Tuning Up for AO 2015

[GameSetAndMath]

The available events for players to tune up for Australian Open 2015 are the following.

a. Mudabala (AKA Moolah), Abu Dhabi, Non-ATP exo from Jan 1st to 3rd.
b. Hopman Cup of ITF, a mixed team event at Perth from Jan 4th to Jan. 10th.
c. ATP 250 at Doha Jan 5th to Jan 10th
d. ATP 250 at Chennai Jan 5th to Jan 11th
e. ATP 250 at Brisbane Jan 4th to Jan 11th.
f. ATP 250 at Sydney Jan 12th to Jan. 18th.
g. ATP 250 at Auckland, NewZealand Jan 12th to Jan. 18th.
h. Non-ATP exhibition event - Priceline Pharmacy (formerly AAMI) Classic at Kooyong Jan 13th to Jan 16th.
i. Isolated single exhibition matches.

Here is how some notable players are planning to tune up for Australian Open 2015.

1. Novak Djokovic ------------ Mudabala and Doha (after 5 years, ND is playing in a non-exo event before AO)

2. Roger Federer ----------- Brisbane and an exo against Hewitt later in Sydney.

3. Rafa Nadal ---------- Mudabala, Doha and an exo against Verdasco in Melbourne

4. Stan Wawrinka ----- Mudabala and Chennai

5. Kei Nishikori ------- Brisbane and Kooyong Classic

6. Andy Murray ------- Mudabala and Hopman Cup

7. Thomas Berdych ----- Doha

8. Milos Raonic ------ Brisbane

9. Marin Cilic ----- (withdrew from Brisbane due to shoulder injury; doubtful for AO)

10. David Ferrer ------ Doha and Auckland

11. Grigor Dimitrov ----- Brisbane

12. Jo Tsonga ------ Kooyong Classic (withdrew from Mudabala and Hopman Cup, might not play in Kooyong)

JMDP ----- Sydney (withdrew from Brisbane due to wrist issues).

Feel free to inform the rest, if any of the above info is inaccurate or incomplete.

Brisbane field is loaded with interesting players; four from top 10 + JMDP + Grigor + Tomic + Hewitt

 

[TsarMatt]

I really can not wait for Brisbane. Expected to see the Nard Dog not participate in the Hopman Cup and the chase the ranking points at a 250 event. He really needs it for the AO. Also, how awesome would it be if Hewitt ends up facing Tomic? Happy to hear that Rusty is having an exhibition match against Federer, too, at Sydney - these two always put on a good show.

Also, extremely happy to see Delpo back, as well. I missed him.

 

[isabelle]

Hope Delpo can play at his best this year, according to what I know, he plays both Brisbane and Sydney but he'll struggle to find a decent level. We must be patient...

 

[herios]

Hope Delpo can play at his best this year, according to what I know, he plays both Brisbane and Sydney but he'll struggle to find a decent level. We must be patient...

True, HMDP is signed up for both Brisbane and Sidney. As opposed to previous years, when he got constantly criticized for playing Sydney thus compromises his results in Melbourne, this time what he needs is to play as much as he can to get into groove. Melbourne should not be a target, because he never did well there, in the first place (more than a QF) and is not realistic to have him reach such a level right away.
If he plays enough, by the Masters in March he could have some really good results, I think.

 

[herios]

I really can not wait for Brisbane. Expected to see the Nard Dog not participate in the Hopman Cup and the chase the ranking points at a 250 event. He really needs it for the AO.

Murray cannot get into the top 4 by the AO. Only Kei has a chance.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Hope Delpo can play at his best this year, according to what I know, he plays both Brisbane and Sydney but he'll struggle to find a decent level. We must be patient...

Thanks Isabelle, fixed the OP. I think it is a good idea that he plays both. Given that he is
coming back after a long time, he is more likely to go out early in one of the two at least
and so playing in both will not hurt his chances at AO this year. However, like others,
I don't expect him to go any farther than QF at best.

 

[TsarMatt]

I really can not wait for Brisbane. Expected to see the Nard Dog not participate in the Hopman Cup and the chase the ranking points at a 250 event. He really needs it for the AO.

Murray cannot get into the top 4 by the AO. Only Kei has a chance.

Since when is Murray Nard Dog?

 

[El Dude]

I'm so glad to see del Potro back up there - I hope he stays healthy.

Brisbane looks by far the toughest of the lot (which is probably why David "cheap points and titles" Ferrer isn't playing there).

