Everybody loves early January, for it’s the start of a new tennis season. Every player has hopes and dreams that this can be their time to shine and make a mark in Melbourne.
So far the story of the season has been the re-emergence of Lleyton Hewitt and all the injury pullouts and defaults. Players are dropping out left and right of the warm up events which is causing some surprise to court observers.
But I don’t find it surprising in the least. Tennis is so darn physical now, every point is a massive grind. A player can play two warm ups in January and be burnt out by their first round match in Melbourne.
I saw Alize Cornet scrapping and fighting for every ball in Hopman Cup vs. Radwanska, Kvitova and two other singles matches, plus the mixed doubles. It’s no wonder she lost first round this week to Christina McHale – she’s already fried.
There’s just no way to end points now, every player has to be able to grind grind and grind some more. So in that sense, I completely understand why players are retiring and pulling out so much already this season.
Random observations:
A friend in Bradenton told me saw Michael Chang and his family at a restaurant. Chang must have been here training Nishikori at IMG.
Did you see Federer pick up all those white towels at his chair and pack em in his Nike bag after beating Chardy? Most players just leave em there for the attendants to pick up. Not Federer.
The most impressive newcomer so far this year was Grzegorz Panfil for Poland in Hopman Cup. The ATP No. 298 beat Raonic and almost upset Tsonga in the final, losing 36 63 36. The same Tsonga who many court observers are picking to win the Aussie Open. Panfil is a lefty ball basher with a huge inside out forehand. For one week Panfil played top ten quality tennis. It just goes to show you how many great players are out there. “The greatest talents are shrouded in obscurity.”
One more thing…Serena is never going to lose to Maria again. If flaunting Dimitrov in Serena’s face couldn’t help Maria in Brisbane, nothing will. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
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Scoop Malinowski · January 6, 2014 at 5:02 pm
Did anyone notice Hewitt has cut back on his Come Ons and Vicht hand signals. I watched several bits of his matches in Brisbane a can’t recall seeing or hearing a single COME AAAWWWWWWN. May be a curious time to hit the mute button by Hewitt if he wants to maximize promotion of his Come On attire line.
Dan Markowitz · January 6, 2014 at 5:55 pm
I think the story might be one of the two Frenchman, Tsonga and Monfils, bagging an Aussie O title. I go with the former, but Gaels pushed Nadal in Doha.
Scoop Malinowski · January 6, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Sure you don’t want to rethink that Dan, Tsonga struggled mightily with the complete unknown Panfil from Poland. For sure Panfil looked a lot better than his ranking, but Tsonga has to raise his game. La Monf is always dangerous when he’s playing his best. He’s long overdue.
Andrew Miller · January 6, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Monfils can do it in theory. But he is Gulbis as a Frenchman.
Andrew Miller · January 6, 2014 at 11:07 pm
DY also won his match in NZ taking out Delbonis. Harrison lost to Mahut 7-6,7-5 in his sydney 1st rounder after qualifying I think. Klahn qualified for NZ by beating Steve J.
Vesely lost his final qualifying match in NZ. I watched him and he reminds of Bellucci.
Dan Markowitz · January 7, 2014 at 7:12 am
Harry really hasn’t picked up his game much. He’s now lost to Groth and Mahut in Sydney. I give Mahut a lot of credit for turning his fortunes around after it looked like he was sinking like a rock. But he’s a player that Harry now at 21 should be beating. DY beating Delbonis is nice, but he’s mostly a clay court player.
Monfils is a better player than Gulbis, much more resourceful. I said at the first of the year it’s Tsonga who’s going to shock the tennis world.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 8:00 am
Harrison has won six quali matches and lost two main draws by the scores of 67 67 67 57, so I consider that a good start. 6-2 is something to build off of, it’s a whole lot better than 0-2. I saw photos of DY and he looks lean and mean. Beating Delbonis, in theory means DY can beat Fed. Big disappointment for Panfil – he was omitted from the Aussie Open qualies draw. He now must go back to oblivion. maybe he’ll get a WC into that Hawaii Challenger.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 8:02 am
Just can’t get a read on Monfils, he could lose first round to someone like Klahn or go to the SF. Such an enigma.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 8:03 am
Mahut can never ever be counted out Dan, he’s a tennis legend. He should be inducted to Newport on the Isner match alone.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 11:11 am
D.Brown is #1 in qualies draw for Australian open. He might make it to the draw without playing a match with the withdrawals.
Qualies draw looks real rough. No wonder Harrison is losing these first rounders . no u.s. player’s road looks easy even to the first round. Players in the main draw must be thanking their lucky stars. Guys who semifinaled in Doha are in the qualies.
