Australian Open Preview

The draw is out and I'm excited for the tournament! So time for the preview.

Overview - Roger Federer and Serena Williams are the defending champions (Fernando Gonzalez and Maria Sharapova, but Justine Henin had a dominating year last year and didn't play the open due to her divorce. This tournament is also the first slam for Lindsay Davenport since having a baby. Tommy Haas, Guillermo Cañas, Gael Monfils, and Mario Ančić aren't playing due to illness and injury, while almost everyone else is in. With the top half having seeds 1, 3, 5, and 7 for both draws, I feel like the top is a bit rougher than the bottom. With the tournament only 2 weeks into the season, I expect some upsets. I just hope it doesn't include my favorite players losing early!

Wishes - That someone I like makes it to the semis! That Roger and/or Justine don't win. That Novak and Ana take the titles (of course!).

Interesting 1st round matches involving seeds

• Andy Murray (9) vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - Tsonga has been climbing the rankings and had a nice run at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Andy Murray is coming back from his wrist injury and might be headed to the top 5. I hope they show this match because it also involves two of my favorite players going against each other. Those matches always happen, unfortunately.
• Jelena Jankovic (3) vs. Tamira Paszek - The young, somewhat "stout" but talented and powerful hitter going against the runner with the beautiful backhand down the line. Jelena had problems with her leg during the Hopman Cup but seemed to recover enough to play this week. Jelena should win.
• Juan Carlos Ferrero (22) vs. Nicholas Kiefer - The German has had his injury issues, but he always does well at the Aussie Open. Ferrero did quite well at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open (I think) for a "clay-courter". I'm not exactly sure how the surface will play, but it should be faster than the clay. Upset is totally possible in this case.
• Svetlana Kuznetsova (2) vs. Nathalie Dechy - I don't know what has happened to Nathalie, a top-15 player a few years ago. Her experience makes her dangerous, but Svetlana just reached the final in Sydney, so I have faith that she'll take care of her business in Melbourne.
• Dmitry Tursunov (32) vs. Xavier Malisse - Hopefully Xavier is in good shape and gives Dmitry a nice challenge. I want it to be a 5 setter, maybe. Really, if Xavier wins, it isn't much of an upset at all.
• Marcos Baghdatis (16) vs. Thomas Johansson - Marcos is a former finalist and ToJo is a former champion. ToJo seems to be a good form, and Marcos has been "lazy", so his fitness may be questioned. Basically I have no idea what shape Marcos is in. I just don't think his talent alone will win this 3 out of 5 set match. So he better be in shape, because my sister likes him.
• Stanslisas Wawrinka (26) vs. Julien Benneteau - a rising star and a late-bloomer who is a solid top-100 player. I think Stan will win, but it also shows how deep tennis is becoming.
• Julia Vakulenko (32) vs. Elena Vesnina - two "youngsters" climbing the charts. If Elena wins, it really isn't an upset. The women aren't as deep as the men, but it really is that the top 10-20 are leagues ahead of the rest, who really don't make too much of a name for themselves at the opens unless they beat Maria Sharapova (or not).
• Ai Sugiyama vs. Vera Zvonareva (23) - Ai is a veteran who knows how to play steady as she goes, and Vera can be temperamental.
• Na Li (24) vs. Severine Bremond - It's not France so really Na Li might completely obliterate Severine. But Severine is talented, I think. Or maybe not.

Other 1st round matches that I'm tracking (besides all of my favs)

• Fabrice Santoro vs. John Isner
• Ernests Gulbis vs. Marat Safin
• Nicolas Mahut vs. Jose Acasuso
• Kateryna Bondarenko vs. Aravane Rezai

The first round matches of my favorites!

Men

• Marin Cilic vs. Nicolas Almagro (27)
• Novak Djokovic (3) vs. Benjamin Becker
• Richard Gasquet (8) vs. Nick Lindahl (WC)
• Ernests Gulbis vs. Marat Safin
• Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Andy Murray (9)
• Frank Dancevic vs. Jesse Levine (WC)

Women

• Yung-Jun Chan vs. Lindsay Davenport
• Jelena Jankovic (3) vs. Tamira Paszek
• Amelie Mauresmo (18) vs. Tatiana Poutchek
• Iroda Tulyaganova vs. Sania Mirza (31)
• Dinara Safina (16) vs. Qualifier
• Sorana Cirstea vs. Ana Ivanovic (4)
• Akiko Morigami vs. Michaella Krajicek
• Meilen Tu vs. Maria Kirilenko (27)
• Vania King vs. Daniela Hantuchova (9)
• Nathalie Dechy vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (2)