Dates: 16/01/12 to 29/01/12
Prize Money: Runners-up $1,150,000 Winners $2,300,000
And so the first Tennis major is nearly upon us which means it's time to get our Overclockers Open threads under way. First off lets get the seedings out of the way.
Men's top 16 seeds:
1 Novak Djokovic (Ser)
2 Rafael Nadal (Spa)
3 Roger Federer (Swi)
4 Andy Murray (GB)
5 David Ferrer (Spa)
6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra)
7 Tomas Berdych (Cze)
8 Mardy Fish (US)
9 Janko Tipsarevic (Ser)
10 Nicolas Almagro (Spa)
11 Juan Martin Del Potro (Arg)
12 Gilles Simon (Fra)
13 Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukr)
14 Gael Monfils (Fra)
15 Andy Roddick (US)
16 John Isner (US)
Women's top 16 seeds:
1 Caroline Wozniacki (Den)
2 Petra Kvitova (Cze)
3 Victoria Azarenka (Blr)
4 Maria Sharapova (Rus)
5 Li Na (Chn)
6 Samantha Stosu, (Aus)
7 Vera Zvonareva (Rus)
8 Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol)
9 Marion Bartoli (Fra)
10 Andrea Petkovic (Ger)
11 Francesca Schiavone (Ita)
12 Kim Clijsters (Bel)
13 Serena Williams (US)
14 Jelena Jankovic (Ser)
15 Sabine Lisicki (Ger)
16 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Rus)
The Draw:
Link to full draw: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/ms/r1s1.html
Build Up:
So with the big 4 all in action in the Mens Draw they have all played in tournaments already with varying results.
First off we have Novak Djokovic the defending champion who spent the late Dec and early January in the Dubai invitational preparing with a dominating win in the final against Ferrer after crushing Roger Federer in the semi finals has started the year comfortably and calmly leading into the first open of the season. The main question is whether he will be able to continue to play as well as last year and maintain his stranglehold on the world number 1 spot this year.
Andy Murray, the runner up in last years final, has started his year interstingly enough for sure. After a shaky start, still stiff after the groin injury suffered at last year, his form grew with solid displays against tough opponents in Tomic and Dolgopolov and we finally get a new coach...Ivan Lendl.
This could be a pivitol move by Andy in his quest to break that Open duct as Lendl won one at the 5th time of asking and then went on to have some great successes. Now officially working full time with Murray this could be exactly what he needs to get over the line and possibly the ideal person to get the best out of Murrays game as he definitely has the arsenal.
Moving onto Nadal and Federer, who have both had indifferent starts to their seasons, a lot needs to be questioned about how ready they actually are.
Nadal has already announced his intention to take a break in February this year which indicates his body isn't quite there yet this year and also two defeats, Ferrer to begin with and then what can only be described as an absolute shock defeat to Gael Monfils. Knowing the warrior Nadal is he will no doubt come out fighting in Melbourne after a weeks preperation but his conditioning must be in question. I guess we'll see how he copes going into week 2 as he inevitably will.
Roger Federer on the other hand was defeated by Novak Djokovic in Dubai and withdrew before semi-final against Tsonga, the winner in Doha, due to a back injury. This will obviously concern Rogers camp as he aims to add another major to his impressive haul through 2012. Much will be about how he manages the injury and getting games over quickly through the early stages of the tournament, something he is notorious for doing already so shouldn't be much of an issue. But against a tougher opponent depending on the state of the injury it may defeat him.
Anyone to look out for outside the top 4:
I'm going to go with 3 players who could certainly prove to be stumbling blocks for any of the Top 4 in Melbourne.
Jo Wilfred Tsonga, great start to the season with his win in Doha and looks to be in fine fitness and form. A previous finalist here and had a fairly decent year last year, I expect him to push on. A tough Quarter Final opponent for anyone in the draw and it would be no surprise if he made the Semi Finals. To reach the final this year however it will take some luck along the way.
Juan Martin Del Potro, after a year basically ruined by injury he is on the comeback trail and starting to show signs of becoming a force in the mens game again. It's all about his recovery still for this one but with his powerful and accurate shot making he is a danger at any round in the draw and potential 4th Round opponent for the top 4. The final may be too early for him at this stage of his comeback but anything can happen with him on the court.
Finally lets not forget David Ferrer, the 5th seed. What a terrific year for him last year and he made the final in Dubai just at the turn of the year. Solid form and a solid game, he's a danger out there for sure and could potentially make the semi's or final, again if the draw is kind to him.
Predictions:
Well I actually think this has the potential to be an exciting tournament with Nadal and Federer both indifferent it may give some of the guys outside the top 4 a chance of making it, however...
I'm going for at least one of Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic reaching the final.
If they are kept apart in the draw we will see a repeat of last years final and if they are kept apart they will meet in the semi final with the winner of that tie my pick to win the title this year.
I'm hoping that Andy can finally do it this year as this is a great tournament and surface for his game. Lendl could be the defining factor to get him over that final hurdle and for the sake of his game I hope it can be his year.
Murray or Djokovic this year for me however.
Betting:
For those of us with an interest in a bit of a flutter pre-tournament here are the notable odds from Sky Bet 10/01/2012
Mens Outright:
Novak Djokovic 7/4
Rafael Nadal 11/4
Roger Federer 9/2
Andy Murray 5/1
Juan Martin Del Potro 8/1
Jo Wilfried Tsonga 28/1
Robin Soderling 40/1
Tomas Berdych 40/1
I have actually taken Murray @ 5/1 for the tournament so a £10 Stake Returns: £60.00
But looking at the odds Jo Wilfred Tsonga is tempting at 28/1 and if you take him each way £10 stake (£5 e/w) if he reaches the final you will recieve at least £75.00 back with £150.00 if he was to win.
Those odds seem fairly generous considering his form and top 4's going into the tournament.
Finally:
Should be an absolutely fantastic tournament again this year as Australia always seems to be and feel free to discuss pre-tournament stuff and any predictions of your own this year also.
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