Australian Open 2014 Draw

[brokenshoelace]

I think Seiko rigged this for Novak . It is worth remembering that last year at wimby, one half of the draw seemed loaded and most of those matches never got played.

Yeah, that's almost always the case. Most of the matches we're talking about here will probably not even materialize (remember Nadal vs Federer in the quarter finals of the US Open? Yeah, neither do I). It's like that for every slam, but we can't help it because it's part of the build-up. I'm willing to bet Nadal vs. Tomic takes place though... Otherwise Papa Tomic will punch someone.

 

[Kieran]

Do you know I haven't read a single preview for the Australian Open that doesn't have Novak as the winner. Sometimes he's a prohibitive favourite, others say he's just favourite, but no other winner has been predicted - from what I've read...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Do you know I haven't read a single preview for the Australian Open that doesn't have Novak as the winner. Sometimes he's a prohibitive favourite, others say he's just favourite, but no other winner has been predicted - from what I've read...

It is earned. He's one the tournament 3 times in a row, and 4 times in general. He definitely has exerted significant dominance over the AO in the past few years.

 

[Kieran]

Do you know I haven't read a single preview for the Australian Open that doesn't have Novak as the winner. Sometimes he's a prohibitive favourite, others say he's just favourite, but no other winner has been predicted - from what I've read...

It is earned. He's one the tournament 3 times in a row, and 4 times in general. He definitely has exerted significant dominance over the AO in the past few years.

Oh he has, and I don't begrudge him it, but still, Nadal is a previous winner and took Nole out on a fast court at the US Open. Nole is rightly favourite, but wouldn't you think even one commentator would say that if Rafa plays his best, he can win it?

I mean, with much less to go on, many commentators predict Nole will win Paris...

 

[Kieran]

Anyway friends, enjoy the tennis! I'm off on my good luck charm sabbatical, keeping away from the slam while Rafa is busy. Let's hope she's a beaut - and may the best man win!

 

[Moxie]

Anyway friends, enjoy the tennis! I'm off on my good luck charm sabbatical, keeping away from the slam while Rafa is busy. Let's hope she's a beaut - and may the best man win!

Enjoy the tennis, Kieran…y ¡Vamos! :clap

 

[Riotbeard]

Do you know I haven't read a single preview for the Australian Open that doesn't have Novak as the winner. Sometimes he's a prohibitive favourite, others say he's just favourite, but no other winner has been predicted - from what I've read...

It is earned. He's one the tournament 3 times in a row, and 4 times in general. He definitely has exerted significant dominance over the AO in the past few years.

Oh he has, and I don't begrudge him it, but still, Nadal is a previous winner and took Nole out on a fast court at the US Open. Nole is rightly favourite, but wouldn't you think even one commentator would say that if Rafa plays his best, he can win it?

I mean, with much less to go on, many commentators predict Nole will win Paris...

Enjoy it Kieran, and you are right it is surprising that no one has picked the current world number 1.

 

[Denis]

Half of this board's community aka Nadal tennis forum picked Nadal.

I also find it surprising nobody picks Djokovic at the French.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I also find it surprising nobody picks Djokovic at the French.

The above is incorrect. Some did pick Djokovic. Also, in the case of the FO "some" would be more than enough, since it's the tournament with the most overwhelming favorite in the history of overwhelming favorites, so picking against him has very little basis.

 

[Noelann]

My impression is that this is Nadal forum also, but it doesn't matter to me as long as discussion is at civilized level.
As for picking Novak as W, perhaps they taking into account Novaks form at the end of the year as well as his history at AO, champion 3 time in a row, his number here are 39W/5L.
Anyway we will see in the next to weeks.
Idemo Novak

 

[Denis]

I also find it surprising nobody picks Djokovic at the French.

The above is incorrect. Some did pick Djokovic. Also, in the case of the FO "some" would be more than enough, since it's the tournament with the most overwhelming favorite in the history of overwhelming favorites, so picking against him has very little basis.

How about 'very few' then?

Re French: I know this about Nadal and the French, but some picks for Djokovic would be good to mix things up a little. He, out of everyone, has the best shot against him.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I also find it surprising nobody picks Djokovic at the French.

The above is incorrect. Some did pick Djokovic. Also, in the case of the FO "some" would be more than enough, since it's the tournament with the most overwhelming favorite in the history of overwhelming favorites, so picking against him has very little basis.

How about 'very few' then?

Re French: I know this about Nadal and the French, but some picks for Djokovic would be good to mix things up a little. He, out of everyone, has the best shot against him.

