First round
Nadal over Tomic in 3, Kokkinakis over Sijsling in 4
Kamke over Sock in 5, Monfils over Harrison in 4
Hewitt over Seppi in 4, Haase over Young in 5
Lajovic over Pouille in 5, Nishikori over Matosevic in 5
Raonic over Gimeno-Traver in 3, Gojowczyk over Hanescu in 4
Lu over Wang in 4, Dimitrov over Klahn in 4
Dancevic over Paire in 4, Kyrgios over Becker in 4
Smyczek over Bautista Agut in 5, Del Potro over Williams in 3
Murray over Soeda in 3, Odesnik over Millot in 5
Llodra over Berrer in 5, Lopez over Devvarman in 4
Kohlschreiber over Bedene in 3, Przysiezny over Zeballos in 4
Rola over Delbonis in 4, Isner over Klizan in 3
Tsonga over Volandri in 3, Bellucci over Reister in 5
Cilic over Granollers in 4, Brands over Simon in 3
Verdasco over Zhang in 3, Stakhovsky over Gabashvili in 4
Stepanek over Kavcic in 4, Federer over Duckworth in 3
Berdych over Nedovyesov in 3, De Schepper over Wu in 5
Dzumhur over Hajek in 5, Karlovic over Dodig in 4
Anderson over Vesely in 4, Sousa over Thiem in 5
Roger-Vasselin over Berlocq in 3, Haas over Garcia-Lopez in 4
Youzhny over Struff in 4, F. Mayer over Kudla in 5
Ramos over Andujar in 5, Janowicz over Thompson in 4
Chardy over Huta Galung in 3, Dolgopolov over Berankis in 5
Johnson over Mannarino in 5, Ferrer over Gonzalez in 3
Wawrinka over Golubev in 3, Falla over Kukushkin in 5
Mahut over Ebden in 4, Pospisil over Groth in 4
Rosol over Robredo in 4, Benneteau over Carreno Busta in 5
Kubot over Davydenko in 4, Gasquet over Guez in 3
Bogomolov over Fognini in 4, Nieminen over Sela in 4
Querrey over Giraldo in 5, Gulbis over Monaco in 4
Tursunov over Russell in 3, Istomin over Baghdatis in 4
L. Mayer over Montanes in 4, Djokovic over Lacko in 3
Second round
Nadal over Kokkinakis in 3
Monfils over Kamke in 4
Hewitt over Haase in 3
Nishikori over Lajovic in 3
Raonic over Gojowczyk in 3
Dimitrov over Lu in 5
Dancevic over Kyrgios in 5
Del Potro over Smyczek in 3
Murray over Odesnik in 3
Lopez over Llodra in 4
Kohlschreiber over Przysiezny in 4
Isner over Rola in 4
Tsonga over Bellucci in 3
Cilic over Brands in 5
Verdasco over Stakhovsky in 4
Federer over Stepanek in 4
Berdych over De Schepper in 3
Karlovic over Dzumhur in 4
Sousa over Anderson in 4
Haas over Roger-Vasselin in 4
Youzhny over F. Mayer in 4
Ramos over Janowicz in 5
Chardy over Dolgopolov in 5
Ferrer over Johnson in 4
Wawrinka over Falla in 3
Mahut over Pospisil in 4
Benneteau over Rosol in 3
Gasquet over Kubot in 3
Nieminen over Bogomolov in 4
Gulbis over Querrey in 4
Tursunov over Istomin in 4
Djokovic over L. Mayer in 3
Third round
Nadal over Monfils in 3
Hewitt over Nishikori in 5
Raonic over Dimitrov in 5
Del Potro over Dancevic in 3
Murray over Lopez in 3
Kohlschreiber over Isner in 5
Tsonga over Cilic in 4
Federer over Verdasco in 4
Berdych over Karlovic in 3
Haas over Sousa in 4
Youzhny over Ramos in 4
Ferrer over Chardy in 5
Wawrinka over Mahut in 3
Gasquet over Benneteau in 3
Nieminen over Gulbis in 4
Djokovic over Tursunov in 3
Fourth round
Nadal over Hewitt in 4
Del Potro over Raonic in 4
Kohlschreiber over Murray in 5
Tsonga over Federer in 5
Haas over Berdych in 5
Youzhny over Ferrer in 4
Wawrinka over Gasquet in 4
Djokovic over Nieminen in 3
Quarterfinals
Nadal over Del Potro in 4
Tsonga over Kohlschreiber in 4
Haas over Youzhny in 5
Djokovic over Wawrinka in 4
Semifinals
Nadal over Tsonga in 4
Djokovic over Haas in 3
Final
Djokovic over Nadal in 5
Comments and your own predictions are appreciated!
