The Australian Open draw was revealed on Friday afternoon at Melbourne Park. A brutal top half features Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Roger Federer. Nadal will open against Bernard Tomic.
No. 1 seeds are not immune to ghastly draws; if nothing else, the 2014 Australian Open men’s singles bracket proved as much.
Rafael Nadal headlines a loaded top half of the draw along with Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Roger Federer. As tough as that foursome looks, Nadal will have to focus on potentially taxing roadblocks long before he reaches the point of facing fellow Top 10 players. Up first for the top-ranked Spaniard is current Sydney semifinalist Bernard Tomic, who has reached at least the third round of three straight Aussie Opens and has never lost in the first round.
Nadal could face Gael Monfils during third-round action in what would be a rematch of the Doha title match, which Nadal won in three sets. Lleyton Hewitt has a seemingly nice path through to the second week before he would run into Nadal.
If seeds hold to form in the top half, far from a certainty given the startling lineup of contenders, quarterfinal showdowns would pit Nadal against Del Potro and Murray against Federer. Federer, however, could be in the line for another battle versus Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as early as the last 16. Murray may have to face John Isner at that stage.
Relatively speaking, the bottom half of the bracket is an inaugural Melbourne Challenger. Novak Djokovic’s only potential danger in his entire section–unless Ernests Gulbis is still to be taken seriously–is Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarterfinals. Djokovic and Wawrinka, of course, arguably played the match of the year in the 2013 Australian Open fourth round (won by the Serb 12-10 in the fifth set). In the third quarter, familiar foes David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych are on a collision course for the last eight.
full draw here – http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/ms/index.html
Tomic in the first round for Rafa. This is not pleasant news.
Gael Monfils R3
I heard delpo ,Tsonga,Murray ,Wawa in Rafa’s half too. Is it true?
no, Wawa vs. Djoker in the QFs.
Rafa, Murray, Delpo, Fed, Tsonga, Raonic, Isner all in top half.
djo’s half is as easy as one can think of… wawa is in djo’s quarter ! no berdych, no tsonga, no delpo , no federer, no murray ! they are all in rafa’s half !!!
I am most worried about delpo in the qtrs !
yes, Delpo-Nadal in the same quarter is BS
Berdych is in Djoko’s half, though I don’t see him as a threat at all as a 15-2 h2h suggests. Also, how could djoko’s potential quarterfinal opponent Stan possibly be considered as easy as one can think of?
because he is easier than Del Potro and (arguably) Federer
The only 2 I see who might trouble Novak in his quarter are Wawa and Gulbis. I don’t see any of the others having much of a chance against him, unless they played the match of their lives and Novak wasn’t up to par.
I can’t believe Rafa’s draw! Yikes! I believe he has Tomic in the first round! Delpo in the quarters. Probably the most dangerous opponent he could have drawn.
They have stacked the draw in the top half. Djoker has it absurdly easy. As if he needed it!
I am also very worried about Delpo in the quarters. That’s just bad luck.
Well, the draw is what it is, so you can bet that Rafa’s already focusing on his first match, and just the first match, to “find the solutions” for playing against Tomic. Checking Matchstats, Rafa and Tomic have only played one time, in the 2011 AO, and Rafa won in straight sets, 6-2 7-5 6-3. Tomic was just 19 at the time.
OK, how many believe that this is an example of partially fixed draw positions? It does not have to be, if the entire draw was indeed drawn by chance you can have something like this one. But I am suspicious. Like we’ve discussed often before, some tournaments of the last say 8 years may have been drawn entirely randomly but it is clear that not all of them have been.
Isner-Mahut was fixed. That is obvious.
Andy tweeted about Rafa’s 1st match. Said that he saw the provisional schedule and that Rafa and Tomic are scheduled for Court 13???????? Surely that will change. Can’t believe they’d put the #1 seed vs an Australian on anything other than one of the two main courts.
https://24.media.tumblr.com/bed4b46a4dc8827e650ebb00edb48597/tumblr_mz5uepJe2z1r7oo9vo1_500.png
https://twitter.com/andy_murray/statuses/421443854546763776
^^We think alike.
I don’t know what difference it makes if the draw was fixed or not. At this point, it is what it is. Rafa has to just deal with it. We know that he will only focus on his first match. One at a time.
I just don’t see anyone who can take out Delpo before the quarterfinals. But I am getting ahead of myself.
I have no idea what’s up with the court scheduling for Rafa’s first match.
Delpo lost to CHARDY last year.
Smyczek over Delpo R2?
Ricky,
Yeah, but that was last year. This is this year. Different Delpo.
Having said that, maybe someone will take him out. I shouldn’t make any assumptions about him having a ticket to the quarterfinal, given what you just posted.
Benoit Paire R3? Haha.
They are thinking take pressure off local Tomic vs Rafa by putting him on a smaller court that he is more accustomed to.
Like I said, Fed in Rafa’s half (not Nole’s – RITB’s iPad safe for now), Wawa in Nole’s quarter, Delpo/Raonic in Rafa’s quarter.
I also predicted Rafa with the tougher draw than Nole which is why I picked Nole (and still do) to win his 4th AO in a row.
Not a bad draw at all for the Fed. Nothing in his way in the first three rounds, off-peak Tsonga R16 potentially, off-peak Muzza QF (if he makes it), and the winner of a slugfest between Delpo and Rafa.
Like I said, look for fast low bounce courts in Melbourne and rigged schedule. They’ve already started by putting Rafa on court 13.
#NothingNew
#NotRocketScience
#YoureWelcome
@hawkeye63, I know my Ipad is safe, Ricky does not have any favourite charities to donate to (that was the stipulation, no?), hehehe!
All I know is, Rafa wants this!!!!…Rafa knows what he has to do at a GSlam, after all he has 13 of them!!! The last time Rafa played at the AO he got to the final against Novak and almost got the job done! This time I have no doubt Rafa will get to the finals to demand a rematch with Novak ( if he gets there) on hs own turf!!! Bring it on!!!
ok, hawkeye
reading your last post popped this into my little mind: court 13 as if to say… this is not the slam when you move up from 13 slams. (In 2009 Fed was supposed to move up from 13 slams esp after Rafa had that 5 hours semi etc) I know, this is just silly talking… still not sure none of this was rigged, and it does match your draw predictions, hawkeye
Say it is rigged in favor of Nole and Roger (to let him go more deeply into the tourn..) why? is it the old make life better for the fed and try to not let Rafa catch up? is it more desirable to celebrate nole’s 4 th in a row? What I mean is would the AO not want one of the most historical achievements to be completed here now: double career slam on 3 (4) surfaces?
Ok. got that out of my system.
If Rafa makes the finals no one can say it was due to a soft draw. Same in the event he wins. And there are no excuses in sight for Nole if he doesn’t win this one.
Where did I say that this draw is rigged?
#PleadingThe5th
The draw is obviously rigged. Real shame!!!!! Earlier they used to rig draws and schedules in favor of Fed so he could add to his slam count. Now that no one thinks he has much chance of winning any slams, the draw has been rigged in favor of Novak and against Rafa so Rafa won’t add to his slam count.
And making the no. 1 player play on Court 13. That is a real insult. I guess Federer would be on RLA.
Also I wonder whether Djoker knows something damaging to ITF. He came out very strongly against ITF when Troicki was suspended and hinted at something.. ITF reacted rather surprisingly in a very muted fashion, then crowned him ITF champion on dubious criteria.
Now this amazingly easy draw for Djokovic. We know Djoker is quite manipulative. He had obtained a wild card for his low ranked brother at Dubai (below 800). So he can definitely use his position or damaging information to get what he wants. I find the loaded draw really too suspicious. And the court allocation simply outrageous.
Actually when RITB or someone made a post about Tomic tipping Rafa for the title, I had a sudden premonition that he would be Rafa’s first round opponent.
