The Official Australian Open 2013 thread

[merwy]

-deleted, wrong thread-

[Duncan Bell]

Not sure how Fed is outdoing Andy in the poll. Actually, I do know and it makes me sad.

How about Nishikori, can he make the semis?

[veroniquem]

Easiest draw at the AO:

-1st and 2nd round: doesn't matter (maybe no Monfils?)
- 3rd round: anyone BUT Tomic/Baghs
- 4th round: anyone BUT Dolgo/ Nishi (Janowicz?)
- R16: Gasquet, Monaco or Simon (Wawrinka not bad either)
- QF: Tipsy (toughest being Delpo imo)
- SF: Ferrer

I'm posting it now so that no one can accuse me of being biassed once Fed gets it

[Rob31]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Easiest draw at the AO:

-1st and 2nd round: doesn't matter (maybe no Monfils?)
- 3rd round: anyone BUT Tomic/Baghs
- 4th round: anyone BUT Dolgo/ Nishi (Janowicz?)
- R16: Gasquet, Monaco or Simon (Wawrinka not bad either)
- QF: Tipsy (toughest being Delpo imo)
- SF: Ferrer

I'm posting it now so that no one can accuse me of being biassed once Fed gets it

I don't think Gasquet and Simon are easy match-ups for Federer, especially on this surface.

[veroniquem]

I think current Gasquet or Simon will be a gift for any top player

[Gonzo_style]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

I think current Gasquet or Simon will be a gift for any top player

Simon for Federer???

[veroniquem]

Give me a break, will you? Simon will never beat Fed in a slam. ( Or any top player for that matter. And the alternatives are Cilic, Isner, Raonic, all more dangerous than Simon)

[Gonzo_style]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Give me a break, will you? Simon will never beat Fed in a slam. ( Or any top player for that matter. And the alternatives are Cilic, Isner, Raonic, all more dangerous than Simon)

What about AO 2011? Simon is tough player for Federer, H2H is 3-2 or 2-2, I'm not sure...

[Rob31]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Give me a break, will you? Simon will never beat Fed in a slam. ( Or any top player for that matter. And the alternatives are Cilic, Isner, Raonic, all more dangerous than Simon)

Yes, but 5-setter match between Fed and Simon in AO 2011 nevertheless.

[Rob31]

Djokovic should win this, the surface suits his game very well obviously.

[martini1]

I am gonna go bold and predict Roger will win AO and FO this year, but almost nothing else.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by Rob31

Yes, but 5-setter match between Fed and Simon in AO 2011 nevertheless.

But it was obvious Fed would prevail at the end. I don't think Simon is capable of such an upset in a slam. Now less than ever. (And it would definitely be an easy one for either Djoko or Murray. Not my fault if Fed is more vulnerable than other top players)

[SoBad]

So I am sure they are going to stick Murray into Djokovic half of the draw. I bet Djokovic and Murray will have to contend with every rising ATP star and dangerous veteran all time greats in their quarters.

[veroniquem]

I bet Djoko will get Monfils, Tomic, Dolgo, Isner, Delpo, and Murray lol. With the luck he has with draws, wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[Matheson]

2 for Tip but 0 for Tsong? Really?

[namelessone]

Originally Posted by Rob31

I don't think Gasquet and Simon are easy match-ups for Federer, especially on this surface.

Gasquet is a easy match-up for almost all of the top guys. He is flashy but only plays well in patches.

Simon is not because he doesn't give you anything with his style, he is usually consistent, a sort of skinny ferrer.

[Rob31]

Originally Posted by namelessone

Gasquet is a easy match-up for almost all of the top guys. He is flashy but only plays well in patches.

Simon is not because he doesn't give you anything with his style, he is usually consistent, a sort of skinny ferrer.

I don't think Gasquet is an easy match-up for Federer and Murray if he plays well and Simon isn't an easy match-up for Federer if he plays well.
While i agree that Simon is generally a consistent player like Ferrer, i don't think he's a sort of skinny Ferrer: he's more powerful, change the pace of the ball more often, he's a counterpuncher who can hit surprinsing flat shots from time to time when playing well (that's why Federer can struggle against him) whereas Ferrer is a grinder, an aggressive one at his best but who can't be really surprising in his shotmaking.
Ferrer is simply better mentally, physically, more regular, has a more consistent serve (much better first serve percentage) and more willpower in general.

[Big_Dangerous]

Originally Posted by joeri888

Although we are not sure whether the world will still exist, who the president of the United States will be or who will win the World Tour finals of 2012:

I Can't Wait!

Seriously, this may seem early, but I genuinely can't wait for the happy slam. Anyone with me?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNnt0lCMTa8

Obama! Obama!

[Walenty]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

I bet Djoko will get Monfils, Tomic, Dolgo, Isner, Delpo, and Murray lol. With the luck he has with draws, wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Novak hasn't gotten a tough draw in quite a while. It will probably be Murray that gets that kind of draw (he always does).

But then the tough draw will conveniently dissolve for Andy by the second week, which it always seems to do.

[underground]

Originally Posted by Walenty

Novak hasn't gotten a tough draw in quite a while. It will probably be Murray that gets that kind of draw (he always does).

But then the tough draw will conveniently dissolve for Andy by the second week, which it always seems to do.

Murray's draw always just evaporates no matter how tough it is, either that or his opponents melt in front of him.