So the first biggie of 2011- THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN, is all set to start on 17th January. The Draw is out and here is a quick look at the possible opponents of the top 5 seeds.
Top Seed- Rafael Nadal
1st round: Marcos Daniel
2nd round: Qualifier/Gimeno-Traver
3rd round: Feliciano Lopez
4th round: John Isner/ Marin Cilic
Quarterfinals: David Ferrer/Mikhail Youzhny/David Nalbandian
Semifinals: Andy Murray/Robin Soderling
Finals: Roger Federer/Novak Djokovic
Second Seed- Roger Federer
1st round: Lukas Lacko
2nd round: Giles Simon
3rd round: Albert Montanes/Xavier Malisse
4th round: Mardy Fish/Sam Querrey
Quarterfinals: Andy Roddick/Gael Monfils/Stanislas Wawrinka
Semifinals: Novak Djokovic
Finals: Rafael Nadal/ Andy Murray
Third Seed- Novak Djokovic
1st round: Marcel Granollers
2nd round: Ivo Karlovic
3rd round: Viktor Troicki
4th round: Nicolas Almagro/Ivan Ljubicic
Quarterfinals: Tomas Berdych/Nikolay Davydenko/Fernando Verdasco
Semifinals: Roger Federer
Finals: Rafael Nadal/Andy Murray
Fourth Seed- Robin Soderling
1st round: Potito Starace
2nd round: Qualifier
3rd round: Thomaz Bellucci/Denis Istomin
4th round: Ernests Gulbis/JO Wilfred Tsonga
Quarterfinals: Andy Murray
Semifinals: Rafael Nadal
Finals: Roger Federer/Novak Djokovic
Fifth Seed- Andy Murray
1st round: Karol Beck
2nd round: Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo/Illya Marchenko
3rd round: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez/ Leonardo Mayer
4th round: Jurgen Melzer/Baghdatis
Quarterfinals: Robin Soderling/Jo Wilfred Tsonga
Semifinals: Rafael Nadal
Finals: Roger Federer/Novak Djokovic
I will follow-up this post with a deeper analysis of the draw and the players who could spring a surprise or two this Australian Open.