He is really playing well. Meeting him in the first round is tough.
Hope monalysa is right. We do know that when Rafa is slighted he makes his point on the court by winning the title.
In any case, Man Proposes, God disposes. If Rafa is destined to win, all his tough opponents are going to crash out .before they meet him.
All the best champ!!!!!
Definitely not rigged. Just a hard draw.
You may be onto something.
actually a decent draw for Federer. He avoided a quarter with Djoker or Rafa and the only player he absolutely can’t beat has a major roadblock before Fedal.
How do you say definitely not rigged.? Assuming the original hypothesis for all earlier draws as rigged for Fed, this draw definitely fits the bill as rigged for Fed as Novak is now defender of the FAITH.
i mean every single draw in the history of sports has been easy for someone and hard for someone else. It doesn’t mean every single one (or even any of them) is rigged.
Like Nole falling into Fed’s half 13 times in a row at AO, Wimby and FO was a random event, right?
#Evian
I am going to take the “glass is half full” approach: this certainly is a tough draw for Rafa, on paper. When (not if) Rafa gets through it, even his worst haters will have a hard time denying him credit.
Vamos Rafa!
…….and Djokovic has been very, very lucky with Slam draws recently. Who can forget the “infamous” Wimby 2013 draw?
Lucky devil, as they say……………..luck of the draw.
Possible Delpo-Raonic in the 4th round should be fun.
Nadal could use a Raonic victory in this one
Yep or at least Delpo being pushed into a 5th set against Raonic.
Raonic could lose to Dimitrov. I do not see anyone who can remotely compete with Del Potro prior to the fourth round.
#Smyczek
Raonic-Dimitrov could be awesome.
I didn’t realize that Delpo could bump up against Raonic. I haven’t looked that closely at the draw. But I honestly don’t see him taking out Delpo.
If I recall, didn’t Rafa, Fed and Murray all end up in the same half of the draw at Wimbledon? Was it in 2013 or 2012? Both years Rafa crashed out early and Fed crashed out early in 2013. But they have stacked one half of the draw like this in the past. Wimbledon just came immediately to mind.
The bottom line is that Rafa is healthy, has confidence from winning at Doha and is looking really good now. He has dealt with hard draws in the past. One at a time. He knows what’s on the line. When he sets his mind to something, he usually succeeds.
For the sake of my nerves, I am going to take this one match at a time!
call me naive but the only draw in tennis I am convinced was actually rigged is Wimbledon 2011, men’s singles.
Why do you think that one was rigged?
Isner-Mahut
I feel Rafa will be on his toes considering the draw which may not be too bad come to think of it. Murray returning from injury may not be that big a threat. Federer is Rafa’s bunny and is out of sorts himself. The only banana skin is Delpo who may either show his wimby form or fizzle out the way he did at the USO. But over five sets its hard to see a fit Rafa lose to Delpo. IF Rafa can avoid a Darcis moment early on, I am quite hopeful of Rafa making it to the final, where obviously Nole should be waiting.
Ricky,
Can you believe that I forgot that? My bad!
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Actually, not a terrible draw for Rafa. He will take confidence from having just won Doha.
Tomic monfils are no match for him in best of 5. Maybe, he might drop as set to Hewitt AT WORST. Only trouble really is Delpo in quarters, but not that djokovic has it any easy with Stan.
Murray and Federer – I don’t think either is going to reach the semis. Even if they do, Rafa will easily take care if them as they are not in peak shape.
My prediction is that Look for the draw to open up for Rafa as the tournament progresses.
What would be a terrible draw for Rafa if this one isn’t?
#Curious
ding ding ding. this is the point.
people who say Rafa doesn’t have terrible draw are basing it on the fact that Rafa is favored to win every match in his half. Well, let me break it to you: Rafa would be favored to win every match in his half REGARDLESS of any possible draw.
Only one final is possible rafa vs Nole, unless Delpo or Stan can create an upset
so more than one is possible?
Anyway Djoko is due for a failure before the semis 😉
Stan is the only hope.
Or Lacko??????
@ Ricky – Lolz. Maybe I was still half asleep when I wrote it. The one final that it most probable id rafa vs Nole
From Rafa’s half, yes but not from Nole’s half. Nole’s half is like a return to the weak era.
Would love to know Nole’s h2h vs his half compared to Nole’s h2h vs Rafa’s half (even without Rafa’s record against him).
#GlassHalfEmpty
I agree with atul, Rafa’s draw is not too bad. These are the seeds he could face
NadaL vs Monfils, then
Seppi or Nishikori, then one of
Raonic
Dimitrov
Paire
Delpo then one
Murray
Lopez
Isner
Tsonga
Simon
Verdasco
Federer
Murray seems to have a much tougher path and we don’t know who the qualifiers in his draw might be. They can be dangerous too.
In the bottom half,
Djokovic vs Tursunov, then
Fognini or Gulbis. then one of
Gasquet
Robredo
Pospisil
Wawrinka then one of
Ferrer
Chardy
Janowicz
Youzhny
Haas
Anderson
Dodig
Berdych
Somehow I don’t see Ferrer coming through his Qtr., I think it’s more likely to be Berdych in SF.
Nadal was obviously going to be favored in all of his matches prior to the final no matter the draw. I don’t see how it could have been much worse than it is.
It could have been worse for Rafa if he had to face Janowicz, Raonic or some other nasty big hitter in the earlier rounds instead of Tomic, Monfils, Hewitt etc
Janowicz is hopeless right now and Isner is hurt. Not sure it could have been much worse.
And Raonic is seeded but he’s already in Rafa’s quarter.
Corr.
Murray
Kohls
Lopez
Isner
Tsonga
Simon
Verdasco
Federer
NNY – haha yeah. Well people may forget it since the second Isner-Mahut Wimbledon match lasted 9 hours shorter than the first one!!
I know Djoko doesn’t have any of the BIG 4 in his half, but I doubt that either Federer or Murray would beat him anyway in their current form. There are a few people I did not want to see in Rafa’s path, such as, Gulbis and Isner. Though they have never beaten Rafa they are hard work. Gulbis could cause Nole problems, if he sets his mind to it. Fognini can also be a force, although Nole has always beaten easily.
They couldn’t fix a draw and pitch Tomic against Rafa in the 1st round, on Crt 13 or not.
atul, I don’t see Hewitt taking any set off Rafa. Rafa is not Federer. The last time Hewitt took a set off Rafa was in 2007.
atul,
I agree with your thoughts except Hewitt giving Rafa any trouble. He can’t tough Rafa in a best three out of five at this point in his career. I know that he gets inspired at the AO playing in front of his countrymen, but Rafa will overpower him.
Delpo is the one that concerns me. But Rafa will have played four matches before he meets him and will be in that second week when he starts cranking it up.
I think you are right about Fed or Murray not getting through to the semis. I hope that you are right about the draw opening up for Rafa as the tournament progresses. I try to remind myself of that when I freak out over what appears to be a really tough draw.
Sorry, typo in my last post. I meant to say that Rafa can’t TOUCH Rafa in a best three out of five set match now.
Aaah! Another mistake! Of course I meant to say HEWITT can’t touch Rafa!
I better quit while I am behind! 🙂
Vamos Rafa, you can do this!
One match at a time……………
Tomic as a first round opponent is tricky for Rafa, we know Rafa likes to start slow and build up as the tournament goes. He will have to be “on” from the get go. Upside is Tomic is not a marauding baseliner who will pull Rafa from side to side. Downside, Tomic is good and is perfectly capable of giving Rafa a hard time, Rafa will have to be super vigilant.
Rafa has played and beaten Tomic before in Australia. I remember Laver’s post match comment that Tomic made Rafa look ordinary. Hope Rafa remembers that and fires himself up………
The Court 13 thing………my question is: is there hawkeye on that court?
