First!

Always wanted to do that. The draw will be interesting to watch, particularly on the women's side.

(1) Allez Julien! *shares truffles with Jenni*

(2) Roddick gets my Best Reaction to Getting Upstaged Award: he's offering koala plushies at his online shop.
http://tinyurl.com/ye6yc3y

(3) Haven't made up my mind re: AO. Would love to see Kolya prove his doubters wrong, even though I agree they're right to question his stamina.

Congrats VC on being first

Way To Go!

Thanks, aussiemarg! :-)

Australian Open main draw is scheduled for 6:40 PM EST per AO website

Friday Order of Play:

ATP: Auckland at 6 PM - SF: Isner vs Montanes with Kohlschreiber vs Clement to follow
ATP: Sydney at 7 PM: Hutchins/Kerr vs Aspelin/Hanley, Nestor/Zimonjic vs Andreev/Korolev, Gasquet vs Benneteau and Baghdatis vs Fish
WTA: Hobart at 8 PM - SF : Errani vs Peer
WTA: Hobart at 3 AM - SF: Medina Garrigues vs A Bondarenko
WTA: Sydney at 3:30 AM - F: Serena Williams vs Elena Dementieva with Black/Huber vs Garbin/Petrova to follow

Kooyong exo matches start at 7 PM
Fernando Gonzalez vs Ivan Ljubicic
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Tommy Haas
Sergiy Stakhovsky vs Sam Querrey - Bonus match

Kooyong final at 9 PM Friday night(3 PM local Saturday): Fernando Verdasco vs TBD

Australian Open Top 10 WTA Contenders and Floaters

2009 record – Best Australian Open Result - Comments

(1)Serena Williams (45-12): 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Champion. She is going for her 5th title and 12th career slam (2002 French, 2002, 2003, 2009 Wimbledon, 1999, 2002, 2008 United States Open). She has never won the AO in the even year and is 1 for 9 in defending her previous Slam titles.
(2)Kim Clijsters (13-3): 2004 F. She has done well on her comeback tour that was started in July capped off with a win at USO defeating the Williams Sisters along the way and now started off 2010 with a win over Justine Henin at Brisbane which will do a lot for her mentally.
(3)Justine Henin(No 2009 record): 2004 Champion. By making the final at Brisbane, her comeback is off to a good start highlighted by two matches that were decided in a deciding tiebreaker.
(4)Maria Sharapova(31-9): 2008 Champion. Her result will be partly determined on how much her shoulder has healed. If her shoulder has rested well in the offseason, her serve should be a factor.
(5)Elena Dementieva (54-16): 2009 SF. In 2009, Elena won her first 15 matches (winning Auckland and Sydney) until she ran into Serena, who she defeated in the semifinals at Sydney earlier.
(6)Venus Williams (36-13): 2003 F. In 2009, she lost in a 2nd round shocker to Carla Suarez Navarro letting her rally from 5-2 in the final set to win. At this point in her career, her erratic play leaves her vulnerable for an early exit.
(7)Victoria Azarenka (44-13): 2009 R16. She started off 2009 by winning her first title in Brisbane and followed that up with a 4th round finish AO where she had to retire against Serena when she got ill. So far in her first 3 official matches in 2010, she has won 3 three sets matches with the final set score 7-5.
(8)Dinara Safina (55-15): 2009 F. She made the finals despite not playing her best tennis but her will and determination played a role as she saved match points against Alize Cornet and survived a tough 3 setter against Jelena Dokic, who was the story of the 2009 AO. However, a potential stumbling block is her back and how well have she recovered.
(9)Caroline Wozniacki (65-22): 2008 R16. Her record for the past 2 years is 123-42 with 6 titles. In 2009, she capped off a breakout year making the Sony Ericsson Championships, where she gutted out 2 wins.
(10)Svetlana Kuznetsova (42-14): 2005, 2009 QF. She finally got her name off the One Slam wonder list when she won the French Open in 2009.

