2015 Australian Open (Jan 19-Feb 1) History at stake!

[masterclass]

As 2014 winds down, there seems to be a lot of discussion going on about who will be in form and doing well at the Australian Open and chances of the top players. So I think it's more appropriate that a thread be opened to have some early discussion rather than have it in the current tournament threads.

As I said in the title, a lot of history is at stake.

Rafael Nadal has a chance to become the first two time winner of all majors all in the Open Era (Laver had 1 pre and one post).

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have the chance to become the first 5 time winners of the Australian Open in the Open Era and will likely be the top 2 seeds.

In whose half will Nadal be? Will he be able to make it to the semifinals following his physical troubles since winning 2014 Roland Garros, from Wimbledon to Basel where he only played 12 matches and was 7-5? Will he have another resurgent year like 2013? Will Federer and Djokovic continue their form of 2014 and go deep to have their chance at history?

But more players are rising up to act as spoilers and contenders in their own right. Stan Wawrinka will defend his 2014 title. Marin Cilic won the last major of 2014. Other youngsters are rising as the year 2014 ends.

Lots to discuss and discussion starts here!

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[El Dude]

It seems early and a lot can happen in (almost) three months, plus we've still got Basel, Paris and the WTF.

That said--while I imagine that Novak will be the player to beat (if fatherhood doesn't soften him too much), and Rafa will be roaring back onto tour, wanting to rise to the top again, and Roger will still be there--don't forget about Andy Murray, who wants to prove that he can still hang with the big boys. Actually, Andy might be my dark horse candidate for Paris - he's playing with a fire under him and seems to want to win baaaad.

I think it unlikely that one of the FBF (Former Big Four) won't win the AO. It was nice to see Wawrinka and Cilic win Slams last year, but I predict a slight "dead cat bounce" from the FBF, who will take three or even four of the four Slams next year. Although the fun part of following tennis now, is that we're able to expect the unexpected. We seem to have broken out of total Big Four Hegemony, so who knows....

 

[Kieran]

It'd be great if a generation was skipped and somebody younger than Grigor won the Oz, too soon for Borna, but a guy like Nick, on home turf. I know, it's far-fetched, but still, that would be the pepper that would start 2015 with a jolt. Andy is Unknown at this point, he could go deep, or maybe he's going to settle for comfy QF and SF showings, but not really rise higher.

The Big 3, well, Nole is favourite, as the Dude says, even from long distance. If he's off, then Rafa, but I give Rafa a good shot if he bounces back cleanly - and plays good warmups.

With Federer, there's age, and Rafa. He denies age for only so long, but he can't deny Rafa, who would be a bigger obstacle to him. Outside the 3, I can't - even at long range - see Stan defending, or Cough Drop consolidationg, or Berdy, or Ferrer, or Gulbis, or so many others. Grigor, for me, is heading into Last Chance Saloon in 2015, if he's to make his mark a bona fide future all-time great. He's been a disappointment since Oz this year, bar maybe his run at Wimbo, and he's no longer "young", no matter what way we slant it.

As Mats once said, great players find a way...

 

[herios]

Masterclass, you must be really bored. Opening a thread for an event which will start in 3 months is ridiculous.

 

[Kieran]

You're wrong, Herios: Rafa is finished for the year so we need to have some threads which include him...

 

[El Dude]

Kieran, I think there's a middle ground for Dimitrov between a future all-time great--which I think the ship has already sailed on--and being an "almost." I think he'll win a Slam or two, maybe even three - but beyond that seems quite unlikely.

 

[Kieran]

That's true, he could step on the foothills. If he's going to win more than three, he'll need to become a serial champ but so far he doesn't show that level of things. I'm rooting for him! But he's frustrating as hell...

 

[Front242]

That's true, he could step on the foothills. If he's going to win more than three, he'll need to become a serial champ but so far he doesn't show that level of things. I'm rooting for him! But he's frustrating as hell...

Yeah, last night must've been very frustrating for Nadal fans alright seeing him lose to his dad again :snigger

 

[Kieran]

That's true, he could step on the foothills. If he's going to win more than three, he'll need to become a serial champ but so far he doesn't show that level of things. I'm rooting for him! But he's frustrating as hell...

Yeah, last night must've been very frustrating for Nadal fans alright seeing him lose to his dad again :snigger

You're bringing Fedal into every thread, brother. But actually the final I wanted was Roger v Borna.