Vamos Rafa!
Yikes. Double Yikes.
Even if Nadal fights his way through the all those roadblocks, a run of punishing possibly five set battles will makes huge demands on his body. And the next week he faces more 5-setters in the Davis Cup 1st round.
I dont see any five setter except against Delpo maybe.
Rafa is not playing the Davis Cup 1st round against Germany………..
I think Tomic will be tricky, but Rafa should be ready for it. I believe that Rafa knows how tricky Tomic’s funky game can be and will get the job done. His second match shouldn’t be tough. Then he could bump into Monfils, but I still think that Rafa will handle him the way he did in Doha. I am not sure who he would face in the fourth round, but I think his first real tough match will be Delpo, should they meet. Now that one could go four or maybe five sets.
I don’t know what to expect for the semis. I am not sure if Andy or Fed will get there. It could be a crap shoot as to who he meets. So I only see one possible five setter before the semis. I hope! One never knows!
I thought that Rafa might not play in the Davis Cup, depending on what happened at the AO. I dearly hope that if he gets to the final, then he might reconsider that decision. But at this point, I will just focus on the AO and wish Rafa the best of luck for his first match!
ricky,
With all respect, it’s tough to say with any real certainty about any particular draw that it is partially fixed… but looking at many draws over a number of years put together it is possible but very unlikely none of them were partially fixed.
Non-writers like the rest of us have brought lots of detailed examples. I don’t recall writers / commentators ever doing so, but this may be a case of very understandably avoiding writing unsubstantiated claims about the sport that feeds you.
I have no idea whether this one was fixed in part. I do have a pretty strong feeling some of them have been in the past. Roger avoiding Andy and instead playing Novak 13 times in a row …. until Noval 2.0 came along was simply the strongest example of something pretty unlikely to happen by chance alone and at the same time being very convenient to the player that has depicted as a near deity. There have been so many other tournaments where we were suspicious much was done, draw and otherwise, to also help Roger along. Any one of those, impossible to say, but all of them put together… I have a hard time believing in the likelihood it was all chance.
You do have a point, chloro. Something fishy went on with the scheduling in 2009 when Roger had days to rest before the final as opposed to Rafa having only a day. It was obvious that the champagne was on ice to celebrate Roger’s 14th slam to tie with Sampras, hence Roger’s breakdown, and the rest of them looking sheepish and disappointed that Rafa won the title.
ESPN has also statistcally shown how USO rigged early rounds vs. No. 1 and 2 seeds historically.
#ScovilleJenkins
what is this cakewalk draw for djoker! how the is this possible!!!!! poor rafa!
Why does anyone think Tomic will be tricky for Rafa? Who has Tomic beaten recently of note? So some of you think that Tomic will be rubbing his hands that he will be playing Nadal in his first round match. Sure nothing is a certainty, but give Rafa some credit. If Nole had been drawn against Tomic in his first round match everyone would be feeling sorry for Tomic not Nole.
Words fail me.
When isn’t any player “tricky” in the first round of a major for Rafa?
#SelfConfessedNervousStarter
maybe actually playing someone good in the first round will help him?
Good point.
Sometimes Rafa only plays good tennis when forced to.
atul1985 says:
January 10, 2014 at 6:16 am
It could have been worse for Rafa if he had to face Janowicz, Raonic or some other nasty big hitter in the earlier rounds instead of Tomic, Monfils, Hewitt etc
Raonic???????? Rafa bagled him in Barcelona and Raonic only took 4 games off him in Montreal.
It’s not any single round nadline. It’s the continuous firing line that it only takes one hot player on any given round. The more tough players you have to face, the increased likelihood that one might be hot and Rafa might be cold.
OTOH, if he makes the final, he will be battle hardened and Nole may have a false sense of security (as Federer knows from experience).
#Probability.
Looking at the outcome of Nadal-Djokovic matches in relation to respective difficulty of previous rounds in the tournament would be an interesting exercise.
Quickly looked at it.
Guy with the easier rounds between Nole and Rafa pretty much always beat the other.
There goes my battled hardened theory.
you need to look at it a LOT longer than that
No I don’t. It was quite easy to do.
#shortcuts
Indeed. At least you can have guarantee match ups where the locals will play the best.
Ricky, forgot to mention I only did it for majors going back to 2010.
Trend certainly didn’t occur at 2013 WTF for example where Rafa had the easier section and lost.
#IndoorExhosExcepted
do you have any statistical evidence?
#CuriousGeorge
Yep, just counted the sets lost prior to their meeting.
sheer brilliance
#EequalsMCsquared
And games lost when sets lost were equal.
#YoureWelcome
you’re pretty fast
#JimmyJohns
So are you, My fan, so are you.
Now this phenomena is opposite for Fed and Nadal major meetings (except for a few FO draws).
#humble
to those panicking about the court 13 thing… muzz has a very dry sense of humour. he was being sarcastic. i guess it doesn’t come across as well over text. but the ao twitter account actually said they don’t start scheduling until the qualies are over with: Australian Open @AustralianOpen 10h
For all those asking, the schedule of play will be released at some stage over the weekend once qualifying matches have finished #ausopen
do you not remember when he said he was hiring ross hutchins as his coach because he needed another “yes man”? and his #askandy sessions? honestly… court 13 is not gonna happen for rafa/tomic
(disclaimer: if i’m wrong, i deny all knowledge of this post :P)
please tell me people didn’t ACTUALLY think Murray was being serious. please.
er… i think they did. just thought i’d help clear things up. maybe it’s being british that i was certain from the outset that muzz was being sarcastic. there is no way in hell the schedulers are going to put arguably the best 1st round match all the way out on court 13. no. way. i would bet my house on it. and… it’s not really my house to bet. but that’s how certain i am
Phew, thanks @Sib90………………….
Trust Muzza to see the funny side! Well, I’ll join in when I re-discover my sense of humour.
#NotLaughingRightNow
no problem. glad i could help clear things up
I think that it is mostly because we, Rafa fans, have been suspecting for many years now that often things had been maybe made easier on purpose for Roger at the expense of Rafa that we have grown suspicious. Hard to undo the sensitivity.
Ricky, a draw is not considered rigged merely because it is hard for someone as a draw is always hard for someone. It is considered fixed if it fits a pattern, in this case helping Fed preserve his GOAT status. Let us not forget Fed is backed by long term contracts of big sponsors and it wouldn’t suit their pockets or their brands if Rafa were to be acknowledged as the GOAT. It wouldn’t suit them if he wins AO ( double career slam,) or multiple slams this year. If Rafa is prevented from winning slams this year then the danger is past as Rafa will be 29 next year and at best can win one slam per year..
Backing Novak for a win preserves Fed’s legacy as it not only limits Rafa’s slam count but also helps in having Rafa eclipsed by Novak who is already being touted as better than Rafa. by the media. If Nole is better than Rafa, then Rafa has no claim to GOAThood and his h2h against Fed can be dismissed.
The ATP/ITF and the media owe their bread to the same sponsors who support Fed and tennis..
In every sport, in every sphere dirty games are played to suit the pockets of big money with the help of less than idealistic individuals. Why would tennis be an exception? With the odds-defying draws ITF had in the past and vague allegations made by Djokovic last year against the ITF, I have no doubt.
That being said, I must say Rafa has somehow managed to thwart these machinations and he will probably do so again.
True, no one in Rafa’s part of the draw is someone whom Rafa cannot beat (as Nadline has pointed out ) but so many tough opponents whom Rafa cannot beat in straight sets appearing in 3 out of 5 matches might make Rafa tired. before the semis.
Djokovic , on paper, can have at best one match going beyond 3 sets before semis.
