Australian Open 2023 [Men] - Grand Slam

[don_fabio]

Don Fabio if you are around you guy got a favorable draw,
Novak Djokovic's draw
Rafa and Novak are on opposite sides of the draw

R1 RCB
R2 Dellien (Q)
R3 Dimitrov/ Karatsev
R4. PCB ( who I feel is still under a injury cloud, knocked out yesterday in the Adelaide International 2)/ De Minaur
QF Rublev/Rune/Kyrgios
SF Ruud/Fritz
F. Nadal/Tsitsipas

Looks good for Novak, no early threats in the draw. QF match could be difficult if Rune or Kyrgios show up.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I will put Rafa's draw on the Rafa fan page as well,
R1 Draper
R2 Nakashima/McDonald
R3 Nishioka/ Munar
R4 Tiafoe/Khachanov
QF Medvedev/Hurkacz
SF Tsitsipas/FAA/Sinner
F. Djokovic/Ruud/Rublev

I will accept THIS draw ..Rafa should be happy

 

[the AntiPusher]

A possibility, though there is more to play out before that may happen....? remember too, a draw is on paper only...

As long as he doesn't has to face the boogyman until the finals that's good enough for me

 

[the AntiPusher]

Looks good for Novak, no early threats in the draw. QF match could be difficult if Rune or Kyrgios show up.

Tignor will like this draw and add his kiss of death to Novak's chances by making Novak a huge favorite which he deserves to because he has been almost invincible the past few weeks..Korda may upset a few folks .IMO

 

[Kieran]

I will accept THIS draw ..Rafa should be happy

I think it’s a tough one, brother. Draper in the first round, and Rafa with no form at all? I mean, I can see why you’re optimistic too - he probably needs a tough draw to find form. As @MargaretMcAleer said elsewhere, last year he had a tough draw too. But Tiafoe knocked him out in New York and so he’ll be a bit full of himself, and if it isn’t him it’s KK, who’s resurgent. And this isn’t even the QF yet?

 

[TheSicilian]

Brutal draw for Rafa, easy for Novax nothing new there.... This draw is like RG last year when the top half was stacked, Nadal, Med, FAA, Tsits, Tifaoe all on the top half

 

[Tennis_Steve]

Anyone else having to use Discovery Plus to watch the AO?
I subbed for a month via Amazon Prime..
It's via Europsport

The say it's live matches and on demand..

So far so the qualifying has been live only .
No way I'm staying up all night.
There have been quite a few matches I would have watched.

If there's no on demand then it's poor coverage compared to Amazon's blanket replay capability.

Unfortunately they seem to have a 10 year deal!

Reading reviews, last year's Disco+ AO coverage was a complete sh!tshow - you'd hope they learn, in a year..

 

[Kieran]

Anyone else having to use Discovery Plus to watch the AO?
I subbed for a month via Amazon Prime..
It's via Europsport

The say it's live matches and on demand..

So far so the qualifying has been live only .
No way I'm staying up all night.
There have been quite a few matches I would have watched.

If there's no on demand then it's poor coverage compared to Amazon's blanket replay capability.

Unfortunately they seem to have a 10 year deal!

Reading reviews, last year's Disco+ AO coverage was a complete sh!tshow - you'd hope they learn, in a year..

I use that - it tends to be a few points behind the scoreboard, so I watch the scoreboard on my phone. That might be a problem with my internet feed - I live in the country…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Out of all the Amercians, Taylor Fritz has a good draw, also he played well for USA in the United Cup,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I will accept THIS draw ..Rafa should be happy

Are you on some type of medication, you havent mentioned to the rest of us lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Looks good for Novak, no early threats in the draw. QF match could be difficult if Rune or Kyrgios show up.

Krgyios has had no warm up tournaments, due to an ankle injury, Rune might of beaten Novak in Paris in 3 sets, though this is GS best of 5 and at the AO which is Novak's best slam.
Nick and Novak having an exho tonight Friday 13th on RLA which was a sellout in less than 1 hour, proceeds go to charity

 

[the AntiPusher]

Are you on some type of medication, you havent mentioned to the rest of us lol!

