Australian Open 2015 News/Draw Thread

[Guest]

Well the season will ignite come Monday. The first Slam of the year is almost upon us. Please post any news or tid bits on this thread. Even qualifying news

I'll start with the seeds being announced.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/30809412

[CaledonianCraig]

Qualifying news with a British slant - Edmund and Broady through to the Second Round of qualifying.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Ferrer vs Nishi/Murray/Berdych/Raonic looks the tastiest R4 match (followed by Dimitrov). Otherwise, absence of Cilic and Tsonga has rather lowered the potential for upsets in that round. Shame.

Hope Murray gets a decent draw for a change. Good to see progress in qualifying, did Ward qualify automatically?

[HM Murdock]

I haven't checked the draws but it felt during the second part of last year than Murray and Djokovic kept being drawn together.

This stopped Murray getting a good run together and gave Djokovic a tough opponent for the round they met in.

It would be nice if they missed each other this time round.

[Guest]

Ward is in the draw MFC. After the withdrawals he snuck in!

Hopefully Broady and Edmund get in too!

[Silver]

A few interesting names in qualifying: Melzer, Darcis, Bedene (Chennai finalist), Jimmy Wang (of course), Broady, De Bakker, Berrer, Petzschner, Edmund, Kubot and Kudryavtsev.

Already out: Paire, Devvarman, Ebden, Mahut, Harrison

Edmund could play Irish McGee in Q3 if he gets through, Broady may have to handle De Bakker

[Guest]

Broady vs De Bakker would be a cracker!

[HM Murdock]

A few interesting names in qualifying: ... Jimmy Wang

I'd like to see him play Steve Johnson.

Just so I can snigger.

[CaledonianCraig]

Kyle Edmund through in three sets to the Final Qualifying Round whilst Broady is in a tight battle in the third set.

[CaledonianCraig]

Liam Broady also through to the Final Qualifying Round after winning in three sets. Sadly, the British women were less successful with defeats for Johanna Konta and Niamoh Broady.

[Silver]

A few interesting names in qualifying: ... Jimmy Wang

I'd like to see him play Steve Johnson.

Just so I can snigger.

And people say you're mature!

[Silver]

Draw's being made soon. They're just going through the WTA draw first, aided by the eternally lovely Li Na.

Men's draw now!

Projected QFs:

Novak - Milos
Stan - Kei

Berdych - Nadal
Murray - Federer

Dimi is in Murray's R16, Ferrer is with Kei.

[It Must Be Love]

Very difficult draw for Nadal; Youzhny straight up and then Rosol in Round 3- barely any chance he makes it past Week 1.

[Silver]

Nah, he should be okay. Not an easy first round at all, but I doubt Rosol will do anything. Berdych onwards is tough - the same QF lead-in he had during the 2012 tournament.

All bias aside, of the top four it looks like Federer has the toughest draw on paper - the dreaded Murray QF, plus Nadal just to make the final. Even his early rounds aren't great.

Murray needs a miracle.

[laverfan]

Very difficult draw for Nadal; Youzhny straight up and then Rosol in Round 3- barely any chance he makes it past Round 1.

Should he have been even seeded, IMBL, or do you want ATP#3 to play qualifying?

[It Must Be Love]

Ah I didn't mean Round 1, I meant week 1, typo

[summerblues]

Very good draw for Rafa; hard one for Roger, and just about average for Nole.

Horrible draw for Dimi - R4 through F he is scheduled to play Andy - Roger - Rafa - Nole.

[Haddie-nuff]

Very difficult draw for Nadal; Youzhny straight up and then Rosol in Round 3- barely any chance he makes it past Week 1.

In case you should be wrong... and dare I even suggest it as his "game is in tatters" .. (he may not even survive the knock up yet)!!!  How did  you say you like your eggs ??

[bogbrush]

Very difficult draw for Nadal; Youzhny straight up and then Rosol in Round 3- barely any chance he makes it past Week 1.

Taking it to new levels.

[slashermcguirk]

A brute of a draw for Federer in particular. Could potentially face the likes of Murray, Nadal and Djokovic with also the potenial of facing the likes of Karlovic early too.

Would be very tough to call a QF of Wawrinka vs Nishikori...........that being said Ferrer would be a tough opponent for Kei before that. Djokovic will potentially face some very big hitters on the way through the draw...............verdasco massive forehand in round 3, booming serves from Isner in round 4 and Raonic in QF !! Hope djokovic brings his best return game with him to Melbourne !

[HM Murdock]

Not a bad draw for Novak.

The serves of Isner and Raonic are a bit of a worry because he really doesn't like big servers. But the slower court will help with that.