If this is combined with bad scheduling and court allocation, Rafa is even more handicapped.
What to make of allocation of court 13 to the world no. 1?
I don’t think the Aussie sponsors care for Tomic anymore than Wimbly cared for Andy in 2012 when they rigged the draw in favor of Fed and gave Andy a horrendous draw ( which was also repeated at the Olympics)..
.
“True, no one in Rafa’s part of the draw is someone whom Rafa cannot beat (as Nadline has pointed out ) but so many tough opponents whom Rafa cannot beat in straight sets appearing in 3 out of 5 matches might make Rafa tired. before the semis.”
This is exactly the point, not so much that Rafa may fall to Tomic, Monfils etc, but that he may have to expend a lot of energy, relative to his potential semi and final opponents. Rafa may well beat some/all of them in straights but at what cost stamina wise?
I am trying very hard to “keep an open mind” but it is very hard not to see a conspiracy in all of this, very hard…………
^^^not to mention the toll on his stamina from early hard fought matches………………..
he’s not been allocated court 13! muzz was being sarcastic! they haven’t done the scheduling yet
Thank you for your efforts to debunk any more conspiracy theories regarding Rafa.
If Rafa and Novak both reach the finals, Rafa will beat Novak in convincing fashion.
Sorry, but the scheduling of Rafa on Court 13 is really sticking in my craw, try as I might to be phlegmatic about it. It’s wrong. It’s disrespectful. The argument that the organisers are trying to protect Tomic does not fly with me. Tomic is Australia’s #1, right? This is a perfect opportunity for them to showcase their #1 talent and they shunt him to nowhere-land? More likely this is to hamstring Rafa.
Sorry but this is clear: there is a conspiracy against Rafa. There, I said it……….
i HOPE this is a joke
muzz was being sarcastic
Really thought Bernie could make it to the second week…and then I saw the draw!
#ROFL
Agree with nadline, it’s good Rafa has avoided the big hitters who might have caused an upset early on, especially as the courts are fast. A Rafa v Nole final looks inevitable.
I personally will be happy to see Andy in the second week.
Go Andy!
All the players who have ever won a slam all are stacked in Rafa’s half: Fed, Andy, Delpo, Hewitt.
Nole has a cakewalk draw and will have 2 days before the finals whereas Rafa will have just one.
The odds have been stacked against Rafa. Hope he defies the odds.
rafa will beat Tomic in straight sets in any court in the world.
Who cares if it is court 13
Thank you. I agree, Even if I committed the supposed blasphemy of saying that Tomic could be tricky. Goodness gracious!
skeezer in tennis-x is claiming Rafa has a cakewalk draw!!!
what is his argument?
He’s a troll who doesn’t need one.
expected
@holdserve19, it’s his way of expressing his glee at Rafa’s rough draw.
#PartyInGOATstan
RITB raised a valid point. Does court 13 have hawkeye? If not, expect critical umpiring decisions to go against Rafa.
I simply cannot see how any grand slam can put the world no. 1 on court 13. Definitely smacks of a conspiracy.
what are you guys talking about?
Ricky, I totally did not “get” Muzza’s joke at first. Blame the Oz Open draw, totally wacked my sense of humour for six! Will take some time to get it back believe me……………….
#Grim
EPIC
no… it smacks of sarcasm
RITB you ARE having a bad hair day!!! Normally your SOH is more British than that of most Brits.
Haha
It will be interesting to see whether they schedule the no 1 to play the semi with one day rest less this time, i.e on Friday rather than Thursday, should he make it that far.
I mean the number 1 according to the ATP points, no according to opinions.
This is one of those things that over the years seem to have been been done in favor of the Emperor almost every single time, no matter his ranking at the time.
In 2009 that one day of rest would have done in anybody in Rafa’s shoes, and almost did him. Only hardly practicing on Saturday (because his body couldn’t), lots of body work, hardly practicing on Sunday morning (because his body couldn’t), a very rousing speech by Toni just before the final (I typed it in on TT, straight from the biography book, still have the electronic text), and Rafa’s far-out mental strength honed from an early age made the difference to the point he was able to get competitive once past the first set… and win. Anyone else in his shoes and Roger would have had a near cakewalk in that final toward his 14th.
Rafa gets better from match to match and if he has a tough match, it just strengthens him to move on. He learns how to overcome difficult patches before the business end of the tournament.
@ed251137, January 10, 2014 @ 3:08 pm;
Just shows you how visceral the shock of THAT draw has been…………….
No worries, will get it back soon enough…………………..the minute Rafa blows Tomic off the court!
Who does Rafa blow off the court in the 1st round of a major?
Serra
Within the last 20 majors then.
Anyone seen the ESPN experts’ picks?
no. What/where are they?
Ricky: Here’re the ESPN picks. http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/picks
Are you guys saying Andy’s court 13 was a joke? .
If so, I am certainly greatly relieved.
LMAO
nadline your optimism in the face of the tough draw is good. Actually I don’t really mind the tough draw. What I mind is the possibility that it may have been rigged. In other words, it is the unfairness, rather than the toughness, which bugs me.
If Rafa is destined to win this slam, no amount of conspiracies can stop him now.
well don’t worry about it, because it wasn’t rigged.
If it was, Tomic and Hewitt would be on the other side; not playing Nadal in the FIRST and fourth rounds, respectively.
I have no intention whatsoever of getting into a discussion on “rigged” draws (= goat discussions and the like, as far as I’m concerned). Nevertheless, the fact that the singles draws have BOTH Tomic vs Rafa and Barty vs Serena in R1 at the AO 2014 would certainly be my PHD research/dissertation topic of choice on professional tennis at this point in time if I were decades younger.
RMB,
what would be the general idea of your dissertation in that case?
tournament organizers want Tomic and Barty to do well, obviously
Oh they’re just being smart. They know their players aren’t going to go deep so why not ensure the good matchups straight away.
why not have Tomic play Nadal in the QFs instead of the first round?
#Bespectacled
Because, in Tomic’s inimitable own words, he’d have to get there first.
#TomicTheTankEngine
Yes, good point.
draw analysis – https://tenngrand.com/2014/01/10/australian-open-draw-analysis-nadal-federer-in-loaded-top-half/
I just wanted to clarify that my post @ 8:24 pm was directed at Ricky’s post @ 6:17 pm.
Seriously?
Rafa’s scheduled on Court 13?
#YouCannotBeSerious
#Outraged
I knew this was coming
#crickets
Naughty old Muzz….;)
I love his dry sense of humor, and his compatriots’ and got fooled this time
I have faith in Rafa’s ability to navigate a tough draw. I also don’t think conspiracies, real or imagined, are going to stop him. As long as he is healthy and playing well, he can get the job done.
@ chloro
Too old for this kind of dissertation, unfortunately. But the 1st thing that crossed my mind when I looked at the AO 2013 singles’ draws was to wonder whether Tomic and Barty would have to hire Rod Laver and Margaret Court as their respective coaches, for a bit more weight to be given by Tennis Australia, AO organisers, etc, to their own best hopes tennis career/future versus TV ratings, Twitter frenzies, aggressive gamblings, and so forth.
Personally, definitely not an adept of conspiracy theories (and no, I’m not Australian). Nonetheless, I do think it’d be a bit naive to believe that decisions are not being continuously taken and implementted, everywhere, by everyone.
* the AO 2014 singles’ draws. Sorry.
I just read Tignor’s predictions for the AO. He actually thinks that Tomic could get a set off Rafa. That ought to set some people’s teeth on edge! 🙂
He picked Rafa to beat Murray in the semis, Djoker to beat Berdy in the semis. He doesn’t think Ferrer is going to get through his part of the draw. Then he picked – surprise! – Djoker to beat Rafa in the final.
