Last year, at the Australian Open a new type of quicker court was introduced, putting a question mark over how the first grand slam of the year was going to play out. It ended up being a tournament of thrills and illustrious highlights and matches that would be remembered by fans and players alike. The exciting opening rounds eventually led to a scintillating and eagerly anticipated clash between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. To many this was a match-up of the two best players on form in the world and it lived up to its billing. Djokvic won in four sets against a tiring Murray who was showing fatigue at the end of a gruelling two weeks in the hot Australian Sun. A year on and it all starts again, here are the contenders.
Rafael Nadal
The world number one had a great 2013 proving his doubters wrong. He came back from injury and won two out of three grand slams that he contested. The only grand slam he did not contest was the one down in Australia and this was due to injury. After seeing the year Nadal had last year you would think he is automatically the favourite for the title. Well this is not quite true. Nadal is proven to love time on the ball, that is why he holds the record for the most French Open wins. With the new, faster surface that is now present at the Aussie Open, we must question if Rafa will run into trouble at some point on his quest for the title…
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic, although he had a great year did not hit the heights that he hit in 2012 where he established himself as the world’s number one. While he won the Australian Open he could not follow it up with a second grand slam in 2013. After losing a number of important matches throughout the year, he finished strongly not losing another match after his loss to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final. Now with Boris Becker added to his coaching staff it seems as if The Jokere is going from strength to strength and is trying to become a more well-rounded player.
Andy Murray
Andy Murray went to a new level in 2013. After winning his first Grand Slam title he became the first Englishman since Fred Perry 73 years ago to win Wimbledon. This all came on the heels of his finals appearance at the Australian Open where he lost to Djokovic. Murray finished the year missing out on the Barclays ATP world tour finals due to an injury (back) that required minor surgery. Since then he has shown disappointing form at the start of 2014 and led to questions if the Aussie Open too soon for Andy Murray following his return from injury?
Roger Federer
Lastly, out of the “normal” top four is Roger Federer. In 2013, Federer had a year to forget. Time after time going out to players he would normally be expected to comfortably beat. He added to his woes when he did not win a Grand Slam or even reach the final of one of the four tournaments in 2013. By Federer’s standard that is deemed unimpressive. He improved towards the end of the year making the semi-final at the world tour final, but it was there that he was still beat comfortably by Rafa Nadal. He will go into this year’s Aussie open seeded 6th which is out of the norm for Federer, but will still be one of the most feared players in the draw. Now with new coach Stefan Edberg; the question becomes if Federer can recoup some of the form that made him a player that is unquestionably amongst the greatest tennis players of all-time.
Outsiders
The main darkhorse contenders for the crown are Juan Martin del Potro (Seeded #5), David Ferrer (Seeded #3 ), Tomas Berdych (Seeded #7) and Stanislas Wawrinka (Seeded #8). The final two true contenders are Richard Gasquet and Jo – Wilfried Tsonga who are both seeded 9th and 10th for the first slam of the year. Out of these contenders Del Potro is the only one who has ever won a Grand Slam and this type of court seems to suit him the best. Could this be the tournament where he takes his second Grand Slam Title?
Prediction
Everything looks towards Djokovic lifting the championship for the fourth straight year down in Australia. Nadal would arguably be his closest rival but with him already complaining about the pace of the court before the tournament has even started, it could be that this isn’t Rafa’s tournament. With Andy Murray and the poor form he has shown since returning from his back injury, and Federer still not at the absolute top of his game it would appear that this tournament is Novak Djokovic’s to lose.
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