Davedenko might be the favorite now to win Australia

[Riosfan]

This guy is on fire now, it might be his time. He has clearly raised his game to a new higher level and the best players in the world cannot deal with it, as proven in Shanghai and Doha this week. Federer and Nadal have been stymied. Davydenko might be entering into his pinnacle now, where he will dominate the ATP for a short time. I know a lot of people don't think he can do it at a slam over two weeks and five sets, but these same people never expected Davydenko to be doing what he's doing right now. We'll see.

 

[Telepatic]

As much as hes playing good tennis, I dont think he has what it takes to hang around in best of 5 matches especially against top players both mentally and physically.Though I like him as a player/guy and think he deserves at least 1 GS in his career.

 

[veroniquem]

Nadal has been stymied? He bageled Davy in the first set and had 2 match points in the 2nd, he even broke Davy in the 3rd. It's true he didn't win at the end but stymied? I don't think so!!! And he would have a better chance to come back in a best of 5 match...

 

[tacou]

he's made a few slam semis, losing (choking) against Fed, so I don't think 5 setters will be that much of a factor as long as he keeps playing his game. however, beating Fed at the AO is much different than in Doha, though I believe Davy definitely has the capability to do it. Will he? I hope.

 

[TMF]

he's made a few slam semis, losing (choking) against Fed, so I don't think 5 setters will be that much of a factor as long as he keeps playing his game. however, beating Fed at the AO is much different than in Doha, though I believe Davy definitely has the capability to do it. Will he? I hope.

Since Roger already met Davy at the AO, I think it's good to have him in Nadal's quarter draw this time. Let Nadal have some fun too since Roger had his in 2006.;-)

 

[Cyan]

No.... He has said that the bo3 suits him better than bo5...

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

He himself said he wouldnt win a slam til they were best of 3

 

[dlk]

No not close to a favorite, but he won't be no Cinderella Story if he does win. I'd like to see him win it, and he's playing better than ever, I believe.

 

[kishnabe]

Well Murray couldn't win a slap even though he won abu shabi and doha last year. The same case with Davydenko regardless of form. Grand Slam is a great place, where anyone can wake up and make upsets for news line or some can sleep to find motivation snap down on him. Davydenko is on fire no doubt he isn't the favourite. It the guys with the experience of winning slams: Federer, Nadal, Maybe Djok and Rod!

 

[bluetrain4]

I'd say moreso than ever before he's a "serious contender," but really not the "favorite." Yes, his results have been good against the top guys these past 2.5 months, but he's never even been a Slam finalist.

 

[JayChu]

Agree with bluetrain4. Although he could make it to the AO finals, I don't think he will win it all because he hasn't had the experiences of being in a slam final to deal with all the pressure and the emotions of being so close to a GS title.

Until he does, then he might be able to win one. For now, he is just a contender, but not a fav.

 

[whoopinstick]

I want him to win, or more a better answer; he deserves to win.

 

[OddJack]

The only thing he was missing so far was a bandwagon, and now he has it.

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

He himself said he wouldnt win a slam til they were best of 3

If that is true its sounds like he has sold himself on the idea that he can not maintain a high level of play for 5 possible sets. Strange for a professional athlete to set up a mind block like that.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

If that is true its sounds like he has sold himself on the idea that he can not maintain a high level of play for 5 possible sets. Strange for a professional athlete to set up a mind block like that.

Well, he's also known for trying to lower expectations

 

[stanfordtennis alum]

i see him making the semi's but it's tough to see him playing at a high level for 2 weeks in best of 5 set matches..

 

[veroniquem]

Well Murray couldn't win a slap even though he won abu shabi and doha last year. The same case with Davydenko regardless of form. Grand Slam is a great place, where anyone can wake up and make upsets for news line or some can sleep to find motivation snap down on him. Davydenko is on fire no doubt he isn't the favourite. It the guys with the experience of winning slams: Federer, Nadal, Maybe Djok and Rod!

I would say Roddick is an outsider (just like Davy). The main favorites are Fed, Nadal, Djoko and to a lesser extent Delpo. I say to a lesser extent because I don't think Delpo will be as comfortable at AO as on a fast hard court.

