Australian Open Tennis 2009 Preview: Will It Be Federer, Nadal, Or Murray?

With the first round jitters out of the way, and an opportunity to have seen all the players in action, we preview the 2009 Australian Open Tennis Tournament and the big name players who look to have what it takes to win.

Roger Federer

In spite of losing his World No. 1 crown to Rafael Nadal in August 2008, Roger Federer still remains the bookmakers' favourite to capture the first Grand Slam Title of 2009.

After having what can only be described as a disastrous 2008 by his standards, Federer not only lost his position as the world's number one male tennis player, but also managed to capture only a single Grand Slam title.

In spite of this, things are looking hopeful for the current World Number Two after he won the 2008 US Open (the last Grand Slam of the year) and showed a promising start to 2009 by winning the ATP Kooyong Classic.

Although there has been much talk recently as to whether Federer's reign over tennis is coming to an end, it looks like the 27-year-old Swiss champion definitely has what it takes to make a big impact on the 2009 season.

With the likes of Marat Safin, Stanislas Wawrinka, David Ferrer and Juan Del Potro in his quarter of the draw, and a potential semi-final encounter with either Andy Roddick or Novak Djokovic (or even David Nalbandian), Federer faces a tricky but otherwise manageable road to the final.

There, he will most likely be met by either World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, or the one player who has been the bane of Federer for the past three months: Andy Murray.

Andy Murray

After an incredible 2008 season, reaching the final of the US Open, the Quarter-Finals at Wimbledon, and picking up 5 ATP Titles, fourth seed Andy Murray is now the bookmakers' second favourite pick to win the 2009 Australian Open.

With late 2008 and early 2009 seeing Murray pick up numerous wins over the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, and Rafael Nadal, the Brit looks set to make 2009 his best year yet.

Victory at the ATP Doha in the first week of 2009 saw Andy Murray see off Federer in the semi-finals and Roddick in the final, and these two big wins undoubtedly signal the 21 year old Scot's intentions of making a massive impact on the professional tennis scene for many years to come.

With 2008 Australian Open Finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, James Blake, and Fernando Verdasco in his quarter of the draw, Murray will have to be at his best in order to progress to the latter stages of the tournament.

If Murray makes it to the semifinals, which he looks set to do, he will most likely be faced with a match against a player who he has only ever beaten once, and who is also the current World No. 1: Rafael Nadal.

Rafael Nadal

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal produced an absolutely sublime display of tennis brilliance in 2008. Picking up six ATP Titles, making the semifinals at the Australian Open and the US Open, and winning both Wimbledon and the French Open, Nadal smashed numerous records in the process and overtook Roger Federer as the World's Number One male tennis player.

After missing out on the end of the 2008 season due to injury, Nadal began 2009 in an unconvicing fashion, losing in the quarter finals of ATP Doha to Frenchman Gael Monfils.

However, after a dominant display in the first round of the Australian Open, crushing Christophe Rochus 6-0 6-2 6-2, Nadal looks set to return to the form which gained him the top spot in the ATP World Rankings in August of last year.

Having the likes of Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils and Fernando Gonzalez in his quarter of the draw, with both Simon and Monfils posting victories over Nadal in late 2008, the 22 year old Spaniard will have to be at his best to progress to the semi-finals.

As already mentioned, he will most likely be met there by the upcoming tennis star Andy Murray. This is set to be a marathon of a match, and could very well signal which of these two players will dominate the professional tennis circuit in 2009 and beyond.


Prediction

This Australian Open looks set to produce some incredible tennis matches and moments, as the world's best players look to make a strong statement of their intentions for 2009.

Based on current form, we can most likely expect to see a semi-final between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, as well as one between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, although Djokovic could easily be replaced by either Andy Roddick or David Nalbandian.

After that, it's truly anyone's guess as to who has what it takes to be victorious in the Australian Open 2009 Tennis Championships. One thing that we can be sure of, however, is that we're in for two weeks of very exciting Grand Slam Tennis.

Interested in betting on the tennis? Then read the complete Australian Open Preview and find the best bookmakers with the biggest free bets now.