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Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

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    Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

    The Australian Open has, for some time, arguably been the men's Grand Slam that has been the one to look forward to the most for the "neutral", because it's proved to be so relatively wide open.

    I think that's because a lot of pros gear their entire seasons around building up to Roland Garros, Wimbledon or the US Open (some, like Kuerten back along, seemed to focus exclusively on just one of them) and while the Australian Open is treated with respect, it's just not anyone's primary focus. It has also, until this year, been played on a carpet surface that most equalizes the specialisms of the clay court guys, the grass court players, and the hard-court specialists (although this year it'll be played on a surface very smiilar to that at the US Open, which while good for the hard-court specialists like Federer and Murray, will take a little of the uniqueness away).

    So while Wimbledon and Roland Garros have had their succession of Federer-Nadal finals, and the US Open has invariably been Federer against (insert hard court specialist here, Roddick, Hewitt, Djokovic, Murray), we've had Australian Open finalists as diverse as Rainer Schuttler, Arnaud Clement, Marcos Baghdatis and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

    That suggests that - while the top 4 seeds will still all be expected to reach the semis - realistically any of the top 32 should consider themselves in with a shout here, more so than at the other Grand Slams.

    This year's event will also be virtually unique in the modern era for another reason, in that there are no Australian players in the top 50 - indeed, apart from the injured Lleyton Hewitt, none in the top 100. What's the betting that, on a wave of patriotic fervour, some young unknown Aussie qualifier makes it to the semis?

    #2
    Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

    Rogin the Armchair Fan wrote:
    although this year it'll be played on a surface very smiilar to that at the US Open, which while good for the hard-court specialists like Federer and Murray, will take a little of the uniqueness away
    The surface was actually changed for last year's tournament.

    we've had Australian Open finalists as diverse as Rainer Schuttler, Arnaud Clement, Marcos Baghdatis and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
    All of whom lost, of course. Only Thomas Johansson (2002) and Petr Korda (1998) could be described as shock winners in the last 25 years and Korda was good enough to reach the final of the French as well. During the same period, Michael Stich and Richard Krajicek won Wimbledon and the likes of Mal Washington and Cedric Pioline made the final. In fact, the US Open is the only tournament which seems to guarantee a "big name" winner.

    This year's event will also be virtually unique in the modern era for another reason, in that there are no Australian players in the top 50 - indeed, apart from the injured Lleyton Hewitt, none in the top 100. What's the betting that, on a wave of patriotic fervour, some young unknown Aussie qualifier makes it to the semis?
    Australian tennis is in dire straits, a stunning fall from grace from a country which used to produce so many great players. It's unlikely any Australian will make the second week.

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      #3
      Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

      Del Potro

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        #4
        Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

        The draw has been made and, if the seedings work out, the semi finals will be:

        Nadal v Murray
        Federer v Djokovic

        Jankovic v Safina
        Serena v Dementieva

        Nadal has got a tough draw with Gasquet, Hewitt, Gonzalez, Monfils and Simon in his quarter. Murray, on the other hand, has the best draw of the big 4. There’s no obvious threat to him before a QF with Tsonga and even that might not happen as Tsonga is struggling with a back injury. Murray really should stroll to the semis.

        Djokovic is in poor form and the draw doesn’t help with Nalbandian and Roddick, who has a really good record here, as potential opponents. Federer also has it tough. He’s due to play Safin in round 3 and has Del Potro or Ferrer as likely QF opponents.

        As for the women, the draw has been very kind to Jankovic but it needs to be given her lack of preparation. Safina’s route to the semis is blocked by Ivanovic.

        Dementieva is the woman in form but she’ll need to beat Venus to reach the semis. Venus has never won the Australian Open – she lost in her only final appearance in the famous 2003 final played in 44 degree heat. Serena, by contrast, has a great record here with 3 wins. Her toughest opponent is likely to be Kuznetsova.

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          #5
          Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

          bovril wrote:
          Del Potro
          Yep, thats the outsider (which I mentioned before he won Auckland)

          If the heat is low, and only MArab will know, then I HOPE that Murray will win.

          And fuck nationalism. He has the possibility to usurp everyone in mens tennis, including Nadal (except on clay, although at his 'school' that was the surface).

          So we will see. As mentioned elsewhere, I expect him (Murray) to get stuffed in the 3rd round.

          Although I suspect that Djokovic was otherwise engaged this week (see tabloids for details).

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            #6
            Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

            gerontophile wrote:

            If the heat is low, and only MArab will know
            Consistently warm but no 40 degree plus stinkers in the first week:

            Monday 35
            Tuesday 32
            Wednesday 29
            Thursday 32
            Friday 30
            Saturday 36

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              #7
              Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

              gerontophile wrote:
              I expect him (Murray) to get stuffed in the 3rd round.
              He's scheduled to play Jurgen Melzer in the third round so I think we can safely say that won't happen. Murray really does have a kind draw.