 

[herios]

I'm so glad to see del Potro back up there - I hope he stays healthy.

Brisbane looks by far the toughest of the lot (which is probably why David "cheap points and titles" Ferrer isn't playing there).

When did Ferrer played Brisbane in the first place?
I should start making fun of Roger who actually plays now more than David

 

[Front242]

I'm so glad to see del Potro back up there - I hope he stays healthy.

Brisbane looks by far the toughest of the lot (which is probably why David "cheap points and titles" Ferrer isn't playing there).

When did Ferrer played Brisbane in the first place?
I should start making fun of Roger who actually plays now more than David

The only reason Roger plays "more" is because he's better and reaches the latter stage of the events he enters more often than not unlike David but he is playing way less events. Roger actually played 19 tournaments in 2014, David played 26. He just loses more often and enters another one the following week to compensate financially and in terms of ranking points.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Singles.aspx

 

[El Dude]

I'm so glad to see del Potro back up there - I hope he stays healthy.

Brisbane looks by far the toughest of the lot (which is probably why David "cheap points and titles" Ferrer isn't playing there).

When did Ferrer played Brisbane in the first place?
I should start making fun of Roger who actually plays now more than David

Sorry herios, not taking the bait.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

A few observations about the tuning up of different players.

1. Novak did not play an official ATP event before AO from 2011-2014. He has
signed up for Doha this year. 2011-13 he won AO three times in a row.
After losing in 2014, it looks like Novak is taking it more seriously now.
Also, given that he did not play enough events last year, the race to
YE #1 became too close for comfort. Throwing in a ATP 250 now would
also help him to make sure that it does not happen again in 2015.

2. Rafa was claiming last year that the conditions in Doha and AO are
quite different and hence Doha does not really help him to prepare
for AO (although the pay out at Doha is much higher than in other
tourneys of the same week). Rafa even openly stated that he would
consider playing in Brisbane instead of in Doha next year. But, for
some reason he is not following it up with action.

3. Andy made a similar claim about Doha and said that he would consider
playing in Chennai instead. Andy, at least partially lived up to his
saying. He is not playing in Doha. However, instead of playing in
ATP 250 in Chennai, he is playing in Hopman cup which will not
fetch him any ranking points. However, he is guaranteed of
at least three singles matches there independent of his results.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Marin Cilic has withdrawn from Brisbane due to shoulder injury and says he may not be
able to play at AO.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'm so glad to see del Potro back up there - I hope he stays healthy.

Brisbane looks by far the toughest of the lot (which is probably why David "cheap points and titles" Ferrer isn't playing there).

Ferrer is entering the same tournament as Nadal and Novak. Not quite a walk in the park.

 

[herios]

I'm so glad to see del Potro back up there - I hope he stays healthy.

Brisbane looks by far the toughest of the lot (which is probably why David "cheap points and titles" Ferrer isn't playing there).

When did Ferrer played Brisbane in the first place?
I should start making fun of Roger who actually plays now more than David

Sorry herios, not taking the bait.

If a top player would want some cheap points, he would sign up for Chennai, where is always the weakest field in the first week of events. Ferrer never plays there.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

My favorite Aussie young player Kokkinakis has been handed a wild card into the main draw at Brisbane International,Congrats!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

My favorite Aussie young player Kokkinakis has been handed a wild card into the main draw at Brisbane International,Congrats!

And he hit with Federer for two weeks in Dubai in December.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

When did Ferrer played Brisbane in the first place?
I should start making fun of Roger who actually plays now more than David

Sorry herios, not taking the bait.

If a top player would want some cheap points, he would sign up for Chennai, where is always the weakest field in the first week of events. Ferrer never plays there.

The problem is there more Moolah in Doha. Chennai pays the lowest of the three tourneys
in that week. There is always a tricky trade off between cheap points and prize money.

 

[El Dude]

When did Ferrer played Brisbane in the first place?
I should start making fun of Roger who actually plays now more than David

Sorry herios, not taking the bait.

If a top player would want some cheap points, he would sign up for Chennai, where is always the weakest field in the first week of events. Ferrer never plays there.

The bait is bringing Federer into the mix, which is just silly.

Anyhow, as for Ferrer, even if he wants cheap points I don't have a problem with it. It is what it is.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Nick Kyrgios and Thansai Kokknakis to team up in doubles at the Australian Open,these two have played doubles together in juniors.