Australian Open 2012: Power Ranking Top Men in the Tourney

Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

The Australian Open is underway, and the big guns are making their way through the early rounds as they power toward success.  With so many competitive players in tennis at the moment, it is difficult to pick out a winner, but here are the power rankings for the best male players.

The top seeds are not always the guys who are going to win, and these power rankings show which players are going to make it through in the second week.

Do you agree? In what order would you put the power rankings?

10. Juan Martin Del Potro

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Juan Martin del Potro made hard work of his opening game, losing a set to Adrian Mannarino on the opening day.

The Argentinian is working his way back from injury and still has some time to go before he is up there in the power rankings for the Australian Open.

Maybe by the time Wimbledon comes around del Potro will be up there challenging for the title.

9. Janko Tipsarevic

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Janko Tipsarevic is the Serbian No. 2 at the minute—something that isn't likely to change as long as Novak Djokovic is still playing.

Tipsarevic is just about inside the top 10 of the world but could easily drop out as players like Juan Martin del Potro and Gael Monfils hit form.

Stronger that Nicholas Almagro and Mardy Fish but still down at ninth in the power rankings.

8. Gael Monfils

Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

Gael Monfils is one of those players who always provides us with some entertainment.

A forever-changing temperament can see Monfils as a player capable of beating anyone, or just as easily a simple run on the ladder to success for anyone.

Monfils will come into the Australian Open just outside the top 10, as 14th seed, but creeps into the power rankings at No. 8.

Monfils certainly has the ability to make it, and it should not be a surprise when he makes it into the quarterfinals.

7. David Ferrer

Phil Walter/Getty Images

David Ferrer warmed up for the Australian Open with a victory in Auckland, New Zealand, last week.  The Spaniard will be one to watch at the Australian Open.

Ferrer will be consistent as usual, but the big guns will once again overpower him in the latter stages.

Going in as No. 5 seed is probably just that little bit too high for Ferrer, and he drops down in the power rankings to seventh place.

6. Tomas Berdych

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Tomas Berdych will once again put up a solid performance and prove himself worthy of a top-10 seeding.

Likely to be a little stronger than his seventh place seeding suggests, Berdych will make it comfortably into the quarterfinals before meeting Rafael Nadal and falling short of the semifinals.

Berdych slots in as No. 6 in the power rankings for the Australian Open.

5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is a one-time finalist at the Australian Open and seems to enjoy the hard courts of Melbourne.

The power, strength and fitness of the big Frenchman make him a top competitor, and he goes into the Australian Open fifth in the power rankings.

4. Rafael Nadal

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal breezed his way through is first-round match at the Australian Open.  A disappointing defeat in Doha in the build-up will do little to phase the former champion.

With a new racket and a determination to regain his place at the top of the rankings in 2012, Nadal will be as dangerous as ever.

Still, that new racket and some potential injury problems for Nadal see him drop in the power rankings to fourth.

3. Andy Murray

Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Andy Murray will continue his quest to win his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. 

The two-time finalist will make another push for the title and could easily come out with a win in Australia. 

Ranked at No. 4 officially, the boost Murray will receive from new coach Ivan Lendl sees him rise to No. 3 in the power rankings.

2. Roger Federer

Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Roger Federer is one man you just can't write off when going into a Grand Slam.  Once again the Swiss perfectionist has distanced himself from those complaining to the tennis authorities about scheduling, keeping his mind clear for the Australian Open.

Federer goes in as the third seed for the tournament, but his recent run of form, retirement excepted, sees Federer in second place for the power rankings at the Australian Open.

1. Novak Djokovic

Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic is certainly one of the main contenders for the Australian Open title.

Going into the tournament as the No. 1 seed for the first time in Australia, Djokovic will be determined to take his third Grand Slam in a row.

There isn't a lot that needs to be said about the Serbian and his tennis over the past year.  Definitely the man to beat at the Australian Open 2012.