I actually half agree with IMBL on Rafa's draw. An in-form Rafa should have no trouble, but if he's still rusty then Youzhny and Rosol can be tricky opponents.

Federer - ouch!

When was the last time a draw played out as expected though? All these routes could end up being much easier or harder than we think.

[CaledonianCraig]

Not a bad draw for Novak.



When was the last time a draw played out as expected though? All these routes could end up being much easier or harder than we think.

Exactly my take on this. Those projected opponents have their own potential minefields to negotiate before playing afore-mentioned players so nothing is set in stone. Incredibly tough draws could turn into much more comfortable routes so lets wait and see how it pans out.

[Guest]

Cakewalk to the final for Nadal. Youzhny hasn't played a good match in years and rosol has no chance on this slow surface. Berdych is the easiest possible quarter final opponent and federer and Murray will destroy each other. There are no other threats in his quarter.

Book him for the final. Let's just hope Nole is waiting for him there.

[It Must Be Love]

Not a bad draw for Novak.



When was the last time a draw played out as expected though? All these routes could end up being much easier or harder than we think.

Exactly my take on this. Those projected opponents have their own potential minefields to negotiate before playing afore-mentioned players so nothing is set in stone. Incredibly tough draws could turn into much more comfortable routes so lets wait and see how it pans out.

Agree with both of you; the ways draws pan out and who provides a great challenge can be very unpredictable.
We can only call it as we see on paper.

[sirfredperry]

Agassi always claimed - not sure if I believe him - that he never looked further than his first and then next opponent when a draw came out.
Bet he's the only one who does/did this. I'm sure the big boys look straight through to the quarters to see who they'll be getting there.
As has been said, some times the seemingly tough draws get easier due to upsets. Nobody quite knows, for example, how Rafa's going to play. For my money, I reckon he'll come out firing, which will make it tough for Andy and Rog. The winner? Djoko.

[CaledonianCraig]

Agassi always claimed - not sure if I believe him - that he never looked further than his first and then next opponent when a draw came out.
  Bet he's the only one who does/did this. I'm sure the big boys look straight through to the quarters to see who they'll be getting there.
  As has been said, some times the seemingly tough draws get easier due to upsets. Nobody quite knows, for example, how Rafa's going to play. For my money, I reckon he'll come out firing, which will make it tough for Andy and Rog. The winner? Djoko.

Well I do recall people saying Murray had a stinker of a draw at Wimbledon a couple of years ago and that opened up nicely for him and do believe the same thing happened for Roger at Wimbledon last year.

[ListenUp]

Well I do recall people saying Murray had a stinker of a draw at Wimbledon a couple of years ago and that opened up nicely for him and do believe the same thing happened for Roger at Wimbledon last year.

So they did, and so it did - you can't predict what shocks and upsets will happen along the way. Makes it all the more exciting.

Melzer v Darcis in final round of qualies - shame, they are both people I'd like to see in the main draw. If Steve wins, Jurgen would be first in line for a Lucky Loser spot should one come up - that is, if I've got it right that it's done on ranking here, not like at Wimbledon where they do a draw (4 out of the top 6 last year, and the highest ranked wasn't one of the 4)

And good luck to Liam & Kyle.

[laverfan]

Very difficult draw for Nadal; Youzhny straight up and then Rosol in Round 3- barely any chance he makes it past Week 1.

Taking it to new levels.

IMBL must be thinking of Chennai.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Dimitrov vs Goffin in R3 could be tasty. Winner of that plays Murray (probably, can't see too many dangers in Murray's first three rounds).

Overall though, you'd be surprised if any of the big guns fail to make the quarters, which makes Fed/Murray's path the toughest from there, with Djokovic having the easier one.

[Jahu]

So if Fed beats Murray, Nadal, Djoko, is he the GOAT again? (no Goats on this thread, please)

I am anticipating a Final with one of old Top 4, and a one of top 10.

Let's just all hope, for the sake of tennis world, that Djoko does not win this AO!! No one cares for him!!

[HM Murdock]

Let's just all hope, for the sake of tennis world, that Djoko does not win this AO!! No one cares for him!!

Some people do, but they're all weirdos.

[Jahu]

...except you, as you are the best fan of any tennis player here

So, your weirdo thingy, fails

[HM Murdock]

...except you, as you are the best fan of any tennis player here

So, your weirdo thingy, fails

Bless you.  But letting one's emotions be bludgeoned by a sportsman who doesn't even have the faintest clue I exist is surely at least a little weird?

Never mind though, we can all be weirdos together in the 606 assylum!

[Jahu]

Now you hit the nail on its head.

