2020 Australian Open...ATP 2000...Melbourne, Australia

[don_budge]

Daniil Medvedev is now the fourth wheel of the Big Four. Can he live up to the billing?

[don_budge]

Shapovalov big disappointment losing to Fucsovics in 4 sets. He looked so good early on at the ATP Cup.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Delray Beach
SETS Consulting

Ernests Gulbis sends the other Canadian hopeful packing. Felix Auger-Aliassime had looked super impressive in some lesser venues as well. But things change when you come to the Big Game...aka Grand Slam events. Their time is coming. But how about that Ernests Gulbis...he with the swimmer forehand. The Dolphin Forehand. He has been hanging around in much lesser events for the past year but comes up with the winning hand in this match. I was looking at that matchup and even went to far to view Ernests recent activity and judging by the ascension of Felix as of late wondered if an upset was possible of the #20 seed. Turns out...it was.

I watched a bit of Stefanos Tsitsipas and I liked his look as he made short work of a lesser opponent. Just like you must if you are going to be a contender at the Big Show. Novak Djokovic looked absolutely unbeatable against Jack Struff. He virtually gave a set away to get a bit more work under a bit more pressure. Absolutely unflappable. Daniel Evans gave it the old college try and came from two sets down to advance.

I get the impression that the depth of the tournament is much, much better than we have seen in the recent past. Some of the early rounds are very intriguing. The draw is shaping up with some rather titanic showdowns looming. Wait until we get to the last sixteen. There might be a slightly different look to this tournament than we have seen in the past years with the same old, same old.

I have a date with the gym otherwise I think I would be watching a couple of these early rounds. But they are of little consequence so I must do my duty...like a good Prince would.

[klacr]

Shapovalov big disappointment losing to Fucsovics in 4 sets. He looked so good early on at the ATP Cup. Federer cruised through, when you have the gift it doesn't matter how long the layoff is. Although he hasn't played a tournament yet this year don't think he hasn't been playing intensely. Roger works his schedule and his periodization a bit differently. The Australian Open summer is his end of the year so for him this is the last grand slam. He will be primed and ready for all the matches coming up.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Delray Beach
SETS Consulting

[gzhpcu]

So Federer not having played a match in a while, disposes of Steve Johnson effortlessly..

[stroke]

I also feel that Nadal is looking a bit older and is only going to be a real threat at FO. Novak clearly the favorite. Medvedev in the conversation. Stefanos also. Nick a wild card like no other. If he gets to round of 16 vs Nadal(if Nadal gets there), I would pick him to win. I like Rublev's game and attitude also. Berrenttini has maybe the biggest forehand weapon out there and is obviously a guy to watch. And Fed, the easiest on the eye game forever, how could one ever count him out.

[don_budge]

Am I reading the weather report for Melbourne correctly...30.1 mm rain on Monday. Noah get your Ark!

[don_budge]

More tomorrow...

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/australian-open/580/draws?matchtype=singles

It is tomorrow as promised. The top seeds in the bottom half of the draw are #8 Mateo Berrittini, #3 Roger Federer, #6 Stefanos Tsitsipas and #2 Novak Djokovic. How can you not see Roger out to the quarters against Berrittini or whoever. That's a pretty darned good draw for the Swiss Maestro. No such luck for the "New Kid on the Block" in Stefanos "The Greek". Like Zorba. Stefanos will have to play it one match at a time and his progress will be riddled with a land mine every step of the way. But if he keeps his nose to the grindstone it would be great to see him in a quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic. How can you not see Novak out to the quarterfinals?

So action gets under way in some hours. Lots and lots of question marks throughout the first round. I have a feeling that this is going to be a great tournament. Hope to see some of the other posters participating in this tournament. It is going to fun anyways. Let the games begin!

[klacr]

I'm excited to get tennis back up and running in the new decade. December seemed so long without it.
Draw looks pretty solid, I see the young Russian Andrey Rublev making the 2nd week of this slam.
Usual suspects still remain the favorites though. Nadal, Djokovic or Federer. Medvedev my pick outside the top 3.

Two names in the women's draw I'm following closely, well three actually. Arantxa Rus, Viktorija Golubic and Garbine Muguruza. I may explain later.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Delray Beach
SETS Consulting

[don_budge]

As we start the new year with the first Grand Slam of the decade it might be interesting to note that we have been doing this for a long time. A very, very long time.

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...ustralian-open

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...urne-australia

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...ourne-austalia

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...urne-australia

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...-championships

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...urne-australia

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...lian-open-2018

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...urne-australia

So here we are and our "Once and Future King" Roger Federer is still prowling the grounds. Isn't that what he is doing actually? Prowling? The way he walks around the court as if he owns the place. Win or lose. He just acts like the moment he is on the court that it is his. Not in any sort of self glorifying way but in a way that it makes you appreciate how many times he has been there and how many times he has walked away with his dignity...win or lose. We enter the new decade with him but for sure he will not be here for the next. How many of us will be? One never knows.

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/australian-open/580/draws

But here is the draw. And it is a good one. The Big Three are the top three seeds of course but none of them are granted a free pass to the semis where they are projected to on the basis of their seedings. The top seed is none other than Rafael Nadal. My question is can Nick Kyrgios hold it together to face him in the round of sixteen. You never know with Nick and you know even less when it comes to the best of five format. Nadal himself just might show another side of himself that we haven't seen before. He appears to be getting older before our very eyes. Suddenly he seems to be vulnerable. He seems to have lost a half of a step. Come on Nick! Get your shit together in that Aussie sunny weather!

Just outside of the Big Three is lurking the guy who has shown that he has a bit of disdain for all of them. Not only them but anyone that might want to get in his way. New York fans...umpires. You name it. Daniil Medvedev just wants to play and he just wants to beat people. He showed signs last year at this venue but couldn't quite get it done. He was on a tear in 2019 and he enters the new decade with some high expectations. He might be the next player other than the Big Three to hoist a Grand Slam trophy.

More tomorrow...