 

[veroniquem]

Well, he's also known for trying to lower expectations

True. He kept saying he was sick and tired in Doha. We could all see the result of that!

 

[Tennis_Monk]

I like his game but he isnt my pick to win AO. In fact he wont even make the semis of AO in my book.

 

[JeMar]

He himself said he wouldnt win a slam til they were best of 3

He also said he had no chance against Federer at the WTF, and then that he had no chance against Nadal. It's just him lowering expectations.

 

[edberg505]

Nadal has been stymied? He bageled Davy in the first set and had 2 match points in the 2nd, he even broke Davy in the 3rd. It's true he didn't win at the end but stymied? I don't think so!!! And he would have a better chance to come back in a best of 5 match...

But since Davydenko is a weak era clown who just bows down shouldn't Nadal be double bageling him with no problem? I don't think they've played each other in a slam. I'd be interested in seeing how Davydenko does then.

 

[boris becker 1]

as Murray said dont think fed is too concerned ditto with Murray losing to Robredo.


Fed and Murray are the favourites

 

[Feña14]

I wouldn't say so.

I remember in 2004 when Nalbandian was the one on fire and had lots of people backing him to win in Australia, Federer came out and beat him, won the tournament, and the rest is history.

Federer was distraught after losing in last years final, he wants this one so I can't look further than him at the moment.

 

[egn]

I would say Roddick is an outsider (just like Davy). The main favorites are Fed, Nadal, Djoko and to a lesser extent Delpo. I say to a lesser extent because I don't think Delpo will be as comfortable at AO as on a fast hard court.

Del Po did make the semis at France and did very strongly in the slow hardcourt master series last year. Beating Nadal actually. Del Po is very well in contention for the AO.

 

[joeri888]

No. He isn't. You shouldn't make the same mistake as last year with Murray. Until they prove they are up for it, guys like Davydenko, Murray will never be the favourite over Federer or Nadal.

 

[Gen]

No, he isn't. Isn't durable enough to last through a 5-setter. His best slam performance dates back to 2005 (RG semifinal). His beating Nadal in Doha is all Nadal's fault: he had two break points in the 2nd set, 2 match points in the 2nd set tiebreak and was a break up in the 3d set. Never converted any of these points.

 

[mandy01]

No, he isn't. Isn't durable enough to last through a 5-setter. His best slam performance dates back to 2005 (RG semifinal). His beating Nadal in Doha is all Nadal's fault: he had two break points in the 2nd set, 2 match points in the 2nd set tiebreak and was a break up in the 3d set. Never converted any of these points.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL....Yeah right! :lol:

 

[RCizzle65]

His best slam performance dates back to 2005 (RG semifinal).

He made the SF in 07 as well, and semi's at the US Open in 06 and 07......
But I do agree with everyone saying not to take these best of 3's out of context, especially with how Federer treats these things nowadays. He is a contender, I wouldn't say a favorite though, those go to the top 3 (all have won before in this slam, Federer not on the same surface but he made a semi while sick, and a final with a bad serving day he took to 5 sets), maybe Del Potro, but it depends how he does with the heat, and it's been awhile since someone won back to back slams after their first slam win.

 

[mctennis]

He made some shots in London and recently that I think amazed himself. he is on fire and if he keeps playing like he has look out #1 and #2.

 

[sh@de]

No, he isn't. Isn't durable enough to last through a 5-setter. His best slam performance dates back to 2005 (RG semifinal). His beating Nadal in Doha is all Nadal's fault: he had two break points in the 2nd set, 2 match points in the 2nd set tiebreak and was a break up in the 3d set. Never converted any of these points.

But Davy made the semi's of the FO in 2007 and the USO in 06 and 07. How does it date back to 2005 again remind me?

 

[dropshot winner]

No, he isn't. Isn't durable enough to last through a 5-setter. His best slam performance dates back to 2005 (RG semifinal). His beating Nadal in Doha is all Nadal's fault: he had two break points in the 2nd set, 2 match points in the 2nd set tiebreak and was a break up in the 3d set. Never converted any of these points.

It seems some Nadal fans know every detail about their hero but nothing about tennis.

 

[AJK1]

Didn't he lose easily to someone recently?