Floaters:
Marion Bartoli(49-22): 2009 QF
Ana Ivanovic(24-14): 2008 F
Jelena Jankovic (44-17): 2008 SF
Sabine Lisicki(31-18): 2008 R32
Flavia Pennetta(55-24): 2006, 2009 R32
Shahar Peer (41-23): 2007 QF
Aravane Rezai (43-23): 2008 R32
Samantha Stosur(38-20): 2006 R16
Agnieszka Radwanska (43-23): 2008 QF
Yanina Wickmayer (55-23): 2009 R128

Thanks for the write-ups, MA. Some added juice to the women's game this year as evidenced by Venus at #6 and a couple of dangerous names in your "floater" list. I'm going with a slight surprise winner in Elena, and probably just doomed the girl to a third round exit.

good to see Henin's back ...hand

OK, since today is apparently "list day", here goes my blatant imitation of Master Ace's well reasoned and wisely-elaborated WTA contenders list. Disclaimer: since i'm not anywhere near MA's awesome level of knowledge, it's less fact-based, and more a matter of opinion. I also agree with AM, who constantly says the AO is the hardest Slam to predict. So, here we go:
Australian Open ATP Top 10 Contenders and Floaters:

1-Roger Federer: I know, i know. He looks slightly more vulnerable, he could have some kind of physical issue, HCs seem to be his worst surface at this point (or the one where he's more beatable), and it looks like his incredible SF streak could even end here. With all that being said, i'm not putting a guy with 15 Slams, 7 consecutive Slam finals and 22 consecutive SFs anywhere other than No.1, until all those facts stop being true (or RG comes along)

2-Juan Martin Del Potro: I've heard that he pulled out of Kooyong with a wrist injury, but i dont think it's gonna be serious. Same comments were being made about him before the WTF, and he delivered there. I just think the big guy knows how to pace himself for the Slams. And, unlike the one behind him, his head is rarely an issue. As for game, i think he will dominate sooner or later, and HC is his best surface. If he gets to his USO form, i think he's very close to unbeatable. Besides, he's from Argentina, so he shouldnt have much trouble with the heat.

3-Novak Djokovic: There have been bad comments about his play in Kooyong, when he got hammered by Verdasco, but he has made a big effort to prepare himself for this Slam after what happened last year. Besides, he was the one in better form at the end of last year till he ran out of gas. He knows he can do well in this Slam, and if his head is in the right place, he has a lot of game. A LOT.

4-Rafael Nadal: He has been showing signs of being on his way back to his best form, but his game, and specially his confidence, isnt there just yet, although it's pretty close. Besides, the 2 guys just above him are incredibly bad matchups for him on HCs, so i cant really put him over them. Actually, he's not No.5 because the guy just behind him doesnt seem to believe he can deliver in a Slam.

5-Nikolay Davydenko: the guy in top form at the moment, he goes down in the ranking because of his own words downplaying his chances, and the fact that he isnt probably very confortable in the heat. Besides, the 4 guys above him have proved to be more capable of delivering in the 2-week, 7 best of 5 matches structure of the Slams. But beating him is gonna be very, very difficult.

6-Andy Murray: considering his lackluster previous showing to this tournament, and the fact that so far he has failed to deliver at the Slams where he was the favourite (i'm kinda surprised that some have him as favourite again), this is the place that he belongs in. However, i have a funny feeling about him: now that several others have less expectations about him, and he's not such a big favourtie, it may be his time to deliver at a Slam.

7-Andy Roddick: Even if he won Brisbane last week, he didnt look very confident when trying to close the match in the final, and he is coming off an injury. Unless he gets his serve working extremely well or he finds his form from Wimbledon (i doubt it), i dont see him being able to handle the guys above him from the baseline.

8- Marin Cilic: I think this is the guy who will determine which of the top players has the toughest draw, since he could be a 4th round opponent for them. So far, he's a light version of Delpo, but there could be some more improvements to come from him. He has started the year well, defending his Chennai title.

9- Fernando Verdasco: out of respect for his phenomenal run here last year, and becasue of the fact that he seems to be fit and reasonably confident. He has a big, big game and he proved last year that he can get very close to beating the top guys. But he hasnt showed that he can actually beat them.

10- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: i had a lot of doubts about this one, but of the players left, he's the one that has proved that he can get very hot in this tournament, and he has enough of a big game to beat anybody. Problem is, he often has enough of a bad brain to beat himself.

Floaters would be: Robin Soderling, Fernando Gonzalez, Radek Stepanek, Tomas Berdych, Lleyton Hewitt (it's the AO, after all).
Most dangerous opponent for the top players in the early rounds: Richard Gasquet.

