I have to give him a good chance. Novak is confident and has a huge amount of self belief - as does Hewitt. Baghdatis is a freakishly talented player who is capable of just about anything and always receives passionate support from the locals. Safin is an enigma but I'm guessing that his latest complaint that the courts are too blue is a good indication that he isn't in a particularly good headspace so I expect Baghdatis to defeat him him the 2nd round if his own head doesn't do him in during the first round.
David Nalbandian (10) v. David Ferrer (5)
The David Section. It's their party and no one else is invited?? I don't know about that. Radek Stepanek, Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Nicolas Kiefer (if he's in a good mood!) could all threaten for a spot in the second week. Nalbandian is under an injury cloud and Ferrer didn't exactly set the world on fire in Auckland. This section is very open. I think a surprise may come from here.
Richard Gasquet (8) v. Andy Murray (9)
Murray is involved in what appears to be the highlight of the first round. His centre court match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Day 1 should be a real treat for all tennis fans and a real test of Andy's questionable temperament. It would be great for the event if both Murray and Gasquet could make it to their predicted 4th round encounter. I think it will be a sneak peek of the future with both players surely going to be contesting Grand Slam events well into the second week in the years to come. Aside from Tsonga there appears to be few players who could pull off an upset but never say never in men's tennis considering the depth. Gasquet faces an early threat in Feliciano Lopez from Spain but should win through to the anticipated clash with Murray.
Mikhail Youzhny (14) v. Nikolay Davydenko (4)
This section contains 2 tournaments winners from the first week of this year in Youzhny and Llodra, Davydenko and big serving Karlovic as the main contenders. Other players who are very capable of making their way through to at least the 3rd or 4th round would be Andreas Seppi, Stanislas Wawrinka, Julien Benneteau, Nicolas Mahut and Jose Acasuso. Davydenko has appeared to be a little distracted by the match fixing controversy surrounding him and any of the players listed above have a good opportunity to make a Grand Slam quarter final. This section has proven to be the hardest for me to pick potential winners in.
 |
Andy Roddick (6) v. Tommy Robredo (11)
A great draw for Roddick. It is really his to lose and after seeing his form at Kooyong this week it's hard to see anyone from this section being able to prevent him from setting up a quarter final match with Nadal. I would look for Jarkko Neiminen or Mardy Fish to be his main challengers in what appears to be one of the weaker sections of the draw. I feel bad not writing more about the bottom two sections of the draw but really there isn't much to say. Let's hope that as the matches begin the tennis is of a better quality that it appears it be on paper!
Carlos Moya (16) v. Rafael Nadal (2)
Another really weak section of the draw that should see Nadal make it through to the quarter finals. Despite doubts about his fitness Rafa remains confident he can push to win another Grand Slam and he should be able to make it through this section even if he is a little under done. Carlos Moya pushed him to 3 tiebreak sets in Chennai 2 weeks ago but over 5 sets you have to side with youth. It's hard to see any other result barring any major upsets along the way. Being so early in the year nothing is impossible.
My Predictions
QTR
Federer v. Blake
Djokovic v. Ferrer
Murray v. Wawrinka
Roddick v. Nadal
SEMI
Federer v. Djokovic
Murray v. Roddick
FINAL
Federer v. Murray
WINNER
Federer