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Just watched Roger’s immediate post match interview. He described the conditions as “toasty” and also said that the court is playing faster this year. The score: 6/4 6/4 6/2.
Amazing how Rafa gets pilloried for stating the obvious. So, Roger now says the courts are playing faster THIS YEAR. Meaning, last year they were fast and this year they are faster. So Rafa is right in his assessment that the courts are very fast, notwithstanding the fact that he was not there last year to experience the “upgrade”.
Go to Roger x- blog and see how he is being called a whiner for saying exactly what Roger is saying. And of course Rafa’s fans are whiners too for reporting what Rafa said…….
#WeShallOvercome
#TheTruthIsOutThere
let’s see what Fed is able to do on ‘faster courts’ . So much of talk about slower courts leading to fed’s undoing.
Why I remember just last week that I said the Aussie courts would play fast based on the lead in tournies.
#YoureWelcome
#Humb1e
#RafasAlwaysRight
hawkeye63 says:
January 14, 2014 at 1:22 pm
And I called you a nutter (or words to that effect…………I know, I know.
what happened to Tomic?
“It was sad,” said Tomic, who was grimacing in pain in the first game of the first set before eventually retiring after a set against Nadal. “I felt it yesterday. I took a day off after the final in Sydney. I started hitting. I went for one ball and felt pain in my left leg. I thought it was going to be OK. I went for one ball on the backhand and just felt it…I just felt like, if I continue playing, who knows, something worse can happen, cannot play maybe for a few months. I don’t want to do that.”
I resemble that remark!!!
Andy Murray among stars to criticise playing in ‘inhumane’ heat at Australian Open as temperatures soar
Temperatures top out at 42.2 degrees Celsius at 5.45pm local time, just after Andy Murray begins his first-round match against Japan’s Go Soeda
Andy Murray among stars to criticise playing in ‘inhumane’ heat at Australian Open as temperatures soar
Feeling the heat: Temperatures in Melbourne are topping 40 degrees
Andy Murray has warned the Australian Open it risks damaging the reputation of tennis after players were forced to play in searing heat in Melbourne.
By Telegraph Sport, and agencies 1:43 PM GMT 14 Jan 2014
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/andymurray/10571284/Andy-Murray-among-stars-to-criticise-playing-in-inhumane-heat-at-Australian-Open-as-temperatures-soar.html
Ahem, Roger Fed demures:
Most competitors, though, followed Roger Federer’s line that, although conditions were tough, they were the same for both players. “It’s just a mental thing,” the Swiss said, albeit before Dancevic collapsed. “If you’ve trained hard enough your entire life or the last few weeks and you believe you can do it and come through it, there’s no reason. If you can’t deal with it, you throw in the towel.”
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/14/australian-open-slammed-inhumane-conditions-heat-tennis
#LookMaNoSweat
#GOATDon’tSweat
^^^
Dancevic described the conditions as “inhumane”, adding: “Having players with so many problems and complaining to the tournament that it’s too hot to play, until somebody dies.”
Where does that leave the enforcement of the time between points?……….20 seconds in slams!
Fed said the heat is just a mental thing.
Well it clearly is, a mental thing………judging by Ms Sloane Stephens’ comments:
http://espn.go.com/tennis/aus14/story/_/id/10291656/australian-open-heat-wave-causing-major-meltowns
“The heat didn’t affect everyone, though. Sloane Stephens, a first-round winner, said her smartphone helped her prepare for the latest dog days Down Under.
“I just expected it would be hot,” she said. “But, I mean, I kept looking at my phone. Mine is in Fahrenheit. I’m like, 108 Fahrenheit. Why is that happening? Then I kind of like Googled 45 centigrade, like, just to see what’s happening.”
What??
Let’s face it, you gotta be mental to come up with gems like that!
#Imaletyoufinish
Looking at the Day 3 OOP I am like, “Yawn!” I won’t bother watching any of this treacle on the men’s side. WTA offerings look a lot more compelling.
That’s what you get when produce such a lopsided draw. All the action is in the Top half!
Ebden-Pospisil night session hahahaha
The only people attending that match are those who think it’s a Popsicle promotion.
#GoVashy
Fed’s presser:
Q. You never seem to be a guy who looks at his coach that much. Is that going to change that much with Stefan?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I realize after a set I didn’t look up once yet. I better check if he’s actually sitting there. I did see them. He was wearing sunglasses. Okay, he is there.
No, I don’t look up much. I stopped doing that way back when because just I said you just can’t be dependent on these entire looks all the time. Being coached from the sidelines, that’s not how I grew up.
I feel like it’s like in school, you know, you do your work. At home, you get ready for the test, and then the test, you don’t cheat and you try to do your best score.