Surprised to see Pammy pick Wicky as the under-the-radar player to watch when, just a few months ago, she couldn't even conceal her disdain when saying the word "Wickmayer." :)

Aus Open picks:
Men
1. del Potro - by default in a ways, he CAN win it, and I don't think the others will
2. Federer - just hasn't looked sharp recently, but will should take him to the final, depends on the draw
3. Djokovic - has all the tools, will he be distracted by offcourt acting/world cup etc?
4. Nadal - could surprise us all, but hasn't shown yet if "he's back"
5. Murray - has the talent, but hasn't shown the ability to put it together at a slam, will make a tough qf for someone
6. Davydenko - should be the pick based on current form, does he have the self belief?
7. Roddick - has a 2010 tournament win under his belt and something to prove
8. Soderling - looked impressive in beating Fed, but the field is too deep to move beyond qf

Women (I change my opinion everyday...)
1. Clijsters - has the ability, will she stay calm if she gets in tight against SW or JH
2. Henin - hopefully she doesn't get a top seed in the first round, a win would not surprise
3. SWilliams - if she stays fierce could easily run away with the title, will she be cowed by the USO default?
4. Sharapova - the shoulder is the question mark, hasn't shown she's back yet on the big stage
5. VWilliams - could be an early loss, which Venus will show up?
6. Dementieva - looked great in shellacking Azarenka, but head is always a question
7. Wozniacki - lacks wins against big names, unlikely to get past qf
8. Kuznetsova - could win, could lose 3R...
9. Azarenka - has the talent, can she put it together mentally to be consistent?

Actually, sblily, Pam addressed that in the conference call. She said that her reference to Wickmayer (whoever heard of her?) in the post-match after Wozniacki beat Oudin was misinterpreted as a put-down. She intended no slight, just tried to express her surprise.

I don't have a clue who's going to win. But last night I saw Federer at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe chocolate judging and Q&A fiesta and he emphasised to two of us who chatted to him when he first arrived that he was very well, and later he told everyone that he was arm was fine, had only been a problem in the Doha final and that he was pracising for hours each day - I know he plays things down, but people who count him out are making a mistake.

I thought Djokovic might be a goer but he was utterly woeful yeaterday.

The Lindt bash was a lot of fun and Federer was very charming to all the fans and chocoholics, including a big group from his web site who got to pose for photos with him, and the winners of a competition to see the chocolate tasting and ask him questions. The Lindt staff and media gave him a standing ovation as he walked in and he spent an hour there tasting chocolate, answering questions and chatting.

Thinking about Aussie tennis, I fear that Tomic's father is taking on the mantle of obnoxious tennis parent, so after putting up with Hewitt's in your face stuff for years, it might be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.

*he walked in and he spent an hour there tasting chocolate*

I volunteer to be Lindt's next multi-million endorser. ;-)

By the way, I thought Fed definitely looked thinner than when I saw him a year ago close at hand at Kooyong. I haven't been so close to Nadal (shame) but he seems thinner too. Are they having a slimming rivalry on top of the usual Fedal things?

Cool story, Corrie. Sounds like quite the experience.

mcackron, I now have chocolate bars adorned with Roger's face asking to be eaten. So much for New Years resolutions.

Pete - Thanks for that added clarification.

Corrie - Thx for the report. I still have to smile at Fed's Lindt deal -- Mirka is a lucky woman. :)

Well, they're made to be broken; the resolutions, that is.

Well I have eaten soo much bloody Lindt chocolate over Christmas/New Year period I am started to look kind of like a Block

A Rafa fan as well,fancy admitting that! lol!

"Are they having a slimming rivalry on top of the usual Fedal things?"
If they are, let me be the first to say that Nadal has a superior H2H against Fed in the slimming department. Besides, any of Fed's past slimming achievements came in a weak era:)

hi pete, so where is going to land justine is the juicy question until the draw comes out ?
i bet my money on anyone outside the top 15... nobody wants to ruin the contest no ?

it's a new one, and where is going to land djoko/murray/delpo is a deadhorse no ?

take care and enjoy your 24h trip to australia ;) are you flying by any chance the 380 airbus at some point (aka singapour airlines) ?

i'll be busy for the next days, but this draw is going to be as usual a battle of cakes ;)

I think there is so much fear of who will get to face Justine with the top player. Imagine a Justine and Serena first round. Justine should have been given a top ten seed. Go Justine!

