Previewing the AO - Gauging the Field

[Moxie]

Three tournaments this week, and two coming up before the Australian Open. We have seen some interesting displays from the under-card guys, and some injury retirements. I thought it would be good to have a thread to discuss the possibilities of those who are not the top 4-5. I would prefer we not discuss Nadal, Djokovic, Murray or Federer's possibilities here. I'm leaving in Del Potro, because he's debuting in Sydney this week.

I'll start. Some players that shone in the last week: Monfils, Kamke, Gojowczic, Florian Mayer, Hewitt, Nishikori, Cilic, Chardy, Wawrinka, Roger-Vasselin, Granollers, Tsonga (Hopman Cup.)

Some who've been injured: Fognini, Youzhny, Pospisil, Janowicz (pulled out of Hopman Cup, though scheduled to play in Sydney.)

Any feelings about spoilers, dark horses, who you'd hate to see in your favorite's quarter?

 

[Iona16]

I have to say I'm surprised that Del Potro is playing the week before a slam.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think Stan can make some noise here again. He was so close last year , losing that epic battle to Nole.

As a Federer fan, I am never too pleased to see Berdych in his quarter.

 

[Moxie]

I have to say I'm surprised that Del Potro is playing the week before a slam.

But he didn't play earlier, so it seems ok to take the longer break, too. We'll see how it works out for him.

I think Stan can make some noise here again. He was so close last year , losing that epic battle to Nole.

As a Federer fan, I am never too pleased to see Berdych in his quarter.

I wouldn't be too worried about Berdych at this point. He is definitely verging on passing his sell-by date. The only ones who should be worried are the incompetent youngsters.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I think Stan can make some noise here again. He was so close last year , losing that epic battle to Nole.

As a Federer fan, I am never too pleased to see Berdych in his quarter.

Berdych and Federer are both ranked in the range 5-8 right now. Hence, they are guaranteed to
be in different quarters in AO.

 

[DarthFed]

I don't care how bad Berd has sucked lately he always brings it against Roger. And Roger struggles with just about all big hitters at this point. Fed won't be seeing Berd in the quarter and that is the 3rd or 4th worst quarter he could have

 

[Moxie]

OK…good job so far talking about the rest of the field!

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'm always happy to see Hewitt at the AO because he's the only name player whose first round matches matter. Yeah, we'll watch watch Djokovic, Nadal, Murray and Fed steamroll through some over-matched opposition, but Hewitt first round matches in Australia have a big time feel. He's part of the reason why I think the AO always has the best first week out of any slam.

I expect Wawrinka to do very well. Monfils is not going to do much in a best of five tennis in the heat. A 4th round seems about right. If the draw opens up, MAYBE he gets to the quarters, which would be a very good result, but he's not going to trouble the big guns, I don't think. And please, keep him away from Simon. I can't sit through that again.

Tsonga and Berdych interest me. They can cause damage when in form, but I have no clue what to expect from them.

 

[zalvar]

DelPo! I don't want him on Rafa's quarter. lol. Scurry.
Or Gulbis or Janovicz or any one-day performer type guys.

I think Cilic will slowly get his ranking back up, starting with a decent Aussie Open.

I'll be really interested to see how the younger guys do. It's becoming more apparent that Tsonga, berdych, Gasquet aren't gonna break through anymore.

Dimitrov needs to get serious, Janovicz needs to stop breaking his back, Nishikori needs to stop flying off the handle, Raonic needs to know what to do after serve.

 

[herios]

1. JMDP to make his first SF. This is really overdue, in order to do this please NO Nole quarter draw for him. Otherwise I will be very mad
2. Stan to make the QF, thus live up to his top 8 ranking.
3. Tsonga will be interesting to watch, good form and his best slam to date. He will be seeded out of top 8, therefore his 4th round match be in case both he and his potential opponent will make it there: Delpo, Fed, Tomas or Stan. I already said that JMDP and Stan will go further, so I think Tsonga can make the QF in case he meets Roger or Tomas.
4. I hope Milos pulls an upset and gets into his first QF in a slam. He also is bound to meet one of those players in a potential QF like JWT. He has defeated Tomas before for example, but not in a slam. Time to take it to another level.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

