re: Australian Open 2014

Bradley Klahn took the first set off Dimitrov. Color me surprised.

quote:

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He did take Djokovic the distance at the Aussie and Us opens last year so there's hope.

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There's hope, but like Stan said, Djokovic is "fricking strong".

Stan The Man post-match interview "he's fricking strong"

Isner out with an ankle injury. Bummer

Fed always has a tough draw. Would be great to see him have a better year. C'mon Fed

My take on the draw:

First Quadrant:
#1 seed: Rafael Nadal
#4 seed: Delpo

Other Notables:
#22 seed: Grigor
#27 seed: Paire
#25 seed: Monfils

Analysis:
Nadal actually gets a tough first round matchup against the unpredictable but highly talented hometown boy Bernard Tomic (I really like Tomic as a player...bummer he got this draw). If Nadal gets by Tomic, he'll coast in the second round, and then potentially get Gael Monfils in the third round. Monfils pushed him to three in their tune-up tourney, but I just don't see Monfils beating Nadal in a five set match. And if Nadal gets past that, he'll be good until the final of his quadrant (the quarterfinals), where he could potentially get matched up against Delpo.

I think this is going to be a breakout year for Delpo, who finished the year 2013 strong and won his tune-up tourney in Sydney. It's tough to pick against Nadal, but Delpo certainly has the ability beat him.

Sucks that Rhyne Williams drew Delpo in the first round. He has zero chance of winning that match.


Second Quadrant:
#4 seed: Andy Murray
#6 seed: Roger Federer

Other notables:
#10 seed: Tsonga
#31 seed: Verdasco

Analysis:
This quadrant is the most wide open of the bunch, I think. I have no idea what to think about Federer who can still beat anybody in a five set match not named Nadal or Djokovic, but who can also lose to just about anybody. I would peg Murray as the odds-on favorite -- and I guess he really does have to be considered that -- but he has had poor showings since coming back from his injury, and so I don't know what kind of performance we're going to get out of him. Don't be surprised if Tsonga comes out of this one.


3rd Quadrant:
#3 seed: Ferrer
#7 seed: Berdych

Other Notables:
#20 seed: Janowicz

Analysis:
Berdych has a cake draw here. He really shouldn't get tested until the quarters. There, he'l play either Ferrer or Janowicz...more than likely Ferrer. And I think he'll beat Ferrer. All things considered, this is probably the weakest quadrant.


4th Quadrant:
#2 seed: Djokovic
#8 seed: Wawrinka

Other Notables:
#9 seed: Gasquet
#23 seed: Gulbis
#28 seed: Pospisil

Analysis:
Djokovic should roll pretty easily until the fourth round where he could get matched up against the volatile but dangerous Gulbis. But I just don't see a realistic possibility that Djokovic loses until the final of this quadrant, where he could get matched up against Stan "The Man" Wawrinka. We know that Wawrinka can give him a tough match, and has come very close to beating him the last two times they've met in majors.

Wawrinka doesn't exactly have a bye till the quarters, though. He could get tested by Pospisil in round 3, and then Gasquet and his vials of cocaine in round 4. If Wawrinka stumbles before the quarterfinals, you may as well just put Djokovic semis as Stan is the only one in this quadrant that imho has a realistic possibility of beating Djoker.


Faint-hearted Predictions:
Nadal v. Tsonga
Djokovic v. Berdych

Nadal v. Djokovic

Djokovic

My only play on the night was Dimitrov-525. It hit, but Grigor made me sweat it out a bit.

Here are some of my photos from last night:

Federer dedicating a memorial


Rod Laver Arena


Djokovic after winning his match


Serena during her match


On the grounds earlier in the day

Youngster Nick Kyrgios got what I believe to be his first win in a major.

Hoping hewitt wins this 4th set just to see what the crowd would be like in the 5th

This is unbelievably entertaining. I've been glued to the tv for hours and I'm no diehard tennis fan