Australian Tennis Open 2012: Predicting the Men's Round of 16 Matchups

With the first Grand Slam of the tennis year just around the corner, many questions are being asked. Can Novak Djokovic repeat 2011? Is Roger Federer still a force? Will Andy Murray win his first Grand Slam? All these answers will begin to appear in the next fortnight, but to start off here are the predictions for the round of 16 matchups.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (23) Milos Raonic

The 2011 champion has a reasonably straight forward run to the fourth round, with the only real hurdle being an aging Radek Stepanek.

Raonic has a possible stiff test in the higher seed Andy Roddick in the third round but should get past. The Canadian has shown good form to the start of the year in winning the Aircel Chennai Open, while Roddick has shown indifferent form during the Kooyong Classic.

 

(9) Jarko Tipsarevic vs. (5) David Ferrer

David Ferrer, currently competing in the final of the Heineken Open, is demonstrating solid early season form and should find his way into the fourth round without much trouble.

Tipsarevic also made the final in Chennai, losing to Raonic. He may face a test against Gasquet in the third round, but the Frenchman has shown inconsistency during the Medibank International and Hopman Cup.

(4) Andy Murray vs. (14) Gael Monfils

Andy Murray has possibly shown the best form of any player, cruising through the Brisbane International and defeating Dolgopolov in the final, and nothing should change in the Slam.

Monfils had a great win against Nadal in Qatar before losing to Tsonga. With the only real test coming in Troicki he should find himself up against the Brit in the round of 16.

(24) Kei Hishikori vs. (6) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Nishikori had an amazing 2011, rising to a ranking of 25 in the world and being one of the only men to beat Djokovic throughout the year. He is in the same bracket as Frenchmen Simon and Benneteau, but you can expect the Japanese star to get past both.

Tsonga has a tough match first up against Istomin, the Muhammad Ali look-a-like will have too many weapons and will easily get through to the fourth round.

(8) Mardy Fish vs. (11) Martin Del Potro

The No. 1 American has shown great form during the Kooyong Classic, beating Berdych and Melzer, and will face little opposition in advancing to the fourth round.

Del Potro was beaten by Baghdatis in Sydney this past week, but with the toughest test being Melzer, expect the former US Open champion to proceed.

Bernard Tomic vs. (3) Roger Federer

I am not saying Tomic just because I am a passionate Australian supporter, he has shown outstanding form to the start of the year. He was beaten by Murray in the semifinal of Brisbane but bounced back to defeat both Berdych and Monfils at Kooyong. Even with possible tough matches against Verdasco and Dolgopolov, expect to see the Aussie through.

Federer, say no more.

(7) Tomas Berdych vs. Marcos Baghdatis

After a dominate Hopman Cup, Berdych has shown poor form in Kooyong but with his weak draw you can count him in for the fourth round.

The other spot is up for grabs, Wawrinka, Baghdatis and Almagro all have a chance. Almagro has fallen in the early rounds of both the Heineken and Chennai Open, Wawrinka also fell down early in Chennai so by pure form Baghdatis will move through the Open.

(16) John Isner vs. (2) Rafael Nadal

The Raging Bull should cruise through his part of the draw, which includes the likes of veterans Hass and Ljubicic.

The big serving American faces tough possible challenges in Medibank finalist Nieminem or Nalbandian, but if all goes to plan a very interesting fourth-round matchup will be in the cards.