My most favorite time of the year...the beginning of Grand Slam Tennis season!

Just six days before the Australian Open begins!  First TV showing will be Sunday, January 16th on ESPN2 from 630P-330A EST.  Aussie Open TV Schedule is here.   Let's take a look at the top 5 male players in the world & any wild cards that could possibly make some noise in the tournament.  No disrespect meant to the ladies, but their side of the draw is wide open & just about any of the top 10 or 20 players could have a chance.

Rafael Nadal - current rank #1



The number one player in the world is Spain's own, Rafael Nadal & he's won each one of the 4 majors.  Rafa goes into every tournament he enters as on the favorites.  He plays every single point as if the match depends on it - with some players, especially Roger Federer, a single point could determine the match.  Rafa being a lefty & as strong as an ox creates problems for most players.  The spin he puts on the ball, combined with the amount of pace he hits it with is intimidating to say the least.  No one scares Mr. Nadal, he scares them!  Rafa without a doubt is one of the favorites to win the Aussie Open, but it won't be easy for him.  If he makes it to the final, he is very hard to beat (ask Roger Federer, who cried in 2009 after Rafa beat him).  If Rafa does win the Aussie Open, he'd be the current holder of all 4 slams, having won the '10 French Open, Wimbledon, & US Open.  Rafael Nadal's website.



Roger Federer - current rank #2



Next up, Roger Federer, the Swiss Mister, currently ranked #2 in the world.  He's also completed the career Grand Slam (winning all 4 majors) & he was reigning number one 237 consecutive weeks, until Mr. Nadal ruined his party.  Much like Rafa, Roger is a threat to any man that stands on the opposite side of the net.  His game is like Shakespeare - every move he makes on the court is classic, stoic (except that '09 Aussie Open when he cried) & absolute poetry.  For 4 years no one could touch this man, except Rafa on the clay, which I think made him kinda lazy.  He'd gotten so used to beating the snot out of people, that he wasn't ready when the field caught up to his amazingness.  Even so, there have been only a handful of guys who have beaten him in majors in the past 5 or 6 years.  Roger's website.




Novak 'Nole' Djokovic - current rank #3

 Novak 'Nole' Djokovic from Serbia, is currently ranked #3 in the world.  He used to do really funny impressions of some other players, but I guess someone gave him shizz about it b/c he doesn't do them anymore & kinda miss them. Nole won the 2008 Aussie Open, beating Roger Federer in the semi-finals & Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.  He's been in the final of two other majors - the '07 US Open, losing to Roger Federer & the '10 US Open, losing to Rafael Nadal.  Depending on which Nole shows up, he has a shot at this year's Aussie Open.  Nole isn't intimidated by the other big players, but sometimes has difficulties that can't really be explained.  Against the top 2 guys, Nole is 7-16 Vs Rafa & 6-13 Vs Roger.  Nole's website.

Robin Soderling - current rank #4

Sweden's Robin Soderling is currently ranked #4 in the world, although he only has a 25 point led over Andy Murray.  He's been in two French Open finals, losing both attempts - '09 to Roger Federer & '10 to Rafael Nadal.  At the '09 French Open, he took out Rafael Nadal scoring the biggest upset of the year beating Nadal and ending his record 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros. Robin's game is a big one, but he needs a lot of time to set up his shots because of that big wind-up.  If the wind is blowing, or he's playing on a fast court, he's basically screwed.  Luckily the Aussie Open is played on one the slower hard courts.  He's definitely one to watch here.  Robin's website.




Andy Murray - current rank #5

 The Scot, Andy Murray, is the game's #5 player in the world.  He's never won a major, but he has beaten the players ranked above him, however not in a big tournament.  Andy has been in two major's finals, the '08 US Open & the '10 Aussie Open, losing both times to Roger Federer.  Andy has a helluva game, but his head gets in his way.  He's more of a defensive player - against guys like Rafa, Roger, or Nole that style of play doesn't work.  It's not that he doesn't have the shots to win, he prefers to be a backboard - not taking his chances when they are presented to him.  He is Great Britain's best & greatest hope to bring a major to the land of the Royals.  I think one day he will win a major, but I'm doubtful that it will be at this Aussie Open.  Here's a link to his website.



Juan Martin Del Potro - current rank #259



One of the long shots this year could very well be the Argentine, Juan Martin Del Potro.  He won the '09 US Open, beating Roger Federer in the final, and in January '01 reached a career high ranking of #4 in the world before having to take the rest of the year off after surgery for a wrist injury.  He's currently only ranked #258 in the world, but that's after being out of the game for almost all of '09.  Although his chances of winning the Aussie Open after a long time off the court are slim, it could very well be an indication of how his year will go.  Before having to sit out, he was considered a player who was going to be a big threat to the big 4 of Rafa, Roger, Nole, and Andy Murray.  Make no mistake, this is a big dude (6'6") with a big game. 

There are some other players that I think could possibly make a run at the Aussie Open.  First, would be Spainard, David Ferrer, currently ranked #7.  He's only 5'9", but is built like a bull dog & has been known to give the top 5 plenty of problems.  Ferrer's website. Then, American Andy Roddick, former #1 ranked player, currently ranked #8 in the world.  A-Rod has one major under his built, which was the '03 US Open, and he has the game to get things done on the court.  Roddick is known for frequent outbursts against umpires on the court.  He also holds the record for the fastest ever recorded serve - 155 MPH & he has a blooper reel.  A-Rod's website.  Next is another Spainard, Fernando Verdasco, currently ranked #9.  He's highest ranking was in '09 when he #7 in the world.  Fernando's best Slam performance was making the semis at the '09 Aussie Open losing to Rafael Nadal.  His game has a lot of promise...will he win a slam, maybe, maybe not, but I still give the guy a chance.  Mr. Verdasco's site.




David Ferrer - current rank #7

  



Fernando Verdasco - current rank #9

Andy Roddick - current rank #8

Just for kicks, here's a vid of Fernando Verdasco doing a Calvin Klein underwear shoot

All rankings are as of Monday, January 10, 2011.  Stay tuned...the Aussie Open begins this Sunday, so once it starts, I may blog about it daily.  One of the many players will definitely be a hottie of the week/day!  These are nine guys that I think have a chance to 'do work' at the Aussie Open.  Keep in mind, I'm not a tennis expert, I'm just a boy.