 

[dropshot winner]

Didn't he lose easily to someone recently?

Davydenko is on a winning streak since he lost to Soderling in early November. (7-0 against top10 players)

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Davydenko is on a winning streak since he lost to Soderling in early November. (7-0 against top10 players)

nope. Djokovic in london.

 

[dropshot winner]

nope. Djokovic in london.

Really? I missed that, I though he won all of his matches there.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Really? I missed that, I though he won all of his matches there.

zNo. Noone won every match. He lost 6-4 4-6 5-7 in a fantastic match. In fact, vouchiong for RR format, neither finalist won their 1st match.

 

[NamRanger]

The only thing he was missing so far was a bandwagon, and now he has it.

At least he deserves his unlike a certain Scott I know of.

 

[marpiw]

I think that Davy will reach the Australian Open final and there I find two possibilities,or he has Novak Djokovic or Juan Martin del Potro as oponents...these three players have done a big upgrade in their play in the past season...not so Federer and Nadal who were playing worse in that same season...So Davy will go to the final match with no doubt...

 

[marpiw]

No, he isn't. Isn't durable enough to last through a 5-setter. His best slam performance dates back to 2005 (RG semifinal). His beating Nadal in Doha is all Nadal's fault: he had two break points in the 2nd set, 2 match points in the 2nd set tiebreak and was a break up in the 3d set. Never converted any of these points.

I profoundly disagree with you, Nadal lost all those points because he had Davydenko in front of him (one of the main players which made a tremendous upgrade las season).Nadal had nothing new to offer in the match and Davydenko had a perfect timing even if he lost as he lost the first set,he recovered marvelously in the second and played a nice third set.So all was due to Davydenko's endurance...not to Nadal's fault...

 

[BHud]

Shanghai and Doha aren't majors...completely different animals. The majors are where the big dogs run!

 

[coloskier]

Davy's biggest problem will always be stamina in a best 3 of 5 set match. He can hang on for a few rounds, but eventually gets beat for no other reason than he can't outlast the other guys once he gets in to the QF's.

 

[JankovicFan]

I understood it to be well known that Davydenko is not a 5 set player, and his record shows that.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

I know Davy at 1 is unlikely (Though Murray really isn't, and Djo hasn't won a slam in 2 years) but I think that a man who has not won a slam but gets to #1 has a better claim to the spot than the other way. There is a genuine reason that could happen with style of play and stamina, not just Safinaishly collapsing under pressure.

 

[RafitoGoat]

I don't think Davey would have been Rafito if that Doha final was best of 5. What is Rafito's record in slam matches where he wins the 1st set? Undefeated I think.

 

[RafitoGoat]

I don't think Davey would have beaten Rafito if that Doha final was best of 5.

What is Rafito's record in slam matches where he wins the 1st set? Undefeated I think.

 

[Cyan]

I think either Roddick or Nole will win the AO.

 

[sureshs]

Davy will baldly go where no man has gone before.

 

[VashTheStampede]

Shanghai and Doha aren't majors...completely different animals. The majors are where the big dogs run!

But there were big dogs in London, which is arguably the biggest non-slam tournament. I don't think he's the favorite, but he's definitely one of them. I for one hope he wins it.

 

[jackson vile]

This guy is on fire now, it might be his time. He has clearly raised his game to a new higher level and the best players in the world cannot deal with it, as proven in Shanghai and Doha this week. Federer and Nadal have been stymied. Davydenko might be entering into his pinnacle now, where he will dominate the ATP for a short time. I know a lot of people don't think he can do it at a slam over two weeks and five sets, but these same people never expected Davydenko to be doing what he's doing right now. We'll see.

When are you guysing going to wake up and grow up?

It was the off season!

Davydenko will win 0 Slams this year, get ready you head is about to spin when you watch Davy and company get their @$$ handed to them this season by the top 4 players

 

[LiveForever]

At least he deserves his unlike a certain Scott I know of.

And why is that? At one point Murray was dominating everyone in best of 3 set matches just like Davydenko. Davydenko is just like Murray, he cant bring his A game for the slam as witnessed by his performances in the past. Lets see if Davydenko can even make a GS final like Murray did.