1. Australian Open 2014
The new tennis season has kicked off with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal already claiming their
first trophies of the season. Roger Federer seems to have carried his end of season form of 2013 into
the New Year, reaching the final of the Brisbane Open, only to be upset by the home-favourite
Lleyton Hewitt.
Main Contenders
Novak Djokovic - (1.85 32Red)
Djokovic comes into the Australian Open as the four-time and defending champion. More ominously,
he is on a 21 match winning streak at this event, as well as being undefeated since his loss to Rafael
Nadal in the US Open Final back in early September. The rebound ace court surface is a surface that
is perfectly suited to Djokovic’s game. Furthermore, the hot heat in Melbourne puts even greater
emphasis on a player’s stamina and fitness, two aspects of the men’s game where no one can better
him.
Dealt a favourable draw, Djokovic enjoys a significantly favourable head to head record against his
seeded quarter-final opponent, Wawrinka, (15-2) and his semi-final opponent, David Ferrer, (11-5).
Having dispatched his first two opponents impressively, Djokovic looks a dead cert to reach the final
(1.2 Betfair). With his opponent in the final having probably endured a much tougher passage into the
final, Djokovic looks the clear and undoubted favourite again this year.
Rafael Nadal – (4.69 BETDAQ)
Having enjoyed a stellar comeback in 2013, winning two grand slams as well as re-claiming number
one, Nadal enters arguably his least favourable grand slam in high hopes. Winner in 2009, and a
finalist in 2012, Nadal knows what it takes to win in Australia. However the rebound ace surface
doesn’t aid Nadal’s heavy topspin as much as the clay and thus during his career, Nadal has suffered a
few defeats to fellow top ten players who are capable of taking the ball early and putting Nadal under
pressure.
Players such as Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils and most significantly, Juan Martin Del Potro all have the
armoury to take the game to Nadal especially on this surface. Furthermore, either Federer or Murray
probably awaits in the semi finals. Whilst I would still put Nadal favourite to reach the final from his
half of the draw, it would require a herculean effort to win the title in Melbourne this year. Mind you,
if anyone can do it, Nadal can!
Outsiders
Andy Murray – (11.2 BETDAQ)
Under normal circumstances, I would consider Murray as a serious title contender, alongside
Djokovic and Nadal. With three final appearances, (2010, 2011 and 2013) as well as a semi-final
appearance in 2012, Murray certainly has the history to suggest he is capable of going all the way.
However the two-time grand slam champion has not played competitive tennis since the US Open
back in August, having undergone back surgery in September to cure a long standing back problem.
To come back and win the Australian Open without being match sharp is a huge ask, something
Murray has openly admitted, despite how favourable the court surface is to Murray’s game.
However Murray has been dealt a kind draw. Already the draw has opened up for him after just one
round of matches. He looked mightily impressive against Soeda, and will not meet a player within the
top 25 until the quarter finals. If Murray can gain match sharpness as he goes along, whilst also
avoiding unnecessary long matches, who to say he won’t start as favourite against his probable

2. quarter final opponents, Federer or Tsonga. However even if he succeeds he faces arguably the
hardest task in tennis to win the title; defeating Nadal and then Djokovic in all likelihood back to
back. A fit, confident and all all-firing Murray? Yes possibly. Lacking match-sharpness both
physically and mentally? Not likely.
Juan Martin Del Potro – (14.6 BETDAQ)
The powerful Argentine has stated that his end of season goal is to break into the world’s top three.
Judging on his end of season performances, such a goal doesn’t seem out of his reach and neither
should the Australian Open title. The 2009 US Open win highlights the fact that he is a more than
capable winner, with many pundits arguing Del Potro is currently playing even better to when he took
out both Nadal and Federer consecutively, and so memorably, back in 2009, to claim his maiden
Grand Slam.
Del Potro has failed to go beyond the quarter final stage and did not look overly convincing in his first
round match. Milos Raonic looks a potential stumbling block for Del Potro not to reach the quarter
finals once again, where he is seeded to meet Nadal. Although he holds a less than favourable head to
head record against Nadal, (4-8), Del Potro has recently enjoyed success over Nadal on similar courts;
including their most recent meeting in Shanghai in which Del Potro won. Whilst a win against Nadal
is certainly possible, it is unlikely Del Potro will have it in him to defeat in all likelihood, Murray and
then Djokovic.
Roger Federer – (26 BETDAQ)
What does 2014 hold for Roger Federer is a question many a pundit is trying to predict. It is a
question all the more fascinating since Federer appointing a fellow tennis legend, Stefan Edberg as his
head coach. He is a four time champion in Melbourne and enjoyed his best Grand Slam showing in
2013 – a semi final appearance – losing to Andy Murray in 5 sets. The rebound ace surface is no
longer a profitable surface for Federer to really threaten the main contenders. The surface requires
three-four consecutive quality shots to win the point, a sequence that Federer seemingly has struggled
with for over the last year.
Dealt an unfavourable draw, a draw which includes fellow top ten players Tsonga and Murray in his
quarter alone, makes a fifth Australian open crown bordering on impossible given the fact that
Federer only managed to beat four fellow top ten players during the whole of 2013. A quarter final
appearance is surely the best Federer can hope for.
Jo-Wilfred Tsonga – (60 BETDAQ)
Powerful, unpredictable and flamboyant; the Frenchman is my pick to do some serious damage this
year. At an attractive looking price, the Frenchman for me offers the best value for money, certainly
to win his quarter (4.89 Betfair) and maybe even make the final (11 Betfair). He enjoyed his
breakthrough moment all the way back in 2008, reaching the final, having knocked out both Murray
and Nadal. Tsonga certainly has the game for history to repeat itself. Although on paper, it seems as
though Tsonga has been dealt a terrible draw, it is my feeling the draw isn’t as bad as it first seems.
Tsonga should make it through to the forth round whereby he is seeded to meet a significantly less
threatening 32 year old Federer, followed by returning Andy Murray from back surgery and is
certainly not match fit. From there on Tsonga certainly has the game and the personality to carry
through his momentum into his likely semi-final showdown with Nadal. Nobody will fancy facing a
confident and possibly a more mature Tsonga if he can build up some momentum.
Tips
Djokovic to win the tournament outright (1.85 32Red)