January 27th - An(other) era of domination
Men's Singles: 76-51 (picked champion)
Women's Singles: 81-46 (not bad)
Men's Doubles: 28-35 (brutal)
Women's Doubles: 30-33 (meh)
Mixed Doubles: 15-16 (forgettable)
First off, I want to thank you for reading and keeping up with me on this two week tennis fest we call the first Grand Slam of the year. Now, some thoughts on the last two matches of the tournament.
1. The Osaka Era is upon us - For the second straight major, 21-year-old Naomi Osaka hoisted the trophy. The Japanese player took down Petra Kvitova 7-6 5-7 6-4 in a battle on Saturday night. What does that mean? Well Osaka is now the 8th youngest player in the history of women's tennis to win back to back majors. And the seven ahead of her are pretty familiar names: Hingis, Seles, Graf, Evert, Goolagong, Venus, Serena. Naomi is young, raw, talented, humble and the new world No. 1. The WTA hasn't had a star like her probably since the young Williams sisters took the world by storm. The next couple of years should be a lot of fun.
2. Djokovic playing an absurd level of tennis - I watched the entire men's final at 2:30 in the morning, fully expecting four competitive sets and a Djokovic win. Instead we saw three sets of spectacular, near flawless tennis from the world No. 1 in a 6-3 6-2 6-3 rout of Rafa Nadal. Djokovic had wrist surgery a year ago. So it's almost inconceivable that a year later, Nole has won three straight Grand Slams (3rd time in his career doing that, most all-time) to bring his gaudy total up to 15. Just 31 years old, Djokovic is still very much in his prime. I could easily see the Serb passing Nadal (17) and/or Federer (20) before all is said and done. And yes, I do believe Djokovic can beat Nadal at Roland Garros. I saw that matchup live on clay in the 2015 Monte Carlo SF (Djokovic won 6-3 6-3). Never thought I'd see anyone play at a higher level than Djokovic that year. But this stretch is redefining my opinion of how perfect tennis can look.
3. Quiet doubles milestone - Flying very much under the radar, Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicholas Mahut won the men's doubles title. In an age of changing partners and inconsistent pairings, the two have now won the career Grand Slam. Besides the 2019 Aussie Open, the French tandem won the US Open in 2015, Wimbledon in 2016 and the French Open in 2018.
January 23rd - Another Serena controversy?
Men's Singles: 74-50
Women's Singles: 80-44
Men's Doubles: 28-35
Women's Doubles: 30-33
Mixed Doubles: 15-16
The Australian Open semifinals are set, with a mix of favorites and unexpected players. Here's a recap of the last few days with some notes and nuggets in list form.
1. Pliskova Stuns Serena - With Williams up 4-6 6-4 5-1, 40-30 and serving, a foot fault was called. Questionable time for the first foot fault of the match, and it nullified an ace. Then Serena rolled her ankle on the next point and was never the same. Pliskova saved four match points in all and raised her level of play tremendously, especially on those match points. Yes, it's odd that Serena continues to be the center of Grand Slam controversy. But would she have won this tournament anyway?
2. Naomi Osaka in SF - The US Open champion is rolling and until Serena's collapse, it looked like we'd get a rematch of the final in New York. Alas, Osaka is two wins away from her second straight major. Oh yeah, she's just 21-years-old.
3. Rankings Battle - Three women can end the Aussie Open as No. 1 in the world: Osaka, Pliskova or Petra Kvitova (faces American Danielle Collins in the SF). If Osaka & Kvitova win, the championship match will be a battle for the No. 1 ranking. On the men's side, Stefanos Tsitsipas is up to a new career high No. 12, but can move to either No. 8 or 9. Lucas Pouille is back inside the top 20 at No. 17 but is playing for a top 10 ranking. Djokovic & Nadal will stay at No. 1 & No. 2 respectively.
4. Star of the Aussie Open - Speaking of Pouille, the Frenchman was 5-4 in majors last season. Then he hired Amelie Mauresmo, and suddenly, Pouille is in his first Grand Slam SF and has already matched his major win total from 2018. Pouille has been the French player with the most upside for quite some time and it's nice to see him re-realizing his potential. Mauresmo is a big part of this run, and Pouille will be a tough out all season.
5. Doubles Update - Click on my brackets if you want a laugh. Otherwise, read on. The Bryan Brothers comeback fell short in the QF to Herbert/Mahut, but a different American team is still alive: Ryan Harrison (2017 French Open doubles champ) and Sam Querrey. American doubles continues to thrive with Jack Sock making a run to the 3R alongside Jackson Withrow.
January 21st - Quarterfinals Set
Men's Singles: 73-47
Women's Singles: 79-41
Men's Doubles: 27-29
Women's Doubles: 30-27
Mixed Doubles: 12-4
I understand the people that call Serena Williams' three set win over Simona Halep an upset. Let's be real: Serena seeded/ranked 16 is just not accurate. She's a top five player at the very least. But Serena's draw doesn't get any easier with the hard hitting Karolina Pliskova awaiting in the quarters. Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina are also alive on the top half.
