Australian Open Preview - Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi Redux

Well folks, it's that time of year again!  The beginning of tennis season is upon us, with less than a week before the first major, the Australian Open, begins.  This time last year everyone was expecting Rafael Nadal to complete his RafaSlam, but boy, oh boy did things change.  Novak Djokovic went on to win the '11 Aussie Open, then during the course of the year, beat Rafa is six finals - four times in masters series events [two of those on clay], and two majors' finals - going on to take the number one ranking by reaching the finals of Wimbledon, and ending 2011 with a 70-6 record.  

The top four players have distanced themselves from the rest of the field - there's 2455 points separating numbers four and five & and a staggering 8705 points between numbers one and five.  They will be the clear favorites going into the tournament, but there are also some possible spoilers running rampant in the field.  Two of the biggest spoilers could be the Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and depending on his confidence level, the Tower from Tandil, Juan Martin Del Potro.  Tsonga opened his 2012 bid by winning the title in Doha, defeating his countryman, Gael Monfils, 7-5, 6-3 in the final.  Jo-Willy and DelPo made it to the round of 32 & the round of 64 respectively in last year's Aussie Open, but each one of these guys is in a different place now. Tsonga has moved up into the top ten, currently ranked number six in the world, seven spots higher since Aussie '11.  DelPo's '11 Aussie bid was his first tournament back after having missed almost a whole year and he was ranked 484, a far cry from his current rank of number eleven.  If DelPo's fitness is up to par, he be could be a formidable opponent for either of the top four, especially an 'injured' Nadal or Federer.

Injuries affecting Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could hamper their bids for more Aussie hardware.  Nadal has even said that he is not sure he will be playing at his peak when the Aussie Open comes around.  Roger had to withdraw from Doha because of back spasms which have caused him some difficulty since the 2010 Wimbledon.  Andy Murray has also shown some signs early on this season that he is battling injuries, although, it seems at times that he always in a battle with himself.  Even though he hobbled during the beginning rounds of the Brisbane International, Andy was able to come away from the tournament with a title, taking down Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-3.  Djokovic is coming off a historic year, which saw his body start to breakdown towards the end of 2011.  If he has indeed recovered from the stresses of last year, he will definitely be the player to beat.

Bernard Tomic

Milos Raonic

Then there are the possibles, one of them being Milos Raonic.  His breakout tournament was last year's Aussie Open, where he made it to the quarterfinals, being taken out the the scrappy Spaniard, David Ferrer.  He's already won a title this year, defeating Janko Tipsarevic in a tight three set final in Chennai 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4).  Also, Aussie native, Bernard Tomic has the ability to make it deep into the tournament.  I don't see either of these guys making it as far as the semi finals, but they are each capable of dealing out an upset along the way, especially if they happen to come up against a less than top shape Nadal or Federer.

The Aussie Open has always been one of the best majors to lay witness to and not just because of the tennis.  Aussies know how to throw a party!  There's always good tennis to be seen, and the beer mixed with the heat always makes for interesting sites as well, like this guy...

Aussie Streaker!

Australian Open TV schedule can be found here.  ESPN living streaming here (just click on the dates under upcoming).  And as always, live streaming for the Aussie Open (& EVERY other tournament of the year) can be seen at livescorehunter.com.

Enjoy!

Wimbledon Men's Semifinals Preview in brief

We're fast reaching the end of the fortnight at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, and the big four (minus one) have done what was expected of them.  This Friday, we will see the top three, plus a number twelve seed do battle for a spot in the Sunday's final.  Rafael Nadal will face with the great British hope, Andy Murray, and  Novak Djokovic will take on Frenchman, Jo Wilfried Tsonga.

Andy Murray (left); Rafael Nadal (right)

In the quarterfinals, Rafa dispatched Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.  It was pretty routine until the third set when Rafa took his foot off of the gas and let the American back into the match.  Nadal showed no signs of being hampered by the foot injury he suffered against Del Potro, saying after the match “I don’t have nothing really important. I have pain on the foot. I cannot run in perfect conditions without sleep the foot. But I don’t know how exactly to say in English. Is strange for me. The anesthetic there I don’t feel nothing, I don’t feel the pain.”  Andy had a bit of an easier time in his quarterfinal match against Feliciano 'Deliciano' Lopez, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.  If Andy plays the way his been playing throughout the tournament (I've said these words before) he has a fighting chance.  Rafa is not playing his best tennis.  Not that Rafa needs to play his best tennis to win anything, but he hasn't been as focused as he needs to be to win against a guy the caliber of Andy Murray.  As long as Andy doesn't revert to his passive, defensive game, he has a very good shot of reaching the final.  Andy's thoughts on his chances against Rafa, "I believe I can win against him. I had chances last year. I was up a break in the third set; had break point on my serve in the second set. I think there was only one break in the first set. We both played good tennis. I just have to have a better game plan this year.''

Novak Djokovic (left); Jo Wilfried Tsonga (right)

Novak Djokovic just has to make the finals of Wimbledon to take over the number one ranking from Rafa, even if Rafa wins, Nole will be the world's number one.  Standing in his way is the man who took out Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, Jo Wilfried Tsonga. Nole made it to the semifinals with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 scoreline, but underestimated his 18 year old unseeded quarterfinal opponent, Bernard Tomic.  Tomic, who is the youngest player since Boris Becker to make it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, played a lot of 'junk balls' causing Nole to fall out of his rhythm.  Had Nole not had the confidence that a 'one loss season' has given him, he could have been the second upset of the day.  Speaking of upsets, there is Mr. Tsonga, who came from two sets down to defeat six time champion Roger Federer in a thrilling five set match 3-6, 6(3)-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.  Jo-Willey is a big dude with a big game, and in coming back from two sets down to beat The Federer, he showed his mental resolve as well.  Not only will Djokovic have the pressure (again) of having the number one ranking on his raquet, he has the added pressure of Tsonga trying fight his own way into the finals.  Nole better bring his A game & his nerve, Tsonga will definitely fight until the end.

Roger Federer may be missing from the Wimbledon semi finals, but these two matches on Friday will both be full of fireworks (as long as Murray doesn't crumble).