Australian Open [Men] - Grand Slam

[tented]

DATE: February 8 - 21, 2021
SURFACE: Hard
PRIZE MONEY: A$32,790,000
FIELD SIZE: 128
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Novak Djokovic

SEEDS:

1. Novak Djokovic
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Dominic Thiem
4. Daniil Medvedev
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas
6. Alexander Zverev
7. Andrey Rublev
8. Diego Schwartzman
9. Matteo Berrettini
10. Gael Monfils
11. Denis Shapovalov
12. Roberto Bautista Agut
13. David Goffin
14. Milos Raonic
15. Pablo Carreno Busta
16. Fabio Fognini
17. Stan Wawrinka
18. Grigor Dimitrov
19. Karen Khachanov
20. Felix Auger-Aliassime
21. Alex de Minaur
22. Borna Coric
23. Dusan Lajovic
24. Casper Ruud
25. Benoit Paire
26. Hubert Hurkacz
27. Taylor Fritz
28. Filip Krajinovic
29. Ugo Humbert
30. Dan Evans
31. Lorenzo Sonego
32. Adrian Mannarino

The Tournament:

The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually over the last fortnight of January at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. The tournament is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year, preceding the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. It features men's and women's singles; men's, women's, and mixed doubles; junior's championships; and wheelchair, legends, and exhibition events. Prior to 1988, it was played on grass courts, but since then three types of hardcourt surfaces have been used: green-coloured Rebound Ace up to 2007, blue Plexicushion from 2008 to 2019, and blue GreenSet since 2020.

First held in 1905 as the Australasian championships, the Australian Open has grown to become one of the biggest sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere. Nicknamed "the happy slam" and often referred to as the "Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific" the tournament is the highest attended Grand Slam event, with more than 812,000 people attending the 2020 tournament. It was also the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat with its three primary courts, Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and the refurbished Margaret Court Arena equipped with retractable roofs.

About Melbourne:

Melbourne is the capital and most-populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Its name refers to an urban agglomeration of 9,993 km2 (3,858 sq mi), comprising a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities, and is also a common name for its city centre. The city occupies much of the coastline of Port Phillip bay and spreads into the Hinterland towards the Dandenong and Macedon ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. It has a population of 5 million (19% of the population of Australia), and its inhabitants are commonly referred to as "Melburnians".

Tourism Guide:




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https://www.tennis.com.au/

 

[tented]

 

[Front242]

Much the same as the WTF, I don't care who wins as long as it's Medvedev

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Hopefully Rafa will be 100%.

 

[Moxie]

After recent results, I'm hoping that Theim lands on Rafa's half. I do think Medvedev could trouble Djokovic.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Projected QFs

Novak vs Zverev
Schwartzman vs Theim
Medvedev vs Rublev
Tsitsipas vs Nadal

 

[rafanoy1992]

Contrary on what Moxie says about Thiem being Nadal’s half, I prefer Medvedev to be in Nadal’s half rather than Thiem. It is why Nadal’s draw is very ideal for him.

He is a combined 11-2 against Tsitsipas, Medvedev, and Rublev (10 of those wins are on hardcourts and he is 3-0 against those three players in slam). Clearly, Nadal’s game bothers their respective games.

The other player who has an ideal QF match-up is Thiem. Out of all 4 players he could have face in the QF (Zverev, Diego, Rublev, and Tsitsipas), he got Diego as an opponent. While Diego is fierce competitor, Thiem can overpower him, if Thiem brings his A game.

Rublev is probably the unluckiest out of the Top 8 seed (maybe Tsitsipas is the other one?) because he got into Medvedev’s quarter. They are both playing well right now, but Medvedev’s game handles Rublev’s game very well. It will be very interesting to see on what adjustments will Rublev make if he faces Medvedev in the QF.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Contrary on what Moxie says about Thiem being Nadal’s half, I prefer Medvedev to be in Nadal’s half rather than Thiem. It is why Nadal’s draw is very ideal for him.

He is a combined 11-2 against Tsitsipas, Medvedev, and Rublev (10 of those wins are on hardcourts and he is 3-0 against those three players in slam). Clearly, Nadal’s game bothers their respective games.

The other player who has an ideal QF match-up is Thiem. Out of all 4 players he could have face in the QF (Zverev, Diego, Rublev, and Tsitsipas), he got Diego as an opponent. While Diego is fierce competitor, Thiem can overpower him, if Thiem brings his A game.