I told you Amanda Anisimova's win over Aryna Sabalenka was the most impressive result, but I've changed my mind. Fellow American Danielle Collins (UVA grad) dismantled No. 2 seed Angie Kerber 6-0 6-2 to reach her first major quarterfinal. Collins faces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, with the winner getting either Petra Kvitova or Australian Ash Barty. Three of my four pre-tournament SF picks are still alive (Serena-Osaka-Barty) and I like Collins to join them.
The men's draw has plenty of battles, whether four or five sets. Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinal will be a battle of wills. Both men were pushed to the early hours of Tuesday morning, Djoker's second straight four setter and Kei's third five-set win in four matches. The winner of that gets either Milos Raonic (d. Alex Zverev 6-1 6-1 7-6) or Lucas Pouille (5-4 in Grand Slams last year, 4-0 this season).
On the bottom half, Stefanos Tsitsipas made waves as the first Greek player to make a Slam QF by taking down Roger Federer in four sets. Tsitsipas gets Roberto Bautista Agut (9-0 this season). Rafa Nadal looks like the favorite right now, with not too much time on court. But can 21-year-old American Francis Tiafoe take down another big name (2R Anderson, 4R Dimitrov) in his first major quarterfinal. I'll take Djokovic, Raonic, Tsitsipas and Nadal.
January 19th - One Week Down, One To Go
Men's Singles: 71-41
Women's Singles: 75-37
Men's Doubles: 25-23
Women's Doubles: 29-19
Mixed Doubles: 7-2
We're down to 16 players in each singles draw, and FIVE American women are still playing. Sure, there are a bunch of candidates for best match on the women's side, but I'd lean No. 1 seed Simona Halep facing 7-time champion Serena Williams. Winner has a fast lane to the semifinals, but the rest of the top half is stacked as well. Muguruza meets Pliskova, Osaka-Sevastova and Keys-Svitolina.
Not to mention the bottom half slugfests of Kvitova against 17-year-old American Amanda Anisimova (coming off the most impressive win of the tournament, 6-3 6-2 over 20-year-old Aryna Sabalenka) or local favorite Ash Barty against five time Slam champ Maria Sharapova. The other two Americans are in action on tonight as Sloane Stephens faces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Danielle Collins gets Angie Kerber.
To the men's draw, just two unseeded players made the final sixteen: Tomas Berdych (v. Nadal), the 2010 Wimbledon finalist and 20-year-old American Francis Tiafoe (v. Dimitrov). Otherwise, it's been chalk, but that said, a great mix of proven stars and up and coming players. Really, players that have arrived. Djokovic-Medvedev and Federer-Tsitsipas are the two best examples of the current stars against possible future Slam winners. Borna Coric is in that category as well, and takes on a resurgent Lucas Pouille (now coached by two-time Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo).
It's good to see names like Nishikori, Carreno Busta and Raonic back in the fourth round. The Canadian faces Alex Zverev, widely considered the most likely young player to breakthrough and win a major. The other match pits Marin Cilic against feisty Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
January 17th - Round Two Recap
Men's Singles: 63-33
Women's Singles: 66-30
Men's Doubles: 18-11
Women's Doubles: 22-10
Mixed Doubles: click here to see my picks
First, let's just get it out of the way that my pick to win the men's doubles tournament (McLachlan/Struff) lost in a first round, three setter. This is gonna turn out to be one of my worst doubles brackets to date.
On that note, shoutout to Jack Sock. The American couldn't have had a worse 12 month run in singles (after pushing into the top 8 by the end of 2017). Now he's the best doubles player in the world. After losing partner Mike Bryan (won Wimbledon, US Open, year end championships), Sock teamed with Jackson Withrow and took out the No. 2 seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah yesterday.
Anyways, a lot to digest from the last two days, as things are really heating up in Melbourne Park. Stan Wawrinka fell to Milos Raonic in a four tiebreaker, four hour epic. Kei Nishikori & Alex Zverev survived five setters. The big shock of the second round was the ever solid Kevin Anderson losing in four sets to 20-year-old American Francis Tiafoe.
The women's bracket is going more according to plan, seed wise, with the top players generally cruising. Simona Halep survived a great test by young American Sofia Kenin. Her reward? Venus Williams and then (in all likelihood) Serena Williams in the round of 16. But Friday at the Open brings so many popcorn matches it's kind of crazy. To name a few on the men's side, Nadal-de Minaur, Tsitsipas-Basilashvili, Bautista Agut-Khachanov. In women's singles, Anisimova-Sabalenka, Barty-Sakkari (my personal favorite matchup), Sharapova-Wozniacki and Collins-Garcia. Enjoy!
January 15th - Round One Wrap Up
Men's Singles: 43-21
Women's Singles: 43-21
I was definitely wrong about Daria Kasatkina and Dominika Cibulkova. Two of my final eight fell in the first round including a stunning 6-3 6-0 loss by Kasatkina to Timea Bacsinszky, the well traveled Swiss veteran.