What's wrong with the draw. Yes its some good players in Rafa's half but he doesn't have to deal with Nick, Novak and he gets his revenge against Frances in the round of 16 maybe and then it gets tough but noOne that he cannot handle.

R1 Draper
R2 Nakashima/McDonald
R3 Nishioka/ Munar
R4 Tiafoe/Khachanov
QF Medvedev/Hurkacz
SF Tsitsipas/FAA/Sinner
F. Djokovic/Ruud/Rublev

 

[the AntiPusher]

Brutal draw for Rafa, easy for Novax nothing new there.... This draw is like RG last year when the top half was stacked, Nadal, Med, FAA, Tsits, Tifaoe all on the top half

Relax my brotha, Rafa is the defending Champ.. He knows how to handle these guys and his own nerves too.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

What's wrong with the draw. Yes its some good players in Rafa's half but he doesn't have to deal with Nick, Novak and he gets his revenge against Frances in the round of 16 maybe and then it gets tough but noOne that he cannot handle.

R1 Draper
R2 Nakashima/McDonald
R3 Nishioka/ Munar
R4 Tiafoe/Khachanov
QF Medvedev/Hurkacz
SF Tsitsipas/FAA/Sinner
F. Djokovic/Ruud/Rublev

Probably because he hasnt got any decent form going into the AO this year, not like last year, where he won a warm up tournament in Melbourne, I still have concern with the serve, he has a tough encounter with the lefty Draper in his 1st rd match. It is what it is, draws can fall apart like 'paper dolls' I always take one match at a time.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Probably because he hasnt got any decent form going into the AO this year, not like last year, where he won a warm up tournament in Melbourne, I still have concern with the serve, he has a tough encounter with the lefty Draper in his 1st rd match. It is what it is, draws can fall apart like 'paper dolls' I always take one match at a time.

Rafa usually have a great record vs Lefties ..Trent @tented keep me honest, isnt the correct?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa usually have a great record vs Lefties ..Trent @tented keep me honest, isnt the correct?

I know Rafa has a good record against lefties, anyway I will still take one match at a time ( if your predication comes true regarding Rafa and his draw, you can have bragging rights, I know we will never hear the end of it

 

[the AntiPusher]

I think it’s a tough one, brother. Draper in the first round, and Rafa with no form at all? I mean, I can see why you’re optimistic too - he probably needs a tough draw to find form. As @MargaretMcAleer said elsewhere, last year he had a tough draw too. But Tiafoe knocked him out in New York and so he’ll be a bit full of himself, and if it isn’t him it’s KK, who’s resurgent. And this isn’t even the QF yet?

Well.. Something tells me my Irish amigo is that Rafa choose the route of the less intense play of team tennis to preserve his body.. Besides his serves that has pretty much at the USTA 6.0 level, he feels that his movement is good and that he is working on serving and volleying. Obviously the FH is his Thor's mjolnir but its the CC BH he needs to break down the latter rounds of the draw especially covid's beloved Serbian Slayer.

 

[tented]

Rafa usually have a great record vs Lefties ..Trent @tented keep me honest, isnt the correct?

87% winning percentage against lefties.

 

[Kieran]

he doesn't have to deal with Nick

Nick is cooked. He checked out after Novak stood him up for dinner in London. I don't expect much from Nick before 2025/6, to be honest, when the funds get low, or something...

 

[the AntiPusher]

Nick is cooked. He checked out after Novak stood him up for dinner in London. I don't expect much from Nick before 2025/6, to be honest, when the funds get low, or something...

Thats a very good point..Nick definitely is not hungry.. I think of all the tennis finals I saw last year, his vs Novak was probably most disappointing for the fans but not myself because I know that he really didnt want to be Wimbledon champ..