Mr X, in spite of all the chocolate tasting Fed is looking lean and dangerous. Any more slimming and he'll weigh less than Davy.

Somebody please post the draw ASAP, I can never read it right so people please tell me what side all my favorites are on. I'm hoping Robin doesn't get Roger. Thanks.

Somebody please post the draw ASAP, I can never read it right so people please tell me what side all my favorites are on. I'm hoping Robin doesn't get Roger. Thanks.

Fed can look a bit whippet-like, almost like a Tour de France cyclist except for the right arm and the shoulders. But then again, it might help with his longevity and save the joints. Probably why Rafa is cutting a few pounds if impressions are accurate -- though I sometimes wonder if it's only an optical illusion on account of the muscle T/clamdiggers retirement.

Fed is so thin these days...we're probably a couple of pounds away from a starvation alert. I wonder if the gains in movement are offset by a loss in power. Roddick would also belong to the "get a sandwich" club. Oh well, I guess the legs aren't so young any more.

As for favorites, I'll put them in groups:

1. Rafa, del Potro, Fed
2. Djokovic, Kolya, Muzz
3. Rest of the world

Dont worry guys I will give my accurate opinion on both players regarding their size etc

I am going to the AO Open

Maybe Roger needs to visit Aussie Macca's while in Melbourne

I am sure there is one near the Crown where he stays.

is there a live stream for the draw?

maedal There is the AO OPen radio.though I dont know if its going to be as yet up and running for the draw.

thanks, AM. i'll check out the radio.

Peg! It's not that people doubt Kolya in a 5 setter, its that the man himself has said on more than one occasion recently that he doubts himself in best of five! Love the guy, and his frankness. someone earlier today called him a poor man's jim courier. i sort of liked that.

So this is our post to have chicklets over the draw.

maedal I just went to the AO site,the radio is not in progress

Live streaming from Melbourne Park,starting at 10.40am out time

John McEnroe and Ana Inanovic will be taking part in the draw

and, AM, enjoy the AO! I look forward to your reports. Hope to get there myself someday when I've retired.

There is supposed to be a livestream of the draw. I don't exactly know where it is, though. There's an announcement about it on the front page of the Slam's website, but no link to the stream.

Hi, Guys. Maybe we don't see the live stream of the draw because they're running late? Geez, I canceled my workout and everything.

On Facebook the AO said there's a slight delay but that the video will be accessible from the tourney's home page.

Gosh. To think I rushed to make dinner early!

Well, it's time for me to leave, but since i wont be around for the time the draw is known, let me add something to the discussion that's inevitably gonna happen:
*Insert player name here* has such a cupcake! He keeps getting these cream-puff draws!
*insert player name here* once again got all his minions in the draw, so that he can get to the SFs.

Yep, that will pretty much make it.
Before it happens, all i'll say is that i believe, for the top guys, Clic is the toughest 4th round (by far), and Sod and Roddick are the easiest QFs.
So i'll say it in advance. If someone gets anybody other than Cilic and Sod in the draw, his draw is gonna be relatively easy, IMO. Dont know about cupcakes. As oposed to that, if someone gets Cilic in the 4th round and Kolya (or Muzz) in the quarters, his draw will be tough.
This way, i make my opinions clear before the draw is out, and i'll kept it regardless of the player who gets said draws. Just to make things clear.
Now, it's time for me to go get some sleep.
See you tomorrow, everyone.

Typical Aussie laid back style

Always running late,like 20mins

I blame Miss Ana for this,probably hasnt got her make up on or something

This does not look good. The just changed the headline on their main page from "watch live streaming of the AO draw" to "AO draw announced today".

Pspace Dont worry.I am trying to access live stream here from Sydney.pfft.

Wicky has another qualifying match today, so it's going to be a long road for her in Melbourne - but I like her overall game as well. She's big and strong and fearless...

"Typical Aussie laid back style
Always running late,like 20mins"

I'd fit right in. If I don't get killed that is.