Klahn holding tough in his match vs. Brands.
Steve J got lucky lowered into a first round match in nz vs. baghdatis. He has beat baghdatis before.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 11:16 am
Agree with Dan that Harrison given the top 50 ambition needs to win that match but like Scoop said and like Harrison himself said Harrison will only go up or down with a fight. To his credit he is only losing close. Federer in 2008,began clawing his way back into the champs seat this way.
Dan Markowitz · January 7, 2014 at 11:24 am
I’m more impressed with Sock’s win over Mannarino than any win Harry’s had. Who’s he beat so far in 2014? Benjamin Becker? Is that a good win? Harry’s got to step up. The other young guns, Raonic, Tomic and Dimitrov have left him far back. Why isn’t Harry as good as Nishikori when Kei was 21? He’s got more firepower, supposedly a bigger forehand. Harry’s been under-achieving for a while now. Hopefully, he gets a manageable draw.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 12:05 pm
This is a fascinating time right now in tennis, there is a giant mass of players with talent and youth and it’s suspenseful to see which ones will arise out of the field. Sock has to be a favorite. Panfil has to be considered. You got Klahn, DY, Steve Johnson, Busta Carrena, Paire, Harrison, Smyczek…Veterans trying to fulfill potential, like Gulbis, La Monf, Tsonga… Like Andrew says, guys in main draw semis or in qualies this week. What an intriguing time in the sport.
Doogie · January 7, 2014 at 12:25 pm
RHara will be around #120 in three weeks (I expect him to lose in 1st round at AO). So he lost 80 places from his career high – not good sign for a young player.
U should start to look at another US youngstar to cheer and talk about.
And there States will lose tournaments, which makes it lot tougher for them (because of their lack of success on other continents)
Harold · January 7, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Intriguing? Only in the heads of bloggers. The same suspects will be battling the last few days of Oz.
Nobody from Tsonga to Panfills, to Harrison and Young, will be there the last weekend.
There are two ” youngbloods” with a chance to do damage in Majors. Raonic(a big chance) and Dimitrov(much smaller chance, due to mental weakness and media chasing him all over)are the two. Tomic is a mental case, and everyone else is overrated, overhyped and just fodder for bloggers,after they win a qualie match and annointed the “next”.
This discussion about the next great should be put on hold for 2 years, until the top clears a path, because right now, there is no player ranked between 8 and 1000, that will put 7 matches together in a row and win a Major
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 12:45 pm
Doogie hard to see your charges Vesely and Thiem doing well either. Vesely seems like Gilles Muller light and Thiem has a tough road in the qualies. Maybe those guys should play some more futures…
Just joking. I expect Thiem to make the Australian Open. Vesely has not found his game yet.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 12:55 pm
I like it because some of these young player will emerge, not to win the title but to get in the elite mix in the top 25. Or Top ten. It’s hard to imagine any new player winning a first major, even players like Dimitrov Raonic Tomic. I read a tweet very early this morning saying the French are going to upset the ATP world order. Can’t remember who tweeted it but we’ll see.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Tomic is playing good ball and is a crowd pleaser – Rafter expects Tomic to do well. As for everyone else this Open feels unstable – Nadal may win it but that doesn’t mean the rankings below him aren’t in flux. We dont talk about it but the top ten is always unstable – Fish and Davydenko aren’t there nor is Isner while Wawrinka is playing good ball.
Ferrer is vulnerable and I dont expect him to win NZ which is his to lose as always. Harrison’s game may have so much to work on that it can’t be contained in one notepad but he is playing better anyways. Who knows with Dimitrov but RR is
On the WTA side with the exception of a revived Ivanovic the top tier is far more stable.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 1:15 pm
RR is bringing more focus to Dimitrov and in the top 50 every match counts. So sure it may be zero happens. But maybe this is a new year. I dont think this years story is about the usual suspects.
Dan markowitz · January 7, 2014 at 1:54 pm
Can’t agree with you, Harold. Only see Djoko and Nadal as locks for semis. I think Murray, Delpo, Ferrer, they’re all vulnerable. Q-ball is reLly hitting the skids, losing to Ramos now.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Ferrer Berd Haas Isner Step Q Fognini are possibly all on the fade. Curious to see what Tomic Paire Sock and Kyrgios (WC) Jerzy Dolgo and Stan can do.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Scoop I agree a lot of players on the fade. I want to say today is 1990-1992 – you had no idea who’d win a tournament.