I see it the same way in tennis. Clearly, you know, when I did look up, I, you know, it’s nice seeing him sitting there. Even if he wouldn’t be my coach it would be nice. Plus he’s in my corner, it’s great.
check out MATOSEVIC’s presser
Here’s a transcript of his interview for anyone who wants to read it. He is a colorful character. http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2014-01-14/201401141389680029970.html
So Juan Martin Delpotro has made his statement: he is prepared to cheat to win his second Slam. Where is the umbrage which engulfed Raonic when he did to Delpo what Delpo did to the young man today? Raonic was pilloried all over the blogs but I see nothing about Delpo. Delpo played a double bounce ball, it was clear and he knew it.
Raonoc’s excuse was he is young and inexperienced. He was hounded into a public apology. Has Delpo apologised yet? Are people that desperate for a challenge to the Big 3 that they will overlook Delpo’s cheating?
I have lost all respect for Delpo. He is nothing but a bare-faced cheat.
calm down
^^^Oh please, not you as well. You think it was okay what Delpo did? Soon, I will calm down; Delpo? He will still be a cheat. Can you imagine the brouhaha if it had been Rafa who had done what Delpo did? He went on and on about Raonic for crying out loud after the Montreal incident.
Delpo needs to man up and apologise.
video?
i just hope you aren’t comparing a double-bounce to touching the net. DO YOU?
Ricky’s just upset because Milos is Canadian.
The difference is that Delpo KNEW it was a double bounce.
Milos knew he touched the net but he didn’t necessarily know he touched it while the ball was still live.
I hope you don’t compare knowing you are in the wrong with not knowing you are in the wrong, DO YOU?
#HypotheticallyYesTechnicallyNo
Ricky,
I watched the match, I did not record it. The incident is all over social media and I am sure will be on you-tube soon so you can view ti as proof if you do not believe that it actually happened.
I am comparing the intent behind both actions, which was to profit from an illegal action in a match. In both instances the umpires did not see the incident and Raonic (then) and Delpo (now) chose not to own up to the infraction to gain advantage. The unwritten rule is that players should call the infraction themselves, not wait for the Umpire. Neither did. Call it a temporary moral failure, it happens. Raonic, young as he is, saw the error of hos ways and apologised. Delpo, in spite of being much more experienced, has yet to apologise, to a much younger opponent, who will forever be seared by this.
The actions are different, the intent is the same, so yes, I am comparing the two.
i’m just saying in general it is VERY easy to know if you touched the net. It can be almost impossible running and lunging at full speed to know if it was a double-bounce or not.
Raonic does not get the benefit of the doubt…because there is no doubt. There is video evidence of him reacting negatively to his touching of the net. Delpo is innocent until proven guilty.
You know, just dawned on me that is exactly how Delpo would plead: I am innocent until proven guilty by incontrovertible video evidence.
#WinningIsEverything
Oh it’s pretty easy to tell when the ball bounces twice and even Delpo’s own comments suggests he knew.
#Pot
#Kettle
#Black
@hawkeye63, don’t look now but something spooky’s going on over at Roger-x blog. Ben Pronin’s responding to your posts (he is calling your name) but your posts are not appearing anywhere on the blog! Clearly your posts are being censored, so why is Pronin responding to them publicly? Does it mean he is a moderator on that site because clearly he has access to moderated posts?
ritb, I’m aware! 🙂
Apologies to Ricky and augusta08 for the un-redacted transcript from Roger-X.com but I can’t resist, no?
Ben Pronin Says:
So far, Djokovic’s first round match was tougher than Nadal’s.
January 14th, 2014 at 8:12 am
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Top notch insight Ben. You must play tennis.
January 14th, 2014 at 8:48 am
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Has Federer ever had a tough first round draw in a major? Ever?
January 14th, 2014 at 9:07 am
Ben Pronin Says:
Hawkeye, yes Federer has had tough first round matches. Andreev 2010 in Ausralia? Falla at Wimbledon? Feliciano Lopez at the French in 2011? Just a few that come to mind.
January 14th, 2014 at 9:29 am
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hey Ben Pronin, I am seriously impressed!
I didn’t know you could see moderated posts. Do you need special glasses or were you just born this way?
January 14th, 2014 at 9:07 am
Ben Pronin Says:
Hawkeye, yes Federer has had tough first round matches. Andreev 2010 in Ausralia? Falla at Wimbledon? Feliciano Lopez at the French in 2011? Just a few that come to mind.
January 14th, 2014 at 11:29 am
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Haha, Feli on clay? Really? Feli was 139 in the world at the time.
C’mon Andreev and Falla? Both players were outside the top 100 a few months after both meetings.
You didn’t read my question. I was referring to his first round draw.
