The Australian Open draw was revealed on Friday in Melbourne. Novak Djokovic found himself with familiar foe Stan Wawrinka in the top half, while Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are on the other side.
Australian Open draw on the tournament website
What are likely considered ideal semifinal matchups became a possibility when the Australian Open draw ceremony took place on Friday in Melbourne.
Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, who have split a pair of five-setters against each other in the last two years at the Happy Slam, are on a collision course for the last four. Another installment of one of tennis’ greatest rivalries is also a possibility in the semis, as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are in the bottom half.
Nadal avoided obvious danger. John Isner is in Djokovic’s eighth of the draw and Milos Raonic is in the same quarter. Juan Martin Del Potro also finds himself in the top-ranked Serb’s section. Ivo Karlovic could face Federer in the fourth round, a meeting that would come after a potential Karlovic vs. Nick Kyrgios second-rounder.
Andy Murray may see some familiar foes during his trek Down Under. The sixth-seeded Scot is likely to meet Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16 and those two dangerous competitors are in the same quarter as Federer.
Wawrinka’s section is not at all deep, but it is top-heavy. Kei Nishikori looms especially large and Doha champion David Ferrer can never be discounted.
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Stan has a very easy draw before Nishi in the quarters.
Could see that unstoppable Pospisil in R16.
#HowManyTimes???
https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/555883764694261760
Fed and Muzza have been dealt with pretty harsh draws.
Nole and Rafa (he has really got a dream draw) have to like their chances.
Muzza yes. Fed not so much.
Fed could have done with Rafa or Muzz not being in his projected path.
Chardy and Robredo are no push overs either.
Not this Muzza and this Rafa may not get there.
If he does, I agree but alternative was stanislas who’s no pushover at AO either.
I think Fed overall got a reasonable draw.
I can see Muzz maybe losing to Dimitrov, but there’s absolutely no one to take out Rafa.
Fed will prefer to play Stan any day against whom he will have some good chances of winning the match. Against Rafa, he almost has no chances of winning the match.
Rafa in the top draw and Stan in the bottom half would have made for more intriguing SF’s.
I disagree. As with Wimby this year, Rafa drew three successive hard serving giants in Rosol (6’5″), Anderson (6’8″) and Berdych (6’5″) (by design IMO).
You and I both know it only takes one of these guys against a rusty Nadal who can struggle in such situations when he’s not in form.
But I’m just playing possum and playing down his chances just like the man himself. 🙂
Actually I take it back.
Anyone but Berdych in the QF makes it harsh for him and he got Muzza.
Still, I think Fed will win in three or four. You saw the beatdown he gave Muzza last month, no?
Yeah. But, Muzz is Muzz. Always is a mystery.
I do expect Fed to win the match, even if Muzza is playing well. But it will be a dog fight.
I think Nishi in the QF would have been tougher for him. Muzza is not where he was two years ago. Nishi is the toughest 5-8 seed in the draw.
Nole’s 1/4 LOADED with Isner, Raonic, Monfils, Thiem, RBA, Delpo, Janowicz, Monfils.
Fed will coast to the QF.
Muzza: Q->Mad Dog->Klizan->BabyFed->Fed->Rafa->Nole
Overall I think this is a relatively good draw for Rafa but the first three rounds could be rusty. Will be interesting to see what qualifier he gets potentially in R2. On his racquet.
https://twitter.com/hotdog6969/status/555882241541169152
(actually he still 4th favourite)
I do like that Youzhny has lost his last four matches going back to October.
https://twitter.com/Dimonator/status/555881351086223361
Whatevs.
https://twitter.com/Dimonator/status/555878765994070018
Alright, it’s a pretty sweet draw for Rafa all things considered.
I’m off this thread so talk to yourselves, but I know you’ll follow me around. It’s hilarious.
scoretracker , 10/30/12 11:04 AM
Until next time…
#AllezStanTheMan!!!
#StanWawrinkaYoureMyHero
#DoYou???
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http://www.racketrally.com/rally/14/league/
I was still awake and thought I would come here to see if the draw was out. So as hawkeye predicted, Rafa is in Fed’s half. I am nervous about the early rounds of course. But it could have been a lot worse. Novak’s draw is loaded. I haven’t looked at it closely yet, but first impressions are that Rafa has done about as well as expected. I don’t worry about Berdy because Rafa pretty much owns him. If he gets there, then Rafa should be able to deal with him. He’s not a big serving guy that I worry about.
I don’t like seeing Rosol in Rafa’s path early in the tournament. Anderson is another one I could do without. These guys won’t give Rafa the rhythm he needs to get his timing on his shots.
I don’t think Youzhny is in good form right now. But you know these guys are going to come at Rafa hoping for the big upset.
Ricky, corr.
Karlovic is not in Nole’s Qtr.
I would to see Krygios vs Karlovic.
hate it when I confuse Djokovic with Federer! 😛
#thanks
Rafa will play on Monday
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7dqPpxCIAAvuQo.jpg
never in doubt
expected
Fed on Day 1.
Congratulations to Me!!!!!
Am predicting a night match for Fed. Nice and cool, just like him.
Federer prefers day may matches (not least because conditions are faster and most players have poor conditioning relatively speaking) but okay.
depends on the opponent
night time matches are sophisticated
Poor fed. Never gets his way to play under the hot Aussie summer sun. Guess he just doesn’t have enough influence.
it’s tough
Melbourne 10-Day Forecast
http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day/Melbourne+VCT+Australia+ASXX0075:1:AS
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