Good times are here again. The first grand slam of the year.

The Most Open Men’s Field in Years…? Nadal is out, because his knees are more shredded than…… erm, SHREDDED PAPER! Fed keeps showing just enough signs to keep us believing that he isn’t done yet (he probably is). That leaves everyone’s favorite Novak ‘Abs’ Djokavic and Andy Murray. Murray could really prove that his US win last year wasn’t a fluke if he can handle this softer field. But with such crazy temperatures, his greatest foe might just turn out to be crippling dehydration. Hometown favorite Bernard Tomic might even be able to make a run.

Novak Djokavic - It’s his tournament to lose. He’s won the last two Opens in Melbourne (his 5-setter against Nadal last year in the Final was a hell of a way to kick off the season). He’s healthy, thanks at least in part to one of the most puritanical diets any athlete has ever subjected themselves to. Pretty safe money, especially with Nadal out. A couple years ago, I never thought he had what it took to catch Nadal and Fed. But both have started showing their age and Novak is on fire now.

Andy Murray – After an excellent summer including winning the US Open and the Olympics, Murray has finally shown that he can win ‘the big one’. He’s riding a wave of emotion and will have a lot of support from the crowd.

Roger Federer – A lot of people like to keep saying that he’s done, but he was the last person not waving a Serbian flag to hoist the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. His win at Wimbledon last year was a big one and showed that he still has some magic left in that deep, deep bag of his. It’s going to be difficult for him to win, but never count him out.

The Field – The Aussie has a very funny way of making surprise finalists. Since 2005, that includes Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando Gonzalez, Marat Safin, and Jo-Wilifried Tsonga. But since 2009 only Murray, Nadal, Djokavic and Federer have been on the stages. Del Potro, Ferrer and company haven’t been able to compete regularly at the top tier in previous tournaments and it’s hard to see that changing. Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov has been making some noise on the tour and climbing steadily over the past few years. At 21, he’s young and dangerous.


The Women

Victoria Azarenka - #1 in the world and last year’s winner, she also reached the Wimbledon final in 2012 and a bronze at the Olympics. She’s 23 and looks like one of the brightest young stars on the tour. She’s gonna be terrorizing the field for years to come.

Serena Williams - Serena absolutely kills it in this tournament. She’s won it 5 times since 2003 and won back-to-back in ’09 and ’10. Oh, and she might really be out for blood if this little speculation about her ex is actually true. I’m absolutely praying for this match to happen.

Maria Sharapova _ She’s #2 in the world and won here back in 2008. But she’s not 100% – she pulled out of the Brisbane International (a warm up tourney a lot of players play) still nursing a bruised collarbone. It can seriously compromise her ability to hit serves and overheads. Longer matches are going to seriously tax her ability to keep connecting on her powerful delivery.

The Field - The women’s tour is far more wide open than the men’s and it’s really just a guess who is going to push on to the trophy ceremony. But I am really liking Radwanska right now and think she can be a real surprise.

There’s a lot to like about this year’s 2013 Aussie. So make extra space on your calendar for the first month of the year. 2013 is only going to get better and you know it.

Djokovic all d way

I don't see anything "open" in the draws as the "big three" will still find their way to the semis with any of JM Delpo, Ferrer, Berdych and upcoming Jerzy "Jazzman" Jarnowicz serving as the surprise package.

I think Djoker holds all the aces.

Finally tennis is back ....
Team serena and baba twins as my nadal no dey . Men favourite is djokovic but i'm anti djokovic and sharapoopoo ...... leggoooo

If Rodger is fit,i tink he still has d magical wand to turn tins arnd. Well,surprises cant be sprunk. It is a competition btw d top 3 contenders. Bt,D.ferrer might also not be a pushover

looking forward to this

If Nadal no dey den no real competition!!!

Nadal is 25, what kind of age can he be showing? He and Djokovic have only a year between them

ROGER FEDERER all the way!! 18th GRAND SLAM on the way, CAN YOU BEAT THAT?!!!..God bless his hustle

#team roger!


Backup

#team novak!! Let's go boys!!

When is it starting by the way?

^^ 11am Aussie time on Monday which is ca 2am Nigerian time

Federer and Murray are my best for the men and serena and sharapova are my best for women. I wish Murray wins for men and serena wins for women.

I sincerely hope Roger Federer will win but I know it will be difficult. The reality is that the likely winner will be either Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray.

#TeamRoger#Can he realistically make it to the final?Yes he can.Can he knock out Djock?Honestly,I wish he does.

I love Roger so much,one of my all time sport personality(Roger,Kaka,Messi,Maldini etc)I wish and hope he wins it,that will be awesome.

fonssy: Federer and Murray are my best for the men and serena and sharapova are my best for women. I wish Murray wins for men and serena wins for women.

Serena will definitely win except she sustains some injury. Serena's power has no match among other female tennis players. She should be playing with men.

Team Federer and Serena!

hot n cold: #TeamRoger#Can he realistically make it to the final?Yes he can.Can he knock out Djock?Honestly,I wish he does.

I love Roger so much,one of my all time sport personality(Roger,Kaka,Messi,Maldini etc)I wish and hope he wins it,that will be awesome.

The guy is a legend! There's no other like him, its going to take a while to get someone like him..

Just like justine henin hardenne in women tennis.

#team roger#.....i knw he's gettin pass his game buh i do sincerely hope he makes it to the final n wins...i love fedEX xo much....so calm n cool headed...no doubt he's the GOAT.

^^
You said my mind

Sincere 9gerian: I sincerely hope Roger Federer will win but I know it will be difficult. The reality is that the likely winner will be either Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray.

Don't be deceived by the Flushing Meadows victory where the only top 5 player he played en-route to the trophy was Novak.

Novak still remains the overwhelming favourite.

Novak all the way... he's going to dish it out like never before.
I can't wait

Poster who told you that VICTORIA AZIRENKA won wembledon 2012 do ur research well,its serena williams, now apolozise to niaralanders

outrage:
The guy is a legend! There's no other like him, its going to take a while to get someone like him..

Just like justine henin hardenne in women tennis.

Very bad comparison... who is Henin when you speak of the Grafs, Navratilovas and Serenas of this world?

holly-pagan:
Poster who told you that VICTORIA AZIRENKA who wembledon 2012 do ur research well,its serena williams, now apolozise to niaralanders

Victoria Azarenka is the only female tennis player that can come near challenging Serena today. However, Serena is still far more powerful than the Azarenka and is expected to win. This easy predictability of the female game is killing the excitement of the female game.

ROGER....

Santino1:

Very bad comparison... who is Henin when you speak of the Grafs, Navratilovas and Serenas of this world?

Playing style is what I ment..

Go Vee Go Ree,wishing u guyz best of luck.

outrage:

Playing style is what I ment..

True...she is the female version of Federer

team roger all da way!!.... FEDEX!!... but i think Murray will perform well too

I'm so excited about this Aussie open, i always look 4ward 2 it. Team Roger and serena all d way! But i miss Elena Dementieva.

Santino1:

Don't be deceived by the Flushing Meadows victory where the only top 5 player he played en-route to the trophy was Novak.

Novak still remains the overwhelming favourite.

at the last aussie open,murray and djokie played a horrendous five-set semis that got all pundits applauding murray's performance.that was his first high-profile competition since lendl came on board and it was clear murray was ready to take the fight to the top 3.flushing meadow's wasnt a fluke.murray beat federer in london and i believe the aussie open will see a brand new murray.