@NNY
Am quite surprised he’s got Andy going that far tbh. Must think he’s gonna put Fed out then? Must check.
@deucy,
Tignor said that even though Andy was just coming back from surgery and maybe not yet in his best form, that it could be possible for him to play himself into better form in the tournament. It’s a possibility that has been in my mind, too. He has a decent draw and with some match play, he could get into the second week.
He didn’t go round by round, but did say that Fed could run into trouble with Tsonga. Tignor did pick Murray to come through his part of the draw and make the semis. It certainly could happen.
Theoretically Djokovic should be able to sleepwalk his way to the final. But it’s possible having such an easy draw, combined with being slated as the favourite, might actually work against him if he is lulled into complacency.
Well, one can only hope that this might be the case.
Like I wrote before, one of the big question for the male ATP circuit this year is where Novak will take his mind. Last year he was for good stretches far from commanding the mental strength he should be valuing like gold.
The other main questions would be how Andy fares now, Nadal’s knees as always, and whether anyone else at all can win a major or several 500+ titles… perhaps that will have to wait again for another year.
Minor question, will the Emperor continue into 2015 if 2014 turns out like last year? Is he still holding out hope for a draw that opens unexpectedly at a major?
Chloro, I think you should put ‘Emperor’ in inverted commas, in fact it should be the Emperor with no clothes.
holdserve, I think it’s unlikely that they would rig a draw and put Tomic in a first round match with Rafa followed by Hewitt in his Qtr. I don’t think that even they believe in the Tomic hype to that extent. Tomic beat Novak last year, so their best bet would have been to put him in Nole’s Qtr.
maybe they put Tomic against Rafa in R1 to DISGUISE the fact that other parts of the draw were rigged.
#LOL
#InspectorGadget
Is it a coincidence that all slam winners are in Rafa’s half and all those who reached a final after Jan 1st are in Rafa’s half ( Tsonga hopman cup, Monfils doha, Delpo-Tomic Sydney, Isner-hsun lu Auckland) ? It is really defying the law of probability. This certainly does not appear more likely than Isner-Mahut meeting in 2 consecutive Wimbly 1st rounds which Ricky was prepared to grant was rigged.
complaining about Lu and Tomic being in the same half of he draw as Rafa is really grabbing at straws.
Djokovic and Wawrinka, who played 2 five-setters against each other last year, are in the same quarter of the draw.
#Rigged
I did not complain about Hsun lu, i pointed out the low probability of ALL the finalists including your “lowly” Lu being in Rafa’s half. I forgot to mention Fed-Hewitt Brisbane. What do you think is the probability that ALL the finalists of the warm up tournaments would be in Rafa’s half?
low probability that they would all end up in the same half. not really concerned about the probability of them specifically landing in Rafa’s half.
It’s also unlikely that they would put Federer, who has friends in high places, in Rafa’s half and Murray’s Qtr. knowing that he only has a 25% chance of beating Rafa and a 50% chance of beating Murray.
well Federer does have the benefit on being on the opposite side from Djoker and–more importantly–with a major roadblock for Nadal before Nadal would face Federer.
So you believe in rigged draws then, Ricky.
Who exactly is the major road block in Rafa’s Qtr?
J.M. Del Potro (ARG)
I forgot Stan. He and fellow finalist Roger vasselin are both in Djoko’s half.
So what’s the probability that all the finalists in warm -ups played in Australia would be in Rafa’s half and Stan and Roger Vasselin would be in Djoker’s half ? The prob is 1/512 which is lower than the prob of Isner drawing Mahut in the 1st round at Wimbly (2/285)..
If we ignore Roger Vasselin and see only Stan as the chosen one, for Djoko then the prob is 1/256 which also is lower than the Isner-Mahut probability.
So if you accept Isner-Mahut as rigged than Stan in Djoker’s half ( as many had predicted beforehand ) and all “hot” players from Aussie warm ups in Rafa’s half is part of a rigged draw. Considering we live in a world where people will do unfair things to get an advantage if they can get away with it and everybody knows the ones with money are prepared to do anything to get more money ( easier for a camel to pass the eye of a needle etc) why is it so hard to believe that the draws are rigged?
Nadal’s half second. He will have less rest for the final.
https://twitter.com/SI_BTBaseline/statuses/421860055290372096
So, before the first ball is hit in anger, here is what Rafa has to overcome to claim his second career Slam:
1. A draw of death;
2. Less rest for the final should he get there;
3. The fastest Oz Open courts he’s ever played on.
In mitigation:
1. He has beaten all he will face potentially;
2. He had the same situation when he beat Fed to the title;
3. He thrived on the fats courts of Montreal, Cincy and USOpen.
Rafa will do it.
C’mon Champ!!
Vamos!
#AgainstAllOdds
#DoingTheHornTootings
The prob that all the Aussie finalists would fall in the same half is the same as the prob that they will fall in Rafa’s half as Rafa is also a Aussie finalist.. So they can all be in the same half only if they are in Rafa’s half..
i just hope you aren’t comparing Doha to Australia
#DoYou
Ricky, then why are you comparing Shanghai to Australia?
my comment was a joke
previous poster said Nadal won a warmup event in “Australia”
Every year, the top half plays second at AO so the top seed gets 1 day before final whereas the second seed gets 2 days ( Rafa-Fed at AO 2009, Rafa-Djoko at AO 2012)
Sorry, I forgot Doha was not in Australia.
Or rather I forgot Rafa played in Doha. Anyway, some premonition that Rafa is going to be Aussie finalist from his half.
I would like to make one point regarding all of these conspiracy theories. Let’s say that it is a conspiracy to make it harder for Rafa to win. But my question is, how do they rig the matches? As Rafa has said so well, it has to happen on the court. Matches have to be played. Are we now going to assume that matches are rigged, too? Are some players going to tank a match just to make this so-called conspiracy work? That’s what I don’t get.
The assumption seems to be that the people rigging the draw and conspiring to fix the outcome can control all aspects of the tournament. But the one “x” factor, the one huge thing that they cannot control is who wins the matches. How many times have we seen a tough draw turn out to be relatively easy because some of the difficult opponents didn’t win and make it far enough? How do you control the outcome of all the matches?
That’s why I am not getting all riled up over this conspiracy to rig the draw. I don’t like the fact that the top half is loaded with so many tough players, while the bottom half is so much weaker. I don’t like Rafa having a potentially very tough draw and having one day’s lest rest. I don’t think it’s fair at all. But I still do not believe that this alone can determine the outcome.
#Keepingitreal
#StandingUpForWhatIThink
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Federer on court speed: “It’s a little bit faster than last year, but not a whole lot.” #ausopen”
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Always the contrarian: Andy Murray says the courts are playing EXACTLY the same as last year. #ausopen”
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Sharapova says the courts are slower than Brisbane. Nadal says they’re the fastest #AusOpen courts he’s ever played on.”
So, which is it, players………are the courts slow, fast, exactly as they were last year??
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
RT @juanjosetennis: “Not surprised Nadal is a little shocked by the conditions: last year the AO definitely went for more speed. And he wasn’t there.
Aha, explains Rafa’s reaction……………….
It could be that Rafa is being sarcastic because everyone always speculates on his prospects depending on the speed of the courts.
Rigging a draw and rigging a match are totally different. Rigging a draw is done by the organizers. Rigging a match is done with the active co operation of the players. .
Your reasoning:
Rigging of draws is a conspiracy.
Rigging of matches is a conspiracy.
Therefore rigging of draws is the same as rigging of matches.
It is like saying
Dog is an animal
Elephant is an animal
So dog is elephant.
f you choose not to believe that the draws are rigged that is your choice.
But there is a difference between claiming that a dice is loaded based on observation of throws of the dice and claiming that the dice is loaded based on paranoia..