Yeah I agree, but I guess people just pick who they really think is going to win. In the case of the FO, most figure it's Nadal. Note that when the two actually played at the FO last year, opinion was somewhat split (though Nadal was favored). So it's not that people don't think Novak can beat him, it's that they think he has more of a chance to lose before reaching Nadal at the FO, as opposed to Rafa who is 99% guaranteed to beat everyone else.

 

[Denis]

Yeah, that's always been my view too. Zero chance for anyone else over there against Nadal. I was really surprised Isner made it to 5 sets against him, but that was probably related to lack of confidence because of 2011 Djokovic.

 

[Noelann]

Yeah, that's always been my view too. Zero chance for anyone else over there against Nadal. I was really surprised Isner made it to 5 sets against him, but that was probably related to lack of confidence because of 2011 Djokovic.

Or maybe he was slightly injured that yearuzzled

 

[Riotbeard]

Half of this board's community aka Nadal tennis forum picked Nadal.

I also find it surprising nobody picks Djokovic at the French.

I pick Novak for every tournament, but common sense would suggest that at least some would pick the current world no. 1. You don't have to be a nadal fan to think he has a legit shot. Nobody said novak wasn't the overall favorite to my knowledge.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I know I am late to the AO party(Darth Fed and KS will tell you that my min concentration is on the NFL these days(49ers).. but isnt this Berdych best opportunity to make a GS final since he did in 2010 at SW19. Surely Djoker would be a huge favorite but I think he has a better opportunity to defeat him than against the world's number 1

 

[Denis]

No. He usually loses to Ferrer and he is dependent on Stan upsetting Djokovic which is not likely.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I know I am late to the AO party(Darth Fed and KS will tell you that my min concentration is on the NFL these days(49ers).. but isnt this Berdych best opportunity to make a GS final since he did in 2010 at SW19. Surely Djoker would be a huge favorite but I think he has a better opportunity to defeat him than against the world's number 1

AP, I would say this is the best chance for Berdych to reach the AO semifinal for the first time of his career. This is the only slam in where Berdych have not reach the semifinal stage. From 2011 to 2013, he lost to Djokovic twice, and Nadal in 2012. Let's see if he can finally reach the semifinal stage this year.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I know I am late to the AO party(Darth Fed and KS will tell you that my min concentration is on the NFL these days(49ers).. but isnt this Berdych best opportunity to make a GS final since he did in 2010 at SW19. Surely Djoker would be a huge favorite but I think he has a better opportunity to defeat him than against the world's number 1

Berdych is far from guaranteed to beat Ferrer and I really wouldn't give him a serious chance against Novak on this surface. His H2H against Djokovic is 2-15, and on this surface, it's a pretty bad match-up form Tomas. Obviously, with how big his game is, he can always catch fire and beat anyone, but Djokovic just counter-punches so well, and puts everything back with interest, in addition to his ability to get on the offensive and dictate in order to expose Berdych's movement.

The main problem with Berdych is his second serve, which is shaky, as well as the fact as his first serve, despite how big it is, is not dominant enough to hold serve easily against Novak. Berdych's clay win over Novak last year was partially due to the surface giving him lots of time to take big cuts at the ball and line up his shots. He won't totally have that luxury here.

He has a chance, obviously, but it doesn't strike me as any bigger than his normal chances of reaching a slam final.

PS: On a sidenote, is it me or to do Berdych and Kevin Anderson play each other frequently? At least in recent memory...

 

[the AntiPusher]

I know I am late to the AO party(Darth Fed and KS will tell you that my min concentration is on the NFL these days(49ers).. but isnt this Berdych best opportunity to make a GS final since he did in 2010 at SW19. Surely Djoker would be a huge favorite but I think he has a better opportunity to defeat him than against the world's number 1

Berdych is far from guaranteed to beat Ferrer and I really wouldn't give him a serious chance against Novak on this surface. His H2H against Djokovic is 2-15, and on this surface, it's a pretty bad match-up form Tomas. Obviously, with how big his game is, he can always catch fire and beat anyone, but Djokovic just counter-punches so well, and puts everything back with interest, in addition to his ability to get on the offensive and dictate in order to expose Berdych's movement.

The main problem with Berdych is his second serve, which is shaky, as well as the fact as his first serve, despite how big it is, is not dominant enough to hold serve easily against Novak. Berdych's clay win over Novak last year was partially due to the surface giving him lots of time to take big cuts at the ball and line up his shots. He won't totally have that luxury here.

He has a chance, obviously, but it doesn't strike me as any bigger than his normal chances of reaching a slam final.

PS: On a sidenote, is it me or to do Berdych and Kevin Anderson play each other frequently? At least in recent memory...

Yep.. They meet as often as Nadal\Murray .. Berdych is a typical hurdle for Anderson, IMO