Who to look out for at Australian Open 2012

It's January. The tennis vacation is finally over and the players are once again gearing up for the year’s first Grand Slam — The Australian Open. It is a very special year for the tournament as it turns 100 years old.

On Monday, January 16 the ‘Happy Slam’ as it is called awaits the big names of the tennis world, who will be the highlight of the tournament.

While the ladies side has several picks, the Men’s have the four biggies to watch out for — Novak Djkovovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

As we peruse the draw, it is not the best draw for the world No. 3 Roger Federer with the likes of Juan Martin Del Potro, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Mardy Fish in his quarter. While contemporary rival Nadal, will have his first real test against seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych, who has the potential to create a major upset.

Being in the same half of the draw both players set a date in the semifinals of a slam for the first time since French Open 2005.

Entering the tournament as ‘People’s favourite’ is World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, is faced with the daunting task of winning his third major in a row. Andy Murray, who has found his new coach in tennis great Ivan Lendl, has the task of reaching the third successive final surpassing the tricky opponents lined up for him.

Looks like Djokovic will have a cake walk in the first three rounds — with Pablo Lorenzi in the first, Santiago Giraldo or a qualifier in the second and most likely 29th-seeded Radek Stepanek in the third. The matches will get interesting once he reaches the quarter finals of the tournament where he could meet emerging talent Milos Raonic and crowd favourite, Lleyton Hewitt.

British no.1 Andy Murray, who is trying to win the first British slam since Fred Perry, will face teenager Ryan Harrison in the first and Xaxier Malisse in the second round of the tournament. In the quarter finals he might meet Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who can give him a tough fight.

While Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych remain the prime contenders to break up the semifinal party,  other player who can create upsets are David Ferrer, John Isner and Gael Monfils.

Though watching Federer-Nadal in the finals would be a viewer’s delight but with Djokovic having maximum number of grand slam in his kitty last season this might not happen.

Indians at the Australian Open

As India’s ace tennis player Somdev Devvarman pulled out from the year’s first Grand Slam due to shoulder injury, India’s chances at the tournament look gloomy.

In the women section India’s star player Sania Mirza will meet Tsvetana Pironkova in the first round of the singles event. Sania has not cleared the second round of the tournament since 2009. Even though India doesn’t look in a great position in the singles category at the tournament this year, India has new doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi to watch out for in the tournament.

Though expecting a ‘Lee-Hesh’ performance from them would be a little too much, we expect a decent show by the two.

After parting ways with Bhupathi once again, India’s tennis hero Leander Paes, who started the season with a fantastic win at the Chennai Open will partner Radek Stepanek in the Australian Open.

All said and done, the next two weeks would be a treat for the tennis fans across the world. Let’s hope to watch best tennis action!