Everyone knows that matches are won on the court but draws have a big say in who eventually emerges the winner. It is because of this that fans expect the organizers to create random draws.
As it is, the draws even as per the rules, are not completely random..
Imagine if the draw had been totally random, Rafa and Djoker may have met in the first round!
But their positions are fixed beforehand as per the rules so that they cannot meet before the finals, This is an example of rigging permitted by the rules to favor chances of a no. 1 vs no. 2 final. This does not imply that all other players have to tank their matches to ensure a no. 1 vs no. 2 final.
holdserve19, I believe in the possibility of rigged draws, too. There’s too much money at stake for the organizers. And there are ways, how it can be done. That said, not every unlikely draw has to be a rigged draw. Unlikely events do happen. Otherwise there would be no lottery winners :). And a rigged draw has to make sense. The organizers want attractive pairings, a high calibre final and a chance for the local guys. All this isn’t guaranteed at all with this draw. The only one, who profits immensely, is the Djoker. And unless the Serbian mafia went into Godfather mode and threatened all the organizers, or the Djoker promised a million Dollars to everyone involved in the draw, I cannot see, in whose interest, with the exception of the Djoker, this draw is. And I really, really don’t think, the whole tennis world conspires against Rafa. Why should they? He’s one of their hottest commodities, and Rafole is a dream finale for every slam. And this draw does nothing to ensure it.
Thank you for this response. I think you make some excellent points as to why it would not be in the interest of the organizers to have one lopsided draw.
I agree that it is not in the interest of the organizers or anyone else who wishes to profit off this, to stack the draw in this manner.
However, I don’t know that you will necessarily be heard.
None of you guys complained about Rafa’s WTF draw. His group virtually ensured his year end No 1 ranking. Rigged? And let me tell you this: this group draw is easier to rigg than all other draws.
@littlefoot, the reason nobody complained about the WTF draw is because of the sample size………..compared to that of the Oz Open.
what was his WTF draw? Ferrer? Berdych? Wawa?
RITB, I should’ve put a wink emoticon behind that comment. Of course the sample size is too small. I was just talking about the phenomenon, that nobody talks about rigged draws, when their favorite benefits.
Ricky, yes, I was hinting at Ferrer, Berdych and Wawa, lol!
i just can’t remember what the draw was. If that was it…..WOW.
Ricky, that was it! Rafa must’ve friends in high places, too, lol!
might as well have handed him world No. 1 on a silver platter.
Ricky, yup!
@holdserve,
You didn’t address me by name, but since I was the one who clearly made this argument then it’s obvious that your response was directed at me.
Sarcasm and condescension do not a coherent argument make. My point was that those supposedly rigging the draws do not have control over every aspect of the tournament. The matches can’t be rigged unless players become involved and agree to lose matches deliberately. Therefore, simply rigging draws is not enough to ensure a certain outcome.
As I pointed out in my initial post, many times difficult draws have become much easier because some of the tough opponents that a player might face never made it through.
If you want to go on and on and rail against those who are conspiring in dark corners to fix tournaments, then by all means do so. I just don’t think that it’s as simple as you make it out to be.
I just saw Rafa’s facebook page and looks like on 1st Jan he has posted a pic of himself with Own Every Court under “Ready to Give it my All in 2014”.
Could this really have been put up by Rafa? If so, I expect Rafa to definitely beat the odds of a loaded draw and bite the AO trophy about 2 weeks later..
Rafa put that message up well before Doha @holdserve19. He means business.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Happy New Year to you too, @littlefoot, and welcome back! Just in time to see our boy battle the evile-doers, lift the Oz Open trophy and complete his second career slam!
Oi, Oi!!!!!!!
Is this true? Hope it is. This is because of Gilles Simon pulling out. Can anyone confirm?
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg 2m
So, Monfils would move away from a potentially awesome R3 match vs Nadal and into a potentially awesome R3 match vs Tsonga. Cool. #AusOpen
I don’t think so, because schedule was already out. Others seem to think this is true, however.
And Rothenberg is usually right.
Happy New Year to everyone too!
littlefoot if you concede the possibility of rigged draws then by Murphy’s law, you have to concede that draws will be rigged. If something can go wrong, it will .
The big sponsors back Federer and have long term, even lifelong contracts with him. Their contracts would lose much of their value if Rafa surpasses the supposed GOAT by doing the double slam and keeping on adding to the slam count.. So there’s a motive and there’s big money.
Can we expect ethical behavior from big business? Fall of Enron, worldcom, the collapse of all markets in 2008 were surely not caused by fairplay and ethics.. Fairplay is the exception. Yet curiously, Pollyanna-like, most people expect a low probability value like fairplay to be the norm.
One might have believed in random draws but for the series of unlikely draws which started happening when Forstmann appeared. We also have the curious case of Forstman. betting on Fed to win RG in 2007. We can draw some conclusions from the fact that Forstmann controlled ATP through IMG..
Having started on rigging, the organizers are now no doubt addicted to feeling like Gods placing players in positions chosen by them, not chance, to favor certain desired outcomes.
There is little doubt that draws are not random. The only doubt could be about the reasons for rigging..
I can see how the unseeded portion is rigged as it is not drawn in public. I am a little puzzled by the seeded part. Guess if David Copperfield can make the Statue of Liberty vanish, in front of millions, rigging the seeded part may not be too challenging.
holdserve19, the seeded part is easy to rigg, too. Ask a magician lol! I have figured out a few methods myself… and no, the players at the ceremony are not in on it. And I happen to think, there have been rigged draws in the past, but I don’t think, the AO draw is necessarily one of them. Tennis only profits from Rafa’s potential GOAT possibilities. And unless Fed is a member of a so far unknown Swiss mafia, I don’t think, he paid off the whole tennis community, lol! And wouldn’t he have given himself a better draw? I have a hunch, he wouldn’t placed himself in Rafa’s half, lol! If this draw pattern continues, I’d start to get concerned, but one VERY odd draw doesnt make a pattern. It just happens once in a while.
holdserve..Though everyone can say whatever they want as all have freedom of speech,Why are you going on and on about rigging and conspiracy? It is pure conjecture right, you do not have any proof right ? You are talking about it since eons.
Rather than talking of rigging and conspiracy theories, is it not better to focus on the play of everyone in the draw ..Anyways the draw is done, nothing can change it. It is actually taking up too much space on this thread where instead we can actually have a more participative discussion on something that’s more relevant and actual rather than conjecture.
Sanju, I think, it’s ok to talk about it. There have been disturbing patterns in the past. In Germany a mathematician has even published a paper about it. ESPN investigated an early round seeding scam at the US Open, which might have been going on for years some time ago. It’s important to talk about it, like it is important to talk about doping. But not every bizarre draw is necessarily rigged. It just happens once in a while.
Rafa’s not worried, he’s got new shoes!!
https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/422005767391035392/photo/1
Sanju if you don’t like to read my posts just scroll down and go past. You don’t have to tell me what I can post or not post. Now pl scroll past.
littlefoot, I never said Fed is part of a Swiss mafia…I said his backers might be interested. in rigging.
It is no longer possible to ensure Fed wins or to even ensure he reaches the semis, Possibly they lost that hope after last year’s clay season draw fiasco ( Rome and RG) of lopsided draws for Fed. Backers could be simply stacking the odds against Rafa.
Since clay season there have been THREE consecutive slam draws with Andy and Fed in . Rafa’s half.
A chance of a Rafa-Fed match to suit the organizers?
Make life tough for Rafa?
As I told you, I do not KNOW the reasons, it is pure (educated) speculation about the reasons.
But I firmly believe that these series of consecutive low probablity draws cannot be pure chance and this is NOT speculation.. Reasons speculations : yes, Draw Rigging, no.
