Australian Open 2012 Predictions: Bold Picks to Walk Away Champion

While everyone is already chalking up the Australian Open to early favorites like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, there are always a few other players who can come in and make some serious noise.

No disrespect to Andy Murray, but his inability to win a Slam title at this point doesn't put him in the same company, even though he has reached this Slam final twice already.

Murray is no walk in the park, but he isn't as confident of a pick as the other three.

While it is hard to vote against the three guys who not only occupy the top three spots on the ATP Tour, but also own eight of the last Slam titles, there is no guarantee that any of them will walk away as champion.

It will truly take a great performance from anybody looking from the outside in, but it certainly isn't impossible.

Chances are, they will likely have to take down one of these three men, as at least one of them as appeared in each of the last 27 Grand Slam tournaments.

These men, however, can possibly topple the top of the totem pole.

Juan Martin del Potro

While everyone remembers Federer, Nadal and Djokovic winning Slam after Slam, many seem to forget that Del Potro won the 2009 US Open.

The reason that many forget about this is because he pretty much disappeared after the win, as he has been battling with injuries ever since it happened.

This tournament hasn't exactly been the best for Argentinean. He has lost in the second round three times, while being knocked in the fourth back in 2010. His best appearance was in 2009, the same year he won the US Open, where he made it as far as the quarterfinals.

Currently ranked No. 11 in the world, Del Potro is looking like his old self and could potentially be making some serious noise in this tournament. He won't have the easiest task getting there, but he has one win in his past that can make many people into believers.

That win was over Federer and the US Open in the final, and he will once again have to get through the man from Switzerland to make his way into the semifinals. Considering how much time Del Potro has missed, this will be his biggest test of the tournament and of his comeback.

If he can get past Federer, there is no limit to what he can potentially do.

Jo Wilfried Tsonga

The big Frenchman has been put in Murray's bracket, but he is one guy who can take this tournament by storm.

Tsonga made the final of this tournament back in 2008, but he lost to Djokovic. He was a surprise finalist, as he kind of just burst onto the scene and made a huge run in the first Slam of the season.

Like Del Potro, he has been slowed by injuries over his career, but when he plays, he is lights-out. If he can continue to play at such a high level, he can easily find himself battling it out for a spot in this year's final.

After appearing in the final, the next three Australian Opens were an uphill battle. In 2009, he was knocked out in the quarters, while he almost made it back to the finals in 2010. This past season was his worst result, losing in the third round.

Now ranked sixth in the world, Tsonga has proven that he is nobody to look past.

Getting past Murray won't be easy, but if anyone is going to do it in that bracket, it will be Tsonga.

Mardy Fish

Another guy that is in Federer's bracket, but would first have to get through the previously mentioned Del Potro, is the American Mardy Fish.

While he has never even appeared in a Slam semifinal, there has been a certain resurgence in the 30-year-old's game. He has been looking relatively strong, and has taken over the top spot for American players being ranked No. 8 in the world.

Fish isn't a guy that will easily take this title, but he could surprise some people if he plays well, and honestly gets a little lucky.

He isn't as flawless or crisp as the others, but he often plays strong throughout the entire match. If he is motivated to do well, he may be able to get by and hope for the best when he potentially approaches Del Potro and then Federer—if the two make it that far as well.

Fish isn't going to get a lot of people behind him, but this may be the time that the American finally makes a deep run at a Slam.

Could he win it? Possibly, but that will remain to be seen.