Qualies update
LRobbie down a set against Krajicek. :/
Mladenovic looking good for another win.

oops my last post to have gone to Papo

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/live.html?fpos=r1

Live stream for the draw is on!

http://tinyurl.com/ya5cogz

Ahhh crap my phone is ringing

Henin to play Flipkins in the 1st round.
Dementieva in the 2nd round.

justine-elena possible 2nd round

ana being hilarious

Thanks guys I just got it up,before the phone went

OK only 30 mins late

women's draw already complete. About to do men's draw.

melancho - Thx for link!

That's different from what the Australian paper is reporting. They're saying that Henin would play the winner of the Dokic/Rogowska match.

JFC! Will JMac shut up already?

They are talking to John McEnroe at the moment.

Is Juju on Venus or Serena's side and where is Scandinavia's #1 and Kim??

word. although in his defense they are asking him questions.

JFC! Will JMac shut up already?
~~~~~

Word. Ugh.

They changed their tune. They're now saying that Henin is facing Dementieva, except where they have the Dokic faces Henin in second round as the header. http://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/dokic-faces-henin-showdown-in-second-round-20100115-mb2y.html

When are they actually going to start the men's draw? All I'm seeing is Jmac talking

Is there a stream for this?

A top player will have to deal with Richard per ATP draw.

VC - see melancho's 7:12

I can't be sure, but I think Fed gets Nole and Rafa gets JMdP.

Thanks, sblily.

Fed has Davydenko in the quarters. Djokovic has Soderling. Del Potro has Roddick. Nadal - Murray.

Murray in Rafael quarter while Davydenko is in Roger quarter

Roddick in Novak quarter and Soderling is in Del Potro quarter

Kim has a qualifier in 1st round.

Fabulous. Tsonga is in Fed's quarter.

Fed and Djokovic on the same side and Del Potro and Nadal on the same side.

Q1 - Fed vs Kolya
Q2 - Nole vs Sod
Q3 - Elf vs Roddick
Q4 - Rafa vs Muzz

Karin 1492,
Thought I heard otherwise but you are correct.

Rafa, Muzz, and Elf all on the same half of the draw.

Murray has Cilic in the fourth round.

Ryan Harrison vs Taylor Dent 1st rounder. :/

Federer could face Hewitt in the third round.

Gasquet-Youzhny first rounder. :|

Be back to discuss draw...

My bad, Davydenko would face Hewitt. Federer has Montanes, possibly, in the third round.

I'm bummed Elena D. and Justine will face each other in the second round (if that's true).

So Fed will likely get the winner of Tsonga/Haas in the 4th round.
And Almagro in the 3rd round. I give up.

Gulbis/Monaco 1st round.

wow! the mens draw seems pretty tough and interesting so far..

and it looks like elena gets justine in her qtr....bummer to her.

how bout other womens qtrs? can someone post since i cant access live feed. thks

I'm disgusted with the drawer, Juju and Kim in a quarter, Vee and Ree in each other quarters and Juju gets Demmy in second, so unfair for Juju.

Gulbis/Monaco 1st round
~~~~

*weeps*

The Pico/Ernie match could be very interesting....it the winner could go on te meet Davy in the third. The livestream should have a different angle so you could- you know see the draw filled out.

Federer plays Andreev in the first round.

I don't see and Courier Kolya resemblance in their game at all. Courier's style was messy and unorthodox, Kolya's textbook immaculate.

I'm glad I don't drink because I would take one right now after looking at the drawer. Top players are going to go out early. Where is Caro and Sharapova?

Samantha Elin, I'm not happy about the draw either, and I DO drink. So... thanks for the idea! :)

Anyone have a link showing the brackets?

Darn Maria is on Serena's side, she can't be happy with that.

LOL, this guy is so over McEnroe's rambling.

This draw could've been a lot worse for Justine. Elena seems to have a pattern of playing well leading up to the AO and then flaming out.

Andreev first round? Didn't Andreev take him to five sets at USO 2008?

Rafa/Peter Luczak 1st round.
Some seeded German in the 3rd round.
Some seeded Czech in the 4th round.

sblily, I don't have a link to the brackets. I do have this regarding the women's draw.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/tennis/01/14/australian.open.draw.ap/

Jenni Spot on with Elena,did the same thing last year.The serve under pressure in big matches.Sigh