|
January 10, 2003
AUSTRALIAN OPEN FORECASTS
* MEN *
|
| ODDS |
PLAYER |
THE SKINNY |
|
3-1
|
Lleyton Hewitt |
With no clear-cut favorite, Hewitt's the
best of the bunch, although be wary as he is under the
most pressure. Especially with a A QF showdown with Roddick
looming. Boy, wouldn't that be tasty! |
|
4-1
|
Andre Agassi |
In what may be their last
trip Down Under, Andre and baby Jaden face a tough draw,
which may pit him against formidable foes in Escude, Canas
and Grosjean. All winnable matches, but losable as well.
|
|
6-1
|
Carlos Moya |
The Spaniard got back into form last year
and it should carryover into a positive fortnight. Plus,
he's got a nice draw and the longer he goes and the hotter
it gets, the more dangerous this former Oz finalist becomes. |
|
7-1
|
Sebastien Grosjean |
After a sub-par '02, a
strong showing in Australia -- remember he reached the
semifinals just a few years ago -- would set the tone
for a '03 rebound. And he knows he can beat Agassi. |
|
8-1
|
Roger Federer |
Even though he's been the biggest bust of
the young season thus far, he's got the best draw of any
top seed. So...Anything short of a quarterfinal will be
a major disappointment. |
|
8-1
|
Jiri Novak |
Another former Oz semifinalist
returns with a better more confident game. The likable
Czech should get past Roddick and with a Hewitt collapse
bigger things could be in store. |
|
10-1
|
Paradorn Srichaphan |
No one it hotter than P-Dorn, whose aggressive
style continues to befuddle opponents accustomed to the
baseline bombers of the current day. |
|
10-1
|
Marat Safin |
Shoulder willing (and
it will), Safin's "fly under the radar" campaign
pre-tourney may work and take some of the pressure off
him after last year's gag. |
|
12-1
|
James Blake |
JB has nicely come into his own, and after
a poor showing in Slams last year last year, which included
a meltdown in Australia to Koubek, the time may be right
for a long-awaited breakthrough. |
|
12-1
|
Guillermo Canas |
If the Argentine can get
the motor started he can win anywhere. |
|
14-1
|
Andy Roddick |
Has he won a title since hitching with actress/pop
singer Mandy Moore? Poor results in Sydney doesn't bode
well for the American fireballer. |
|
20-1
|
Rainer Schuettler |
The lone German hope plays
well in January, but that's until he gets the Aussie Open.
If he can find a spark and play with the big boys he's
got the game and the intelligence to be a threat. |
| |
|
|
| Keep an eye on: |
|
|
30-1
|
Fernando Gonzalez |
No one hits it harder than Gonzo, but then
again no one hits it out further than Gonzo. Just a question
of which Gonzo shows up! |
|
35-1
|
Yevgeny Kafelnikov |
Seems like whenever in
the past a tournament is wide open, it becomes a Yevgeny
Kafelnikov event. |
|
40-1
|
Richard Krajicek |
If the serve's a hummin' his opponents are
a runnin'. |
|
40-1
|
Max Mirnyi |
Like Krajicek, always dangerous and a tough
out. |
|
50-1
|
Xavier Malisse |
The talented Belgian has a good looking
game and a good looking draw to match. |
|
75-1
|
Fabrice Santoro |
The "Fabulous One" is like the
Rubik's Cube of tennis, and very few have the patience
to solve him. |
| |
|
|
|
Semifinals: Hewitt d. Federer, Moya
d. Agassi
Final: Hewitt d. Moya
|
Quick Links
