RivalryofTroll
Sleep Deprived Entity
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- Feb 10, 2011
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- HSC
- 2013
- Uni Grad
- 2019
Australian Open starts on the 19th.
ATP - Men's side
Defending champion - Stan Wawrinka
Defending finalist - Rafael Nadal
Other notable champions within the draw - Rafael Nadal (1-time), Novak Djokovic (4-time) and Roger Federer (4-time)
Notable players who have pulled out - 2014 USO Champion, M. Cilic and 2008 AO runner-up, J. W. Tsonga.
Top 10 seeds
(1) Novak Djokovic
(2) Roger Federer
(3) Rafael Nadal
(4) Stan Wawrinka
(5) Kei Nishikori
(6) Andy Murray
(7) Tomas Berdych
(8) Milos Raonic
(9) David Ferrer
(10) Grigor Dimitrov
Favourites
- Simply, Novak Djokovic.
- Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are there but Djokovic will be a heavy favourite at the AO like always.
Dark Horses
- Del Potro has came back from injury and he'll most likely run into a top player in the early rounds. This could cause some damage.
- Kei Nishikori looks to strike. This man can beat any of the top 4 seeds if he's playing at his best.
- Andy Murray (he's been runner-up a few times already).
- Milos Raonic (he's developed a lethal baseline game and his serve is devastating - definitely someone to look out for).
Comments on 'form' leading up to the AO
- Djokovic lost to Karlovic in the Doha QFs - however, this is basically not too much of a sign because Karlovic can upset anyone really with that massive serve and Djokovic had a bad day.
- Nadal lost to Berrer in his opening round in Doha - well, it was his first official match after coming back from injury so let's not read too much into it. However, Nadal does seem vulnerable. If he can escape the early rounds, he might play into form.
- Federer won the ATP250 Brisbane title and was impressive throughout most of the tournament. He has ELEVEN consecutive semi-finals at the AO (streak is still active) so hoping he makes it far in the 2015 edition of the AO.
- Wawrinka won the ATP250 Chennai title - he's been showing some impressive form ever since the 2014 WTF.
- Murray seems to be coming back and after his trashing of Nadal in Abu Dhabi, he'll have a good amount of confidence coming in.
- Berdych was the runner-up in the ATP250 Doha. He's defending a semi-finals at the AO.
- Raonic was the runnner-up in the ATP250 Brisbane. He's improved his baseline game and will definitely be a threat.
- Ferrer won the ATP250 Doha title - he's regaining some form and will look to make it to the QFs at the very least.
Realistic predictions?
I think it's Novak's chance to get the record of most Aussie opens in the Open Era (he's tied with Federer and Agassi as of now with 4 titles). He comes in the heavy favourite.
I don't think Stan will get upset in the early rounds but he most likely won't defend his title (I predict a loss in the QFs or SFs).
I'd love Roger to win #18 but we'll have to see. He's getting old so he won't be insanely consistent throughout the tournament (the main goal is to escape the early rounds).
Expecting Nadal to reach the QFs or SFs at the very least.
2015 champion prediction - Novak Djokovic
[HR][/HR]
WTA - Women's side
Defending champion - Li Na (retired - i.e. not defending title)
Defending finalist - Dominika Cibulkova (big points at stake for her)
Top 16 seeds
(1) Serena Williams (USA #1)
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS #2)
(3) Simona Halep (ROU #3)
(4) Petra Kvitova (CZE #4)
(5) Ana Ivanovic (SRB #5)
(6) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #6)
(7) Eugenie Bouchard (CAN #7)
(8) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN #8)
(9) Angelique Kerber (GER #9)
(10) Ekaterina Makarova (RUS #10)
(11) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #11)
(12) Flavia Pennetta (ITA #12)
(13) Andrea Petkovic (GER #13)
(14) Sara Errani (ITA #14)
(15) Jelena Jankovic (SRB #15)
(16) Lucie Safarova (CZE #16)
Favourites?
Based on warm-up tournament form - I'd go with either Sharapova or Halep.
Sharapova and Ivanovic displayed some awesome form in the Brisbane final (with Maria edging Ana for the title).
However, Serena will always be the favourite if she can escape the early rounds (however, her Hopman cup form was slightly worrying if you're her fan).