1. JMDP to make his first SF. This is really overdue, in order to do this please NO Nole quarter draw for him. Otherwise I will be very mad
2. Stan to make the QF, thus live up to his top 8 ranking.
3. Tsonga will be interesting to watch, good form and his best slam to date. He will be seeded out of top 8, therefore his 4th round match be in case both he and his potential opponent will make it there: Delpo, Fed, Tomas or Stan. I already said that JMDP and Stan will go further, so I think Tsonga can make the QF in case he meets Roger or Tomas.
4. I hope Milos pulls an upset and gets into his first QF in a slam. He also is bound to meet one of those players in a potential QF like JWT. He has defeated Tomas before for example, but not in a slam. Time to take it to another level.

FYI, he has already made SF in GS, that too not just once, but twice. 2009 FO
and 2013 Wimby.

 

[herios]

1. JMDP to make his first SF. This is really overdue, in order to do this please NO Nole quarter draw for him. Otherwise I will be very mad
2. Stan to make the QF, thus live up to his top 8 ranking.
3. Tsonga will be interesting to watch, good form and his best slam to date. He will be seeded out of top 8, therefore his 4th round match be in case both he and his potential opponent will make it there: Delpo, Fed, Tomas or Stan. I already said that JMDP and Stan will go further, so I think Tsonga can make the QF in case he meets Roger or Tomas.
4. I hope Milos pulls an upset and gets into his first QF in a slam. He also is bound to meet one of those players in a potential QF like JWT. He has defeated Tomas before for example, but not in a slam. Time to take it to another level.

FYI, he has already made SF in GS, that too not just once, but twice. 2009 FO
and 2013 Wimby.

I know that. I meant at the AO, of course.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Oh, sorry.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Popsicle is seeded in AO, probably his first GS as a seeded player.

There is only one young gun in Top 16, Milos.

There are four in bottom 16, Grigor, JJ, Popsicle, Neikishori.

Using lose definition of young guns.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Who are your dangerous floaters / spoilers, unseeded players who can take out
a prize head in AO? Limit to three.

Mine are Ivo Karlovic, Lleyton Hewitt and Daniel Brands.

 

[Moxie]

Who are your dangerous floaters / spoilers, unseeded players who can take out
a prize head in AO? Limit to three.

Mine are Ivo Karlovic, Lleyton Hewitt and Daniel Brands.

First couple of rounds: Hewitt, Kamke, Cilic. Second week: Tsonga, Monfils, Wawrinka.

 

[Denis]

Who are your dangerous floaters / spoilers, unseeded players who can take out
a prize head in AO? Limit to three.

Mine are Ivo Karlovic, Lleyton Hewitt and Daniel Brands.

First couple of rounds: Hewitt, Kamke, Cilic. Second week: Tsonga, Monfils, Wawrinka.

agree minus karlovic, brands and kamke

isnt monfils going to be a first week contender? he's not even seeded right?

nishikori might give some of the top guys some issues too.

 

[herios]

Who are your dangerous floaters / spoilers, unseeded players who can take out
a prize head in AO? Limit to three.

Mine are Ivo Karlovic, Lleyton Hewitt and Daniel Brands.

First couple of rounds: Hewitt, Kamke, Cilic. Second week: Tsonga, Monfils, Wawrinka.

agree minus karlovic, brands and kamke

isnt monfils going to be a first week contender? he's not even seeded right?

nishikori might give some of the top guys some issues too.

Monfils is seeded, he climbed into the top 30 following his final last week

 

[Denis]

potential third round opponent then. Could be interesting.

 

[Front242]

Who are your dangerous floaters / spoilers, unseeded players who can take out
a prize head in AO? Limit to three.

Mine are Ivo Karlovic, Lleyton Hewitt and Daniel Brands.

First couple of rounds: Hewitt, Kamke, Cilic. Second week: Tsonga, Monfils, Wawrinka.

agree minus karlovic, brands and kamke

isnt monfils going to be a first week contender? he's not even seeded right?

nishikori might give some of the top guys some issues too.

I'd say the person Nishikori is most likely to give issues is himself. Seems he can't handle hot conditions very well. Then again, Melbourne won't be as hot as Brisbane was when he played Hewitt. The heat was nuts that day, reaching 45C (113F). Good to see you back btw, Denisovich