Australian Open 2012 Draw: Breaking Down the Seeding and Brackets
The Grand Slam season is nearly underway, and there's a lot to watch. Best of all is that there's going to be a lot to watch all throughout the tournament, with potential upsets all over the bracket.
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Top First Round Match: Bernard Tomic vs. Fernando Verdasco
Verdasco has made the semifinals at this event before and is ranked, but he has a distinct possibility of going down in the first round.
Tomic will not only have the home crowd working for him but also possesses a rocket serve that will do him well. The upset potential is enough to sell this match, but it goes beyond that. Tomic is not only a threat to beat Verdasco but has the game to make a run into the later rounds.
Should Roger Federer slip up, this bracket is wide open. Don't be surprised to see the winner stick around for a while.
Prediction: Tomic in four sets.
Intriguing Potential Early Round Matches
Ivan Ljubicic vs. Donald Young, Second Round
Ljubicic is the higher ranked of the two, but he's only made it out of the third round in Australia once, and that was six years ago. He's also 32 and coming to the end of his career.
On the other end is Young, the 22-year-old who is coming off of a strong showing at the U.S. Open. Young is a guy that fans, particularly American fans, will want to watch closely, as he's the most promising hope for the future of the sport in the country.
Prediction: Young in three sets.
Lleyton Hewitt vs. Andy Roddick, Second Round
These two will square off in the second round, assuming that they handle their opening round opponents. Both players are well beyond their past glory (each have been No. 1 in the world), but they're capable of putting a run together, upsetting some big names in the process. Obviously, only one man will be given the chance to make that run.
These two are similar in that each is the last man from his country to win a Grand Slam Championship.
The more dangerous player is Roddick. His serve is next to impossible to return when he's getting it in bounds. On the hard courts of Australia, he's a factor to make a deep run.
The more intriguing of the two stories is Hewitt. He's from Australia, and they haven't had one of their own win this tournament since 1973. However, Roddick is the much better player. Even without a big serve, he'll get through Hewitt.
Prediction: Roddick in four sets.
Potential Match You Don't Want to Miss: Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer
These two always put on great matches, and this will be no different. Given Nadal's injury, Federer has the edge, especially away from clay.
He's got the best chance of any man in the field of beating Djokovic. Remember that Federer had two match points against Djokovic at the U.S. Open in September before eventually falling in the match.
Nadal is always fun to watch. The way he runs around, constantly putting pressure on his opponent, makes him the most exciting player in the world, even if he's not the best.
Prediction: Federer in five sets.
Winner: Novak Djokovic
He's already won in Australia twice, and there isn't a men's player in the world that's at his level. Djokovic is the best player in the world, and that will show. His 2012 season won't match 2011, but Djokovic will win his third consecutive major.
No player in the world is more dangerous than Djokovic on all surfaces. He doesn't have a hole in his game that can be exploited and can beat players of any style. His brilliant run of success will run through Australia.
WOMEN
Top First Round Match: Bethanie Mattek-Sands vs. Agnieszka Radwanska
Mattek-Sands receives a lot of attention because of her outfits but has yet to bring it on the court in a big way. Going against the No. 8 seed, this is a golden opportunity for her to do just that. Mattek-Sands will be a heavy underdog in this match, but she can make a good name for herself with a strong performance, even in a loss.
On the other end is Radwanska. Not only is she No. 8 in the world, but she's also coming off of a quarterfinals performance a year ago and is in a wide open bracket. If she gets through Mattek-Sands, we'll be hearing from Radwanska a lot at the Australian Open.
Prediction: Radwanska in two sets.
Intriguing Potential Early Round Matches
Angelique Kerber vs. Maria Sharapova, Third Round
Sharapova's name speaks for itself. She's been one of the best players in the world for the better part of the last decade but hasn't won a Grand Slam since the Australian Open since 2008.
Kerber, on the other hand, comes in under the radar, though she managed a run to the semifinals at the U.S. Open a year ago. If Sharapova is going to make another long run (or win), she will have an early test from the upstart Kerber.
Prediction: Sharapova in three sets.
Maria Kirilenko vs. Petra Kvitova, Third Round
Kirilenko has shown that she is capable of making a run at the Australian Open. In 2010, she went to the quarterfinals before being defeated.
Kvitova is the No. 2 seed but has only made it past the second round in Australia once. She's also one of only two women in the Top 10 to have won a Grand Slam in the past. If she gets through Kirilenko, Kvitova has to be considered a serious favorite.
Prediction: Kvitova in two sets.
Potential Match You Don't Want to Miss: Maria Sharapova vs. Serena Williams
The rankings can say whatever they want, but these are far and away the biggest names on the women's draw and will be for quite some time. Any time they're paired in the same bracket, you will want to watch.
Of the two, Sharapova is the better player, right now. Williams has battled an ankle injury recently, which worries me. Sharapova has more working in her favor right now, which will put her over Williams. Still, it won't win her the tournament.
Winner: Samantha Stosur
Stosur is a superstar in the making. She's the reigning U.S. Open champion and has a game that few players in the world can even compete with.
In addition to all of that, Stosur will have the home court advantage, playing in her native Australia. She'll win her second straight Grand Slam and establish herself as the true best player in the game, regardless of what the rankings say.
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