Ultimately, the WTA is much more unpredictable compared to the ATP so we'll have to see.
ATP - Men's side
Defending champion - Stan Wawrinka
Defending finalist - Rafael Nadal
Other notable champions within the draw - Rafael Nadal (1-time), Novak Djokovic (4-time) and Roger Federer (4-time)
Notable players who have pulled out - 2014 USO Champion, M. Cilic and 2008 AO runner-up, J. W. Tsonga.
Top 10 seeds
(1) Novak Djokovic
(2) Roger Federer
(3) Rafael Nadal
(4) Stan Wawrinka
(5) Kei Nishikori
(6) Andy Murray
(7) Tomas Berdych
(8) Milos Raonic
(9) David Ferrer
(10) Grigor Dimitrov
Favourites
- Simply, Novak Djokovic.
- Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are there but Djokovic will be a heavy favourite at the AO like always.
Dark Horses
- Del Potro has came back from injury and he'll most likely run into a top player in the early rounds. This could cause some damage.
- Kei Nishikori looks to strike. This man can beat any of the top 4 seeds if he's playing at his best.
- Andy Murray (he's been runner-up a few times already).
- Milos Raonic (he's developed a lethal baseline game and his serve is devastating - definitely someone to look out for).
Comments on 'form' leading up to the AO
- Djokovic lost to Karlovic in the Doha QFs - however, this is basically not too much of a sign because Karlovic can upset anyone really with that massive serve and Djokovic had a bad day.
- Nadal lost to Berrer in his opening round in Doha - well, it was his first official match after coming back from injury so let's not read too much into it. However, Nadal does seem vulnerable. If he can escape the early rounds, he might play into form.
- Federer won the ATP250 Brisbane title and was impressive throughout most of the tournament. He has ELEVEN consecutive semi-finals at the AO (streak is still active) so hoping he makes it far in the 2015 edition of the AO.
- Wawrinka won the ATP250 Chennai title - he's been showing some impressive form ever since the 2014 WTF.
- Murray seems to be coming back and after his trashing of Nadal in Abu Dhabi, he'll have a good amount of confidence coming in.
- Berdych was the runner-up in the ATP250 Doha. He's defending a semi-finals at the AO.
- Raonic was the runnner-up in the ATP250 Brisbane. He's improved his baseline game and will definitely be a threat.
- Ferrer won the ATP250 Doha title - he's regaining some form and will look to make it to the QFs at the very least.
Realistic predictions?
I think it's Novak's chance to get the record of most Aussie opens in the Open Era (he's tied with Federer and Agassi as of now with 4 titles). He comes in the heavy favourite.
I don't think Stan will get upset in the early rounds but he most likely won't defend his title (I predict a loss in the QFs or SFs).
I'd love Roger to win #18 but we'll have to see. He's getting old so he won't be insanely consistent throughout the tournament (the main goal is to escape the early rounds).
Expecting Nadal to reach the QFs or SFs at the very least.
2015 champion prediction - Novak Djokovic
[HR][/HR]
WTA - Women's side
Defending champion - Li Na (retired - i.e. not defending title)
Defending finalist - Dominika Cibulkova (big points at stake for her)
Top 16 seeds
(1) Serena Williams (USA #1)
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS #2)
(3) Simona Halep (ROU #3)
(4) Petra Kvitova (CZE #4)
(5) Ana Ivanovic (SRB #5)
(6) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #6)
(7) Eugenie Bouchard (CAN #7)
(8) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN #8)
(9) Angelique Kerber (GER #9)
(10) Ekaterina Makarova (RUS #10)
(11) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #11)
(12) Flavia Pennetta (ITA #12)
(13) Andrea Petkovic (GER #13)
(14) Sara Errani (ITA #14)
(15) Jelena Jankovic (SRB #15)
(16) Lucie Safarova (CZE #16)
Favourites?
Based on warm-up tournament form - I'd go with either Sharapova or Halep.
Sharapova and Ivanovic displayed some awesome form in the Brisbane final (with Maria edging Ana for the title).
However, Serena will always be the favourite if she can escape the early rounds (however, her Hopman cup form was slightly worrying if you're her fan).
Ultimately, the WTA is much more unpredictable compared to the ATP so we'll have to see.