Rublev is probably the unluckiest out of the Top 8 seed (maybe Tsitsipas is the other one?) because he got into Medvedev’s quarter. They are both playing well right now, but Medvedev’s game handles Rublev’s game very well. It will be very interesting to see on what adjustments will Rublev make if he faces Medvedev in the QF.

PREACH

 

[Moxie]

Contrary on what Moxie says about Thiem being Nadal’s half, I prefer Medvedev to be in Nadal’s half rather than Thiem. It is why Nadal’s draw is very ideal for him.

He is a combined 11-2 against Tsitsipas, Medvedev, and Rublev (10 of those wins are on hardcourts and he is 3-0 against those three players in slam). Clearly, Nadal’s game bothers their respective games.

The other player who has an ideal QF match-up is Thiem. Out of all 4 players he could have face in the QF (Zverev, Diego, Rublev, and Tsitsipas), he got Diego as an opponent. While Diego is fierce competitor, Thiem can overpower him, if Thiem brings his A game.

Rublev is probably the unluckiest out of the Top 8 seed (maybe Tsitsipas is the other one?) because he got into Medvedev’s quarter. They are both playing well right now, but Medvedev’s game handles Rublev’s game very well. It will be very interesting to see on what adjustments will Rublev make if he faces Medvedev in the QF.

I wasn't worrying about Medvedev in Nadal's half so much as I was wishing him in Djokovic's one, but Novak has a pretty complicated draw, so I'll take it. Now, here's hoping that Rafa's back issues were merely precautionary, and, dare I say, "behind" him now.

 

[rafanoy1992]

In all seriousness, this is a great opportunity for both Medvedev and Thiem (he has 1 slam but still) to prove that they are ready to take down the Big Three in a slam. Their respective draws are ideal, so that means they can go to their semifinal matches both mentally and physically fresh. There should be no “excuses” for both of them

 

[the AntiPusher]

I wasn't worrying about Medvedev in Nadal's half so much as I was wishing him in Djokovic's one, but Novak has a pretty complicated draw, so I'll take it. Now, here's hoping that Rafa's back issues were merely precautionary, and, dare I say, "behind" him now.

Finally a non stressful on first glance draw for Rafa

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Monday 8th February Top Half of the men's draw will begin
Monday's full schedule released Sunday 7th February.

 

[tented]

In all seriousness, this is a great opportunity for both Medvedev and Thiem (he has 1 slam but still) to prove that they are ready to take down the Big Three in a slam. Their respective draws are ideal, so that means they can go to their semifinal matches both mentally and physically fresh. There should be no “excuses” for both of them

I put Thiem through to the final on the draw challenge.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Tignor aka the KOD has spoken..

Australian Open men's preview: Is Djokovic the overwhelming favorite? | Tennis.com

Maybe not, since the 17-time Grand Slam champion has a potentially bumpy road to his ninth title in Melbourne. Here’s a look at who ended up where in the men’s draw, and how that will shape the next two weeks.

www.tennis.com

 

[the AntiPusher]

Seems like a lot of players are experiencing a lot of minor lower back injuries

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I am busy at work of late. Roger not playing did not help either. Have not even looked at the draw seriously. Hope an youngster wins this one. I am thinking may be suddenly Tits will round up to form. Saying this on a limb. Don't even know how he is doing in the warm-up tourneys. AO suits attacking style players more. I don't think Med fits that bill.

 

[Horsa]

I am busy at work of late. Roger not playing did not help either. Have not even looked at the draw seriously. Hope an youngster wins this one. I am thinking may be suddenly Tits will round up to form. Saying this on a limb. Don't even know how he is doing in the warm-up tourneys. AO suits attacking style players more. I don't think Med fits that bill.

You're lucky to be able to go into work. I wish I could. My role is much more varied at work than at home because my Manager breaks up my roles at work mixing up the history tasks with the arts/crafts & music tasks whereas at home I work from an emailed list & I have to finish 1 task before starting the other. I'm on the time-consuming tasks at the moment. I'm very busy. I miss working with children. I miss working with the elderly. I miss choir at work. I miss events planning. I miss the musical parts of my job & I miss my colleagues. I hope you're well & happy.

 

[kskate2]

Le Monf in trouble. Down a break in the decider 4-2

 

[Moxie]

Le Monf in trouble. Down a break in the decider 4-2

And he's out. Kukushkin giving Thiem trouble in the first set, but not totally shocking. Not an easy first round match.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Le Monf in trouble. Down a break in the decider 4-2

Gael Monfils No 10 seed is gonsky defeated by Finn Emil Rousuvori 36 64 75 36 63