We could say Murray, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal will clean house – win things everywhere. Nadal and Djokovic of course will promise to make things as hard as ever for opponents. But two guys with limited schedules don’t win every tournament in sight – so other guys have opportunities. And to me those top 50 look less stable.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 2:39 pm
My guess is rather than the French – Monfils, Tsonga, Gasquet, Paire, Simon etc., it’s Del Potro and Wawrinka who make the noise up through Miami. The French are volatile and I don’t know if that makes for a consistent showing. But Del Potro and Wawrinka have their nose to the grindstone and want in on the glory and have put in the work. I think they’ll be reaping some bigger rewards.
That’s as much as I’m willing to predict. the safe bet is that Nadal and Djokovic continue their dominating ways. But they’ve been at each other’s games for 3 years now and I think that was about what it was for Nadal and Federer.
Four slams four winners this year?
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Safarova tops the Woz and Vesnina beats Puig. Who says the WTA isn’t interesting. I like Safarova a lot. I’d like on the WTA side of the ledger to see Safarova, Lisicki etc. do well.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 3:03 pm
I’m a little doubtful on Wozniaki. She is vulnerable every slam.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Wozniacki is a big ? I think she has a better chance of losing first round than winning. Li Na can’t be forgotten, she’s been in the hunt for the Australian Open before and should have won at least one so far. She plays well down there it would be nice to see her win it. Let’s see if her new coach who used to coach Henin, can guide her to glory.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Someone said Pete Bodo said Sampras has interest to work with Sock. Hmmmmmmmm,
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Sampras sounds like he wants in on the champs can coach too carousel.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 5:15 pm
BTW no way the champs as coach trend will stay intact. Not everyone with a champ coach will slam.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Andrew I think all these guys eventually start to long to back onto the tennis scene after a while. Even Rios came all the way from Chile to attend the ATP Number One celebration in NYC last summer. Connors Lendl Martin Moya Wilander Evert both Martinas. I think it’s great to have these former great champs on the scene. Hope Capriati returns in some capacity, such as TV commentator.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Sure the game is their home.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 6:34 pm
But coaching at the highest level is awful close to the action. Seems like they miss the adrenaline.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Steve Johnson beats the Baghdatis. Sock beating Haas.
JG · January 7, 2014 at 7:35 pm
They are streaming the Australian Open qualifying on you tube, you can get it thru the Atp website, really good commentary as well
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 8:42 pm
Sock has come alive, that’s a massive win today for him. He lost to Haas last year. Steve Johnson also coming up big. Great start for these young Americans, DY, evenHarry is 6-2 on the year. Good signs. I believe in Sock, someone said he’s dating Sloane Stevens now.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 9:16 pm
D.Brown loses as top ao qualies seed. Sock win is huge in nz. Kosakowski wins his qualies ao match. Gojo does too.
Andrew Miller · January 7, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Honestly I recognize only about 50% of the players in qualies.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2014 at 9:57 pm
Panfil got in after Goffin pulled out with leg injury. Qualies have never been more intriguing than now, there are just so many quality recognizable players in qualies today. Tough loss for Dustin Brown. Was impressed by Busta Carrena even though he lost to Kohlschreiber in Auckland. Guy can be a wall and he hits hard.
Dan Markowitz · January 8, 2014 at 7:43 am
Johnson is looking good, beating Kevin Anderson. Sock and Johnson could bring back the punch in American tennis. They bring back to mind some of the big American bruisers of the past like Tim Mayotte and Stan Smith.
Jerzy boy is looking like he’s going downhill from last year’s Wimby, as he got trounced by Dolgo.
Scoop Malinowski · January 8, 2014 at 8:33 am
This was Janowicz first singles match since last summer I believe. Sock and Johnson must have worked very hard and upped their fitness levels.
Andrew Miller · January 8, 2014 at 11:11 am
AO qualies: Thiem wins 10-8 in 3rd. Kudla wins e-z. Kuznetsov wins. Copil wins. Polansky wins. Dancevic wins. BReynolds wins. Ram wins. Odesnik wins. RWilliams wins. Gojowzyk wins. Kosakowski wins. Klizan wins. BRola. Machado. Zverev. Berankis. DeBakker. Mathieu. Hernych. Capdeville. Bellucci. Starace. Berrer. Zhang. Krajicek. Sugita. All win.
Losing: sandgren. Peliwo. Panfil. Schwartz man. Bhambri. Giquel. McGee. Chiudinelli
New Zealand. Klahn loses in 3. DY loses in 3 to Ferrer (6-7, 6-3, 6-1). Johnson is winning like Dan said.
Other: Isner wins.