Do yourself a favour and stop worrying about Nadal. Focus on players you enjoy watching. It’s better for your mental state.
(At least I know you can see this post even if it never sees the public light of day, no?)
Stay cool Ben Pronin.
January 14th, 2014 at 11:40 am
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
So Ben and Sean can preview moderated posts. Skeezer too?
Sure this is not Roger-X?Lol. Hilarious!
#RogersFanClub
January 14th, 2014 at 11:45 am
Ben Pronin Says:
Hawkeye, the point is they turned out to be tough matches. Falla almost won. Lopez had almost beaten Federer about a week before in Madrid. And Andreev was a point from being up 2 sets to 1.
The point is, sometimes the draw doesn’t play out the way we expect it to on paper. People thought Tomic would be a tough out. Unfortunately, he had to retire. So despite the “cake draw” Djokovic got, he had a tougher first round match than Nadal.
Why are you telling me to not focus on Nadal when you’re so focused on Federer. I didn’t even mention him but you decided to bring him up. Hypocrit.
January 14th, 2014 at 1:47 pm
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I guess I’m never TRULY moderated because at least my intended audience ALWAYS read my posts !Classic!
January 14th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Ben Pronin is obsessed with Rafa and me.
#Humb1e
January 14th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
James Says:
Hawkeye’s comments haven’t appeared yet, so it seems like Ben Pronin is talking to himself 😉
January 14th, 2014 at 2:34 pm
hawkeye Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I am the ghost formerly known as hawkeye.
#RIP
January 14th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
is Ben Pronin being serious?
ANDREEV? LOL.
FALLA on GRASS? Hahahah.
no it isn’t
Wow. If you cross your eyes, that almost looks like a scoretracker post. Or maybe you don’t even need to.
Scaring myself now.
That’s it, I’M OFF THIS THREAD, GOT IT?????
#TT
Hahaha! Hilarious! Loved the exchanges. Weird but fun…………….
Yes I’m weird. No apologies for that I’m sorry.
Oh wait…
They’ve since published some of my posts (except for the funnier ones).
I love reading the Fedbot sites out there, thoroughly entertaining. Waiting for the entertain-o-meter to ratchet up a few notches when Rafa bites that trophy in 2 weeks’ time……
Nadal vs. Kokk preview – https://tenngrand.com/2014/01/15/australian-open-r2-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-kokkinakis-monfils-vs-sock/
RT @NeilHarmanTimes: “Tomic tore an adductor muscle, which vindicated his decision to quit after a single set. Playing on could have meant 4 months out”
To think there are people out there who said he tanked…………..
thank you Dr. Harman
#Evidence
That’s exactly what happened to Rafa against Ferrer at the AO 2011.
^^Indeed it is what happened to Rafa. Here’s a clip where he’s describing his injury and then famously swears at Toni that he’s in the quarterfinals and he’s not going to retire.http://youtu.be/gZB4jcPmFGo
^^ hahaha. Geez, copied the wrong thing. Here’s the actual clip. http://youtu.be/2VrtiMLglls
I well remember that! On vb the Spanish people were able to give us the English translation of what Rafa said! Wow!
It wasn’t easy to translate the words literally, but they were able to give us a vivid picture of what Rafa was saying! He does have a mind of his own.
Rafa is the 3rd match on tomorrow on RL.
Stan the man in some trouble…hope he gets this done in four sets
gets it done in 4 ! stan HAS to stay alive till the quarters…
Oz Open organisers clearly think putting players’ health at risk by subjecting them to un-Godly playing conditions is funny. How else would they justify posting this article on their website? Hopefully the low attendance figures during the heatwave days will wipe the smirks off their faces:
http://2014.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2014-01-15/201401151389765839987.html
#Stupid
Stan will be a non-factor if he meets Nole. At best he could take a set.
#contrarian
Stan peaked and overachieved 12 months ago. Almost got lucky but didn’t believe and choked in the end.
0-14 vs Nole since 2007.
#Formality
#Practise
I was also a #contrarian with expected court speed, no?
(Don’t say no.)
Nadal will be a non-factor against Kokkinakis. At best he should take 18 games.
Will be a tough match for Rafa if he is not able to play his best tennis, no?
(Don’t say no.)
Agree.
Oh lol, don’t know why that appeared there! Was actually agreeing with Hawkeye that Stan will, at best, get one set off Nole.
Have no opinion about Kokkinakis, as I know nothing about him. Think there is a very takented young Aussie being talked about but dunno if that’s him….or even if K is Australian, lol.
If Djoker can keep up this kind of form, Stan doesn’t have a prayer. However, it’s not like he is playing guys who can challenge him.
Maybe it’s the Becker effect! 🙂