You are welcome to think I believe in little green men.
holdserve19, I don’t agree with you re: AO ’14 draw, but I think, it’s a subject well worth talking about.
And who knows, little green men might be somewhere! And, come to think of it, that they had the good sense, not to show up here, is positve proof, that there is alien ntelligent life in the universe :)))
Lol littlefoot, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, they say 🙂
“[These are] completely different conditions than what I remembered of this tournament,” Nadal said during his pre-tournament press conference. “Faster conditions that I ever played here in Australia.”
“I really don’t understand very well why they change [the speed] because the last couple of years, the Australian Open had amazing [matches], long ones, good ones for the crowd,” he said. “I don’t know why the people decide to make the conditions that fast. I am not sure for the show [it] is the best thing.”
Nadal, who opens against Bernard Tomic on Tuesday, says he’s acclimating himself to the conditions with every practice session. Nadal says the conditions offer little margin for error and he’ll have to make adjustments to his game. “I think during my career I [have been] able to play well in any condition: fast, slow, different surfaces,” he said. “[The] important thing is try to be ready for the action from the beginning and be fresh mentally — something that I hope I am. I’m going to try to find the feelings, positive feelings. If that happens, I hope to be competitive.”
#RightAgain
#CongratsToMe
#YoureWelcome
Murray saying court exactly the same
Fed saying courts a bit fast but not much
Rafa saying courts much faster
All 3 are top players, whose analysis is correct?
racket bracket private group – http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracketAussieOpenATP/thegrandstand/Pre-Register.aspx
someone let me know if this works. thanks!
Seemed to work for me.
Ricky,
It worked for me. But I have not made my picks yet. I am going to wait as long as possible. There are some guys who I don’t know at all.
Now I am confused on that site. Do we need to register there? How do we sign in? Do we use our user names and passwords for this site? Initially I was able to get into the draw and start making my picks. Then I stopped because I wanted to wait. Now I am not sure how to get back in.
yeah just register with an email address. You probably just make your picks and then fill in your name and email and make a password.
just click the link again and start over, I guess
Pouille vs Lajovic is a blockbuster
http://www.tennisviewmag.com/tennis-view-magazine/article/2014-australian-open-contributors-picks
All picking Novak and Serena..good for Rafa..no one is expecting him to win
All except one picked Djoker. One writer did pick Rafa. 🙂
Pouilles vs Lajovic! LOL!
Yeah, like who was I going to pick? I have no idea who these guys are! I didn’t end up making any picks. I am just going to watch the first and second round matches and then maybe I can say what I think. Fortunately, I don’t have to write predictions on any site ahead of time! 🙂
Del Potro is the biggest concern for me. Tomic will offer resistance but rafa will be ready. I think rafa has a really good shot at the title…JMDP is the biggest roadblock …
Djoker is ALMOST a lock for the final .. anyway, the first few matches will give us much more to say so waiting !
I do like to wait and see at least the first round and maybe second round matches to get a sense of how the players look.
I also read some discussion on vb about Rafa saying that the court is playing much faster. Someone there pointed out that Rafa didn’t play at the AO last year. So they could have changed the courts last year, but now that Rafa is back the courts seem so fast because he last played there in 2012. That may explain why Murray doesn’t think they are any faster.
I have to agree that Delpo is the big concern in Rafa’s draw. But Rafa will have played four matches when he gets there. We all know that Rafa really gets going in the second week of slams. I am not worried about Tomic. He can be cocky and will probably come out playing like he’s got nothing to lose. But I think Rafa’s got his number.
I still like Rafa’s chances. He seems to thrive on challenges. They bring out the best in him.
For all those who prefer to believe that fairplay is the norm among sports organizers, you are welcome to pollyanna land.. I don’t have to convince anyone. I simply stated my view
I am sick of draws that persistently put Rafa and Andy in the same half. I hope Rafa and Andy will end the year at no. 1 and 2 so next year no one can put them in the same half.
.
As RITB says, our man will defeat the evil doers and emerge victorious biting the trophy.
His facebook New Year post has really cheered me up a lot..
I am sure he is busy evolving a strategy to beat the crafty Tomic. Like Tignor, I think Rafa may lose one set. But I hope he comes out in the kill and seek mode and destroys everybody in straight sets!!!
http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Did-Rafa-Get-Stiffed-by-the-Draw-Gods-in-Australia.aspx
I am really excited!!!.
Hope he runs over Djoko in the final as he ran over Fed and Ferrer who came from the lopsidedly weak half at Rome and RG in 2013!!!
Vamos Champ!!!
PS: who said Organizers cannot afford lopsided draws? The last 4 draws have ALL been lopsided. especially RG, Wimbly and this AO. But Rafa ( RG) and Andy (Wimbly) came through and I am sure Rafa comes through this time reaching the final in scary form!
Yes, good article, thanks @holdserve. My concern about Rafa drawing Tomic in the first round is that Rafa always starts slow in Slams, building up as he goes and this strategy makes sense because (a) he will be feeling out the elements in the early rounds and (b) it leaves him fresh for the expected hard slogs in the later rounds. Drawing a relatively talented youngster early means he may have to expend more energy in the early rounds than he may like. However, it will be a night match for sure, Rafa has played him before so he knows what to do.
I feel much more confident about his knees after seeing that full squat he executed in the kids day picture.
I am not worried about the potential Delpo meeting tbh. By that time Rafa will have warmed up nicely and I expect Delpo will have marinated nicely in the heat to Rafa’s advantage.
Rafa gets to the final he is biting the trophy. I do not see any other outcome.
i agree … rafa has said it multiple times that he is always very nervous in the opening rounds of slams . Historically ,he has not been at his best in opening rounds. I won’t be surprised if Tomic can take a set off him. Rafa will be prepared to get the W
holdserve19, I’ve become more suspicious of the draw, since I read a few articles in German Newspapers, where they hinted, although ironically, at a rigged draw, and connected the whole affair with Boris Becker, and his potential clout with the ITF, who, surprise, surprise choose Novak for World champion. Which apparently angered and surprized Rafa, as he stated in a Spanish interview. I”m in tin foil hat mood now. We in Germany put hardly anything past Becker, who was alledgedly in need of money. I really hope, I’m all wrong about that, but it’s not comforting, that my Sunday newspaper ran another story about crime and betting scandals in international sports, with a suspicious crime in Frankfurt.
Thanks holdserve. The Tennis.com article sums up exactly what I think. Instead of saying it’s tough for Tomic to be drawn against Rafa in the 1st round, some think that it’s Rafa who has to worry about Tomic. As for Delpo, yes, he is not an easy opponent but it’s not like Rafa stands no chance whatsoever against him. I’m sure Delpo is not rubbing his hands in glee at the prospect of playing Rafa.
I wonder why Ricky doesn’t think Stan is a road block in Djoker’s path, even though Djoker has struggled to beat him in the last 2 h/c slam they played last year.
he’s a roadblock, but not one with a realistic chance of winning. Delpo far more dangerous to Rafa than Stan is to Novak. Stan played out of his mind and still didn’t win. Djokovic restored order by destroying him at WTFs.
Yes, Delpo will be dangerous to Rafa’s prospects, just like Tomic, Monfils and each and everyone else Rafa will play! This, according to Rafa himself, and this is why he beats all of them. He takes no one for granted. So, you can bet Rafa agrees Delpo is dangerous and that is why he (Rafa), will beat him!
Good old Serbernator is so invincible he waited 3 years to win his 2nd slam and still only has 6 at the age of 26. One year older beatable Rafa has 13 slams, won his first slam at 19 and has won at least one slam for 9 consecutive years.
Ricky, what has indoor, best of 3 WTF got to do with the AO?
nothing. But it has a LOT to do with the Djoker-Wawa “rivalry.”
Difference is simple.
Wawa is 2-15 vs Nole (0-3 in majors) and hasn’t beaten him since 2006!!!