Yeah, sports fanaticism is exactly that, a little normality, a little weird stuff

[bradman99.94]

Broady and Edmund play overnight in the final qualifying round; good luck to both, really hope they get through.
I know that they’ll both get 25 points should they qualify. I’m sure they’ve already earned ranking points by reaching the final qualifying round which I’m sure I could previously find on the ranking points table on the steve g tennis website but it just has the points for qualifying; any ideas?

[Haddie-nuff]

...except you, as you are the best fan of any tennis player here

So, your weirdo thingy, fails

Bless you.  But letting one's emotions be bludgeoned by a sportsman who doesn't even have the faintest clue I exist is surely at least a little weird?

Never mind though, we can all be weirdos together in the 606 assylum!

Oh isn't this all so very touching.,,,, mwaaaaaah !!!! ......... :roll:lol

[Jahu]

HN join in, I ain't selfish like you

[Haddie-nuff]

Whoooo me.????.. Im one of your weirdos

[Jahu]

Don't start this flirting again, we agreed to behave this year

[sirfredperry]

Jahu. Quite agree. We're all completely nuts. Any sports fan, whether it be tennis or tiddlywinks, is a bit mad. We pour huge amounts of emotion into teams and people.
On the other hand, the recipients of all this adulation and anxiety cannot allow it to distract them. There was an article once on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, revered by the whole of India, under the headline "Batting for a Billion".
Asked about his thoughts on so many willing him on, Tendulksr said he couldn't think about it, otherwise he'd never make a single run.

[Haddie-nuff]

DONT THINK THIS IS WORTH OPENING A NEW THREAD FOR but thought it might be of interest that just in time for the AO Andy now has his own personal brand logo...



http://www.downthelinetennis.com/2015/01/andy-murray-personal-logo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=

[Jahu]

Sir, nicely said and very true.

I guess it will always be like that for fans and for players.

HN, there was a aeticle yestrday on Guardian about Andys logo, some did critisize it, but it seems the media people, praised it.

Otherwise this initials and the 77  for 77 years of Wimbledon wait, which I think is a bit tacky and ego soothing.

[Gerry SA]

If the draw pans out to seeding, Murray has zero chance of winning the Australian Open.

[Haddie-nuff]

[quote="Jahu"]Sir, nicely said and very true.

I guess it will always be like that for fans and for players.

HN, there was a aeticle yestrday on Guardian about Andys logo, some did critisize it, but it seems the media people, praised it.

Otherwise this initials and the 77  for 77 years of Wimbledon wait, which I think is a bit tacky and ego soothing.[/quote

Ahh well sorry I was out of the loop for a couple of days travelling in this vast land which is covered in the white stuff.at the moment... so I was unable to contribute to this font of all tennis wisdom known as 606v2 However I thought the article rather interesting in that what is depicted by each individual logo.  I too do not like it .. as already stated there it is flat, and too symmetrical for my taste and not one, imo, that immediately shouts Murray as do the other three logos which are so easily recognizable as belonging to that player.  But then different strokes for different folks eh

[Haddie-nuff]

If the draw pans out to seeding, Murray has zero chance of winning the Australian Open.

In a GS when do things ever go to plan

[CaledonianCraig]

If the draw pans out to seeding, Murray has zero chance of winning the Australian Open.

Yes like you were saying at US Open 2012 and Wimbledon 2013. I wonder who won those slams??

[Gerry SA]

If the draw pans out to seeding, Murray has zero chance of winning the Australian Open.

Yes like you were saying at US Open 2012 and Wimbledon 2013. I wonder who won those slams??

You mean when mental midget Murray lucked out by not having to face either Nadal or King Roger?

Murray has never have the talent to beat 2/3 of the top 3 in one Major.

[Haddie-nuff]

If the draw pans out to seeding, Murray has zero chance of winning the Australian Open.

Yes like you were saying at US Open 2012 and Wimbledon 2013. I wonder who won those slams??

You mean when mental midget Murray lucked out by not having to face either Nadal or King Roger?

Murray has never have the talent to beat 2/3 of the top 3 in one Major.

I have to disagree, and Im not known to be an Andy fan.  Andy has the talent, and ability. Its his application and mental approach.. so dont count the chickens whilst they are still in the henhouse

[Jahu]

Gerry, in a bit of Andy bashing mood?

Don't worry, no one is expecting Andy to win this AO, not even his ladies.

[Haddie-nuff]

Gerry, in a bit of Andy bashing mood?

Don't worry, no one is expecting Andy to win this AO, not even his ladies.

I am not putting my money on anyone Jahu I think Im pretty safe in saying that nobody knows who will win ...and a GS can turn up some surprises.. there are a few banana skins out there [/quote]

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