Intriguing 2nd round matches include Serena Williams taking on Genie Bouchard, top seeded Simona Halep facing American Sofia Kenin and Garbine Muguruza going against Jo Konta. For the men, Milos Raonic takes on Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic gets Jo-Willy Tsonga & Kei Nishikori must deal with Ivo Karlovic.
My main takeaway from the first two days of the Australian Open was the struggles of American players down under. Most notably for the men in the top half. Ryan Harrison was the lone win, as Jack Sock's singles woes continued. Overall, the USA went 6-10 in men's singles. Only Harrison, Dennis Kudla, Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, Mackenzie McDonald and Francis Tiafoe remain in the 2nd round. American women fared much better (9-6 in round one) including wins from Venus & Serena Williams, Sofia Kenin, Madison Keys, Madison Brengle, Amanda Anisimova, Sloane Stephens, Danielle Collins and Sachia Vickery.
January 14th - Australian Open Doubles Preview
Now that the first day of the year's first major is over with, the men's and women's doubles draws are out. Doubles has always been my game: played for four years in high school and a couple more in college. I love the strategy of it and the net where I'm most comfortable. So yes, you get a doubles preview as well.
As usual, click here to see my full brackets!
Men's Doubles: Ben McLachlan/Jan-Lennard Struff over Jean-Julien Rojer/Horia Tecau
I think the men's side is more wide open than usual. Bob & Mike Bryan are back together after Bob battled a hip injury last year, which breaks up arguably the best tandem in the last decade when Mike teamed with Jack Sock. The usual suspects should be there deep: top seeds and defending champs Oliver Marach & young stud Mate Pavic, veterans Pierre-Hughes Herbert & Nicolas Mahut along with Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares.
But this is McLachlan & Struff's time. Semifinalists a year ago in Melbourne, the tandem also made the quarters of Wimbledon. The duo won the Japan Open in October & just made a nice run to win a tournament in Auckland. I like the Japanese/German pair to win, but keep an eye on the Skupski brother, Granollers brother, & Lopez duo (Marc & Feliciano, not brothers) to make runs into the second week.
Women's Doubles: Barbara Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova over Lucie Hradecka/Ekaterina Makarova
Whatever the tournament, women's doubles has been dominated by the Czech Republic lately. Names like Safarova, Hlavackova, along with three of my four finalists (Krejcikova, Siniakova & Hradecka) all have won multiple majors. But I believe the calendar year of the top seeded Czech team continues in Melbourne.
Krejcikova & Siniakova won the French Open & Wimbledon in 2018 and made the US Open semifinals. The tandem is just 23 & 22 years old respectively. I don't see a whole lot of competition based on some new pairings. Nicole Melichar & Kveta Peschke (another Czech) could challenge for a spot in the final as should Kirsten Flipkins & Johanna Larsson. But this is my most confident pick of the four brackets.
January 13th - Australian Open Singles Preview
Time for the first major of the season! The Australian Open always brings a lot of excitement and questions. Can Roger Federer win a third straight title and 21st major? Will Serena Williams return fully to form and notch Grand Slam number 24? Which young or unheralded player will break through to the quarterfinals or semis?
First, I'll get to my pre-tournament picks and then keep you posted throughout the event on how my brackets are looking. Click here to see my full brackets!
Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic over Roger Federer
It's easy to pick the top 16-20 seeds deep in a major, and that should be your strategy in the men's bracket. Sprinkle in some upsets throughout, but think chalk late. On the top half, you have to look at the nightmarish section including Milos Raonic facing Nick Kyrgios in the first round with the winner getting either 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka or Ernests Gulbis. Add 2018 semifinalist Hyeon Chung & rising star Pierre-Hughes Herbert in and expect some five setters. My quarterfinals are Djokovic over Kei Nishikori & Borna Coric over Alex Zverev.
In the bottom half, I like Russian Karen Khachanov to power his way to the quarterfinals after a tough round of 16 against last year's finalist Marin Cilic. Rafa Nadal's body usually doesn't hold up on hard courts, so I'll take spunky young Australian Alex de Minaur with a third round upset. Riding de Minaur to the QF, I suspect favorites Federer and Kevin Anderson will meet in the semis
Women's Singles: Angelique Kerber over Naomi Osaka
The women's draw is so great for so many reasons. Defending champs, comeback stories and it's simply wide open. I could see about 10-12 players hoisting the trophy at the end of the fortnight. On the top side, Serena & Venus Williams are in the same section as top seed Simona Halep, but you can't overlook younger player like Daria Kasatkina, last year's U.S. Open winner Osaka or Anastasija Sevastova. I do think Serena makes at least the semifinals and meets a power hitting Osaka in a rematch from the dramatic final in New York. Osaka could lose early with hard hitters Madison Keys and Dominika Cibulkova in her quarter.
To the bottom half, more chalk. Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens should make deep runs, much like Petra Kvitova and Australian hope Ash Barty. I like American Amanda Anisimova to the third round as well, where she'll meet one of the pre-tourney favorites in Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. Give me Kerber over Barty for a spot in the finals.
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