Rafa is 8-4 vs Delpo but just 4-4 on hard courts.
Wawa is not a threat to Nole.
SHBH, while pretty, don’t cut it in tennis anymore.
there you go
Full tournament picks – https://tenngrand.com/2014/01/12/2014-australian-open-picks-nadal-vs-djokovic-in-rematch-of-2012/
Day 1 picks – https://tenngrand.com/2014/01/12/australian-open-day-1-picks-including-dodig-vs-karlovic-and-gulbis-vs-monaco/
Some of us just prefer to have our own thoughts and opinions. I am not living in Pollyanna land. There may well have been rigged draws at times. No one knows for sure. I made my points and stand by what I said right to the ground.
It’s too bad that different opinions are not welcomed and embraced. Oh yes, no one is a threat to Rafa in his draw! Even Delpo can be dismissed with a wave of the hand! Yet there is all this hand wringing over fast courts, bad draws and all this plotting to make it difficult for Rafa.
It’s funny, because I thought that Rafa could play on fast hard courts! Silly me! I thought that Rafa had proved himself at the USO, Montreal and Cincy. The USO and Cincy have traditionally been fast hard courts.
I am not the one complaining and whining about conspiracies to stop Rafa. Why? Because I don’t think there is any way to stop Rafa! So who is the dedicated, loyal Rafa fan? All I do is give respect to Rafa’s opponents. Just the way he does.
I am not going to go along to get along. I am going to be a Rafa fan in my own way. There is no right or wrong way to be a Rafa fan. It’s just that some don’t like when everyone doesn’t echo their thoughts and walk in lock step. But I am not worrying and freaking out over the fast hard courts. While there is all this whining about the draw and everything else, Rafa is busy practicing and adjusting to the courts. So he is working to do what he has to do to win. He’s not complaining and wringing his hands and saying – oh poor me!
That’s why he is a great champion.
Go get ’em Rafa!
Djokovic handed boxes of chocolate to the media in his presser. Buying popularity again. Or trying to.
^^Why not? He knows there are nincompoops out there who can be bought….
didn’t he do that AFTER the tournament last time?
Ricky January 12, 2014 at 2:37pm;
Yes, he did. He also did after match-win dance and comedy routines during the North American HC swing until Rafa put a stop to it………by beating him, on court.
Thank goodness he won’t win Oz 2014, otherwise he would adopt a koala……….
haha…come on guys..the man is just distributing chocolates !
if Nadal did this, you guys would praise him as the second coming of Jesus.
#DoubleStandard
#FeedTheHungry
hahahaha…. ! lol… yeah, its pretty much on us how we view such an ‘act’….djoker is a fun guy so we can expect such stuff from him
still laughing at #FeedTheHungry
vamosrafa,
Thank you. 🙂
Just like ripping the shirt and yelling Gorilla like, handing out chocolates maybe a cultural thing.
The media is already behind Djoker. It is just the fans who need to be bought.
Other than Serbs and Fed fans who see him as their champion, he has few other fans. Some Muzza fans may have Djoker as second fave because Andy has been generally in Rafa’s half and losing to Rafa so that of course makes them harbor not so kind feelings toward Rafa.
Djokovic has a huge number of fans (formerly known as Federer fans).
Fed’s out?
Of what?
Future slam titles.
@littlefoot, your ruminations on Becker and his clout with the ITF, if true, would give a plausible reason to Djoker’s hiring of him because this Head Coach thing just does not make sense.
#DoingTheRatSmellings
I know, RITB. I never thought, it made sense. And Becker doesn’t have much of a moral standing anymore. But the German newspapers are full of glee, how the draw benefits Becker, and as an afterthought, Djokovic. In another article in my Sunday newspaper (which is a VERY respectable one), they tell about manipulative crimes in connection with the International sports scene, and how much big money is involved. They don’t make a connection to this draw, but they do point it out in the tennis report as being EXTREMELY unlucky for Nadal.
I really wish, I could get this thought out of my head now 🙂
There was not supposed to be a smiley in my above post, but the opposite 🙁
so @holdserve’s “fix” ruminations are not crazy talk after all………..
What a world we live in. Anyhoo, I honestly believe the cream always rises to the top, good wins over evil, the good guy gets the girl!
I hope Benito is drip feeding Rafa all these draw conspiracy theories to fire Rafa up and channel his “frustrations” on the yellow fuzzy ball!
Vamos Rafa!
Really hope so, RITB, and thanks for not putting me in the ‘Little Green Men’ corner. But in connection with Becker, this scenario makes more sense.
Everybody, who doesn’t understand this exchange, please read my comment from 4:03.
And of course if Boris’s behind the scenes wheeling and dealing does not do the trick, the chocolates surely will…….
#beltsandsuspenders
#QED
Don’t worry, @littlefoot. Come 2 weeks we will be smiling.
Vamos!
Yes, one thing, they can’t do: Make Rafa play badly. But, if one starts to have the dirty thoughts, one cannot help but feel, that whoever is behind this (it could be still the draw gods, of course) tried his best to make it as difficult as possible for Rafa, including the scheduling.
That is what I am choosing to concentrate on @littlefoot, Rafa’s play. So, here’s hoping our boy brings his A game! From that, the results will flow.
What is he going to hand out next, dollar bills?
Ricky, did you get some? He’s probably trying to clear the gluten products out of his cupboard. Apparently, the journos didn’t take too kindly to the gesture.
nope. I’ll ask for some in Indian Wells or Miami.
Well Ricky, just please do not ask or beg for them, worse still, do not go on all fours to pick up any which may fall on the floor in the scrum like what some of your brethren did in Melbourne. Let Djoko come and hand them to you:
“For the past two years, Novak Djokovic has ended his last press conference of the year by giving out chocolates to the assembled scribes. Gluten-free ones, of course. He has decided to extend the tradition to the first press conference of the year, too, handing out two boxes after his first press conference in Melbourne. Let’s gloss over the fact that some of the press (or photographers) were so eager to get their hands on one that quite a few of them ended up on the floor.”
http://www.thetennisspace.com/oddballs-and-oddities-70/
Please spare Tenngrand the ignominy……………….
hahahahahahahaha
Novak has handed out chocolates on a number of occasions, and he usually does so in person, going around the room with the box. I think it’s a nice gesture. It gives him a chance to interact with the journalists on a light hearted basis. I’m sure I’m in the minority here, but I like Novak a lot. I just don’t like him to beat Rafa but I don’t ever want anyone to beat Rafa and most of the matches between Novak and Rafa usually have me reaching for the Tums.
Jpacnw,
I appreciate your sentiments. It’s nice to get a different point of view. I actually don’t like a lot of things about Djoker. But I don’t have a problem if he wants to hand out chocolates. If he is trying to get people to like him or be popular, I don’t have a problem with that.
Sometimes it’s nice to just take things at face value without trying to read more into it.
Oh and I never, ever want Djoker to beat Rafa! Their matches give me heart palpitations!
Not good for my blood pressure at all! 🙂
@Jpacnw
I like him too! U r not alone.
That article is ambiguous, to say the least, but doesn’t it mean that the chocolates ended up on the floor?
@deucy, that was my reading as well, hence my playful exhortation to Ricky not to go down on all fours to pick up chocolates on the floor!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GiVlBT4kNI
A hilarious video. Gotta give it to Andy to make it on the show 2 days after the Wim 2012 heartbreak
He was actually in the audience after he lost Wimbles. Very brave but got a terrific ovation. Dara obviously likes him a lot and Hugh Dennis is also a huge fan.
Nole didn’t hand any out in Abu Dhabi. It’s not that I don’t like Nole, I don’t know him, but I don’t like his attention seeking attitude and beating Rafa any time doesn’t help.