              I hope it's a Nadal v Federer final. It's the best match up in tennis and it's a shame that it's so far been confined to the annual double header of the French and Wimbledon.

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                #8
                Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                fed's draw is a total bitch, and i can see him going out before the semis (but.. this is Federer..)
                nadal - same
                djoker - anything could happen there, i lean towards an early upset.
                murray - needs a serious kicking if he doesn't get to the last weekend

                can't wait. should be a great tourney. Hewitt v Gonzo kicking it off in style i hope

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                  #9
                  Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                  Has anyone seen the odds on Fed not winning a GS this year?

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                    #10
                    Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                    Federer is 7/4 to win none of the Grand Slam events in 2009. He's the same price to win one, and 4/1 to win two.

                    Betting on the 'Big Four' winning their respective quarters of the draw:
                    Nadal is 8/11 in a quarter containing Monfils, Simon & Gasquet.
                    Federer is 2/5 in a quarter containing Del Potro, Ferrer, Berdych, Cilic & Safin.
                    Murray is 1/2 in a quarter containing Tsonga, Verdasco & Blake.
                    Djokovic is 11/8 in a quarter containing Nalbandian, Roddick & Soderling.

                    I think the bookies have it right in deeming Djokovic as having the toughest path to the semi finals.

                    I'm really looking forward to this event, and have been since last autumn. The fluctuating form of the leading contenders coupled with the near-level playing field that is the Australian hard court leaves us with a potentially brilliant mens competition.

                    I'm hoping for a Federer - Nadal hard court final.

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                      #11
                      Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                      A day of mostly predictable results. I was very happy to see that 36 year old Fabrice Santoro won, beating Juan Carlos Ferrero.

                      A very strange piece of scheduling tomorrow - the obvious tie of the round, Lleyton Hewitt v Fernando Gonzalez, is not the night match despite other Australians Casey Dellacqua, tonight, and Sam Stosur, tomorrow, being given the prestige time slot.

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                        #12
                        Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                        that isn't because of the ramifications from Hewitts marathon in last years Aus Open (v Baghdatis?) that went on for 5+ hours and finished at 5am due to some ridiculous tv scheduling?

                        maybe the organisers are still apolgising to Leyton?

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                          #13
                          Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                          A gruelling 5-setter in the quarter finals going on until 3 in the morning between Simon and Nadal (with Simon winning) would be just what Murray needs to maybe win this. But that's getting way ahead of things, obviously.

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                            #14
                            Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                            The temperature peaked at 41 degrees this afternoon – Andy Murray didn't suffer too much though. His match ended in the second set when Pavel retired with an injured back.

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                              #15
                              Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                              Round 1 was completed with 3 seeds eliminated from the men and 7 from the women. The highest ranked man eliminated was number 27 (Feliciano Lopez) – only one woman from the top 20 went out (Radwanska, seeded 9).

                              The organisers are going big on patriotism – for the third night in a row, the evening session opens with an Australian women (Dokic) and that's followed by 16 year old Bernard Tomic who, on Monday, became the youngest winner of an Australian Open match in the open era, and the 4th youngest in any grand slam. Michael Chang is the youngest.

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                                #16
                                Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                The big guns are cruising through this tournament. So far today, nine out of ten seeds have progressed through the men's second round (Mathieu being the faller), eight of whom have won in straight sets. In the women's event, it's twelve out of twelve seeded players through to round three, with just four of those requiring a third set.

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                                  #17
                                  Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                  Though Nalbandian is struggling - 4-1 down in the final set.

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                                    #18
                                    Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                    santoro v Kohlschreiber could turn into a classic

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                                      #19
                                      Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                      ad hoc wrote:
                                      Though Nalbandian is struggling - 4-1 down in the final set.
                                      Nalby has just lost
                                      Another Grand Slam let down from Fat Dave

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                                        #20
                                        Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                        It seems I spoke too soon - Kohlschreiber, Nalbandian & Soderling have all been beaten.

                                        Djokovic's path to the semis has just got easier.

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                                          #21
                                          Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                          Great win for Santoro - he's due to play Roddick in the next round, assuming he gets past Malisse.

                                          What a wonderful contrast of styles that will be.

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                                            #22
                                            Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                            Venus Williams has just been knocked out after seemingly cruising to victory

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                                              #23
                                              Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                              Yup, 5-2 up in the final set then losing 7-5. It's going to play havoc with the Beeb's schedule...

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                                                #24
                                                Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                                Venus won the first so easily I decided to go and do something more interesting instead.

                                                I switch on the telly and discover she's out.

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                                                  #25
                                                  Arguably the most exciting men's tennis Grand Slam

                                                  The BBC will be really upset now - the on-court announcer has just said "From Scotland... Andy Murray." The camera then cut to a bloke in a Celtic top waving a Scotland flag.

                                                  Did something in my loins stir?

                                                  No.

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