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It is nearly here. The 1st grand slam of 2022 and the 110th edition of the Australian Open.
First things first, we will use daily threads once it starts, with the schedule of the matches on the major courts and all the Aussies. Feel free to create one.
2nd, there is a separate Novak thread. Please keep all discussion on that in that thread.
The Qualies start on Monday and will be held in Melbourne Park, which is free and open to the public. Ground passes are available and start at $49. Always great value in the first couple of days.
This will be the last tournament in singles for Sam Stosur, who I won't hear a bad word against. A Slam winner, Aussie number 1 for 441 weeks; just an outstanding career. It is also the last tournament for Dylan Alcott, who has been a wonderful ambassador for tennis and wheelchair sports. Dasha Saville (nee Gavrilova) is also back from a troubled 2 years with injury.
injures or other stuff have seen the likes of Bianca Andreescu, Pliskova, Domi Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and 3 of last years semi-finalists in the women in Jen Brady, Muchova and Serena all withdraw before a ball has been hit in anger. Plus, maybe one more superstar who must not be named.
In the men's, it is looking to be wide open outside 1 player. I am going to ignore he who must not be named here and assume he will be in Serbia watching it on tellie. Medvedev has had an outstanding couple of years on hardcourt and will be the one to beat. runner up last year, winner of the US Open and a great character. Perhaps the only person who might be able to beat him while Medvedev is in top gear is Sasha Zverev, who has his own issues with scandal. I doubt Tsitsipas will be fit enough to play, with a very dodgy elbow clearly bothering him. That leaves perhaps just a 20-time major winner left as the only player who could upset Medvedev. Nadal has never done "great" in Aus for one reason or another and he got covid in the warm-up. but he has only won 20 majors so discount him at your peril. We retired Andy Murray in 2019 so it is a surprise to see him back. Could there be a breakthrough by a member of the next gen like Sinner or FAA. Doubtful but this would be the tournament it could happen at, with Covid potentially wreaking havoc in the draw. The winner will have to be disciplined on and off the court.
It will be the first time in 24 years that neither of the Williams Sisters will make the trip down under. The baton has well and truly been passed to others. The Defending Champ in Osaka is back and has a crazy record on hardcourts in Major tournaments. but the current fav is a hometown girl and world number 1 for 109 weeks in Ashleigh Barty. For the first time, the women's semis finals will be played at night on Thursday the 27th. I expect this forum and the whole of Australia will be cheering her on and that she will dominate the night sessions, especially with the lack of star players(or just RF) on the men's side. As always the women's draw is crazy open. We have the Swiatek, the Adelaide champ from last year, playing good tennis. We have Kontaveit, who was painting lines at the end of last year and is everyone's favourite darkhorse. We have the US Open finalists/winner in Fernandez and Raducanu. We have Sabelenka, always ready to disappoint in a slam. Badosa, Halep, Muguruza the list goes on and on. I have missed so many other grand slam winners or players in top form it is scary. Special mention to Kenin, who is defending her winning points from 2020.
I will post all the WC's once they are all announced. Maybe even the draws
So, have fun predicting and reacting to non-lawyer news in the next week.
My tips
Medvedev over Nadal
Swiatek over Barty
First things first, we will use daily threads once it starts, with the schedule of the matches on the major courts and all the Aussies. Feel free to create one.
2nd, there is a separate Novak thread. Please keep all discussion on that in that thread.
Grand Slam - Novak Djokovic Saga: Australia Returns Serb
Note: This is not a thread to air your views on left/right politics, vaccination mandates or conspiracies, this is a thread to discuss Djokovic and the Australian Open saga only. Humour is accepted and encouraged :D Abuse is not. Thanks...
www.bigfooty.com
The Qualies start on Monday and will be held in Melbourne Park, which is free and open to the public. Ground passes are available and start at $49. Always great value in the first couple of days.
This will be the last tournament in singles for Sam Stosur, who I won't hear a bad word against. A Slam winner, Aussie number 1 for 441 weeks; just an outstanding career. It is also the last tournament for Dylan Alcott, who has been a wonderful ambassador for tennis and wheelchair sports. Dasha Saville (nee Gavrilova) is also back from a troubled 2 years with injury.
injures or other stuff have seen the likes of Bianca Andreescu, Pliskova, Domi Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and 3 of last years semi-finalists in the women in Jen Brady, Muchova and Serena all withdraw before a ball has been hit in anger. Plus, maybe one more superstar who must not be named.
In the men's, it is looking to be wide open outside 1 player. I am going to ignore he who must not be named here and assume he will be in Serbia watching it on tellie. Medvedev has had an outstanding couple of years on hardcourt and will be the one to beat. runner up last year, winner of the US Open and a great character. Perhaps the only person who might be able to beat him while Medvedev is in top gear is Sasha Zverev, who has his own issues with scandal. I doubt Tsitsipas will be fit enough to play, with a very dodgy elbow clearly bothering him. That leaves perhaps just a 20-time major winner left as the only player who could upset Medvedev. Nadal has never done "great" in Aus for one reason or another and he got covid in the warm-up. but he has only won 20 majors so discount him at your peril. We retired Andy Murray in 2019 so it is a surprise to see him back. Could there be a breakthrough by a member of the next gen like Sinner or FAA. Doubtful but this would be the tournament it could happen at, with Covid potentially wreaking havoc in the draw. The winner will have to be disciplined on and off the court.
It will be the first time in 24 years that neither of the Williams Sisters will make the trip down under. The baton has well and truly been passed to others. The Defending Champ in Osaka is back and has a crazy record on hardcourts in Major tournaments. but the current fav is a hometown girl and world number 1 for 109 weeks in Ashleigh Barty. For the first time, the women's semis finals will be played at night on Thursday the 27th. I expect this forum and the whole of Australia will be cheering her on and that she will dominate the night sessions, especially with the lack of star players(or just RF) on the men's side. As always the women's draw is crazy open. We have the Swiatek, the Adelaide champ from last year, playing good tennis. We have Kontaveit, who was painting lines at the end of last year and is everyone's favourite darkhorse. We have the US Open finalists/winner in Fernandez and Raducanu. We have Sabelenka, always ready to disappoint in a slam. Badosa, Halep, Muguruza the list goes on and on. I have missed so many other grand slam winners or players in top form it is scary. Special mention to Kenin, who is defending her winning points from 2020.
I will post all the WC's once they are all announced. Maybe even the draws
So, have fun predicting and reacting to non-lawyer news in the next week.
My tips
Medvedev over Nadal
Swiatek over Barty