 

[Front242]

That's true, he could step on the foothills. If he's going to win more than three, he'll need to become a serial champ but so far he doesn't show that level of things. I'm rooting for him! But he's frustrating as hell...

Yeah, last night must've been very frustrating for Nadal fans alright seeing him lose to his dad again :snigger

You're bringing Fedal into every thread, brother. But actually the final I wanted was Roger v Borna.

Nothing Fedal about it. You're a Nadal fan and you have pretty much no time for Roger so I'm 100% sure you wanted "baby Fed" to win as did 99% of Nadal fans

 

[Kieran]

That's true, he could step on the foothills. If he's going to win more than three, he'll need to become a serial champ but so far he doesn't show that level of things. I'm rooting for him! But he's frustrating as hell...

Yeah, last night must've been very frustrating for Nadal fans alright seeing him lose to his dad again :snigger

You're bringing Fedal into every thread, brother. But actually the final I wanted was Roger v Borna.

Nothing Fedal about it. You're a Nadal fan and you have pretty much no time for Roger so I'm 100% sure you wanted "baby Fed" to win as did 99% of Nadal fans

Come on, buddy, you've never said anything nice about Ralph. Not once. You're even on the other thread slagging him for something that happened decades ago against Berdy.

I said in the thread that the final I wanted was Federer Coric...

 

[Front242]

Yeah, last night must've been very frustrating for Nadal fans alright seeing him lose to his dad again :snigger

You're bringing Fedal into every thread, brother. But actually the final I wanted was Roger v Borna.

Nothing Fedal about it. You're a Nadal fan and you have pretty much no time for Roger so I'm 100% sure you wanted "baby Fed" to win as did 99% of Nadal fans

Come on, buddy, you've never said anything nice about Ralph. Not once. You're even on the other thread slagging him for something that happened decades ago against Berdy.

I said in the thread that the final I wanted was Federer Coric...

I didn't bring up that match against Berdych but recalled watching the clip and added a comment and yes, Nadal was a grumpy prick at the handshake that day. Federer v Coric would've been good but Goffin took a set off him before and is playing fantastic lately. Should be even better imo. Not sure Coric would've won a set. I've said plenty of nice things about Nadal btw during matches that he hit some great shots.

 

[shawnbm]

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have provided a decade of highlight films for us to enjoy, against each other and Novak. They have provided far more highlight film footage than Connors-Borg-McEnroe and far more than Pete and Andre--and the moderns have given us footage outside of SW19 and New York! We are so blessed to have seen them both and, for my money, Novak wins more and the entire era will be called the FEDALNOLE epoch when all is said and done--the greatest, and longest, of the Open Era thus far

 

[herios]

It is time to bump this one up, because the matches for the qualifications are about to start tonight.
The draws for Qual. are out:

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/qs/r1s4.html

Outstanding names there: Melzer, Mahut, Zverev, Darcis.

 

[Vince Evert]

Let's hope that Nadal and Djokovic are on the same half of the draw. I don't think I could stand to watch another boring six hour final with the two greatest time wasters in the game. In fact I wouldn't bother to.

 

[herios]

I have bad news right away for the Zverev fans. He was ousted in the R1 by an Aussie player I have never heard of, J. Smith: 7-6, 6-4.
Russell, Donaldson, Kubot, Berrer, Copil all through.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have bad news right away for the Zverev fans. He was ousted in the R1 by an Aussie player I have never heard of, J. Smith: 7-6, 6-4.
Russell, Donaldson, Kubot, Berrer, Copil all through.

Was that JP Smith?

 

[herios]

I have bad news right away for the Zverev fans. He was ousted in the R1 by an Aussie player I have never heard of, J. Smith: 7-6, 6-4.
Russell, Donaldson, Kubot, Berrer, Copil all through.

Was that JP Smith?

Yes, John-Patrick Smith.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have bad news right away for the Zverev fans. He was ousted in the R1 by an Aussie player I have never heard of, J. Smith: 7-6, 6-4.
Russell, Donaldson, Kubot, Berrer, Copil all through.

Was that JP Smith?

Yes, John-Patrick Smith.

Yep I know him.

 

[Kirijax]

I have bad news right away for the Zverev fans. He was ousted in the R1 by an Aussie player I have never heard of, J. Smith: 7-6, 6-4.
Russell, Donaldson, Kubot, Berrer, Copil all through.

Was that JP Smith?

Yes, John-Patrick Smith.

Played college tennis at Tennessee I think it was.